ROAARRNK!
The sound tore through the cave like thunder.
Every creature within earshot froze mid-movement, then bolted in panic. Grass rustled, wings flapped, and a small snake-like monster slithered frantically into the tall grass, trying to vanish from sight.
A single glance upward revealed the cause.
A massive, bipedal lizard-like beast soared through the air, easily thirty metres from head to tail. Its wings beat with a deep, resonant thrum, each motion sending gusts rolling. Thick, armour-like scales coated its body, gleaming faintly with a dark metallic sheen.
Two sharp, curved horns jutted from its head, and its claws, long enough to shred boulders, gleamed menacingly in the light. Every movement it made carried a heavy, predatory grace, the kind only top-tier monsters possessed.
If one were unlucky enough to meet its eyes, they'd see not mere hunger, but a presence that screamed dominance.
That creature soaring above the forest?
Yeah, that was me.
The sudden change in appearance had everything to do with the Assimilation process of my template. It had been just over a month since I hatched, and the process was supposed to complete gradually, at least, that's what I assumed. But well, nothing in this accursed world ever goes according to plan, does it? I think Aizen would call it a skill issue.
It happened on a day when I was too bored out of my mind. There were no strong monsters nearby, and flying endless circles over this area of the cave wasn't exactly thrilling entertainment. So, out of curiosity, I decided to check on something I'd nearly forgotten about — the Wyvernstone I got from my first gacha roll.
Normally, I would have used my points for another spin, but I'd been saving them, hoping to stack a few and increase my odds for rarer cards later.
"I wonder if it'll work if I just… eat it?" I muttered to myself, clawing it gently.
But before I could even make up my mind, the stone flared. The moment my claw brushed against it, an overwhelming surge of heat ran through my body. My vision blurred, my muscles tensed, and for a moment, it felt like my entire being was being rewritten.
When it finally stopped, I realised my body had grown. My scales gleamed darker, my claws were sharper, and my wings had stretched wide enough to blot out my shadow below.
Assimilation progress: +30%.
I didn't know whether to laugh or panic.
"Well, that's one way to speed things up, I guess."
"Kwee-kwee-kwee!"
A sharp cry echoed from above, cutting through the wind like a taunt.
Oh? He actually responded to my call instead of fleeing. Guess I finally found someone with guts.
A few seconds later, a large shadow passed over me. I looked up and saw a massive bird monster whose wings sliced through the air with a heavy whoosh. Its wingspan easily exceeded ten metres, each flap sending ripples of wind through the clearing. The creature's body was covered in rich brown feathers, but its beak gleamed white like polished bone.
An eagle-type monster, most likely, though I don't know its exact species.
It was easily one of the largest creatures I had encountered. I know it's one of the overlords of this area, though compared to my size, it's like a child.
The surrounding monsters had gone quiet, scurrying away to hide.
I didn't move immediately, rather studied him calmly.
It's not like I have anything better to do these days anyway. Hunting, exploring, testing my abilities… that's my entire schedule. Since I can't use Predator like Rimuru to absorb and gain new skills, I've made a habit of sparring with strong monsters instead.
Of course, I don't kill them. There's no point in wiping out potential training dummies when there's plenty to go around. The only time I kill is when I want to eat something, or when something decides to come after me first.
Each fight sharpens my instincts and helps me understand how these creatures think, how they move, and what tricks they rely on. It's actually kind of fun, in a brutal sort of way.
Besides, sitting around all day is boring.
The bird circled overhead, sharp eyes locked onto me, its wings cutting through the wind with steady grace. I could tell it recognised me as a threat just by seeing my size, though it wasn't going to back down.
Let's see how long you remain brave.
I made the first move. It's foolish to wait and let your opponent strike when you already have the chance.
"ROAARRNKKKKK!"
The roar tore through the air, but this time it wasn't just noise, it carried force. The moment the sound left my throat, the skill activated: Coercion.
A skill that uses sheer pressure to intimidate or force submission, the same kind Rimuru got from the Direwolf leader and used to bring the entire pack to heel.
I had always tried to intimidate my opponents using my roars, and after doing it over and over again, the skill eventually awakened naturally.
Of course, creatures with strong willpower could resist it, like the one in front of me.
Even under my pressure, the bird refused to retreat. Its wings flared wider, eyes blazing with defiance.
Good. Finally, a worthy opponent.
He overcame his fear and decided to attack. A strong gust of wind blasted from his wings.
I squinted. Seriously? He's using Gust? Did I overestimate his intellect? Can't you see my size?
The wind slammed into me, stinging against my scales but not doing much more than that.
"Hah. Nice try, but you'll need more than Pokémon moves for this," I muttered, spreading my wings wide.
As if insulted by my tone, the bird shrieked and unleashed a sharper attack, blades of wind forming out of nowhere. Air Cutter, huh?
I clicked my tongue. I knew it wouldn't really hurt me, but that didn't mean I needed to take it head-on like some masochist. Tilting my body, I flapped hard and shot upward, the cutting gusts slicing through where I'd been a moment ago. Behind me, a boulder exploded into pieces, shattered cleanly by the impact. Just because it didn't work on me didn't mean the attack was weak.
The eagle wasn't done though. He'd anticipated my dodge. He banked sharply, his movements crisp and precise, trying to circle behind me. His speed was clearly above mine, and he was far more agile in the air.
"Tch… of course the bird's faster midair," I muttered, twisting around to face his next approach.
Like a jet, he darted toward me, wings tucked in, the air screaming around him as he closed the distance. I could see his talons stretched forward, aiming straight for my eyes, precise, ruthless, and his best approach.
But he'd made one fatal mistake.
The moment he entered my range, I opened my jaws.
Flames burst out, a torrent of searing heat engulfing him mid-flight. The sky blazed orange for an instant, and his cry was swallowed by the roar of fire. I didn't even need to look to know how it ended.
Within seconds, his wings crumpled, feathers blackened and curling, his body dropping like a stone until it struck the ground below with a dull thud.
"Guess that settles it," I exhaled, my breath still shimmering faintly with residual heat. "Fast doesn't mean smart."
I was about to turn away when something caught my eye, a faint twitch from the charred heap on the ground. The bird was still alive.
For a moment, I hesitated midair, debating whether it was worth the trouble. Instinct said to finish him off and move on. Mercy wasn't exactly part of a monster's survival instinct. But then again…
"Tch. You're lucky that you choose to fight instead of running," I muttered under my breath, folding my wings and diving down. The ground shook slightly as I landed beside the half-burned bird.
His chest still rose and fell weakly, the once-proud creature barely clinging to life. The smell of burnt feathers filled the air.
Closing my eyes, I focused, letting magicules circulate through my body before channelling them out through my claws. "Heal."
A faint green light spread over the bird's form, gentle and warm in contrast to the earlier flames.
Slowly, the charred flesh began to mend, the smoke fading from his feathers as the faint shimmer of life returned.
Healing magic… one of the few spells I'd learned from the Carus template. At first, I'd thought it pointless to learn such a thing since I have regeneration, but right now, it didn't seem like such a bad idea.
*********
Other worlds for travel?