The jungle of Isla Sorna was alive with a chorus of prehistoric life. Towering ferns and ancient cycads swayed beneath the humid air, their fronds glistening with beads of moisture.
Thick vines dangled from colossal trees whose roots split the ground like the fingers of sleeping giants. Somewhere in the distance, the deep, resonant calls of a sauropod herd rumbled through the earth, while the sharper, staccato screeches of smaller predators echoed in the canopy above.
The scent of life was everywhere—musk, blood, wet vegetation, and the faint salt of the nearby sea carried in on the breeze. Every shadow seemed to shift, every rustle hinted at eyes watching from the undergrowth. This island was not a home—it was a battlefield of constant survival.
Matias moved with predatory precision, his dorsal spines cutting a jagged silhouette against the dappled sunlight. His sonar detection pulsed outward in invisible waves, mapping the terrain in ghostly outlines. Thermal vision layered over it, painting every living creature in a molten spectrum of oranges and reds. Small, quick heat signatures darted through the bushes—harmless. But then… something else.
A lone Therizinosaurus grazed at the edge of a clearing, its massive sickle-like claws raking through foliage to tear free mouthfuls of ferns. The creature's odd, birdlike head tilted, beady eyes scanning its surroundings as if sensing danger.
Matias's instincts flared. Prey.
With a low rumble building in his chest, he crouched low, tail swaying behind him like a coiled whip. Muscles bunched beneath his scaled hide as he silently stalked closer, each step avoiding branches that might betray his presence. The Therizinosaurus let out a low grunt, still unaware… until it was too late.
Matias lunged.
The clearing erupted in chaos—earth and leaves exploding upward as his massive form crashed into the herbivore. The Therizinosaurus shrieked, swinging its scythe-like claws in a wild arc. One claw raked across Matias's shoulder, slicing through scale and drawing a spray of blood. Pain flared, but he only roared louder, jaws snapping for the creature's neck.
Roaar!!
The Therizinosaurus fought like a demon, slashing again and again, forcing Matias back with surprising ferocity. Its claws struck his flank, then his jaw, leaving deep gashes. But the Godzillasaurus's endurance was relentless. He ducked beneath another slash, tail whipping out in a crushing blow that sent the herbivore stumbling.
Matias surged forward, jaws closing around its torso. The Therizinosaurus screamed, thrashing, claws battering his head and neck. Blood filled the air. But with a guttural roar, he lifted it off the ground and slammed it into the earth, the impact shaking the clearing.
A final snap of his jaws silenced the struggle.
The jungle fell quiet once more, save for Matias's heavy breathing and the drip of blood onto the forest floor.
Matias wasted no time, sinking his teeth into the fallen Therizinosaurus. The flesh was warm and rich, its scent heavy with the essence of fresh kill. As he tore into muscle and sinew, the system chimed in his mind. Points poured in—thousands—each mouthful granting more power.
A strange sensation rippled through his body as he swallowed. His muscles tightened, bones subtly shifted, and something primal awakened within him. This was no ordinary prey. The taste was intoxicating—far richer than the bland, cold fish he had hunted before. It was savory, almost addictive, each bite carrying the raw vitality of a hardened survivor.
[ You have acquired new genetic traits! ]
[ Name: Scythe Claws ]
[ Description: Massive claw attacks with extreme reach, capable of piercing armor and tearing flesh with ease. ]
[ Name: Wide Sweeper ]
[ Description: Powerful area-of-effect slashes, capable of hitting multiple enemies in a single sweeping motion. ]
[ Name: Defensive Stance ]
[ Description: Reduces incoming damage when bracing against frontal assaults. ]
[ Name: Reach Advantage ]
[ Description: Increases effective melee range, allowing for earlier and safer strikes. ]
[ Name: Thick Hide ]
[ Description: Provides enhanced protection against cutting and slashing attacks. ]
[ Name: Threat Display ]
[ Description: Intimidates predators and rivals, potentially causing hesitation or retreat. ]
[ Name: Plant Devourer ]
[ Description: Restores health and stamina more effectively when consuming plant matter. ]
[ Name: Bone Warden Grip ]
[ Description: Strengthens jaw and limb grip, making it harder for prey to escape once caught. ]
Matias felt a low, bone-deep ache radiate through his forelimbs. Muscles tensed, bulging under his hide as sinew thickened and cords of raw power coiled beneath the skin.
His fingers stretched, joints popping one by one, and the claws at their tips lengthened—curving into wicked, obsidian sickles.
The sheen of the new talons glinted faintly, each edge honed by nature itself to tear through flesh and armor alike. His arms, now slightly longer and more flexible, moved with a predatory grace, built for swift, brutal slashes that could dismember in a single strike.
Matias gave himself a quick once-over, admiring the new power in his limbs and the gleam of his curved claws. Satisfied, he tore through the last scraps of the Therizinosaurus, swallowing them down before pressing onward.
The dense jungle broke to reveal a slow-moving river, its surface reflecting shards of fading sunlight. Matias lowered his head, drinking deeply until the cool water washed away the copper taste of blood from his tongue.
Overhead, the sky was bleeding into twilight. Shadows stretched long, and the air grew cooler—night was coming. Instinct and experience both told him it was time to find shelter before darkness cloaked the island's hunters.
