Kaz stumbled forward, bare goblin feet squelching in moss and mud. The forest pressed in, shadows heavy with the scent of rot and old blood. Tree roots writhed beneath the earth, and every distant caw or crack of branch set his nerves on edge. He kept to the undergrowth, smaller than the ferns, sharper than the thorns.
"System," Kaz muttered, voice a gravelly whisper, "which way to food? Or anything that won't get me killed in ten seconds?"
"Host, current map is limited to areas within direct line of sight or recently explored. I am unable to provide safe routes beyond your immediate vicinity. Please proceed with caution."
Kaz clicked his tongue, lips twisted in a wry smirk. "So, we're on hard mode. Figures."
He crept along, eyes darting. The world was enormous—every bush loomed, every distant rustle a potential death sentence. Soon, the path split into three: one trailed deeper into gloom, another sloped toward a stagnant creek, and the third twisted through a thicket of brambles.
Kaz hesitated, ears twitching. Then—
He heard the growl.
He sank lower, peering between tangled roots. Ahead, in a clearing dappled with sickly sunlight, three wolves crouched over the broken body of a rabbit-like beast. Their fur bristled with silver and black, muzzles stained crimson. Each wolf was the size of a mastiff, muscles rippling beneath ragged pelts.
Kaz's heart hammered. He flattened himself to the earth, breath shallow, fingers digging into the loam. The wolves tore at flesh with wet, satisfied snarls. One lifted its head, nostrils flaring, eyes like molten gold scanning the trees. Kaz held perfectly still, not daring to blink.
The wolf's gaze passed over him, lingering for a heartbeat that felt endless. Then, as if satisfied, it nosed back into the feast.
Kaz's mind raced. "System," he thought, "scan those things. I need numbers."
[SCANNING…]
[TARGETS IDENTIFIED: BLOODWOOD SHADOW WOLF — ADULT]
[DISPLAYING STATS:]
[Bloodwood Shadow Wolf - Adult]
Race: Shadow Wolf
Level: 8
Class: Predator
Health: 76/82
Stamina: 49/55
Mana: 12/12
Strength: 34
Agility: 41
Endurance: 29
Intelligence: 10
Magic: 12
Charisma: 7
Devour Stability: 4
[ABILITIES]
Shadow Prowl: Become nearly invisible in dim light or darkness for short bursts.
Pack Tactics: Coordination with other wolves increases attack and evasion.
Savage Bite: High chance to cause bleeding on hit.
Blood Scent: Can track wounded prey over long distances.
Howl of Terror: Causes fear in weaker creatures within earshot.
[NOTES:]
*Danger Level: Extreme (relative to Host) Host is advised to avoid engagement. Shadow Wolves are highly territorial and hunt in packs.*
Kaz's stomach dropped. Compared to his own pitiful stats, these monsters were demigods. One swipe would tear him in half; one howl, and he'd be running blind through the thorns.
He stayed absolutely still, even as his legs cramped and his throat itched. Minutes stretched—wolves feasted, snapped, quarreled. Occasionally, one would pause, raising its head to sniff the air, but hunger kept them tethered to the kill.
Eventually, the largest wolf lifted its bloody muzzle, growled low, and the pack melted into the shadows, slipping away on silent paws. The clearing fell quiet, save for the buzz of flies and the soft drip of blood into the mud.
Only scraps remained—most of the small beast gone, a few torn bones and a morsel of meat forgotten. Kaz let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.
He edged closer, eyes wide with hunger and the pounding thrill of survival.
.....
Kaz crept closer to the mangled carcass, the smell of blood and wet fur thick in his nostrils. The body was barely bigger than his goblin form—torn open, ribs cracked wide, one glassy black eye staring from the mud. Flies buzzed in the sticky heat. His stomach twisted with hunger and anticipation.
"System," he whispered, "scan the prey."
[SCANNING…]
[TARGET IDENTIFIED: BLOODWOOD IRON HOG — JUVENILE]
[DISPLAYING STATS:]
[Bloodwood Iron Hog – Juvenile]
Race: Iron Hog
Level: 3
Health: 0/32
Stamina: 0/20
Strength: 15
Agility: 8
Endurance: 21
Intelligence: 2
Magic: 0
Charisma: 1
Devour Stability Required: 1
[ABILITIES]
Iron Hide: Physical defense is greatly increased.
Trample: Increases damage when charging.
Snout Sense: Enhanced smell for detecting roots and truffles.
Kaz's mouth watered. The wolves had left little, but the System thrummed with promise. He whispered, "Activate Absolute Ravage."
Instantly, the world shifted. Red, blue, and black portals—vast, swirling, furious—tore open above the corpse, painting the glade in strobing, impossible colors. A force like a hurricane yanked at the hog's remains, drawing flesh, blood, and memory into Kaz's body.
He felt it—muscles thickening, skin hardening, senses sharpening. A storm of power roared through him.
[ABSOLUTE RAVAGE: ACTIVATED]
[DAILY MULTIPLIER: 27x APPLIED TO ALL GAINS]
[GAINS: BLOODWOOD IRON HOG — JUVENILE]
Base Stat Gains (Before Multiplier):
Strength: +15
Agility: +8
Endurance: +21
Intelligence: +2
Magic: +0
Charisma: +1
Abilities Gained:
Iron Hide Trample Snout Sense
Transformation Unlocked:
Bloodwood Iron Hog (Juvenile) — Can freely shift into this form at will.
[TOTAL STATS GAINED (After 27x Multiplier)]
Strength: +405
Agility: +216
Endurance: +567
Intelligence: +54
Magic: +0
Charisma: +27
[CURRENT HOST STATS – KAZ (GOBLIN YOUTH)]
Vitality: 9
Strength: 411 (6+405)
Agility: 226 (10+216)
Endurance: 574 (7+567)
Intelligence: 72 (18+54)
Wisdom: 16
Charisma: 32 (5+27)
Luck: 1-100,000 (Fluctuates Daily)
Devour Stability: 1
Mana: 0/0
Stamina: 234/234
Health: 589/589
[SKILLS & ABILITIES]
Daily Random Multiplier
Absolute Ravage
Perfect Slaughter
Slaughterer Aura
Night Vision
Keen Smell
Basic Stealth
Claw Strike
Bite
Endure Hunger
Iron Hide (NEW)
Trample (NEW)
Snout Sense (NEW)
[TRANSFORMATIONS AVAILABLE]
Goblin Youth (Default)
Bloodwood Iron Hog (Juvenile) — Switchable at will
Kaz staggered, breath coming fast, as the power settled. He flexed his fingers—felt the new strength buzzing in every cell. He could smell the iron in the air, hear the distant drip of water in the roots below.
He could become the hog at any time—a beast of muscle and armor, far beyond any goblin.
A wild, delighted laugh escaped his throat, mingling with the heavy silence of the clearing. This was it. This was the dream—cheats, power-ups, infinite potential.
His stomach was no longer empty. He was ready to carve his place in this monstrous world.
.....
Author Note: Although mc might seem strong here, he is not strong at all. All this stats and experience increase you are seeing will be explained in due time so you dont need to worry about a mc who becomes too op just at the beginning of the novel. You will understand soon enough that mc is still really weak.