Over half a month, Logan had amassed 18 Evolution Points. He spent them with the precision of a general preparing for a long campaign.
Three points went into Increased Size, pushing his length to nearly a full meter. A recent shed had left his scales a deeper, richer obsidian brown.
Three points were invested in Extended Lifespan, repairing cellular damage and granting his body more divisions—a long-term investment in his future.
Three more fortified his Nerve Conduction. A wave of internal heat marked the thickening of his neural pathways and the proliferation of synaptic connections, sharpening his reflexes to a razor's edge.
The remaining points were funneled into his Internal Organs, creating a comprehensive upgrade. His immune response heightened, his metabolism became more efficient, nutrient absorption optimized, and his tolerance for toxins increased substantially.
…
The pre-dawn light painted the sky a pale grey. Perched nearly two hundred meters high in the crown of a giant fir, Logan let the forest wind sway his one-meter frame. This quiet hour, the lull between night and day, was perfect for reconnaissance.
From this vantage, the world unfolded. An endless sea of green canopy stretched to the horizon, where it met the glint of a distant ocean. And at the heart of it all, rising like a verdant mountain, stood the Ancient Tree.
It was a leviathan born of geomantic energy, a fusion of countless species grafted into a single, impossible entity. Its roots formed rugged hills and natural tunnels; its branches created a vast, multi-tiered ecosystem. His gaze drifted to the very top, where a broad, platform-like formation of fused branches made a perfect, fortress-like roost.
Prime real estate, he thought, currently occupied by the landlord from hell. As if on cue, the distant silhouette of a Rathalos circled the highest boughs.
The sun breached the horizon, transforming the cloud sea into molten gold. It was a breathtaking sight, but not his objective. He scanned the distant cliffs, searching for the distinctive shape of the lost research vessel—Astera. Was the timing wrong, or was he simply in the wrong part of the forest? He saw no sign of it.
No matter. Food comes first.
As the Rathalos's morning patrol became more active, Logan descended. He melted down the trunk, a shadow among shadows.
In the forest's mid-levels, colossal vines—thick as pythons—wove between trees, forming a network of natural suspension bridges. Logan traversed them with silent, feline grace, his padded feet making no sound. His body, now the size of a large house cat but denser and more muscular at over ten kilograms, was built for this arboreal life.
The height advantage paid off. Below, amidst a carpet of fallen leaves, he spotted movement: a small, nibbling creature.
It resembled a giant desert jerboa—about half a meter long with slender limbs, a lean body, and enormous, twitching ears. A Gajau, or "Shamos" as hunters might call them, feasting on fallen fruit.
Not the meatiest, but it'll do.
Logan became a phantom. He flowed down the tree, his dark scales blending seamlessly with the bark. He judged the distance, coiled his powerful hind legs, and pounced.
His forepaws slammed into the creature's back, claws anchoring it. His jaws, evolved for this precise purpose, found its neck in an instant, clamping down on the major vessels.
The struggle was brief. Brain hypoxia silenced the prey within seconds.
Logan hauled his prize onto a sturdy branch. He used a claw to slit the belly open, consuming the nutrient-rich heart and liver first, then the meatier haunches. The rest—mostly bone and stringy lean muscle—he discarded. Rabbit-like creatures were poor fare; their fat content was too low to be efficient fuel. He'd read that a human could starve on rabbit meat alone without supplemental fat. It was a lesson in caloric economics he now understood intimately.
Still, as a new addition to his diet, the kill granted him a single Evolution Point. Combined with his daily allotment, he had two. He invested them immediately into Mobility.
The now-familiar warmth spread, concentrating in his muscles and joints. Ligaments thickened, fascia grew more elastic and resilient. He felt the change instantly—a subtle springiness in his step, a newfound lightness. Each movement seemed to store and release energy, making his leaps longer, his landings softer.
Then came the cost. Evolution demanded payment. The meager meal was insufficient, and his body began cannibalizing its own reserves. He watched, with a sense of grim fascination, as his once-plump tail began to visibly shrink, its stored fat rapidly metabolizing.
Not good. Hungry again. Need more. Now.
His stomach growled its agreement. He flicked his forked tongue, tasting the air, and caught a promising scent—the coppery tang of blood.
He became a black streak through the understory, leaping from branch to vine with preternatural agility, the complex terrain no longer an obstacle but a highway.
The scent grew stronger,濃郁化不開的, laced with musk and aggression.
Ahead, dappled in shafts of harsh sunlight, he saw them.
They were pack creatures, each about three meters long—a hybrid nightmare of wolf and monitor lizard. Green scales armored their bodies, fading to a dull yellow on their limbs and backs. A row of sharp spines ran down their spines. Their tails were relatively short, their heads like those of giant, malevolent iguanas, with slitted yellow eyes and mouths crammed with needle-like teeth.
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