Activating his sonar and thermal vision, Matias scanned the land. A perfect spot revealed itself: a wide-mouthed cave tucked beside the riverbank. It was a prime location—close to water, a natural draw for prey of all kinds.
But there was one complication. The cave was already occupied.
Matias's eyes narrowed, and without hesitation, he advanced to see just what kind of dinosaur had claimed his future den.
He crept closer, each heavy footstep muffled by the damp earth and thick undergrowth. The air inside the cave mouth carried a musky, metallic scent—fresh blood. His dorsal fins twitched, his instincts sharpening with every breath.
A deep, guttural exhale rolled out of the darkness, followed by the scraping of claws against stone. Something was in there. Something big.
Matias inched forward, his thermal vision painting the shadows in a predator's outline. The shape was massive, the head long and ridged, the body thick with muscle. When the creature finally stepped into the fading light, its full scale was undeniable.
Seven meters at the shoulder, thirteen meters from snout to tail—the Giganotosaurus was a mountain of teeth and muscle. Dark, jagged scales lined its spine, and its hide bore old battle scars, each one a testament to countless victories. Its eyes locked onto Matias, cold and calculating, and it released a low growl that reverberated through the earth.
His animal instincts screamed a single command—fight for dominance.
Without hesitation, Matias lunged, his sickle-like claws flashing in the dim light. The Giganotosaurus bellowed and charged, its colossal bulk barreling forward like an avalanche of muscle and rage. Their bodies collided with a bone-jarring impact, the sound echoing through the cave like a war drum.
The predator's jaws snapped shut with a thunderous CRACK, missing Matias's throat by inches as he twisted aside. A tail sweep came next—thick, heavy, and fast. It slammed into Matias's flank with enough force to send him skidding across the rocky ground, his claws gouging deep furrows in the stone to halt his slide.
Snarling, Matias surged forward again, his claws tearing across the Giganotosaurus's ribcage in a blur of red. Thick hide split, spraying hot blood, but the larger predator didn't back down. It countered with a lunge so sudden that Matias barely had time to react—its teeth clamped onto his shoulder, driving pain deep into his bones.
Matias roared in agony, thrashing violently, but the bite only tightened. Summoning raw instinct, he slammed his forehead into the Giganotosaurus's snout, dazing it just long enough to wrench himself free. The wound bled heavily, but his rage drowned out the pain.
They circled each other, growls low and primal, tails lashing the earth. The Giganotosaurus lunged again, jaws aimed for his skull, but Matias ducked low and raked his sickle claws upward. The curved talons ripped into the predator's throat, forcing it into a staggered retreat.
Seizing the opening, Matias bit down hard on the creature's neck. Muscles bulged under his scales as he held on, even as the larger dinosaur slammed him against the cave wall in a desperate bid to break free. Rock cracked. Dust fell. Still, Matias's grip never loosened.
The bigger dinosaur roared in fury and pain, trying to crush him beneath its bulk, but Matias shifted, twisting his entire body and driving his claws deep into its torso. Flesh parted under the force, spilling blood in thick rivulets.
With one last, savage wrench of his head, Matias tore through muscle and tendon. The Giganotosaurus buckled, its legs collapsing under its own weight.
It gave a final, shuddering snarl before falling still, blood pooling beneath it.
Matias stood over the corpse, chest heaving, his own wounds throbbing. The air was thick with the metallic scent of blood, the echo of the battle still ringing in his ears. The cave—and the river beside it—were his now, claimed through tooth and claw.
He dragged the corpse inside feeling slightly exhausted from the fight and slowly healing thanks to his rapid healing ability.
Matias wasted no time. He descended upon the fallen Giganotosaurus with primal hunger, tearing into its flesh with brutal efficiency. Every strip of muscle, every organ, every marrow-rich bone was devoured, his powerful jaws crunching through even the thickest parts.
To him, this was more than feeding—it was the law of the hunt. The defeated deserved to be consumed, their strength claimed by the victor. In this way, the hunter honored the hunted, ensuring nothing went to waste.
[ You have acquired new genetic traits! ]
[ Name: Endless Pursuit ]
[ Description: Greatly increases stamina reserves, allowing for relentless long-distance chases without tiring. ]
[ Name: Massive Musculature ]
[ Description: Dramatically boosts raw strength, amplifying the force behind all physical attacks. ]
[ Name: Predator's Endurance ]
[ Description: Slows stamina depletion during combat, enabling prolonged engagements. ]
[ Name: Bone Saw Bite ]
[ Description: Serrated teeth inflict deep, ragged wounds that cause sustained bleeding damage over time. ]
[ Name: Ground Quake Stomp ]
[ Description: A powerful stomp that sends a shockwave through the ground, staggering and unbalancing smaller foes. ]
[ Name: Hunting Drive ]
[ Description: Mental fortitude against fear-based effects, ensuring unshakable focus in dangerous encounters. ]
[ Name: Dominance Aura ]
[ Description: Exudes an overpowering presence that deters nearby creatures from challenging your authority. ]
[ Name: Juggernaut Frame ]
[ Description: Reinforced skeletal and muscular structure reduces knockback from incoming attacks. ]