[Skill: Iron Gut (Passive)]
Description: The user possesses an unparalleled digestive system, granting complete resistance to toxins, venoms, and harmful substances. No matter how poisonous, rotten, or indigestible the food may be, the user can consume it without suffering adverse effects. Additionally, this ability allows for continuous eating, breaking down and absorbing nutrients with maximum efficiency. Any excess intake is converted into pure energy, which is automatically distributed to enhance the user's physical attributes, including strength, endurance, and regeneration.
Okay, this was insanely useful.
Not only did I have resistance to poison, but my stomach had basically turned into a bottomless pit. No matter how much I ate, I wouldn't explode.
Which, now that I thought about it…
It was perfect for Evolution Devour.
That skill needed me to consume my target for it to work, and now? I could do that endlessly.
A slow grin spread across my face.
I yanked the snake off my arm. It thrashed, coiling around my wrist, trying to fight back.
I squeezed harder. Bones shifted under my grip. It hissed in protest, but I wasn't in the mood for games.
Hunger outweighed hesitation.
I opened my mouth—
And bit down.
Raw.
Because that's what my life had become now.
Eating raw snakes in the middle of the forest.
And the worst part?
It tasted amazing.
Like, deep-fried chicken amazing.
I barely had time to process the surprise before instinct took over. Hunger ruled my body. I ripped into it, tearing off chunks of flesh, swallowing without hesitation. My jaw worked fast, bones crunching between my teeth, every bite fueling the fire in my gut.
By the time I finished the last of it, a familiar sound echoed in my head.
Ding!
[You have killed Venomous Snake.]
[You have acquired 50XP.]
I barely had time to celebrate before another notification popped up.
[Evolution Devourer Activated.]
[You have consumed Venomous Snake.]
[You have acquired Trait: Venomous Bite]
[Venomous Bite]
Description: The user's fangs secrete a potent venom capable of paralyzing or weakening prey upon contact. Gained through the consumption of a venomous serpent, this trait enhances the user's natural bite, allowing them to inject a fast-acting toxin into their target. The potency of the venom depends on the user's strength and evolution, ranging from mild numbing effects to complete paralysis or internal deterioration.
I froze.
Then, slowly, a grin crept across my face.
Venomous Bite?
Now that could be useful.
It could slowly weaken enemies during fights, putting me at a massive advantage.
I clenched my jaw, testing for any changes.
Did my teeth feel sharper? Longer? Was there a hint of venom pooling beneath my tongue?
But nope. No fangs. No dripping venom. Just the same old brutal chompers.
Still, I had an edge now. An ability that could turn the tide in a fight.
And I could get more using Evolution Devourer.
A new, dangerous hunger stirred inside me. The urge to hunt. To consume.
I was ready to find my next target—
Rustle.
I sensed something was watching me and stopped breathing.
That wasn't a snake this time. It was bigger.
Something mean.
A low, guttural snort rumbled through the underbrush.
I barely had time to tense before the creature exploded out of the bushes.
[Wild Boar – Level 2]
"It doesn't know why it's angry, but you're definitely the problem."
I narrowed my eyes.
Seriously, what with these goofy one-line introductions?
The wild boar was a bullet of muscle and rage, barreling toward me with gleaming tusks and the kind of pure, unfiltered hatred only a wild pig could possess.
My body moved before my brain caught up—dodge!
I threw myself to the side just as the boar thundered past, narrowly avoiding becoming a troll-shaped shish kebab.
It skidded across the dirt, kicking up dust, then whirled to face me, snorting like I had personally insulted its ancestors.
Okay. Change of plans.
This thing was big.
About the size of a large dog, but denser, meaner, angrier.
Its thick, bristly fur looked tough enough to shrug off weak attacks, and those tusks? Yeah, they weren't just for show.
This wasn't just some helpless prey.
I was up against a mini bulldozer with tusks—all muscle, fury, and an attitude problem.
But I was still hungry.
And now, I have Venomous Bite.
So the pig was going to become my next dinner.
I crouched low, muscles coiled like springs, eyes locked onto the boar. It snorted, pawing at the dirt, nostrils flaring as it sized me up.
"Alright, piggy," I muttered, a grin tugging at my lips. "Come get me."
The boar exploded forward.
I dodged to the side—but this time, I wasn't just getting out of the way.
I lunged, arms outstretched, and grabbed onto the boar's thick, bristly hide.
Big mistake.
The moment my hands made contact, the boar lost its mind.
It bucked violently, twisting and thrashing like a possessed rodeo bull. My grip nearly slipped, but I held on for dear life, my fingers tangled in its coarse fur.
The beast rammed into trees, kicked up dirt, and spun in circles, trying to throw me off.
I gritted my teeth. Enough of this.
With a growl, I lunged forward—then bit down hard on the side of its neck.
Venom surged from my fangs into the beast's bloodstream.
The boar let out a horrible, high-pitched squeal, its body convulsing as the toxin spread. It thrashed harder at first, trying to shake me loose—but I clenched my jaw, refusing to let go.
Then, I felt it.
The venom was working.
The boar's frantic movements slowed. Its wild kicks became sluggish.
The squeals faded into weak snorts.
And then, its legs buckled.
Then, finally, it collapsed.
The boar's legs gave out, and it crashed to the ground with a heavy thud, dust rising around it.
I rolled off its twitching body, landing on my back, gasping for air.
Every muscle in my body ached. My ribs felt like they'd been used as a punching bag. But I was alive.
And more importantly, I had won.
A familiar ding echoed in my mind, and a glowing notification appeared in front of me.
[You have killed Wild Boar.]
[You have acquired 150 XP.]
I barely took a moment to process it before I acted.
Hunger took over.
Without a second thought, I dug in.
My teeth sank into the still-warm flesh, tearing off chunks of meat.
Juices dripped down my chin as I devoured the kill, ripping, chewing, swallowing—again and again.
Minutes passed. Bones piled up.
By the time I was done, the only thing left was a picked-clean skeleton.
And yet…
I still felt like I could eat more.
Like there was a bottomless pit inside me, an endless hunger that no amount of food could satisfy.
Then—another notification flashed.
[Evolution Devour Activated]
[You have consumed Wild Boar]
[You have acquired Trait: Boar's Tough Hide]
[Boar's Tough Hide]
Description: The user's skin has thickened into a dense, leathery hide, greatly enhancing durability and resistance to physical damage. Gained through the consumption of a wild boar, this trait fortifies the body against cuts, blunt force, and environmental hazards such as thorns or rough terrain. The hide naturally dampens the impact of attacks, allowing the user to withstand blows that would otherwise cause severe injury.
I froze, my breath hitching.
Then, slowly, I flexed my fingers, rolling my shoulders as a strange sensation spread through my body.
It was subtle at first—a faint tingling under my skin. But then, my flesh hardened.
I pressed a hand to my forearm.
Thicker. Denser. Tougher.
It was as if I had grown a layer of invisible armor beneath my skin, a natural padding that made me feel... sturdier.
A slow, satisfied grin spread across my face.
This devouring skill was no joke.
If every creature I ate gave me something new, then...
I clenched my fists.
I could grow stronger.