[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

Congratulations, Arthur! You have devoured the Spirit Core of a distant descendant of the God of Fear.

New Evolutionary Traits Available:

* Aura of Dread: Project an overwhelming sense of terror to nearby enemies, causing them to hesitate or flee in fear.

* Shadow Step: Temporarily become one with the darkness, allowing for swift movement unseen by enemies.

* Nightmare Vision: Peer into the minds of those around you and manifest their deepest fears as illusions.

Arthur froze as the options appeared before him. These weren’t like the physical enhancements he had received from his previous evolutions. They weren’t about strength or speed, but something far more dangerous: control over fear. It was unsettling, and yet, he could feel the potential coursing through him—the ability to not just kill his enemies, but break them, to make them cower before him.

A grin crept across his face, his sharp teeth glinting in the crystal light. The power of fear... it was intoxicating.

I can do more than just survive now. I can make them fear me.

His eyes flicked between the options. The Aura of Dread resonated with him. He had seen how fear could cripple, how the Wendigo’s shriek had unsettled him for a moment in their fight. To turn that feeling back on his enemies, to make them hesitate, give him an advantage—that was real power. But then, there was Nightmare Vision, the ability to manipulate minds, to turn fear into something tangible.

What’s better? The immediate effect of terror or the ability to make them see their worst nightmares?

After a moment’s thought, Arthur made his decision. He chose Aura of Dread. He needed something immediate, something to turn the tide in his favor when the odds were against him.

[Evolutionary Trait Selected: Aura of Dread]

This time, the evolution was fast. Arthur’s body pulsed with a strange, invisible energy that spread through him like wildfire. His muscles tensed, his vision sharpened, and the air around him seemed to thicken. It wasn’t painful, just... different. He could feel the change deep inside, something primal shifting within him.

The power of fear wasn’t something physical—it was a presence, a force that radiated from him like an unseen wave. He could feel it seeping into the air around him, pulsing just beneath the surface, waiting to be unleashed.

And then, the [Map] flickered.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Yellow blips appeared, moving closer from multiple directions. Arthur’s eyes narrowed. It seemed the Wendigos weren’t solitary hunters. A pack was closing in on him, likely drawn by the death of their kin.

His claws flexed, the molten heat pulsing through them as he prepared for another fight. But this time, he wasn’t going to rely solely on his strength. He could feel the new power inside him, the Aura of Dread, swirling like a storm just waiting to be released.

Arthur crouched low, his senses sharpening as he listened for the approaching Wendigos. The cave was silent for a moment, save for the faint drip of water from the stalactites above. Then, from the shadows, he saw them—dark shapes, moving quickly, their skeletal forms twisting and contorting as they closed in.

The Wendigos were smaller than the one he had fought before, but there were at least fifteen of them, their glowing yellow eyes reflecting the light of the crystals as they bared their teeth at him. They circled slowly, surrounding him, their gaunt bodies moving with unnatural speed.

Arthur grinned. Let’s see what this new power can do.

He closed his eyes for a moment, focusing on the energy inside him, and then he released it.

The effect was immediate. The air around him grew thick with tension, a palpable force that radiated outward like an invisible wave. The Wendigos froze, their movements faltering as the Aura of Dread washed over them. Their glowing eyes flickered, and for the first time, Arthur saw hesitation in their predatory gaze.

One of them screeched, but it was a cry of fear, not anger. The others followed suit, their skeletal limbs trembling as they stared at Arthur with something close to terror. He could see it in their eyes—they were no longer looking at him as prey, but as something far more dangerous. Something to be feared.

Arthur moved.

With a savage growl, he lunged at the nearest Wendigo, his claws glowing with molten heat as they tore through its chest. The creature shrieked, but it was a weak, pitiful sound, cut short as Arthur ripped through its fragile form. He turned to the others, who had begun to back away, their confidence shattered by his Aura of Dread.

But Arthur wasn’t done.

He slashed through the pack, each strike precise and brutal, his molten claws leaving trails of burnt flesh in their wake. The Wendigos tried to flee, their gangly limbs scrambling over each other as they attempted to escape the overwhelming sense of terror that Arthur now projected. But it was no use. One by one, they fell to his claws, their bodies crumpling to the ground as Arthur tore through them.

It wasn’t long before the cave was silent once more.

Arthur stood amidst the carnage, his chest heaving with exertion. The bodies of the Wendigos littered the cave floor, their skeletal forms twisted and broken. He wiped the blood from his claws, his mind buzzing with the power he had just unleashed.

This... this is real power.

He could feel it now, a shift in his mentality. He wasn’t just surviving anymore. He was thriving. His body craved more power, more evolution, but it wasn’t just about the hunger now. It was about control—control over his enemies, over their fear.

Arthur glanced down at the fallen Wendigos. Most of them were dead, but a few were still intact, their bodies twitching slightly as the last bits of life faded from them. He considered finishing them off, but he felt... full. Satisfied.

Leave them for later, he thought, a smirk playing on his lips. If he ever needed to eat again, the remains would be there, waiting for him.

With that, Arthur turned away from the carnage and moved deeper into the cave. The crystals lining the walls seemed to grow larger as he ventured further in, their light brighter, casting shimmering reflections across the rocky surfaces. The air was colder here, and the ground sloped downward, leading into a deeper part of the cave.

Arthur’s steps were slower now, more deliberate. The battle had been exhilarating, but it had also left him with a sense of something... more. The Aura of Dread still lingered around him, a constant reminder of the new power he wielded. But there was a deeper hunger now, not just for food, but for domination.

He could feel his human instincts fading, replaced by something far more primal. His thoughts were clearer, his goals sharper.

I am becoming something else, he realized, his eyes narrowing as he gazed deeper into the cave. Something stronger. Something worthy of fear.