The water trembled.
The shadow circling Lin was bigger than he was — twice his size, with a long, whip-like tail and a jagged crest of bone across its back. Its maw split open, rows of jagged teeth gleaming under the dim light of the cave.
> [Predator Detected: Juvenile Skullfin Raptor.]
[Threat Level: High.]
Lin's new instincts screamed at him. He couldn't outfight it head-on. He had to be clever.
The Skullfin lunged again, snapping at him. Lin darted sideways, his claws scraping against the crystal walls of the cavern. Sparks flew.
> [Skill: Hatchling Burst – Active.]
Adrenaline surged through his veins. His tiny dorsal plates glowed faintly, pulses of blue energy coursing across his body. He slashed upward, clawing at the creature's eye.
Shriek!
The Skullfin reeled back, thrashing. Dark blue blood clouded the water.
Lin's breathing came out ragged. It's faster than me. But if I hit its weak points…
The Skullfin darted forward again. This time Lin didn't dodge. He swam low, letting the creature overshoot. With a burst of power, he latched onto its soft underbelly and bit down hard. His sharp teeth pierced flesh.
> [Critical Strike.]
The Skullfin thrashed violently, slamming him against the cavern wall. Pain lanced through his body, but Lin didn't let go. He clawed and bit, tearing chunks of flesh.
Crack.
The Skullfin went still, its blood staining the water.
Lin let go, trembling. His body ached, but the system's voice filled his mind.
> [Quest Complete: Survive Your First Hour.]
[Reward: 100 Evolution Points.]
[New Feature Unlocked: Species Evolution Tree.]
A holographic grid appeared in his mind's eye. Icons of monstrous silhouettes branched out like a family tree.
---
[System Mechanics]
Evolution Points (EP): Earned by hunting and surviving. Used to evolve new abilities, upgrade stats, or unlock mutations.
Stage:
Stage 1: Hatchling Monster
Stage 2: Juvenile Monster
Stage 3: Adolescent Monster
Stage 4: Apex Monster
Stage 5: Titan Apex (Legendary)
Species Evolution Tree:
Base Form (Unknown Hatchling) → Juvenile Sea Drake (Balanced)
Juvenile Spineback Lizard (Defense-Oriented)
Juvenile Razorfin Serpent (Speed-Oriented)
Skills:
Hatchling Burst (Temporary Power Surge – 60 sec cooldown)
Predator Sense (Passive – detect nearby life forms & threat levels)
---
The hologram pulsed, highlighting three possible paths.
> [Choose your first evolution path.]
Sea Drake (Balanced): Enhanced swimming speed & balanced growth.
Spineback Lizard (Defense): Hardened scales, slower speed.
Razorfin Serpent (Speed): Extreme agility, fragile body.
Lin stared at the options, his claws still dripping with blue blood.
"I need to survive… but I also need to fight back."
He hovered over the Sea Drake path. Balanced speed and growth. It was the safest choice for an uncertain world.
> [Selection Confirmed: Juvenile Sea Drake.]
[Evolution in progress…]
Agony ripped through Lin's body. His muscles stretched, his scales hardened, and his dorsal plates grew sharper. His tail lengthened, tipped with a jagged fin.
When the pain faded, Lin was no longer a tiny hatchling. He was a sleek, predator-shaped monster with claws like knives and eyes that glowed like molten sapphire.
> [Stage Up: Juvenile Sea Drake – Level 2.]
[Stats Increased.]
Lin roared for the first time — a guttural, echoing bellow that rippled across the cavern. The weaker creatures scattered. The water itself seemed to shudder.
This world thinks I'm prey? Lin thought, his tail slicing through the water like a blade. Fine. I'll become the predator it fears most.
And somewhere far above, in the stormy oceans of the Godzilla world, something enormous opened its eyes, sensing a new challenger rising from the depths.