Chapter 3: Rapid Evolution

David woke up. He stretched for a bit. He took a drink from the river. He cleaned up. After doing his usual morning routines, he goes to check on the plants he was cultivating. 

The biotubes are doing fine… That’s weird… why do they grow so fast.

David was admittedly never a farmer. He barely knew anything about farming so this should have been an almost impossible task for him but for some reason, he could access information about tasks he wasn’t familiar with. After thinking about it, David rationalized that it was most likely a gift or ability that God gave him. 

Even if they aren’t normal fruits, they shouldn’t be growing this fast…

Once done tending to his make-shift garden, David started cleaning his home. After getting rid of the feces and urine, David promised himself he’d find a way to make a basic form of plumbing. It was a way of regaining some of the privilege and leisure of the previous life.

Yeah, a bath would be nice. 

David smiled to himself as he imagined the reality of a bathtub. It was a far-away thought but it was small dreams like these that helped motivate David’s everyday life. 

After the gruesome fight with the saberwolves, David recovered his bone spear and club. Unfortunately, he lost his stone knife when the last saberwolf dragged him to his supposed death. He was lucky enough to survive but not lucky enough to keep the dagger.

Oh well… I’ll just make a new one. 

Collecting large and long stones, David starts to sharpen them again to create another stone knife. It would be useful for everyday situations. So far, none of the rocks have been successfully turned into a knife. 

I should start drying those animal pelts. 

David’s mind went to the dead saberwolves. He’s already bled them dry. David just needs to skin them. He didn’t feel the need to immediately do that because he lacked a place to hang the pelts and he didn’t have a knife.

Looking at his leaf-covered body, David frowns. He really wanted to wear something that could effectively cover his body. Even a loincloth was better than the itchy leaf skirt that David was wearing.

David puts his spear on a strap behind him and the club on his side. He puts some fruits in the leaf bag just in case he doesn’t find any food and he needs to eat. 

Once done with his usual preparations, David checks to see if he needs anything. There’s a large amount of food stocked in his home so David felt that there’s no need to endanger himself just for food.

But having more food isn’t really a problem.

After making a decision, David starts to make his way down the waterfall. While it was hard the first time, David got used to making the climb down and up when he needed to leave or reach his home. So far, no creature has managed to harass David on top of the waterfalls. The saberwolves were just an extreme case of wandering animals. 

Once David touched the ground, he pulls out his spear. He didn’t really need it now but it was better to be safe than not. David surveys the immediate area around him. Seeing that he’s alone, David heaves a sigh of relief.

“Alone. Okay… what is today’s agenda?”

Summoning his log, David looks at today’s goal.

Create tools

For David’s prolonged survival, he would need better tools. David imagined metal tools but that was so far from his current level of skill, that it would be better for him to find another way of making tools. 

“For now, some form of stone tools could work? A dagger… at least 2 just in case. After that, a hammer? Yeah, a hammer is important. But before that… an axe.”

David left the river as he entered the forest. He followed a path that he started to make when he realized that some less dangerous animals preferred specific areas. David internally smiled as he thought of the log.

So useful.

While traveling towards his usual hunting grounds, David thinks of the things he would need for tools. 

“I can create a wooden hammer but to get something like that, I’d need to make an axe to cut the wood to create the hammer… So I really need something sharp… So it all boils down to a sharp enough stone knife.”

Storing his spear behind him, David takes out one of the long stones he has in his leaf bag. David felt anxious. This is his 3rd rock since he lost the dagger to the saberwolf. If he lost this one, he’d need to find another suitably long rock.

“Let’s just be a bit careful this time.”

Using a smaller but naturally sharper rock, David starts to carve the long rock. He continues this mundane repetitive task. He makes sure he is focused so that he doesn’t lose this 3rd rock of his. 

After finishing one side of the stone, David tucks it away for a bit.

“Here already?”

To stave off any insanity due to social isolation, David started talking to himself. Fortunately, David has always been an introvert. This situation is just an extreme form of introversion. At least, that’s how David is rationalizing his current situation.

