The forest was silent. Unnaturally so.
Kael crouched low in the undergrowth, his coarse golden fur matted with blood, grime, and the sticky residue of crushed beetles. His breathing was steady, deliberate. Every inhale tasted of wet soil and ancient bark. Every exhale released just enough heat to keep his body moving in this cursed wilderness.
He wasn't a lion anymore—not quite. He was becoming something else.
His body was leaner now, hardened by hunger and relentless struggle. After his forced rebirth into this savage realm and his harrowing escape from the stone chamber, Kael had spent the last five days surviving off vermin, bones, and puddle water. He had not seen another living creature larger than a hare. But that changed today.
The wind carried a scent—iron-rich, thick with warmth. Blood. And something wilder beneath it: meat.
His ears twitched.
A low snarl rolled through his throat as he crept forward, deeper into the gnarled roots and gloom.
The Forgotten Wild.
He'd only glimpsed the name when the system window flickered into existence earlier that morning:
[You have entered a Tier-1 Wild Zone: Forgotten Wild]Warning: This area contains awakened beasts. Survival rate: 17.8%Special Trait: Resource-rich. High chance of Evolution Catalysts.
Kael's lips curled into a smile. Dangerous? Certainly. But high chance of Evolution Catalysts? That was why he came.
❖
He pushed through a wall of moss-draped vines and emerged onto a clearing shrouded in mist. Towering, skeletal trees loomed above like the ribs of dead gods. The scent was stronger now.
And then he saw it.
A Venomjaw Boar.
It was massive—easily two meters tall at the shoulder. Jagged, green tusks protruded from its mouth, dripping venom that hissed as it hit the rocks below. Its hide was thick, covered in scar tissue and thorny ridges. A spike-tipped tail lashed behind it, snapping fallen branches like twigs.
Kael crouched, calculating.
[Venomjaw Boar – Tier 2 Beast]Status: Injured. Estimated Strength: 60%Potential Rewards: Nutrient-rich Beast Core. Evolution Material: Toxic Bloodroot.Warning: One mistake will kill you.
He didn't have the brute strength to take it head-on. Not yet. But he had intellect—and hunger.
He circled wide, silent as shadow, until he spotted a low ridge above the boar's resting spot. Beneath the ledge were thornvines—poisonous, acidic plants he'd already tested on a careless rodent two days ago. They devoured flesh in minutes.
Kael had a plan.
He backtracked, climbed the rocky ledge using gnarled roots and loose gravel, and then crouched above the boar. It was feeding on a carcass. A smaller beast lay twitching in its jaws.
He couldn't afford to hesitate. His claws scraped the rock. A growl built in his chest.
He leapt.
Gravity accelerated him—muscles coiling into one violent burst of movement. He slammed into the boar's spine, claws sinking in deep. The beast bellowed in rage, but Kael's fangs were already at its neck. Blood sprayed. The boar bucked, thrashed—but too late.
He dragged it toward the ledge's edge, snapping at its ear to drive it forward. The moment the beast lost footing, both predators tumbled—straight into the thornvines.
Kael leapt off mid-fall, slamming into a nearby trunk. Pain flared up his side. A rib cracked. But he watched as the vines twisted, writhed, and consumed the flailing boar. Acid hissed. Bone cracked. The Venomjaw screamed, then fell silent.
The scent of death was overwhelming. So was the system prompt.
[Critical Kill: You have slain a Tier 2 Beast using an environmental strategy.]+700 XPEvolution Material Gained: Toxic BloodrootBeast Core Acquired: Venomjaw Boar (Tier 2)System Evaluation: Clever predator bonus applied.
Congratulations! Your Level has increased to 5.You have unlocked the Abyssal Evolution Tree (Branch 1 Unlocked).
Kael's vision blurred momentarily. His muscles spasmed as something primal, dark, and ancient stirred inside him. His paws throbbed. His claws grew sharper, and a faint black mist curled around his mane like smoke.
But the real reward came next:
[Choose Your Evolution Trait for Level 5:]
Shadow Veil – Passive. Gain camouflage when standing still or moving slowly in low light.
Devourer's Instinct – Passive. Every kill restores a portion of health and stamina.
Intimidating Presence – Active. Roar that instills fear in enemies and lowers their defense.
He weighed the options.
Shadow Veil offered tactical advantage. Intimidating Presence could turn group fights. But Kael chose Devourer's Instinct. He wasn't just surviving anymore—he was hunting. This world rewarded the strong, and he would become the predator who never starved.
[Trait Acquired: Devourer's Instinct]
Hours later, Kael dragged the acidic remnants of the boar from the vines and devoured what he could. The Beast Core pulsed with inner heat as he bit into it—dark energy flooding his bloodstream. His vision sharpened. His heartbeat slowed but deepened. His body was changing again.
He felt it.
The Abyss wasn't just a realm—it was a force. It was seeping into him.
[Abyssal Mutation progressing… Estimated time to full mutation: 2 days]Warning: Without a stable den or territory, mutation process may fail or attract predators.
He snarled softly.
A territory. A home. A place to build.
This forest would not be enough. But it would do for now.
❖
That night, as rain misted from the sky and the forest whispered its eternal threats, Kael found a dry cave beneath a stone bluff. Inside were bones. Fresh ones. That meant it was claimed.
Perfect.
He roared once—low, guttural, and filled with power—and waited.
A moment later, twin red eyes appeared at the entrance.
A saberfang hyena.
It lunged. He met it halfway.
It never had a chance.
[Saberfang Alpha Slain. +250 XP]You have gained control of a Minor Den.You may now begin establishing your Domain.Sub-features unlocked: Territory Aura (Level 1), Primitive Throne (Locked), Harem Bond System (Locked), Army Control (Locked)
He dragged the body into the den. This was his now.
And it was only the beginning.
Kael lay down atop the stone slab at the center of the cave, staring out into the storm-lit night.
His fur bristled in anticipation. His next evolution was coming. A name echoed in the back of his mind, whispered by the abyss:
Abyssal Lion.
But he would choose the moment. He would shape his power, not be ruled by it.
For now, he was still rising. Still sharpening his fangs.
Still becoming king.