The taste was… different.
Not like the gamey, wild flavor of the beasts I'd devoured before.
There was something richer, something stronger about it.
My body reacted instantly.
Heat surged through my veins, a rush of power flooding my muscles. It was like drinking liquid fire—burning at first but then energizing.
And just like that, the hesitation vanished.
The unease still lingered, a whisper in the back of my mind.
But the power?
The power roared louder.
So, I kept eating, until...
The notification I was hoping for finally appeared.
Ding!
[Evolution Devourer Activating]
[You have consumed Human]
[You have acquired a new skill: Blade Dance (Active)]
A skill?
That was new.
So far, I had only gained traits from consuming monsters—passive boosts that enhanced my body. But a combat skill? Now, that was something else entirely.
The skill's description popped up in my vision:
Blade Dance (Active): The user enters a state of unparalleled agility, unleashing a relentless flurry of sword slashes within a short burst of time. Each strike is swift, precise, and seamlessly flows into the next, overwhelming enemies with sheer speed. The number of slashes depends on the user's dexterity and weapon proficiency.
Stamina Cost: 40
Duration: 3 seconds
Effect: Delivers a rapid series of slashes, increasing attack speed by 50% during activation.
Bonus: If at least 5 strikes connect, the final hit deals +25% bonus damage.
I exhaled slowly.
A technique built for speed. For precision.
For absolute carnage.
Oh yeah. This was worth it.
Especially now that I had a weapon to use.
I finished devouring the first corpse, wiping the blood from my lips and turned toward the next one.
Then, without hesitation—I dug in.
Flesh tore beneath my teeth.
The warmth of human blood coated my tongue, and that strange, electric rush filled my veins again.
Ding!
[Evolution Devourer Activating]
[You have consumed Human]
[You have acquired a new skill: Silent Steps (Passive)]
I froze mid-bite as the skill's description unfolded before me.
Silent Steps (Passive): The user's movements become naturally lighter and more controlled, reducing the sound of footsteps and minimizing disturbances in the environment. This skill enhances stealth, making it significantly harder for enemies to detect the user through sound alone. Whether traversing dense forests, rocky terrain, or creaky wooden floors, the user can move with near-silent precision.
Effect: Reduces footstep noise by 60%, making detection through hearing significantly harder.
Silent and Deadly
Oh.
Now this—combined with Camouflage—was deadly.
I could sneak up on prey without a sound. Get close enough that they wouldn't even notice until it was too late.
Or better yet—launch a surprise attack they'd never be able to react to.
I finished eating the second corpse, licking the blood from my lips.
Ding!
[Iron Gut converting excess food to energy]
[You have received +1 point to Constitution]
A pleasant warmth spread through my body, reinforcing my endurance. I stretched my arms, rolling my shoulders. The boost wasn't huge—but it was something.
And every bit mattered.
I turned to the next corpse.
Another human.
More strength.
More skills.
And with that thought—I sank my teeth in.
Ding!
[Evolution Devourer Activating]
[You have consumed Human]
[You have acquired a new skill: Thunderous Roar (Active)]
Thunderous Roar (Active): Unleashing a deafening roar imbued with raw power, the user sends a shockwave through the air, stunning all enemies within range. The sheer intensity of the roar momentarily overwhelms foes' senses, disrupting their movements and leaving them vulnerable to follow-up attacks.
Effect: Stuns all enemies within a 6-meter radius for 2 seconds. Enemies with lower Constitution or weaker willpower may be stunned for an additional 1 second.
Cost: 20 Rage
Bonus: If used while Rage Mode is active, the range increases to 10 meters, and enemies also suffer a 10% reduction in defense for 5 seconds after the stun wears off.
Cooldown: 25 seconds
By the time I was done, my whole body thrummed with new energy.
It wasn't just a feeling. It was real—my muscles denser, my reflexes sharper. Strength pulsed beneath my skin like a coiled spring, ready to explode at a moment's notice.
I stood up, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand.
Then I looked down at myself.
Blood.
It was everywhere.
Soaked into my arms, smeared across my chest, splattered on my legs. The thick, metallic scent clung to me, drowning out everything else.
My stomach was full. My body felt stronger than ever.
But my heart?
Heavy.
I had just eaten people.
That wasn't something I could undo.
I took a deep breath—slow, steady.
No regrets.
Survival first.
And if I had to become a monster to live?
So be it.
I clenched my fists, feeling the raw power coursing through me. My body had changed—evolved. I wasn't just stronger; I was something else entirely.
I brought up my stat window, the glowing text reflecting in my bloodstained hands.
Name: Sylas Stone
Level: 3
Class: Barbarian
HP: 675/675
Rage: 100/100
Stamina: 435
EXP: 900/1200
[Stats]
Strength: 33
Dexterity: 18
Constitution: 27
Intelligence: 7
Wisdom: 10
Charisma: 6
Stat Points: 0
[Skills]
Innate: [Evolution Devourer]
Passive: [Regeneration], [Camouflage], [Nightvision], [Iron Gut], [Savage Blow] [Silent Step]
Active: [Blade Dance] [Thunderous Roar]
[Traits]
[Venomous Bite] [Boar's Tough Hide] [Enhanced Leg] [Sharp Vision] [Cragdrillo Scale] [Wolf's Prowess] [Rockhide Lizard's Scales] [Gill Adaptation] [Orge Muscle] [Ogre Endurance]
I glanced at my status window.
And a smirk tugged at my lips.
Rage was now 100/100, meaning I can use it now if I want to.
But before I could think any further, something caught my attention.
Something lurked behind the thick shrubbery in front of me.
At first glance, it seemed like nothing—just a tangle of overgrown leaves and twisted branches.
But my sharp vision told me otherwise.
My eyes cut through the darkness, tracing the faintest outline of a figure crouching low, hidden within the foliage.
Watching me.
A chill crawled up my spine.
And the moment it realized I'd spotted it, it moved.
Fast.
A blur of motion burst from the bushes, sending leaves flying in all directions.
My muscles coiled, ready to react...
But then I saw it.
And my breath caught.
The creature charging at me…
Looked exactly like me.
Only uglier.
And before I could even process that, its arm snapped forward, and a spear shot through the air, slicing toward me with deadly precision.