The Southern Cockroach Really Cares About the Scum Top

Short story

The protagonist goes to an xianxia world to follow the plot, becoming a character from an old-school story who suffers both physical and emotional abuse.

There are no humans in the xianxia world, only rare and exotic beasts competing over their lineage and bloodlines.

Since the protagonist is going to live as a monster anyway, they choose a net-winged insect evolutionary chain as their golden finger from the start.

Protagonist (sadly): ...Even if I'll scare myself.

Protagonist (happily): I really want to be a cockroach.

**

The protagonist won't be a cockroach forever. They'll stop once they've developed the Tyranids.

Theme: Science gains sentience