"My goal for now… is to find food."
Zephyr muttered under his breath, his tone laced with mild frustration. He had not expected the entire corpse of the Bloodfang to vanish so abruptly. Because of that, he failed to secure even a single piece of its meat.
A wasted opportunity.
"Time to move."
Tightening his grip around his weapon, he began walking once more, his steps cautious yet steady as he ventured deeper into the forest.
*****
Nothing particularly significant occurred for a while.
The forest remained eerily quiet, save for the occasional rustling of leaves and distant, indistinct sounds of movement. Despite the tension lingering in the air, Zephyr encountered nothing that posed a true threat.
At most, he came across a weaker beast.
A rat.
Though calling it merely a "rat" would be misleading. Its grotesque size alone was enough to unsettle anyone unfamiliar with such creatures. Its body was bloated, its teeth jagged, and its movements unnervingly swift.
Still it was nothing compared to what Zephyr had already faced.
Dispatching it required little effort with that, he secured his meal.
Now, rather than continuing his hunt, Zephyr chose caution.
He found refuge within the hollow of a large tree, its interior offering just enough space to conceal his presence. The damp scent of wood and earth filled his senses as he settled in.
He had no intention of moving for now.
He could feel it the process of merging, it was nearing completion.
And after everything he had endured, Zephyr refused to take unnecessary risks. He had learned his lesson the hard way—each misstep, each reckless decision, had led him to pain, suffering, and near death.
Remaining still… was the wisest choice.
Perhaps even the only choice.
He leaned against the inner bark, his eyes narrowing slightly as unease crept into his thoughts.
What if something goes wrong again?
The thought lingered.
Unwelcome.
Persistent.
Paranoia had begun to take root within him. Considering how consistently misfortune seemed to follow his every step, it was not entirely unfounded.
Every time something significant happened—
It was never simple.Never easy.Always painful.
He exhaled slowly, trying to steady his thoughts.
Just wait...Endure it...Minutes passed.
Then—
Something stirred.
Zephyr's consciousness shifted inward, drawn into the depths of his mind.
Before him stood the familiar temple.
Silent,Ancient and Unchanging.
His gaze locked onto the massive doors at its center. This time, however, something was different.
Embedded within the surface of the door was a gem.
It shimmered faintly, pulsating with a subdued crimson glow. Within it, a figure was etched—a beast.
The Bloodfang Wolf.
Its form was unmistakable.
"The merging… is complete." faint murmur escaped Zephyr's lips.
In that instant, he felt it.
A foreign power surged through his body like a torrent, coursing through his veins, embedding itself into his very being. His muscles tensed involuntarily as the energy spread, strengthening every fiber of his existence.
He felt…
Stronger.Not just slightly....But significantly...
It was an undeniable transformation—one that could not be ignored.
Yet among all the changes, one aspect captured his full attention.
A skill.
Newly acquired.
It manifested within his awareness, its presence distinct and unmistakable.
Super Speed.
A passive ability.Simple in name,but immense in implication.
For a brief moment, Zephyr blinked in disbelief.
"…Did I actually get lucky for once?"A faint grin tugged at the corner of his lips.
He recalled Maw's earlier words.
Gaining a skill through merging was heavily reliant on luck.
And yet—
He had obtained one.
"Hoh… you managed to merge ten percent of the beast's power."
Maw's voice echoed within his mind, calm yet laced with a hint of intrigue.
"Ten percent?" Zephyr raised a brow. "Is that… high?"
"Not particularly," Maw replied nonchalantly.
But internally—
He was far from indifferent.
Ten percent…
That was far beyond what he had anticipated.
In truth, Maw had expected Zephyr to acquire less than one percent of the Bloodfang's power. The fact that he reached ten percent was nothing short of astonishing.
Yet he chose not to reveal that.
There was no need.
After all, the process Zephyr underwent was anything but ordinary.
Enduring repeated deaths...
Experiencing pain beyond comprehension...
Only to be revived and forced to continue...
Such a process was not something any sane individual could withstand.
And yet,Zephyr had endured.
*****
Returning to reality, Zephyr slowly flexed his fingers.
His body felt… different.
Much Heavier,Stronger and refined.
If he were to measure it—
He felt at least twice as powerful as before.
Though he could not fully articulate the exact nature of the changes, the improvement was undeniable.
His gaze shifted downward.
His arm, previously damaged..Was still not fully healed.
It hung loosely at his side, yet he could sense gradual recovery taking place.
"Maybe… it's because of the Bloodfang's vitality," he muttered thoughtfully.
That would explain the accelerated healing.
He noticed something else.
His physique.
Before, his body had been scrawny—frail, almost malnourished in appearance.
Now…
There was a subtle change.
Muscle.Not significant.Barely noticeable,but present.
A sign of progress.A foundation for something greater.
Zephyr exhaled, leaning back slightly.
He could not hunt anymore.
Not now.Night was approaching.
And with it came danger...
The forest at night was an entirely different domain—one ruled by unseen predators and lurking horrors. His vision was limited in the darkness, and without a reliable advantage, venturing out would be reckless.
He would not take that risk.
Maw silently observed, then gave a small nod.
An approval.
Recognizing one's limits was not weakness.
It was wisdom.
A bond that could not acknowledge its own boundaries was destined for ruin.
*****
With that decided, Zephyr began preparing for the night.
He gathered what little he had and started a small fire within the hollow, carefully ensuring that the flames remained controlled.
He brought out the rat.
A grotesque creature, yet to him—
It was a feast!!!
"A feast to behold…" he muttered, a hint of amusement in his voice.
After killing the rat earlier, he had discovered something interesting.
When weaker beings—like the rat—were consumed by the Devourer's Pillar, their souls did not integrate.
They simply… ceased to exist.
Erased.
This indicated a limitation.
He could not fully devour weaker entities.
The merging process, it seemed, was only one aspect of the greater mechanism of Devouring.
'You call that a feast?!'
Maw's face twitched in visible disbelief as he stared at the oversized rodent.
Choosing to ignore him, Zephyr proceeded with his preparation.
He carefully cut off the legs of the Burrower Rat, setting them aside for cooking. The rest—
He devoured.
This time, he would not make the same mistake.
Nothing would go to waste.
Soon, the meat began to sizzle over the fire.
The aroma filled the hollow, rich and savory, causing Zephyr to salivate.
His eyes gleamed with anticipation.
He could not let this opportunity pass.
Even if he had consumed mountains of food through Devouring before—
That was different.
There was no rule stating he could not enjoy a proper meal.
Right?
Without hesitation, he began eating.
The meat was tough, slightly charred—but to him, it tasted incredible.
Each bite filled him with satisfaction.
Warmth spread through his body as he devoured the meal with enthusiasm.
And when it was finally over—
He leaned back, letting out a deep, contented burp.
"I'm full…"
For the first time in a while—
Zephyr felt satisfied.Not just stronger.
But… content.
That was enough...for now