Matias could feel the change in himself—the battle with the Giganotosaurus had hardened him, made his muscles denser, his hide tougher, and his movements heavier with strength. Claiming the cave as his own, he found a cool, shaded patch near the back and finally allowed himself to rest. Sleep came quickly, the rhythm of the river outside lulling the apex predator into a deep slumber.
When dawn broke, the hunger gnawed at him again. Rising to his full height, Matias stretched his massive frame before slipping silently back into the jungle. Once more, his sonar detection pulsed outward in unseen waves, sweeping through the terrain while his thermal vision painted the world in heat signatures. Schools of fish glimmered faintly in the nearby river, but they didn't interest him—not today. Something farther away drew his attention.
Through the dense foliage, movement caught his eye. A coordinated blur of shapes darted between the shadows. Velociraptors—though not the diminutive, turkey-sized killers of reality. These were the monstrous Jurassic Park kind, each one towering at nearly 1.83 meters tall, their bodies stretching 3 to 4 meters from snout to tail. Their sickle claws glinted as they moved, their sleek, muscular bodies covered in scales that shifted between earthy browns and muted greens for perfect camouflage.
They were attacking something much larger. The victim bellowed in defiance—a Triceratops. Nearly 3 meters at the shoulder and over 9 meters long, it was a walking fortress of muscle and bone, its massive frill protecting its neck and its three horns gleaming like polished ivory. Its hide was thick, like cracked leather, mottled with scars from past battles. Still, even such a titan staggered under the relentless harassment of the raptor pack, blood trickling from fresh gashes along its flanks.
Triceratops is one of his favorite Dinosaurs next to Tyrannosaurus Rex but that is already a given since most children who grew up learning about dinosaurs would love the two. But if he were to list his favorite that not a lot of people know then it would be Carnotaurus.
Matias crouched low in the thick undergrowth, the damp earth cool beneath his belly, his cold, unblinking eyes locked on the chaos ahead. He didn't move. Not yet. This was a show worth watching.
It would be less trouble to strike when both sides were bleeding and breathless. Larger dinosaurs were dangerous, but they were solitary. Smaller ones, like these Velociraptors, could swarm with lethal precision, and fighting an unbroken pack head-on—even for him—would be more trouble than it was worth.
The Triceratops bellowed, its cry echoing through the trees like a war horn, charging forward in a desperate attempt to gore the raptors. Its horns speared the air, forcing two of them to leap aside in a blur of movement. But the rest of the pack pressed in from the flanks and rear, their claws slicing deep into its thick hide.
One raptor darted in low, its sickle claw raking along the Triceratops's belly, opening a line of crimson that spilled across the forest floor. Another leapt onto its back, talons digging in as it tore at the frill with savage bites, teeth clacking against bone. The Triceratops roared and bucked violently, tossing the attacker into the undergrowth, but the rest swarmed tighter, snapping at its legs, hamstringing it with surgical precision.
The giant herbivore swung its massive head, the horn catching a raptor mid-charge and flinging it several meters away, its body hitting the ground with a sickening crack. But even as one fell, two more took its place, their claws and teeth turning flesh into strips.
The Triceratops's bellows grew weaker, its movements sluggish as blood poured from its wounds. One final raptor leapt high, landing on its neck and driving its sickle claw deep into the artery. The great beast's knees buckled, and with a thunderous crash, it collapsed into the dirt, the ground trembling beneath its weight.
The pack wasted no time, tearing into the fresh kill with primal hunger, their screeches and the wet rip of flesh filling the humid jungle air.
Matias's muscles coiled beneath his hide. Now… now they were beginning to tire.
The raptors were too consumed by bloodlust and hunger to notice the shadow creeping closer. Matias's muscles rippled under his scaled hide as he crept from the brush, each silent step bringing him closer to the feasting pack.
The air shifted.
A faint vibration rippled through the ground—subtle, but enough to make the pack pause mid-feast. Heads snapped up, muzzles dripping with the Triceratops's blood. Their slit-pupiled eyes darted, scanning the undergrowth.
Then Matias exploded from the foliage.
His sickle-like claws slashed in a wide arc, catching the nearest raptor in mid-turn and splitting it from shoulder to hip in one brutal motion. Blood sprayed in a crimson fan across the leaves. The rest of the pack shrieked in surprise, scattering like startled birds.
'What—?!' the pack leader's mind raced.
Another raptor lunged, hoping to catch him off guard, but Matias's tail whipped around like a living battering ram, slamming the attacker into a tree so hard the trunk cracked. Before the corpse hit the ground, he was already moving—his speed a blur despite his massive frame.
The remaining raptors circled, anger flaring in their eyes. Tired muscles burned, but they bared their teeth in defiance.
Matias lowered his head, a low, guttural growl reverberating from deep within his chest. The raptors froze for a heartbeat, instincts screaming at them to flee.
