I shot into the air, launching myself upward, the ground cracking beneath me from the force.
The birds weren't expecting it.
And although they reacted.
It was too late for two.
I snatched one mid-flight, my jaws closing around its struggling body.
Then caught the other one in my grip, its wings flapping uselessly against my arm.
Then gravity yelled: GET OVER HERE!.
And I came crashing down.
My feet slammed into the dirt, the impact sending a jolt through my legs.
I bit down—hard on the one in my mouth
A sharp crunch. A gush of warm blood. It stopped moving instantly.
The one in my hand? I twisted its neck in one swift motion, getting another kill.
Wasting no time. I devoured them both.
Tearing into the stringy flesh, snapping through the fragile bones like dry twigs.
Flesh, Feather, Bones? I ate them all.
Each bite filled me with raw energy.
A sensation that wasn't just hunger satisfaction.
[Ding!]
[You have killed a DuskBeak.]
[You have gained 50XP.]
[You have killed a DuskBeak.]
[You have gained 50XP.]
Another notification popped up.
[Evolution Devourer Activated]
[You have consumed a DuskBeak.]
[You have acquired Trait: Sharp Vision.]
[New Trait Acquired: Sharp Vision]
Sharp Vision: The user's eyesight is greatly enhanced, improving long-range perception, motion detection, and low-light visibility. Distant objects appear clearer, and fast-moving targets are easier to track. This trait also increases awareness of subtle environmental changes, making it harder for enemies to escape notice.
The change hit instantly.
My vision snapped into focus, sharper than I ever thought possible.
Every vein in the leaves above me stood out, a delicate web of green and gold.
The faint shimmer of movement in the distance caught my eye—tiny insects skittering, the shift of a hidden predator adjusting its stance.
Colors weren't just brighter—they had depth.
The brown of the dirt wasn't just brown; I could see the subtle tones of red and gray, the individual grains of soil shifting with the wind.
I turned my head, scanning.
Nothing escaped my sight.
I hungered for more.
And the world delivered.
The bushes rustled, and then—it emerged.
A hulking beast, armored in a patchwork of thick, stone-like plates.
It moved slow, deliberate, like it had nothing to fear.
Its muscular legs crushed the ground beneath it, and with every step, I could hear the weight of its power.
[Cragdrillo - Level 3]
"Moves like a rock, thinks like a rock, and hits like a runaway boulder."
It clawed at the dirt, sniffing around for whatever the hell it ate, completely unaware of me.
Perfect.
I grabbed a rock—not too big, not too small—and hurled it with everything I had.
CLANG!
The stone bounced right off its shell, barely leaving a scratch.
The beast turned towards me with a snarl.
Its small, beady eyes locked onto me, nostrils flaring.
A deep, guttural snort rumbled from its throat as it dug its claws into the dirt. Its muscles tensed, thick legs grinding the earth beneath them.
It didn't care that I loomed over it like a giant.
Didn't flinch at the sheer difference in size.
It still intended to attack.
It think like a rock...huh
That's quite accurate.
The cragdrillo charged.
Not with its feet.
But rather it curled into a ball—then spun straight at me like a boulder shot from a cannon.
The ground shook beneath its rapid rotations, kicking up dust and loose dirt as it picked up speed.
But it had underestimated me.
I didn't dodge.
I planted my feet, braced my stance, and pulled my arm back, claws gleaming.
And the instant it came within range—
I swung.
CRACK!
My clawed hand smashed into its side like a battering ram.
The force sent the Cragdrillo soaring through the air like a kicked ball. It spun wildly, flipping midair before slamming onto its back with a bone-rattling thud.
And there it was.
The soft, vulnerable underside.
Completely exposed.
The Cragdrillo squirmed, its stubby legs flailing wildly as it tried to roll back over.
It was panicking. Desperate.
But the moment it chose to attack and not flee. Its failed was sealed,
I pounced.
My claws dug deep into its soft, exposed stomach—flesh parted like wet paper.
The beast screamed. A high-pitched, guttural screech that made my ears ring.
Warm blood gushed out, spilling over my hands, thick and steaming.
It thrashed violently, trying to shake me off, its claws raking the ground in a frantic struggle.
I gritted my teeth and twisted my wrist.
SHHK!
Something ripped.
The Cragdrillo's body jerked once—then fell still.
Silence.
My hands were slick with blood, my claws still buried deep in the Cragdrillo's torn belly.
Then...
Ding!
[You have killed a Cragdrillo.]
[You have gained 150XP.]
I didn't hesitate. I tore into the flesh.
At this point, it was almost instinctual.
The meat was thick, tough—almost rubbery.
My jaws strained at first, but I was stronger now.
My teeth sank in deep, shredding through muscle, tendon, and even cartilage like they were nothing.
The blood—warm and fresh—had an earthy, metallic taste, like iron and dirt mixed together.
I didn't care.
I kept eating.
By the time I finished, my whole body hummed like a charged wire, brimming with raw energy.
Then, a familiar notification echoed in my mind
Ding!
[Evolution Devourer Activated.]
[You have consumed Cragdrillo.]
[New Trait Acquired: Cragdrillo Scale Skin]
[Cragdrillo Scale Skin]: The user's skin transforms, developing a layer of hardened, scale-like plates that provide enhanced physical resistance. This natural armor reduces damage from blunt force, slashing attacks, and minor piercing weapons. While the scales are tough, they remain flexible enough to allow unhindered movement. With continued evolution, the defense may strengthen further, granting even greater durability. +1 Constitution. +1 Strength.
My skin hardened. A strange sensation, like molten stone cooling into armor, spread through my body.
A dark-gray sheen rippled across my arms and chest. Scales.
I raised an arm, flexing.
The scales were rough and jagged at the edges, yet they moved seamlessly with me—tough but not restrictive.
Curious, I pressed a claw against my forearm.
*Scratch.
Nothing.
I pushed harder. Still, the scales absorbed the force without so much as a dent.
Along my back and shoulders, the plating thickened, forming a natural barrier—not quite impenetrable, but strong enough to block fangs, claws, maybe even blades.
I rolled my shoulders, feeling the solid weight settle in.
This wasn't just skin anymore.
It was armor.
I clenched my fists, my bones heavier, denser, and reinforced.
And it also added +1 to my constitution and strength.
I grinned.
I was evolving. And I wasn't done yet.
The power I had now was only the beginning.
I could feel it—something deep inside me, restless, hungry. Whispering.
More.
I sat back, licking the blood from my fingers, the taste still lingering.
Four hunts. Four new traits.
I had devoured beasts, absorbed their strength, and reshaped myself into something greater.
But something gnawed at me.
A question I hadn't dared to ask before.
I had hunted monsters, taken their traits.
But what would happen if I consumed a human?
Would the same rules apply?
Or would I gain something even greater?
A shiver ran down my spine.
But the thought wouldn't leave me alone.
The logical part of me—the one that had already killed, hunted, devoured—told me there was only one way to know for sure.
I turned, looking back in the direction I had fled from earlier.
The ogre. The humans. The battle.
I didn't know how it ended.
And honestly? I didn't care.
But if anyone had died—if there was a body left behind…
Then I had a chance.
A chance to find out what happened when I consumed something beyond monsters.
I exhaled, pushing down any hesitation.
Whatever it took, whatever I had to become…
I would evolve.