Malik stood still, absorbing the strange silence of the forest. A soft breeze rustled the leaves above, and beneath the surface of nature's calm, he could feel it—mana. Thick, potent, and unfamiliar.
He inhaled deeply.
So this is the magic of another world. It's in the air... in the ground... it feels alive.
Around him, his classmates were reacting to the new world in their own ways.
"Okay, first thing's first," Kaito said, scanning the area. "We need to find shelter—or a town. Figure out where we are."
"And maybe food? My stomach's yelling louder than Shun right now," Yui groaned.
"We should learn how our skills work," Hana suggested, still clutching her clipboard, which had transformed into a glowing magical tome.
"And how to fight," Airi added, cracking her knuckles. "We can't just walk into danger untrained."
"Let's not split up," Kaede warned. "We're in an unknown world with monsters. Stay together."
While the others discussed, Malik quietly stepped away and sat beneath a broad, moss-covered tree. The bark hummed with faint magic, like everything else in this world. He closed his eyes for a moment.
What do I even have to work with?
He opened his eyes again and spoke softly.
"Status."
A soundless ripple of energy surged around him, and suddenly, a mysterious crimson-black screen shimmered into existence before his eyes. Runes and strange glyphs shimmered briefly before converting into readable text.
STATUS
Name: Malik Crowe
Age: 18
Race: Human (Reincarnated)
Level: 1
Class: Gluttony Mage
Titles: Reincarnated One, Chosen of the Goddess, Gluttony-Blessed, The Sleeper Awakens
HP: 110
MP: 180
Strength: 14
Agility: 15
Endurance: 13
Mana: 220
Luck: 8
Charm: 6
Normal Skills:
Appraisal: Allows the user to identify the basic information, stats, and abilities of living beings and items. Can improve with mastery.
Ability Skills:
— (None acquired yet)
Magic Skills:
— (None acquired yet)
Unique Skills:
Devourer: A unique and dangerous skill linked to the Gluttony Mage class. Enables the user to absorb physical, magical, and conceptual traits from defeated enemies. Absorption may unlock new skills, stats, or transformations depending on the enemy consumed. The more the user devours, the more they evolve. Excessive use may lead to physical and mental instability. Hunger increases with each use.
Weapons: None
Items: Basic Cloak (Minor Magic Resistance), Satchel (Empty)
He narrowed his eyes at the unique skill.
Only one skill... and it's called Devourer. Sounds ominous. Dangerous. Or maybe... perfect.
He stared at the word, and a faint pulsing throb passed through his chest—like the word itself was alive, waiting to be awakened.
Just as he was about to delve deeper, a rustling sound came from the woods.
"Did you hear that?" Kaito asked, hand on the hilt of his new blade.
"Something's coming!" Ren warned.
"Everyone, get ready!" Kaede ordered, forming a magic circle in front of her.
"What is it?! A beast?! A goblin?!" Shun yelped.
Yui stumbled behind a tree. "Please let it be something cute..."
Only Malik remained seated beneath the tree, silent and watching.
The bushes rustled again—then parted.
Five small, jiggling blue slimes bounced into the clearing, glistening in the sunlight.
"Slimes?" Hana asked.
"They're kinda cute," Megumi said softly.
"Those are starter monsters, right?" Ren muttered. "Like the weakest ones?"
"Let's not get cocky," Airi warned. "Weak monsters can still kill the untrained."
"They're just blobs! I bet I can punt one!" Shun laughed.
Malik opened his eyes, narrowing them slightly.
Blue little slimes... Let's see what this world throws at me first.
Without warning, Kaito stepped forward, determination in his eyes. He held his hand out with confidence.
"Come to me—Solarbrand!"
With a brilliant flash, a radiant golden longsword materialized in his hand. Its blade shimmered with divine light, runes glowing faintly along its edge. The air around it pulsed with warmth.
"Let me handle this," Kaito said, turning to the others. "I'll take the first fight against these ugly blobs."
"Go for it, Kaito!" Yui cheered.
"Let's see what the Hero class can do," Ren muttered, curious.
"Don't get sloppy," Airi warned.
"We believe in you," Megumi said softly.
Kaede nodded. "Demonstrate your strength."
Malik, still calm, gave a nod. "Yes. You can handle this."
Let's see what the golden boy does with divine power, Malik thought. He wants to lead? Let him lead.
But just then—
A whisper slithered into Malik's mind.
"Devour them all..."
He stiffened. His eyes narrowed.
What was that...?
The voice returned, louder now.
"So hungry... Devour the slimes..."
A sudden pulse of energy coursed through him. His heartbeat quickened. A strange hunger clawed at the pit of his stomach.
This... hunger. It's not mine. Or is it?
His golden eyes flickered—then turned a deep, ominous crimson.
Something's waking up inside me.
Meanwhile, Kaito gripped his blade and took his stance.
"Let's go."
He dashed toward the five slimes. Graceful, fast, decisive.
"Spinning Slash!"
His body rotated in a smooth arc, Solarbrand slicing through the air like a sunlit comet. The slimes were split in two in a flash of radiant light.
He landed cleanly, exhaling.
"Hmph. That was easier than I thought," Kaito said.
"Whoa! You made that look effortless!" Shun shouted.
"Divine swords are no joke..." Ren mumbled.
"Nice form," Airi admitted.
"Very precise," Kaede observed.
"You protected us. Thank you," Megumi said.
"Yasss hero moment!" Yui laughed.
Only Malik said nothing.
