Morning came soft and gray, filtered through the thick canopy above. Droplets still clung to every leaf, shining faintly as light seeped through. The forest had not yet woken fully. There was a rare calm between the breaths of life, a silence before the pulse of the jungle began again.
Luo Feng lifted his head from beneath the arch of the fallen tree. His scales were cool to the touch, still damp from the night. The air was thick with the scent of moisture, moss, and faint smoke. When he climbed slightly out of his shelter and flicked his tongue, the taste lingered stronger than before. The smoke was still far away, but it was closer than yesterday. He could feel the faint tremor of danger in it, something alien and unfamiliar to this world.
He stayed still for a long moment, letting his senses spread outward. Small creatures stirred around him, their steps soft and irregular. The forest was not calm, not truly. It was alive and cautious. The prey here had grown sharper, quicker to hide, and predators moved with quiet confidence.
Hunger tugged at him, but not urgently. It was a calm reminder, one that told him it was time to move again. He was stronger now, more patient. His failures had taught him rhythm. Every step, every breath, every pause mattered.
He began to move, his body gliding close to the wet soil as he passed through ferns and roots. His movements blended with the forest's slow awakening.
After moving more than 15 minutes, careful on not making too much noise and always with a certain level of cover, Luo Feng stopped.
He had found his first target near a rotting stump where insects buzzed faintly. A small rodent, its back streaked with scarlet, hopped from one patch of moss to another. Its claws scraped against bark as it dug into the soil. Every movement was quick and full of nervous energy.
Luo Feng observed quietly, eyes narrowing. This was no ordinary rodent. The scarlet-backed creatures were known for their agility and their habit of living close to dangerous predators. That habit had given them sharp instincts.
He inched forward, using the thick vines to mask his approach. Each time the creature turned its head, he froze completely, blending into the dark shade. When the rodent returned to feeding, he advanced again.
The ground beneath him was slick, but he had learned to move without sound. His muscles coiled. He could feel the pulse of his heartbeat slow, waiting for the perfect instant.
The rodent twitched suddenly, ears perking. Its body turned half-sideways, ready to flee. Luo Feng lunged.
The creature darted, springing to the left. His jaws snapped shut, grazing its fur. It squealed and twisted sharply under a root, claws scraping for grip. Luo Feng did not chase blindly. He pivoted, cutting the path ahead, forcing it to turn again.
A brief scuffle followed. The rodent leapt, but his tail whipped forward, knocking it off balance. It stumbled, and he lunged again. This time his fangs met flesh.
The bite was clean and deep. Warm blood filled his mouth as the rodent thrashed once, then went still.
He held it for a few seconds longer, making sure it was truly dead before swallowing.
Ring!
"Target: Scarlet-backed Rodent, small mammal, can provide 1 bio-energy point."
Ring!
"The host has successfully gained 1 bio-energy."
Luo Feng remained motionless as the faint vibration of the system faded. He waited for a surge of strength that never came. He only felt full, his hunger easing slightly. The taste of blood lingered sharp and metallic in his mouth.
When he finished feeding, he cleaned his snout on damp leaves and moved deeper into the forest. His eyes kept darting upward. The light through the trees had brightened slightly, revealing pale streaks of mist curling near the ground.
He did not stop to rest. There was still more to hunt.
He found the next opportunity near a decayed trunk split open by old lightning. From within the hollow wood came a faint blue glow. He crept closer, senses sharp, until he saw the source.
A cluster of glow-wing beetles clung to the inside of the trunk. Their bodies were the size of his claws, covered in hard carapaces that shimmered faintly when they moved. Their wings beat slowly, releasing faint motes of light into the air.
He waited, studying them. The beetles worked in rhythm, chewing at the soft wood with sharp mandibles. Occasionally, one would crawl out and vanish into the forest, replaced by another.
He picked his moment and slipped forward. The nearest beetle shifted slightly, sensing motion. He struck, jaws snapping around its glowing shell.
Crack!
The sound was sharp. The beetle's shell split, spilling faintly glowing fluid that burned slightly against his tongue. He hissed and pulled back, shaking his head as the acrid taste stung his mouth. The beetle twitched once, then fell still.
Ring!
"Target: Glow-wing Beetle, insect species, can provide 0.25 bio-energy."
Ring!
"The host has successfully gained 0.25 bio-energy."
The stinging sensation spread briefly through his jaw but faded quickly. His venom resistance dulled it almost entirely. He stared at the carcass for a moment, curious about its faintly glowing shell. He nudged it once, watching the light fade away slowly.
