I found myself standing in a pond, unable to recall the moments prior. Beyond the violent recollections of a car crash, my memories were a tangled mess and the only thing I was completely certain about was my name, Genesis Roberts.

I think it would’ve been right to feel some alarm toward the giant chunk missing information, but for some reason, I felt strangely calm.

My body was–

Looking into the reflection of the pond I was no human. What stared back at me was a small elk with a tiny pair of red, underdeveloped, antlers. On the other hand, the coat of fur covering the elk was a shade of olive that stopped just short of its dark red hooves.

‘Strange,’ I thought.

There was something odd about seeing myself as an animal, but at the same time, attempting to recall my life left me with a listless feeling. If I couldn’t remember it, could I say it really happened?

After all, I of the present was a creature I couldn’t recall. And this place I was in…

I raised my head to survey my surroundings.

This place felt different.

I wasn’t able to explain what exactly was different about it, but there was something inside me that resonated well with my surroundings.

A gentle breeze caressed me and I breathed inwardly.

Just as quickly as uncertainty began to rise within me, so did a sense of peace.

You have learned ‘Meditation.’ With each meditation, your mind will become clear. Repeated meditations can assist with growth as well as offer insight into mystical power.

‘This is all very odd,’ I read the translucent lettering filling my vision and felt astonished.

There was something very lacking about the lettering, but just as I was about to ponder more, new words appeared.

You have been selected as the bearer of the Spirit of Nature. Due to your previous life, your current interpretation of all things related to the Spirit of Nature will appear in this form unless you decide otherwise.

The Spirit of Nature is formless, boundless, and immeasurable, carrying no discernible will as it is the force of nature itself. In your past life, you met enough prerequisites that made you a candidate to bear the spirit and attracted it to you.

Although nature is both chaotic and unforgiving, it is innately neutral, conforming to no set standard. As the spirit’s bearer, you are able to make use of this unique power to grow.

Carefully reading the information revealed quite the startling revelation. It was hard to picture the words in my vision being a result of my own mind processing what I assumed would be felt instinctively if the bearer had an animal mind.

Maybe because my memories were muddled, I didn’t feel rejection toward what was spoken of. I couldn’t just comfortably settle into the role thrown at me but I had no overt rejection toward the idea of it.

Was it because there was no alternative? Or that I could barely recall my life as a human being? I had to wonder if my lack of recollection was in part due to being the so-called “bearer.”

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My ears twitched, clearly picking up on the sound of something rushing toward me. My body reflexively jolted out of caution and I turned to face the direction of the disturbance.

Breaking through the shrubbery was another strange looking elk. Rather than show curiosity toward me or feel threatened, it sprinted away as if it didn’t notice me.

‘Hey.’ My thoughts were very much constricted to my mind so it there was no way it would hear me–

Just as I said that it briefly stopped, looking at me as if it understood me. After spending a few seconds maintaining an uncomfortable amount of eye contact, it continued running off. I wasn’t able to process what happened as the sensation of something stampeding reverberated through the ground. More elk leaped through the brush and moved forward in a single direction.

I was stunned at first and simply watched as they moved past me, but then I heard the sound of dogs aggressively barking not too far away and joined the fleeing herd without hesitation.

I stumbled as I ran in the beginning, but I eventually managed to keep pace with the elk. Between the snarling dogs that could be heard just out of sight and the feeling of danger, I didn’t think too much about the situation. My instinctive reaction was to run away from the source of danger, but I suddenly had a shift in focus. Peering over my shoulder, I could see dogs keeping up the chase. The thick leather collars on their necks made it obvious that they weren’t wild dogs.

‘Hunting dogs then,’ I thought.

As soon as I noticed that small detail, I split from the herd instead of just sprinting straight ahead. My choice turned out to be the best one as high-pitched whistle filled the air, the dogs slowed down, heading for the whistle while the herd of elk fell into a field of pitfall traps. They tripped over each other and crashed into the ground. A rain of arrows came next and made quick work of them.

I spied human figures standing among the trees from an elevated position, but all I could think was getting far away from them. I ignored the cries of the elk being slaughtered and pushed deeper into the woodland.

…

I overestimated the endurance of my new body, quickly learning that in exchange for being fast, it was extremely hard to cool down. Having no pores to release trapped heat in the form of sweat turned into a huge downside. After running for so long, I wearily slowed to a crawl in an attempt to regain my stamina.

I was troubled from the near-death experience I just had, but I kept my cool. If I didn’t become aware of the situation when I did, I probably would’ve died since I was the smallest. I had to wonder why I was placed into a body that was clearly more immature and as a result, weaker than a fully grown elk.

Your current form is a ‘Bloodhorn Elk.’

If you wish to ‘evolve’ into a different form, the proper prerequisites have to be met. Each form offers varying benefits but an immense amount of energy is required to facilitate the transformation. In your current state, evolution is not yet possible.

An interesting tidbit of info appeared in my view. My newfound curiosity wiped away my exhaustion as I wondered what “evolutions,” I could get. As long as I managed to survive, the amount of time needed to get one was no problem.

Then, understanding what I wanted to see, new words appeared in order to answer my question.

There are both physical and arcane evolutions which can occur. The former can be achieved by the consumption of a large amount of organic matter. The latter is only achieved by meditation as well as the development of elemental control and/or magic.

Speaking of organic matter, I was quite hungry. I lowered my head and consumed tufts of bland grass.

‘If these responses are based on my own perception, how is that I know these things?’ I couldn’t help but think.

By bearing the Spirit of Nature, a certain amount of wisdom related to the natural world is revealed to you. Your interpretation of that wisdom is presented in the form you see before your eyes for ease of understanding.

‘So I’m essentially speaking to myself?’

The lack of an answer was a confirmation in and of itself. If there was some sort of sentience to it, I could’ve got it to answer.

‘How much organic matter is needed to initiate a physical evolution?’ I questioned.

Once a total of 200 kilograms of organic matter is consumed, you will be able to gain the form of an ‘Elder Bloodhorn Elk.’

As it is a physical transformation, only your physical traits will be enhanced.

I was a bit shocked by the amount of plant life I would have to eat. The only good thing was that it didn’t appear I needed to eat it all at once. If I did, I think I would die well before I even got close to 200kgs.

With my first goal in mind, I carefully traversed deeper into the woodland while making sure I wasn't followed.