After swallowing the tree lizard, Luo Feng lay quietly in his nest to rest, his body working diligently to process the substantial meal. The interior of his den was cool and dark, a stark contrast to the vibrant, dangerous world outside. He could feel the gradual shift within his stomach as digestive enzymes broke down the tough scales and muscle of his recent catch. It was a slow, almost imperceptible process, but he knew it was happening, converting biomass into the energy that fueled his extraordinary growth.
It took nearly two full hours for him to completely digest the prey in his stomach, a testament to the size of the meal. But when it was finally done, he felt a familiar surge of satisfaction as the system chimed in his mind, confirming he had gained 10 precious bio energy points. The number was significant, a major step forward, yet it also highlighted how far he still had to go.
He did not hunt again that day. Instead, he recognized that he needed time to settle his mind after the terrifying encounter with the eagle. The image of its powerful form and piercing eyes was burned into his memory, a constant reminder of his vulnerability. He spent the remaining daylight hours pressed against the cool earth of his nest, listening to the sounds of the forest and processing the near death experience.
Luo Feng didn't know if the raptor had merely passed through or intended to remain in the area. This uncertainty gnawed at him. If it was the latter, then every future hunt would require even greater caution, more careful planning, and a level of vigilance that would be mentally exhausting. The jungle, once a place of opportunity, now felt like a giant cage with a deadly overseer.
Eagles were almost impossible to guard against. They flew high, sometimes over a kilometer above the ground, becoming mere specks against the sky. From that impossible height, their vision was so acute they could pick out tiny animals hidden among the densest foliage. Then, they would dive with crushing, breathtaking force, their talons spearing through flesh and bone like sharpened knives. It was an attack that gave no warning, only a sudden shadow and then oblivion for their prey.
With his current small body, Luo Feng had no confidence he could survive a direct strike from such claws. The thought of those talons closing around him was enough to make his scales feel tight. He imagined the pressure, the sudden inability to breathe, the helplessness as he was carried into the sky. It was a death he desperately wanted to avoid.
Originally, he had thought that growing to over 30 centimeters in length meant he could begin showing his strength, perhaps even asserting some dominance in his immediate territory. But now, faced with the reality of the eagle, it seemed wiser than ever to remain low key, to be the hidden hunter rather than the visible power. Survival was not about pride, it was about persistence.
Beneath a eucalyptus tree thick enough to be circled by two arms, Luo Feng raised his head and flicked his tongue, carefully sensing the surroundings. The air was rich with the scent of damp wood and decaying leaves.
Here, the dense canopy overhead shielded him from the sky, giving him a measure of safety, a false ceiling that blocked the view from above. It was one of the few places he felt he could breathe slightly easier, though he never let his guard down completely.
Three days had passed since the eagle first appeared, three long days of heightened tension.
During that time, Luo Feng still hunted, his need for bio energy outweighing his fear, but always with heightened vigilance. He avoided open grasslands entirely, those sunny, productive areas now feeling like death traps. He restricted himself to places where the tree cover was thickest, where the shadows were deep and the light was dappled and broken.
The downside was obvious, his hunting efficiency plummeted. The grasslands had teemed with crickets and grasshoppers, easy prey that once provided him with a steady, if small, stream of bio energy. Now he had to work harder for every point.
Still, with his increased size, he could now target larger animals, creatures that offered more substantial rewards. In those three days, he had caught five young black spotted frogs, two adults, and even a small five centimeter gecko that had been stalking ants on a tree trunk. The frogs gave him nine points of bio energy in total, and the gecko three more, each catch a small victory.
Adding those to the tree lizard he had eaten, his accumulated bio energy now reached a promising 22 points. He was getting closer.
Ultimate Evolution System, show me my properties panel.
At his command, a familiar glowing panel appeared in his mind, its data a cold, hard assessment of his current state.
Host Property List
Level 3
Bioenergy 22/30
Skill Points 0
Body length 35cm
Diameter 1.2cm
Strength 0.2
Defense 0.1
Speed 0.4
Agility 0.7
Spirit 1.5
Physical Strength 1.0
Skills Fatal Venom 1/5
Reputation Value 0/10000000
Looking at the bio energy bar, Luo Feng felt his mood lift, a flicker of optimism amidst the constant caution. Only 8 more points, and he could evolve again. The next level of power was within reach, a tangible goal.
