The atmosphere was deathly silent.
At first, everyone had believed that the Pallbearer Chicken was a fantastic reward. But now, after witnessing the tragic scene with their own eyes, a chill ran down their spines.
"What a tragedy! Not only did the boss eat you without getting poisoned, but now he remembers how good you tasted!"
"Congrats, bro. You've unlocked the starter race: Tasty Spring Chicken! Class changed to food. Crispy texture, chicken flavor, and eight times the protein of beef!"
"You spent half an hour customizing your character to look good... and just made yourself even more appetizing. LMAO."
"I was snacking when I saw that clip. I nearly choked. I felt sorry for the guy, but I couldn't stop laughing!"
"I'll be real, man. Your starting race—Pallbearer Chicken? Totally useless now."
On the forums, laughter erupted in a chaotic frenzy.
Akina's Speedster stared blankly at the comments, at a loss for words. His eyes returned to the decimated flock of Pallbearer Chickens, and regret gnawed at him.
Why did I feed him?
Now he knows my taste, and I've doomed my entire species to become his daily meal.
He slumped in despair, plummeting from the highs of joy to the depths of self-pity.
"This species... it's finished."
Meanwhile, the boss's disturbingly realistic memory and behavior sparked intense discussion among players. The first race to earn an achievement had now become a dish on the menu. It was a harsh lesson—one they would not forget.
Xu Zhi, however, remained utterly unfazed.
Having just returned from the courtyard with a handful of Pallbearer Chickens, each the size of a quail egg, he headed straight to the kitchen. He dropped them into a basket, rinsed them clean, and plucked the feathers in a few swift motions.
"Perfect timing. I'm hungry."
As expected from a species meticulously evolved to be delicious, the Pallbearer Chicken exceeded all expectations. Xu Zhi treated the moment as completely normal.
To him, it was only natural—what farmer didn't eat from his own harvest?
This was his farm. And this was his food.
In fact, he thought it was already quite generous of him to spare Akina's Speedster by leaving the king of the species alive.
He stewed the chickens, cracked two eggs over the bubbling pot, and hummed to himself. A faint smile tugged at his lips.
"I knew he'd choose the first option," Xu Zhi chuckled. "I've been waiting."
You're officially part of the menu now.
He let the stew simmer for half an hour, added chopped scallions on top, and took his time enjoying the heavenly flavor. Bliss washed over him.
"Mmm... I'll have to nudge them to evolve even tastier species next."
He hadn't forgotten his condition. With late-stage stomach cancer, he had to be careful and gentle with his meals.
At this moment, Xu Zhi was the picture of contentment. Fresh out of a bath, full from a hearty supper, and basking in the quiet joy of a peaceful evening.
Then, an idea struck him.
"They should evolve plants too—fruit-bearing ones."
Xu Zhi loved munching on fruit while lounging in the yard, observing the sandbox. If those players could evolve flavorful fruits and veggies...
"It's definitely possible."
He contemplated the situation. So far, none of the players had tried to evolve into plants. Everyone was obsessed with movement—limbs, eyes, the ability to explore and interact. But they were forgetting one of the two fundamental categories of life: flora.
"I should give them a nudge."
"These players are surprisingly dedicated. Even if they evolve into immobile, photosynthesizing plants, I bet they'll power through the boredom."
With that, Xu Zhi logged into the forum using his sandbox account, "Vengeful Creator," and posted:
"I've been observing your gameplay. Why has no one evolved into a plant yet? Life has two main branches—plants and animals. Why not try the plant route?"
The post dropped like a stone into a still pond—immediately causing ripples.
"Holy crap, I didn't even think about that! Plants! We forgot about plants!"
"I already died to the boss. Starting fresh anyway. Tonight, I'm pulling an all-nighter to study plant biology: chlorophyll, photosynthesis, plasmolysis... I'm going to create the ultimate plant!"
"Tomorrow, I shall begin life as a tree. I'll stand eternally still, roots buried deep, leaves swaying gently. I'll become a dignified pillar—half in sunlight, half in shadow."
Xu Zhi smiled.
Someone had taken the bait.
Satisfied, he logged off quietly. Mission accomplished.
Keeping an eye on the forums was crucial. It let him read the room, manipulate public opinion, and steer the players toward his goals.
And now that his unpaid workforce had committed to their new research path, delicious fruits weren't far behind.
May they study until their hair falls out, transform into modern-day Edisons, and pour all their blood, sweat, and tears into creating new culinary masterpieces.
Xu Zhi continued devouring his Pallbearer Chicken while scrolling through the forums. Amid the posts, another interesting player caught his eye.
Username: Future Skywhale
Reputation: Veteran
Current Activity: Not evolving into a Skywhale. Not even trying.
Instead, he was having the time of his life... building furniture.
A hardcore Minecraft player, Future Skywhale adored sandbox games. He was a craftsman at heart, dedicated to farming, inventing, and base building.
He had even evolved five specialized tentacles to assist his creations.
Two were serrated like mantis claws—perfect for chopping.
One was flat and wide, functioning like a shovel.
The remaining two were slender, agile limbs used for precision and control.
It was a creature engineered for creation—a living workshop.
At this very moment, Future Skywhale was assembling a chair.
Whoosh!
A tree came crashing down. In seconds, the logs were processed and sorted. The tentacles worked in flawless harmony, each moving with purpose and speed. They left afterimages in the air as they assembled the chair with mechanical precision.
Xu Zhi stared in stunned silence.
What the hell did this guy evolve into?
This wasn't evolution...
This was manufacturing.
Those weren't limbs—they were factory-grade mechanical arms.