The cavern shook as flames roared.
Ryomen pressed himself against the wall, his small body trembling as heat washed over him. The Juvenile Fire Dragon unleashed another wave of molten breath, incinerating dozens of Cave Crawlers in an instant. The swarm screeched, their chitin cracking and boiling under the relentless blaze.
He dared not move. One wrong twitch and the monster's attention might turn to him. He was nothing compared to that creature. A hatchling. Barely hatched.
The system notification still hovered in the corner of his vision.
[Entity: Juvenile Fire Dragon | Rank C]
C-Rank. A level that, according to the knowledge imprinted into him during his reincarnation, could topple armies. And here he was, still F-Rank, barely able to stand on his own legs.
His claws dug into the stone, frustration mixing with fear.
If I stay here, I'll die. If I move, I might die faster.
He swallowed—or tried to. His throat was dry, his hunger gnawing deeper, sharper than before. His small body demanded more energy, more meat. That single crawler he devoured had given him only a spark. Not nearly enough.
I need to eat. I need to get stronger.
The swarm shrieked louder as the Fire Dragon's massive tail slammed into the ground, sending a shockwave through the cavern. Dozens of Cave Crawlers were flung aside, shattered against stone walls. Their bodies hit the ground with wet cracks, ichor spilling in streams.
The sight made Ryomen's stomach twist. Not with disgust. With hunger.
His eyes flicked toward the fallen corpses scattered across the cavern floor. Steam rose from their charred remains, but some were still intact. Meat. Energy. Evolution fuel.
If he could just… sneak closer…
No. Too risky. His rational mind screamed at him. But the primal instincts of his draconic body gnawed louder. Eat. Grow. Survive.
The Fire Dragon roared again, spewing fire into the tunnel, chasing the remaining swarm. For a brief moment, its massive body shifted, turning its back to the corpses.
Ryomen's heart pounded.
Now.
He scurried low across the ground, claws clicking softly against stone. Every movement felt painfully loud to him, yet the chaos of battle drowned it out. He darted toward the nearest corpse—a crawler split clean in half, its insides still steaming.
His jaws snapped down before hesitation could stop him. The taste was foul, ash mixed with burnt flesh, but the system responded instantly.
---
[You have consumed: Cave Crawler Remains.]
Evolution Energy: +1%]
Current Total: 3%
---
The warmth spread through him again, faint but real. He bit again, tearing through chitin and swallowing chunks of meat. His claws grew steadier, his trembling eased. The hunger dulled, but only slightly.
Another corpse nearby. Then another. He moved quickly, tearing into them, devouring what he could before the dragon's wrath returned.
---
[Evolution Energy: +7%]
Skill Fragment Obtained: Carapace Reinforcement (Lv.1).]
---
His scales shimmered faintly as the fragment merged into him. His body felt just a little tougher, a little harder. Not much—but it was something.
Then the cavern shook again.
Ryomen froze, ichor dripping from his maw. The Fire Dragon had slammed a crawler into the ground mere paces away. Its ember-like eyes flickered as its massive head turned—closer, closer—until it swept dangerously near Ryomen's hiding spot.
Time stopped.
The dragon's nostrils flared, smoke rising as it sniffed the air.
It smells me.
Terror gripped him. He backed slowly into the shadows, claws scraping lightly. His entire body screamed at him to run, but his instincts—those draconic instincts—warned him that sudden movement meant death.
The Fire Dragon's head loomed closer. Heat radiated from its breath, washing over Ryomen like a furnace. He could see every scale, every jagged tooth glowing faintly from the fire within.
Please… please don't see me…
The dragon's gaze lingered. Then, as if dismissing him as insignificant, it turned back to the swarm. Another roar of fire bellowed into the tunnel, forcing the remaining crawlers into retreat.
Ryomen slumped against the wall, his legs giving out. His tiny heart pounded so hard he swore the dragon could hear it.
That had been too close.
I'm prey. Nothing more than prey right now.
The bitter truth settled in his chest. He wasn't some chosen hero. He wasn't even a predator yet. He was weak, fragile, barely clinging to survival.
