Lioness Mother had devoured nearly half the carcass of a young gazelle. Even the juveniles weighed close to twenty kilograms, a rich haul after days of starvation.
The bloody meat finally gave her some reprieve from the gnawing hunger that had hollowed her out.
Though she wanted to swallow the rest of the gazzele, she restrained herself.
In a dry, thorn-shadowed corner of the acacia thicket, she dragged the remaining half and tucked it behind her haunches. It was a gesture meant only for Leon and his sister.
A low, guttural rumble left her throat.
"Grrhrr…" The lioness called out softly, signaling the hidden cubs.
Leon, lying curled beneath her tail moments ago, opened his eyes and blinked.
He saw the untouched meat.
His heart clenched.
Back in his previous life as a human, he'd never known the pain of hunger, nor the comfort of someone sacrificing for him. His parents had been buried in their corporate empires, too busy climbing to notice their only son slowly disappearing into the shadows.
But here, here in this body of fur, claws, and instinct, Leon had felt more care in a month than he had in two decades of human life.
The raw desperation in Lioness Mother's and the Pride Leader's eyes when they'd rushed back to the den, fearing danger had struck the cubs, still burned in his mind.
And now, she gave up food for him.
A sigh broke from Leon's throat, a strange sound for a cub so small.
But he didn't waste the offering.
He knew that to protect his new family, he had to grow. He had to evolve.
To stand tall, one day, atop the food chain of this awakening savannah.
Not just as a lion.
But as King.
With that wild, impossible dream roaring in his heart, Leon curled beside Lioness Mother, resting his head against her flank.
Tomorrow, he would hunt.
Next Day
Light filtered down through gaps in the acacia canopy, a pale gold glow that meant dawn had passed.
When Leon stirred awake, the den was quieter than usual.
Lioness Mother was gone. So was the Pride Leader. Even the older lionesses had vanished into the early morning savannah.
Only his sister and two younger cubs remained asleep, breathing in soft, slow rhythms.
Leon stretched his limbs, shaking dust and twigs from his pelt. He stepped outside, and the endless expanse of golden grass stretched before him, rolling and swaying in the wind.
Despite the time, the heat hadn't risen yet. A cool breeze teased through his mane.
He felt a familiar growl in his stomach.
He was no longer disgusted by raw meat or blood. The primal part of him had accepted the law of flesh.
Still, gazzeles were beginning to offer fewer Evolution Points—less vitality for his system to absorb.
"I need stronger prey," Leon murmured inwardly.
After sniffing the air and finding no immediate threat, he padded forward.
He didn't plan to go far—just far enough to explore. If prey came across his path, all the better.
His small size meant caution was survival.
Fifteen Minutes Later
Leon paused mid-step.
The wind carried the heavy scent of blood.
He froze, nostrils flaring, ears swiveling.
Something had died.
Recently.
He dropped low, slinking through the brush, every step measured.
It took him nearly fifteen more minutes to reach the source.
And what he saw stopped him in his place.
It was the corpse of an eland—a massive savannah antelope nearly two hundred kilograms heavy, perhaps more.
Species: Giant Eland (Male, Dead)
Level: 7
Vitality: 1050
Endurance: 75
Strength: 53
Defense: 39
Speed: 60
Leon's jaw tightened.
A beast this strong… even the full pride would struggle to take it down without planning.
Yet here it lay, throat gashed and limbs bloodied, its lifeblood still soaking into the dust.
And it wasn't even torn apart.
No gnaw marks. No signs of scavengers.
Only clean wounds. Too clean.
Leon stepped closer, cautiously.
When he reached the carcass, he noticed something eerie.
The horns were gone—sliced cleanly, not broken. And so were the genitals. Cleanly removed.
He froze.
"Humans?" The word echoed in his mind like thunder.
Back in his past life, Leon had known hunters, trophies, medicine, and meat markets. Horns and… certain parts are sold for a high price on black markets. Aphrodisiacs. Superstition.
He leaned down and inspected the fatal wound again.
It wasn't made by claws. It wasn't the gash of a fang.
It was a narrow puncture.
A blade.
Or worse—a bullet.
A chill ran down his spine despite the sun overhead.
Humans had been here.
They'd taken only what they wanted and left the rest.
How close had they come to the pride?
Leon drew a shaky breath.
This world wasn't just about claws and territory.
It was about strategy now. About dodging bullets as much as fighting tusks.
The savannah was changing.
And so must he.
Without hesitation, Leon sank his fangs into the eland's chest, targeting the flesh just under the shoulder where the meat was rich in muscle fiber and less fatty.
Ding! The host has consumed Giant Eland flesh. Vitality gained: +3 Evolution Points.
Leon's pupils narrowed.
Three points from one bite.
This was what he needed.
Power like this would help him stand toe-to-toe with monsters, with poachers, with gods if needed.
He chewed slowly, thoughtfully.
Time was short.
The world was evolving faster than he expected.
He couldn't afford to be left behind.
Not if he wanted to be king.