Maddy placed a triple sized platter in front of the little creature.
"Eat up, sweetie. Show them how a true Chira grows."
Vermi didn’t hesitate. She dived headfirst into the Dao Deer Smoked Ribs.
CHOMP!
The mont the mana infused marrow hit her system, a shockwave of golden light erupted from her tiny body. Her purple skin rippled. Suddenly, with a wet pop, two miniature, crescent shaped antlers sprouted from her forehead. They were crystalline and glowing, making her look like a tiny, subterranean unicorn.
"No way!"
Sephiran gasped, dropping his tonkatsu.
"She got the trait instantly?!"
Maddy laughed, wiping a smudge of sauce from her cheek.
"That’s my girl! She’s a natural! Now eat more, apply the trait, and make proud, Vermi!"
Vermi didn’t stop. She lunged at the Blade Bunny Sashimi and Crispy Blade Chips. As she swallowed them, her little tail nub flattened and hardened into a razor-sharp blade. She began thumping the floor with her rear—
THUMP THUMP THUMP—
Exactly like a dostic bunny demanding attention from its human owner.
"Wrrf! Wrrf!"
Suddenly, her thumping beca excessive. Too much force sent her soaring through the air. She shot like a purple bullet, her head antlers slamming into the cavern ceiling, piercing the solid rock and getting stuck halfway. Her little tail blade wagged frantically against the stone.
"Wrrf???"
Sephiran’s eyes went wide as he leapt forward, panic written all over his face.
"NOOO! Vermi!
Arach used two of his arms to reach up and gently pluck the vibrating worm out of the ceiling.
"Careful, little one. The ceiling isn’t edible... yet."
Vermi, now back on the table and glowing with two different mana signatures, set her sights on the final dish: the Explosive Boar Tonkatsu.
"Oh GOD! I forgot, I was so busy enjoying watching you—"
But Vermi didn’t wait. She opened her mouth wide, wider than her body should possibly allow—
"Wait, Vermi! That one has high-pressure glands—!"
Maddy’s warning ca too late. Vermi inhaled the entire cutlet, the plate, and even a stray garnish of magical moss in one single, vacuum-like gulp.
WHOOOOOM!
The cavern went silent.
Vermi’s belly began to glow a bright, dangerous orange. Her six eyes widened. Her body began to vibrate like a ticking ti bomb.
Ping... ping... ping...
Maddy activated all of her defensive traits, even transforming her forelimbs into a makeshift shield. She yelled,
"GET DOWN!"
BOOOOOOOM!!!
A massive, harmless shockwave of savory scented smoke erupted from Vermi’s body. The explosion didn’t hurt anyone, but it sent a cloud of black soot and powdered spices flying in every direction.
When the smoke cleared, the entire family was covered from head to toe in black soot. Arach looked like a charcoal statue; Sephiran had a single piece of chips on his nose; and Maddy’s hair was standing on end, slling faintly of roasted pork.
Vermi sat in the middle of the table, perfectly clean, letting out a massive, satisfied belch that released a tiny puff of fire.
"Burp... wrff!"
For a beat, no one moved. Then, Maddy looked at her soot covered "monstrous" children and burst into a belly laugh so loud it echoed into the deepest reaches of the cave.
"See?"
Maddy wheezed, wiping soot from her eyes.
"This is what family is! ssy, explosive, and... and absolutely perfect!"
Maddy shook her head, still laughing as she brushed the soot from her forearms. She glanced down at the array of dishes before her—the Blade Bunny Sashimi glinting under the cavern lights, the Dao Deer Smoked Ribs shimring with residual mana, and the Explosive Boar Tonkatsu still crackling faintly with magical energy.
Her stomach growled audibly, and she raised an eyebrow at her children, now settling into soot covered seats.
"Well, I’ve been watching all of you gorge yourselves, mastering traits and testing the limits of Vermi, and I think it’s only fair that the chef samples her own work."
In just a minute, she devoured everything. She paused, letting her tongue savor the taste of the at—earthy, rich, and alive.
"Ah... finally... I can... I can taste real food again. Not just cave scraps, insect shells, or whatever this place has offered all these years... actual at. Real flavor. Real protein. Just like back on Earth..."
Her fingers absentmindedly tapped the table, still savoring the textures and aromas lingering on her tongue. A soft moan of delight slipped past her lips as the nostalgia washed over her, mories of old als... that she does not wanted to experience agani.
"This... this is heaven..."
She whispered, eyes glimring as she opened them to look at her children.
"And to think... I get to share it with all of you. This is exactly what a perfect family dinner should feel like."
Sephiran’s jaw dropped. Dyralfa’s tail thumped excitedly. Even Frovian’s usually composed expression softened into a quiet, impressed smile. Maddy’s grin widened, feeling the warmth of both the food and her family settle deep in her chest. Vermi thumped again.
[System Notice]
[You have ingested multiple objects containing traits.]
Blade Bunny
[Trait Acquired: Blade Forelimbs]
[Forelimbs are tipped with sharp, retractable blades. Can slice through foliage or prey with precise, rapid strikes. Blade length and sharpness scale with intent and stamina.]
[Trait Acquired: Extre Agility]
[Enhances reflexes, jump distance, and evasive maneuvers. Can change direction mid-leap or pivot instantly without losing balance.]
[Trait Acquired: Pack Coordination]
[Instinctively synchronizes movents with nearby Blade Bunnies. Increases attack efficiency and allows complex cooperative assault patterns.]
[Trait Acquired: Rapid Strikes]
[Forelimbs can deliver consecutive slashing attacks at incredible speed. Combos are instinctively calculated to target weak points.]
[Trait Acquired: Burrower’s Instinct]
[Skilled at digging quick, shallow tunnels or burrows for escape, ambush, or territorial defense.]
[Trait Acquired: Territorial Awareness]
[Heightened senses detect intruders within claid territory. Triggers aggressive response if threatened or if burrow is approached.]
[Trait Acquired: Camouflaged Fur]
[Fur coloration blends with forest or adow surroundings, aiding stealth and surprise attacks.]
[Trait Acquired: Thumping Locomotion]
[Powerful hind legs allow rapid bounding, enabling quick directional changes. Movent creates subtle vibrations in the ground, which can be sensed by nearby allies to coordinate group maneuvers.]
[Trait Acquired: Reflexive Body Control]
[Enhanced neuromuscular reflexes allow precise control of all limbs during high-speed movent, including blade strikes mid-leap. Reduces reaction delay to near-instantaneous levels.]
[Trait Acquired: Agile Spine & Flexible Joints]
[Body structure allows extre twisting, crouching, and curling in mid-air. Enhances dodging, landing, and coordinated attack angles without sacrificing balance.]
[Trait Acquired: Blade Bunny Body Parts]
[You may now manifest any portion of the Dao Deer’s anatomy—arms, legs, or the entire physical form with perfect precision. These examples are not limiting; any part can be used.]
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