He moved around the trunk, striking twice more. Each kill brought the same faint burning sensation, followed by the same small gain of energy. When he finished, his stomach was warm, the earlier cold of morning replaced by a faint heat.
His tongue flicked repeatedly. He could taste something else nearby, something alive and larger. A rustle came from the left, near a fallen branch.
He stilled, lowering his body. A shadow slid across the ground — lean, scaled, and familiar.
It was a spine-scaled gecko, about his size, covered in grayish-green scales tipped with short, thorn-like ridges. Its eyes glowed faintly gold under the filtered light. The creature's body swayed slightly as it moved, slow and deliberate.
Luo Feng had seen this kind before. They were territorial and intelligent, ambush predators like himself. Fighting it head-on would be foolish.
He shifted quietly, circling through the underbrush until he found a narrow gap in the roots. From there, he could watch it without being seen. The gecko paused, sniffing at the air, then began to move toward a patch of damp moss.
He waited for it to turn. When its head angled slightly away, he crept forward, each step measured.
Crack.
A leaf stem snapped softly under his claw. The gecko's head whipped around.
They locked eyes.
For a heartbeat, both were motionless.
Then the gecko lunged.
Luo Feng rolled sideways, its teeth grazing his side. Pain flared briefly as one of its spines scraped across his scales, leaving a thin red mark. He twisted his tail, striking at its face. The blow glanced off, but it forced the gecko to recoil.
They circled each other warily. The air between them felt tight.
The gecko struck again, this time faster. Luo Feng dodged and countered, sinking his fangs into its leg. The venom took effect quickly, but the creature thrashed wildly. It rolled and bit back, claws raking across his flank. He hissed and tightened his jaws.
The struggle lasted only moments, but it felt longer. When it finally stopped moving, he released it, breathing heavily. Blood seeped from the small scratch along his side, warm but shallow.
Ring!
"Target: Spine-scaled Gecko, reptilian species, can provide 3 bio-energy."
Ring!
"The host has successfully gained 3 bio-energy."
Ring! "Bio energy threshold reached. Evolutionary conditions met. Evolution will take ten minutes. Host must ensure the safety of current environment. Begin evolution?"
He stood still for a while, letting his breathing calm. The ache along his ribs pulsed faintly, but the wound was not deep. He cleaned it against a patch of moss and moved on.
The day slipped by slowly. The canopy above shifted from pale light to deep green as the sun climbed. The air grew warmer, filled with distant chirps and the hum of insects.
When the last drops of daylight began to dim, he turned back toward his shelter.
The forest had changed in tone by the time he returned. The calls of creatures had softened, replaced by the slow chorus of night. Fireflies drifted between leaves, their faint glow scattered like tiny stars.
Luo Feng crawled into the hollow of the fallen tree. The scent of damp wood and soil felt familiar now. He settled himself against the smoother side he had scraped clean days ago, his eyes half-closed.
For a long while, he listened. The jungle outside was calm, but beneath the calm he could sense movement. Life never stopped here. It only shifted from one rhythm to another.
He flicked his tongue and called up his status window. The faint shimmer appeared before him.
---
Host Property List
Level 3
Bioenergy 30/30
Skill Points 0
Body length 35cm
Diameter 1.2cm
Strength 0.2
Defense 0.1
Speed 0.4
Agility 0.7
Spirit 1.5
Physical strength 1.0
Skills Venomous Saliva (1/5)
Reputation value 0/10000000
---
He studied the numbers quietly. They were small, almost meaningless by human standards, but to him, they represented survival. Each point was earned with patience, with blood, and with caution.
He could feel the faint exhaustion in his limbs, the comfortable ache of effort. His stomach was full. The wound on his side had already begun to dry.
Outside, a faint breeze moved through the trees, carrying with it the scent of smoke once again. It was clearer this time, not sharp but distinct.
He tilted his head toward it. Somewhere far beyond the trees, fire burned, and where there was fire, there were people.
The thought stayed for only a moment before fading. He was still too small, too fragile, and this forest still had too many dangers left for him to face.
He turned slowly within the hollow, finding a position that let him rest comfortably. His tail curled close to his body. The warmth of his full stomach made him drowsy.
Tomorrow would come with new hunger, new hunts, and new lessons. For now, the soft rustle of the forest was enough.
Luo Feng closed his eyes as proceeded to answer the system request.
"Evolve!"