Cannibalism is a common phenomenon in nature; after all, food and nutrients are precious resources that cannot be wasted. However, witnessing it firsthand still stirred a sense of discomfort in Logan. He dipped the tip of his tail into the water, instantaneously releasing a powerful electrical current.
The Jyuratodus fry swimming nearby began to twitch violently, shaking like sifting grain. Some died on the spot, their bodies slowly sinking toward the bottom of the pool.
Having dealt with them, Logan ignored the rest. He led Zhu Peiniang—who had just finished thoroughly washing herself in the water—further into the depths of the cavern.
This limestone cave might have been the path of a great underground river long ago. The walls were scarred with erosion marks from ancient currents. Coupled with geological shifts, it had formed a sprawling network of tunnels of varying widths and lengths—a literal labyrinth.
The reality was far more complex than the game's depiction. Stalactites hung from the ceiling and rose from the floor like the jagged fangs of a giant beast. The repetitive scenery made it incredibly difficult to maintain one's sense of direction.
Logan didn't know the exact location of the Rathian's nest. In the game, it was located on a sloped platform, so he reasoned that heading toward higher ground was the correct path.
The riverbanks had vanished by this point, replaced by a thin layer of standing water. Fortunately, the unique geological structure meant there was no mud underfoot, only hard, solid rock.
Suddenly, a series of sharp whistling sounds came from above. Having just survived a sneak attack, Logan's tail lashed out instinctively. Using echolocation, he locked onto several rapidly moving black dots. A few sharp, feather-shaped scales shot out; one unlucky creature was struck instantly and plummeted into the water with a dull splash.
'What on earth is that?'
Curious, he walked over. By the faint glow of the surrounding bioluminescent fungi, he saw a bat-like creature twitching on the surface. He picked it up with a claw. It was indeed a bat, with a wingspan of over a meter, covered in fine scales, possessing a massive head and unusually large ears. It was a strange-looking thing.
A Scalebat?
As the little creature breathed its last, a pale blue notification flashed before Logan's eyes:
Hunt Successful: Scalebat. Evolution Points +1.
He hadn't expected such a small creature to yield Evolution Points. On second thought, it made sense; this wasn't just a regular "ambient creature"—it was a genuine member of the Flying Wyvern species.
Indeed! In a species that dominates the upper tiers of the ecosystem—where members are usually defined by their power, ferocity, and strength—there existed a creature so weak it couldn't even compare to some common forest animals. It was truly the "Shame of the Wyverns," dragging down the reputation of its entire race.
'Since killing it grants points, what about eating it?'
Logan prepared the Scalebat simply: he removed the head and claws, discarded the useless organs, and tossed the rest into his mouth. The scales and thin bones were pulverized by his massive teeth with a series of loud crunches before he swallowed the whole thing.
Sure enough, the blue text appeared again:
Consumed: Scalebat. Evolution Points +1.
A total of two points. It was a pitiful amount—if the minimum unit wasn't "one," it probably would have been lower. Still, it was a pleasant surprise; better than nothing at all.
After that brief interlude, they continued deeper. As the elevation rose, the water receded, revealing the grey-brown rock beneath.
The cavern was unexpectedly vast with numerous forks. It seemed they wouldn't find the Rathian today. Logan and Zhu Peiniang found an open area and decided to rest for the night.
The next morning, they set out again. After about two hours, a faint light appeared ahead, accompanied by the roaring sound of falling water.
The familiar scene boosted Logan's spirits. Realizing he was close to his destination, he quickened his pace.
As they drew closer, the light brightened and the sound of the waterfall became thunderous. The ground began to show patches of a black, viscous substance that looked like crude oil—likely the result of ancient plant deposits. These patches were highly flammable; some were already flickering with orange flames. Fortunately, they were scattered, or things would have been dangerous.
A massive circular opening appeared in the cave ceiling, letting in bright shafts of sunlight that illuminated the flowing river and thick clusters of climbing vines. Beneath the roar of the water, Logan caught the sound of faint growls. He tracked the noise to a massive platform jutting out from one of the rock walls.
On that platform sat a nest constructed from layers of long, thin branches, resembling a giant bird's nest from a distance. Inside the nest, several creatures with red shells were curled up.
Those were Rathian cubs. Logan counted four of them. They were roughly three meters long from head to tail—about the size of a young calf.
This number was surprising. As top-tier predators, the Rath family's ecological niche was similar to large eagles in Logan's previous world; they usually only bred once every few years, laying only one or two eggs.
After all, Raths have massive appetites, and while the mother's care ensures a high survival rate, having too many offspring would quickly throw the local ecosystem out of balance. Furthermore, looking at their current size, it would take at least three years for them to reach independence. During that long period, the mother Rathian would have to provide all their food. Such a large brood would put immense pressure on her.
Not every cub was like Zhu Peiniang, who—as if she were on high-growth feed—had reached nearly eight meters in just half a year, gaining the ability to survive on her own.
Logan observed the cubs, then glanced at the piles of white bones scattered beneath the platform. Scraps of meat still clung to the bones, attracting rodents and insects that scurried among the remains.
He began to climb the cliff. Even a near-vertical angle couldn't stop him; his hooked claws dug firmly into the crevices of the rock. Using his immense strength, he pulled his body up bit by bit.
Before long, he reached the 30-meter height of the platform and hauled himself up.
The sudden appearance of this behemoth sent the young Raths into a panic. They shrieked and scrambled into the corner furthest from Logan. Their undeveloped flame sacs pulsed as they tried to spit fire, but they only managed a few harmless sparks.
Looking at these little things that barely reached his knees, Logan felt like he was facing a group of yapping Chihuahuas from his past life. He reached out with a claw and gave each of them a gentle "pat" on the head. The little ones instantly went silent.
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