This was fast progress, faster than he had initially expected. Even without hunting the easy insects in the grasslands, focusing on larger prey had accelerated his growth significantly. Each larger meal was a substantial leap forward.
Of course, if he had dared to hunt openly, without the eagle's shadow hanging over him, he might already be at the threshold of evolution. Insects didn't give much bio energy individually, but they were abundant and easy to catch, a constant trickle of energy. Now, his intake was a series of feasts followed by periods of fasting and hiding.
During these three days, he had spotted the eagle twice more, both times a distant dark shape circling high above. Once, he even witnessed it fold its wings and drop like a stone, snatching a snake over a meter long right off the ground with a terrifying display of precision and power.
Luo Feng hadn't identified the snake species, but seeing another reptile, a creature much larger than himself, become food in the eagle's talons etched an even deeper fear in his mind. It was a graphic demonstration of the power disparity. He became more determined than ever never to hunt in the open again, to always have an escape route, to always be near cover.
Perhaps the eagle hadn't been around this area earlier because its hunting range was vast, encompassing many square kilometers. Maybe prey elsewhere had grown scarce, or a competitor had driven it, forcing it into this territory to hunt. He didn't know, and the uncertainty was its own kind of torment.
Pushing away those unanswerable thoughts, Luo Feng lifted his gaze through the leaves. The sun was already sinking, the light taking on a golden, slanted quality. The afternoon was nearly over.
This timing was deliberate. From watching carefully over the past days, Luo Feng had realized the eagle hunted mostly in the mornings, when the thermals were strongest and its prey was active. To be safer, he had compressed his hunting hours to the later part of the day, sacrificing some prime hunting time for the increased cover of approaching dusk.
Grinding his teeth, he hissed softly, a quiet, sibilant sound of frustration. Hatred burned in his heart, not just for the constant fear, but for the limitation the eagle imposed on his growth. It was a barrier between him and his potential.
When I grow stronger, when I am large enough, I will tear that eagle apart. The thought was a vow, a promise he made to himself, a goal to fuel his determination.
Taking a deep breath, Luo Feng flexed his body, feeling the strength in his new length. The air felt damp, heavy with a moisture that hadn't been there before. It clung to his scales.
Is it going to rain?
The thought flashed through his mind as he noticed how the forest soundscape had changed, grown louder. The hum of insects was more intense, a frantic buzzing, and many were flying low to the ground. Even the crickets seemed agitated, buzzing erratically above his head.
Yes, the signs were clear. It was going to rain, and soon.
Rain itself wasn't unusual here, the jungle thrived on it. But what worried him was the possibility of it lasting for several days. Continuous storms would make hunting far more difficult. Prey would hide, the constant drumming would mask sounds, and moving through soaked undergrowth would be slow and noisy.
I should catch as much prey as possible today. Stock up. The thought was practical, a survivalist's calculation.
With that decision firming his resolve, Luo Feng pushed forward through the undergrowth, his senses sharpened, his eyes missing nothing.
Perhaps because of the impending weather, the frogs were especially active, taking advantage of the insect activity. He saw several black spotted frogs and golden lined frogs perched on leaves, their long tongues snapping out with lightning speed to snatch unsuspecting insects from the air, rarely missing.
He even spotted a tiger frog, a massive specimen over ten centimeters long and weighing what looked like nearly half a pound, lurking near a small pool of water. The sight stirred his hunger, a deep craving for the bio energy such a large meal would represent.
I wonder what a tiger frog tastes like, he mused, the thought involuntary.
He had eaten many small frogs before, but never something this large, this substantial. Still, he knew tiger frogs were fast, powerful jumpers, and notoriously aggressive. They would not be easy prey. Attacking one would be a risk, a potential battle that could draw attention or leave him injured.
Just then, as he was weighing the risk, a smaller black spotted frog, perhaps grown bold by the feeding frenzy, leapt directly in front of him, seemingly unaware of his presence.
Luo Feng didn't hesitate. It was an opportunity too perfect to ignore. He pounced, his body a blur, biting the black-spotted frog directly, and then swallowed it into his belly.