And yet, in that fear, a spark burned brighter.
If I want to live… I have to evolve. Faster. Stronger. Until nothing can look down on me again.
His eyes flickered to the glowing notifications.
Evolution Energy: 10%
It wasn't much. But it was a start.
---
Hours passed.
The Fire Dragon eventually left, its hulking form slithering back into the depths of the cavern once the swarm was eradicated. The silence it left behind was deafening. The smell of ash and blood lingered in the air.
Ryomen waited, crouched low in the shadows, until the last echoes faded. Only then did he move.
He dragged his small body toward the remains left behind, devouring every scrap of crawler flesh he could find. Each bite sent warmth spreading through his veins, dulling the hunger, fueling that strange energy deep inside.
---
[Evolution Energy: 21%]
Skill Acquired: Minor Night Vision (Passive).]
---
His slit pupils widened, and suddenly the cavern seemed brighter. Shadows sharpened, details clear even in the deepest dark. His eyes glowed faintly, reflecting the crystal light.
A small victory—but a critical one.
He lifted his gaze toward the endless tunnels stretching into darkness. The thought of what other creatures lurked there sent a shiver down his spine. But staying here wasn't an option. The Fire Dragon had claimed this cavern. If it returned and found him again, there would be no second chance.
He had to move. Hunt. Grow.
---
The tunnels were colder, narrower than the cavern. Moisture dripped from jagged stalactites, and strange fungi pulsed faintly along the walls. The air carried the stench of decay, mixed with something sharper—metallic, predatory.
Ryomen's small claws clicked softly as he crept forward, senses sharp. Every shadow made him tense, every sound made his scales prickle.
Minutes passed. Then, movement.
A faint scuttling echoed from deeper within the tunnel. His body tensed, eyes narrowing.
Another crawler?
No.
What emerged was larger, its segmented body glistening dark purple, with hooked legs and a tail tipped with a glowing stinger. Its mandibles clicked, dripping venom.
[Entity Identified: Cave Scorpion | Rank E.]
E-Rank. Stronger than the crawler. More dangerous.
Ryomen's instincts screamed again—but this time, he didn't freeze.
He crouched low, muscles coiling. His hunger burned hotter. His claws flexed, tail twitching.
This wasn't just fear. It was opportunity.
If he could kill it—devour it—his evolution would leap forward.
The scorpion clicked its mandibles, lunging with startling speed. Venom glistened on its stinger as it stabbed forward.
Ryomen leapt sideways, his small wings flaring uselessly for balance. The stinger slammed into stone, leaving a smoking hole where it struck.
He slashed instinctively, claws raking across the scorpion's leg. It screeched, lashing out with its other claws. One caught him across the side, sending him sprawling. Pain flared, sharp and searing, but his scales held enough to dull the blow.
He scrambled back to his feet, growl rumbling in his chest. His instincts surged again, urging him forward. His maw opened wide.
A spark.
Deep inside, something stirred. His chest burned.
Smoke puffed from his mouth—not much, but enough to startle the scorpion. It hissed, rearing back.
Dragon's Breath…?
Incomplete. Weak. But it was there.
He roared—small, high-pitched, but filled with fury—and lunged. His claws sank into the scorpion's face, tearing through one glowing eye. The beast thrashed wildly, tail whipping.
He bit down, fangs crunching into chitin. The taste of venom stung his tongue, but he didn't let go. He ripped, clawed, and bit until the creature collapsed, twitching violently before going still.
Ding!
---
[Victory Achieved.]
You have slain: Cave Scorpion (E-Rank).]
Experience gained.]
Evolution Energy: +8%]
Skill Acquired: Venom Resistance (Lv.2).]
---
Ryomen staggered back, ichor dripping from his jaws. His sides ached, his body trembled, but exhilaration surged through him.
He had killed something stronger. He had survived.
And more than that—he had grown.
---
[Evolution Energy: 29%]
---
A grin—feral and draconic—spread across his tiny maw.
For the first time since hatching, he felt it.
He wasn't just prey anymore.
He was beginning to climb.