“It’d be nice if I can get a non-murderous and adorable pet.” 

David looks at the huge plains in front of him. Usually, David would immediately see dozens of animals grazing on the healthy and lush fields. 

“Huh… that’s weird.”

David approached the plains with the intent to look for the animals he considered cattle. 

Looking around, David couldn’t find the fat cow-like creatures that he was hunting for the past few days. David eventually finds some tracks that lead to some long grass.

Taking out his spear, David slowly follows the tracks. 

~Munch munch~

Huh?

David could hear the sound of something being chewed. 

Then the long grass was pushed aside as a bullish creature with multiple horns on its head charges forward.

David reacts immediately and he rolls to the side. The bullish creature roars as it makes a u-turn so it charges towards David again.

What?! Impossible.

David dodges again as the bull creature skewers a tree with its powerful horns.

How… 

David has seen a large variety of creatures in his time in Foserense ranging from bone spiders to super reptiles. All of them elicited surprise in David but none of them as much as this bull creature did now. 

David dodges the bull creature once again. 

It’s getting closer and closer!

There was only one reason why David was so frazzled and affected by this bull creature, which isn’t even that dangerous when compared to some of the creatures David has fought and escaped from.

It was because this bull creature didn’t use to have horns. 

The bull charges. This time David is prepared to attack. Once the bull was near, David used his spear to pole vault himself atop the bull. The bull starts to thrash around when David lands on its back. David grabs the bulls’ horn and he holds on for dear life. 

The bull continues to rampage but David holds on. With his extremely strong body, David doesn’t fall off. Using one hand to hold on and another to grab an item, David pulls out the incomplete stone knife from the leaf bag. Holding the part that wasn’t sharpened yet, David then brings down the sharpened edge on the bull’s head.

It roars in pain as David pushes down the semi-sharpened dagger. Determined to not prolong the situation, David proceeds to stab the bull’s head over and over. The bull’s rampage slowly weakens as it can’t take much more punishment. Eventually, the bull drops dead. David plunges the knife one more time to make sure the bull is dead. 

David lets go of the bull and he stands up.

“How the hell…”

Remembering the cattle of the plains, David notes that the creature in front of him is something else entirely.

“No… it must be another animal… One that I’ve never seen in the plains before.” 

David felt a pit in his stomach. He internally knew that this was the same creature he hunted in the plains but he wanted to make sure. It was the only way he could calm himself.

David takes out his log and goes to the page regarding the cattle. After flipping through his log, David lands on the bluefur cows page. Despite being physically and mentally capable, David was not good at making names. Unfortunately, David is unaware of this grave weakness of his.

Bluefur Cows

Classification: Animal 

Description: Similar to Earth cows but they have tougher meat and provide far more protein

Possible Effects: Consumption of meat can lead to muscle growth

Evolution Number: 2nd Iteration: Grew sharp horns, became more physically imposing, more aggressive towards non-same species

David felt weak as he saw the words “evolution number”.

That wasn’t there before…

To stave off his fear, David turns the log into a different page.

Bone Spider

Classification: Animal (Insect)

Description: A monstrous spider-like creature the size of a medium dog. Unlike any of the common spider species present on Earth, the bone spider has a large mouth filled with rows and rows of teeth. They have the uncanny ability to shoot spikes from their mouths made out of bone. 

Possible Effects: Organs that store a large amount of calcium.

Possible Evolution Number: 3rd iteration: ???

How… This wasn’t here before! 

David had records of the different animals he’s seen, escaped from, and killed. As much as he can, David updates the information of the animals if he finds out something new but this was the first time the log updated something without David’s approval. 

The log must think that this is an extremely important event to add it without my consent… but are they all evolving?

Turning the log to another page, David finds himself looking at one of the creatures he personally finds terrifying, the super reptile.

Super Reptile

Classification: Animal (Apex Predator)

Description: A tall four-legged reptile with thick scales adorning its muscle-bound body. Its claws are capable of ripping and rending flesh apart with ease. Its mouth is similar to that of an alligator, in which that it can make a biting motion with enough force to shatter stone.