One tried.
It barely made three leaps before Matias lunged forward, his clawed hand slamming it into the dirt. His jaws clamped down on its neck, the crunch of bone loud even over the raptor's shrill scream. He flung the lifeless body aside like discarded prey.
The last two fought desperately, darting in with coordinated slashes, but Matias met them head-on. His claws parried one strike, then hooked the attacker's leg, yanking it off its feet and raking his other claw through its abdomen. The final raptor lunged for his neck in a last-ditch attack—only to be met with a violent headbutt that snapped its jaw on impact.
As it staggered, Matias loomed over it, eyes burning with predatory dominance. The raptor let out a choked hiss, trembling. Matias slowly leaned in, his snarl inches from its face, letting it feel the hopeless weight of its defeat.
Then his jaws closed, ending it.
The jungle fell silent, save for Matias's steady breathing. The air was thick with the scent of fear, blood, and victory.
Matias wasted no time. The fallen raptors still twitched in the dirt, their blood pooling beneath them, but to him, they were already nothing more than a meal.
He tore into the first carcass with savage precision, his sickle claws hooking and rending flesh while his powerful jaws crushed through bone without pause.
Every bite brought with it a surge of vitality—an echo of the agility, cunning, and ferocity that had once made these predators feared across Isla Sorna. He consumed everything, leaving not even scraps behind. This was not waste; it was respect. The hunter's duty was to take in the strength of the hunted, carrying their essence forward.
By the time the last raptor's remains vanished down his throat, Matias could feel the change. His muscles seemed lighter, more elastic, his vision sharper, his balance flawless. New instincts slithered into his mind, sharpening his tactics and reflexes.
[ New Abilities Acquired ]
[ Name: Pack Instincts ]
[ Description: Coordination bonus when fighting with allies, enabling synchronized strikes and strategic positioning. ]
[ Name: Acrobatic Predator ]
[ Description: Enhanced jumping and climbing ability, allowing swift navigation of uneven or vertical terrain. ]
[ Name: Razor Talons ]
[ Description: High-precision slashing damage capable of targeting weak points with surgical accuracy. ]
[ Name: Ambush Mastery ]
[ Description: Increased damage when attacking from stealth or concealment. ]
[ Name: Enhanced Awareness ]
[ Description: Heightened detection of enemies through subtle movement, scent, and sound cues. ]
[ Name: Pounce Takedown ]
[ Description: Ability to knock down prey smaller than yourself with a single decisive leap. ]
[ Name: Quick Recovery ]
[ Description: Faster recovery from falls, knockdowns, and stagger effects. ]
[ Name: Opportunistic Strike ]
[ Description: Damage bonus against distracted, injured, or fleeing enemies. ]
Matias devoured the raptors with steady, unhurried bites, savoring the taste. Their flesh was lean yet flavorful, reminding him faintly of a well-seasoned chicken—tender, sharp, and satisfying.
By contrast, the Giganotosaurus he had eaten earlier was like a thick steak, rich but with an unrefined, almost wild tang, as if the seasoning had been left to nature's chaos.
When the last raptor bone cracked and vanished between his jaws, Matias turned his attention to the fallen Triceratops. The air was heavy with the metallic scent of its blood, and its armored body promised a different kind of prize.
He sank his teeth into the massive creature's flank, ripping through muscle and sinew with brutal efficiency. The taste was earthy and robust, unlike the predators—its meat dense with the strength of a creature that had faced countless battles. Every bite sent a deep, grounding power through his body.
By the time only bones and scraps of hide remained, he could feel it—new strength, new resilience, and instincts etched into his very core.
[ New Abilities Acquired ]
[ Name: Titan Guard ]
[ Description: Enhanced defensive strength, reducing damage from frontal attacks. ]
[ Name: Gore Breaker ]
[ Description: Increased resistance to piercing and blunt force damage. ]
[ Name: Earthshaker Charge ]
[ Description: Powerful forward rush that can knock enemies aside. ]
[ Name: Reinforced Frame ]
[ Description: Dense bone structure increases durability and reduces fracture risk. ]
[ Name: Territorial Presence ]
[ Description: Intimidating aura that discourages encroachment from rivals. ]
[ Name: Herbivore's Stamina ]
[ Description: Steady endurance boost, allowing for longer sustained activity without fatigue. ]
[ Name: Defensive Instincts ]
[ Description: Heightened reaction speed when under threat, improving block and dodge timing. ]
[ Name: Head Smash ]
[ Description: Can deliver a concussive headbutt capable of stunning medium-sized foes. ]
[ Name: Ceratopsian Crown ]
[ Description: Gains a pair of curved, reinforced horns and a protective head crest inspired by the Triceratops. Increases melee damage with head attacks and improves frontal defense. ]