After checking all my power-ups, I reverted to my flesh form and could clearly feel the changes within me.
I had become so powerful that I felt like I could crush buildings into dust, and my mind was sharper than ever.
It seemed as though my body was undergoing an evolution to accommodate these changes.
According to Athena, based on my current strength, I was solidly ranked at the 8-A tier—meaning I could now destroy multiple city blocks with my power.
I was still growing and adapting, and it would take some time for my body to fully adjust.
Athena also predicted that I would likely reach the 6-A tier, where I could literally obliterate an entire continent.
Beelzebub's skill had also undergone significant changes. Since I already possessed extraction power, it had become even more formidable after merging with it. Now, it could devour anything from my slain foes—not just their skills and abilities.
But now that the freebies were over, I had to rely on myself to gain power. Careful planning was essential, but the thrill of growing stronger felt truly limitless.
With my current level of plot force, I couldn't even step into a low-level magical movie world. That's why I decided to start with a movie world where I could freely test my abilities without worrying about consequences.
I could enter a movie world with no supernatural elements free of cost, so I chose one set in primitive times to test my powers.
But before that, there was something I needed to do. I had to buy seasonings, cooking utensils, and camping gear since I planned to stay there for a while.
With that in mind, I went to a nearby market that sold camping supplies and spices, and bought everything I needed.
As for the movie world, I chose 10,000 B.C.—a place where I could hunt and eat prehistoric animals to accelerate my growth even further.
It seemed I couldn't choose my destination by timing the movie after all. That must have been a freebie too.
I arrived in a forest—distant bird calls echoed, the whisper of wind carried through the leaves, and unseen streams crackled steadily as they cut through the wilderness.
For a moment, I just stood there, inhaling deeply. The air was so pure compared to the smog-filled city I came from, it almost felt intoxicating.
Then, the ground trembled.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
A shadow moved between the trees.
When it emerged, I realized what it was.
A boar. No—a monster of a boar. Its tusks curved upward like ivory blades, long enough to impale a man clean through. Its hide was thick, almost armored, with dark brown bristles rising with each step. Its eyes burned with feral aggression as it stomped into the clearing, snorting steam into the cold air.
If this were the old me, just seeing it would've been enough to send me running. But now?
I cracked my knuckles.
"…Guess you'll be my first meal here."
The beast roared and charged. Trees shook as it barreled forward, tearing through underbrush like paper. Its speed was unbelievable for its size—primitive humans wouldn't have stood a chance.
But to me, it was laughably slow.
I waited until the last moment, then sidestepped casually. My palm shot out, catching the beast's skull mid-charge.
BOOM!
The earth shook as I slammed it into the ground. The impact cracked the soil, scattering leaves in all directions. The boar squealed, legs kicking helplessly, but my grip didn't budge. To me, it felt no different than holding down a struggling child.
I tightened my fingers, and with a single push—
CRACK!
The beast went still. Its massive body twitched once, then collapsed into silence.
"…That was almost disappointing."
I wiped my hand on the coarse bristles of its hide and looked down at the fallen creature. For a first test of strength, it was… underwhelming. Still, meat was meat. And I had come prepared.
I dragged the carcass into a small clearing and unpacked my gear. A portable stove, flint, cooking utensils, seasonings—all the things I had just bought. Some would call it overkill, but I wasn't about to gnaw on raw meat just because I was in the Stone Age.
The fire crackled to life quickly. I worked efficiently, cutting slabs of meat from the boar's flanks. The smell of fresh blood filled the clearing, mixing with the growing aroma of roasting pork as I set the first chunks over the fire.
Drip. Sizzle.
Fat melted and hissed against the flames. The savory scent spread into the forest, rich and mouthwatering. My stomach growled despite my evolved body not even needing food to survive.
I sprinkled salt and spices I'd bought from the market, watching them fuse into the meat as it browned. My mouth watered.
Finally, I took a bite.
"…Damn."
Juices spilled down my throat—smoky, tender, and bursting with flavor. Maybe it was just hunger, maybe it was the primal setting, but it tasted better than any five-star restaurant I'd ever been to.
I ate greedily, tearing through chunk after chunk until the firelit clearing was littered with stripped bones. The warmth of the meal settled deep inside me, grounding me.
The fire had died down to glowing embers, the air rich with the lingering scent of roasted boar. My stomach was satisfied, but my mind wasn't.
"…Yeah. This is good training material."
I stood, brushing the ash off my hands, and scanned the darkened forest. This world was crawling with beasts bigger, wilder, and stronger than anything back home. Each hunt would be another step—testing my strength, my reflexes, my instincts.
And, more importantly, my cooking.
The thought made me grin. "Guess it's time for round two."