Possible Effects: NA

Possible Evolution Number: 1st iteration: ???

Oh… It hasn’t evolved yet? Hmmm… if you can’t die or aren’t in danger, you wouldn’t need to evolve huh. 

David was now sure that the creatures here evolved, and they evolved at speeds that should be impossible. 

But they still evolve… 

David ties the bull and he starts the trek way home. Not even a quarter of the way, a chilling thought enters David’s mind, one that he’s afraid to even consider.

What if… they evolve to a point I can no longer kill them.

David shakes his head.

That’s impossible.

David remembers the super reptile. Its body was huge but it was capable of moving at breakneck speeds. David hasn’t even tried to kill that creature yet. David subconsciously grabbed his spear.

Would he be able to kill it, if it came down to it?

No.

No was David’s answer. If he couldn’t kill the super reptile, could the other less dangerous creatures of the world evolve to the point that David could no longer kill them?

Removing that thought from his mind, David starts to check the log of every creature he’s seen. With each page done, David starts to feel less and less optimistic. Almost every creature he’s killed has evolved at least once. David’s eyes widen when he sees the log of one of the most harmless creatures he’s ever seen.

Muckat

Classification: Animal

Description: A small furry creature. Naturally friendly but also a good source of meat if needed. They have a weird diet of biotubes which, due to the nature of anti-biotics, slowly kill them. 

Possible Effect: Due to their diet, their body might have metabolized some form of anti-biotic. 

Possible Evolution Number: 11th iteration: ???

11 times?! That useless ferret thingy has evolved 11 times?

“What could the use of its evolutions be? Last time I checked, it’s still an animal that was being eaten for sport.”

Still confused regarding the new event, David decided to start preparing for the inevitability of evolution.

“I need to find out how these things evolve… What are the requirements?”

David felt exasperated.

God… there are just way too many things to think about…

Stopping for a moment, David closes his eyes.

“Let’s organize our thoughts.” 

David sits on the bluefur cow. After taking a long breath, David calms down for a bit then a steady stream of information enters his mind. 

“First, I know that the creatures here evolve… but what causes that evolution? Let’s go with common sense. The ones that have risks of dying are the ones who evolve. The Muckat is a vulnerable creature with almost no defense mechanisms.”

David remembers the muckat. It was slow. It was fat and full of juicy meat. When David finished eating it, he remembered how cute it looked. David remembered the guilt of killing such an adorable creature but at the time, he was too hungry to care. Since the Muckat was also full of anti-biotics, David had a massive stomach ache that day. Fortunately, he recovered the next day.

“They have at least one defense mechanism but it only works when they’re eaten.” 

An epiphany comes over David’s head.

“Ah, I see… Their species is going for the long term survival.” 

“They’re sacrificing themselves now so their future descendants will not have to suffer as much. Interesting… I can see millions of years’ worth of evolution in the time it would take me to blink.” 

For the first time in a while, David laughs.

“Wow, I find this interesting… but that’s all… An evolutionary scientist would love this place… minus the deadly predators. Well… if they do evolve in response to danger or… in the Muckat’s case, species survival, then that means I have no way of stopping or reducing their evolution.” 

David laughs again. It was the laughter of a man faced with an impossible problem.

“Well… it’s not really impossible. Just a problem I have to deal with.” 

David sighs.

“I wish I had alcohol.” 

David takes out his log and adds alcohol to the list of things he needs. 

“WAIT!”

David quickly covers his mouth and surveys the area. Once nothing happens, David opens his log and turns to a blank page.

Why have I never thought of this?

David imagined a page that included information about himself.

David Sanchez

Classification: Animal (Proto-Superhuman) 

Description: A human at the peak of the human condition and more, David Sanchez was sent to Foserense as the first human being. Due to his stay here, David Sanchez has been continuously getting stronger and tougher. 

Divine Gift: Librarian - The ability to log any information in the world.

Possible Effect: NA

Evolution Number: 1st Iteration: Still at the peak of the human condition but close to breaking through.

So… I’m evolving as well huh?

David smiles to himself.

Maybe that problem wasn’t so big after all.