He was already walking toward the defeated slimes.
His aura began to pulse—thick, heavy, dark.
"Hey... what's he doing?" Kaito asked.
"That aura's not normal..." Hana murmured.
"Malik...?" Megumi said, voice trembling.
He stopped in front of the slime corpses. The voices screamed louder in his head.
"Devour them all. Feed."
Malik raised his right hand.
"Devourer."
The skin along his forearm cracked open like a gaping wound. Crimson runes glowed from within, pulsing like a heartbeat. Shadowy mist poured out, curling unnaturally around his wrist and elbow.
Then, with a sound like bones grinding and whispers colliding, a massive, fanged maw tore itself open from his palm—jagged, black, and impossibly deep.
Jaws of layered darkness spiraled endlessly inward. Tendrils licked the air. Red, unblinking eyes glared from within the depths of the abyssal mouth.
The entire group froze.
"What the hell is that?!" Daichi shouted.
"Is that... part of him?!" Ren stammered.
"That's... not magic I've ever seen," Kaede whispered.
"His hand is a monster," Airi said.
"Malik?!" Kaito yelled. "What are you doing?!"
"Oh my god..." Yui covered her mouth.
"He's... terrifying," Megumi said.
I don't understand it... but I have to feed it, Malik thought. This is my class. My path.
With a roar that wasn't entirely human, the maw lunged forward. The five defeated slimes were devoured instantly. Their bodies were shredded into light and mist, consumed utterly.
A system notification flared in Malik's mind.
[Devourer Activated]
[5 Blue Slimes Absorbed]
[Level Up: Level 1 → Level 3]
[You have gained: Gelatinous Adaptation]
[New Skills Unlocked: Slimeform | Minor Regeneration | Mana Absorb | Split Clone]
His body shuddered, briefly turning translucent, shimmering like liquid. Then it stabilized, and his aura deepened further.
So this is what it means to devour. To evolve. This power... it's real.
Malik stood silently, staring at his hands. His fingers flexed slowly, unnaturally smooth. His skin shimmered faintly in the dappled forest light, like his body no longer followed the laws of nature. Beneath the surface, he could feel it—the strange, fluid elasticity... the unnatural hunger still pulsing deep inside.
I can feel it. My body isn't what it was. It's shifting. Adapting. Alive.
The others watched in stunned silence as Malik's form glimmered and briefly warped.
"His body changed again..." Ren whispered.
"It's like he's made of something else now," Hana said.
"Did he just mutate?!" Yui asked, horrified and fascinated.
"That's not human anymore..." Airi muttered.
"Creepy as hell," Daichi muttered, crossing his arms, trying to hide his unease.
Malik turned and locked eyes with Daichi.
Daichi's face twitched slightly. "What are you looking at, freak?"
Malik's eyes glowed faintly crimson. He said coldly, "Punch me."
Everyone stared.
"Wait, WHAT?!" Shun shouted.
"Did he just say... punch him?!" Kaede blinked.
"Is he insane?!" Ren cried.
"He's got a death wish!" Yui yelped.
Daichi raised an eyebrow, then burst into mocking laughter. "Oh, I get it. You got a little power-up and now you think you're invincible. That mouth of yours is writing checks you can't cash."
Malik's gaze was steady. "Do it, idiot."
Daichi's eyes narrowed. "Fine. It's your funeral."
"What's going to happen...?" Megumi asked nervously.
"This is going to be ugly," Airi said.
Daichi dashed forward, grinning manically.
"Titan Fist!"
His fist surged forward, surrounded by glowing orange energy. The ground cracked under his feet as he put all his strength into the blow.
Malik whispered, "Slimeform."
His body shimmered, transforming mid-motion. His form became translucent and gelatinous, limbs distorting like liquid rubber.
Daichi's Titan Fist slammed straight through Malik's torso—only to sink into a stretchy, bouncing slime mass that immediately flung the force back.
"Wha—?!" Daichi stumbled backward, blinking in disbelief.
"Did... did that just bounce?" Kaede gasped.
"He absorbed the punch!" Ren shouted.
"That's disgusting... and incredible!" Yui said.
"His body isn't human anymore," Hana murmured.
"That's insane..." Kaito whispered.
"Yo, he's OP," Shun said, mouth hanging open.
Malik's body returned to normal, his limbs solidifying as if nothing had happened.
It worked... The impact didn't even register. This power... I can adapt completely.
Daichi growled. "Tch. Lucky shot. I wasn't even using full power."
"Sure," Malik muttered, turning away.
Kaede cleared her throat. "Enough. We need to move. Let's find a town before nightfall."
Everyone nodded. They regrouped and began walking deeper into the forest.
Hours passed.
Eventually, the trees parted.
Before them, nestled at the edge of the plains, stood a city—massive stone walls, gleaming towers, and smoke curling from chimneys. A gate loomed ahead, guarded by armored soldiers.
"Is that... a city?!" Kaito exclaimed.
"Civilization!" Yui cheered.
"Maybe we can find an inn," Hana said.
"And food! Real food!" Shun added.
"We can learn about this world properly," Ren said eagerly.
"I wonder if they have a guild," Airi said, scanning the skyline.
"Let's not let our guard down," Kaede reminded.
Malik said nothing. He stared at the city, eyes glowing faintly.
The city... It's the first step. Information. Power. Opportunity. But I work best alone.
Kaede turned. "Let's move."
The group began walking toward the city.
Malik followed silently.
My time is now.
To be continued...