Moving this new body revealed its stark limitations—sluggish, devoid of mana, and far removed from the strength a hero should have. The contrast cut deep, like a jagged wound that refused to heal. The disconnect felt jarring—my mind, sharp and disciplined, now bound to a vessel that felt weak. A thought flashed through my mind, could this be the end of my life as a hero? I looked at my former body and a determination to rise again sparked within me, no matter the cost, I wouldn't let those bastards win. This was the first step toward something greater. Every step felt foreign, each movement a stark reminder of the vast chasm between what I had been and what I had become. Yet, knowledge was my one remaining weapon. As an orc, strength came from their ability to evolve. Orcs grew stronger not through just training, but through consuming stronger creatures, allowing them to evolve into higher tiered beings. This brutal simplicity was what made them a target during the war—making them a potential threat to the alliance to the point that a kill on sight edict was ordered. Without a hero of their own, their tribes were driven into the wilds, vast untamed regions comprising 20% of the entire world. These lands, filled with apex predators, remained mainly unexplored. This was both their refuge and their prison.
The lifeless husk of my former body drew my attention, stirring an unfamiliar, primal hunger deep within. If I planned to live as an orc, I needed to embrace my new reality.
"No point hesitating, this will be my first step to reaching my goal."
Kneeling beside the corpse, the act of consuming began—a visceral descent into survival. Flesh tore away under sharp teeth, each bite unleashing a cascade of sensations. The flavor defied expectation, rich and flavorful, fueling an uncontrollable need to continue. The taste was unexpectedly satisfying, each bite unleashing a cascade of sensations—savory and intoxicating. It was a flavor that defied description, a visceral reminder of the power that was being consumed. The warmth of the energy coursing through every fiber of my being made it impossible to stop. It was exhilarating, yet deeply unsettling—a primal rush that threatened to consume me. Having finished eating the corpse, a surge of mana began to build inside me. My muscles tightened, my vision sharpened, and a wave of heat spread through my entire body. Then came the pain.
"GRAAAAHHHH!" I roared, thrashing as the energy overwhelmed me. It was as if my body was being torn apart and rebuilt simultaneously. Every fiber of my being burned, each second stretching into an eternity of agony.
The ground beneath me cracked as I slammed my fists into it, trying to endure. My vision blurred, my mind teetering on the edge of collapse. But even through the pain, there was an undeniable surge of strength coursing through me.
When it finally subsided, I was left panting, my body trembling. Staring at my hands, they were now steadier,my skin turned a reddish-brown, the muscles larger and more defined.
"So this is what it feels to evolve,"
Moving my body burned with a strange intensity, the sensation felt like bugs crawling just beneath my skin. A sharp pain flared in my skull, and when reaching up to investigate, small, dull horns had begun to sprout. Horns? Since when could orcs grow horns? The thought lingered, but I dismissed it with a low growl. "Whatever," I muttered. Survival came first—my questions could wait. My stomach growled in agreement, a deep hunger gnawing at me.
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Focusing became an act of sheer will, pushing past the lingering pain and exhaustion that threatened to consume every step forward. The forest stretched endlessly around me, its dense canopy weaving shadows that danced on the uneven ground. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth, mingling with the faint musk of animals I couldn’t see but could feel watching. Each rustle of leaves, each chirp of unseen insects served as a stark reminder—I was an intruder in their domain, and here, I was far from alone.
Moving forward cautiously, my every step sinked into the damp, spongy earth that reeked of decay and life intertwined. Twisted roots jutted out like jagged obstacles, demanding precision with every movement, while dew-laden branches brushed coldly against my skin. The forest hummed with an almost oppressive vibrancy—a cacophony of bird trills and unseen creatures rustling just beyond sight. Each step was deliberate in order to adjust to the new weight of my body, my reddish-brown skin catching the fragmented light filtering through the canopy above.
The atmosphere seemed to press down with each step, the dampness in the air clinging to my skin like an invisible shroud, amplifying the growing tension in my chest. A faint, almost metallic scent teased my senses, drawing me forward with an inexplicable pull. The ground softened further, sinking slightly under my weight as I pushed through the undergrowth. Then, the trees parted, revealing a vast lake that stretched out like a mirror to the sky. Its stillness was unnerving, the surface shimmering faintly as if hiding something just beneath. Scanning the edges warily, half-expecting to see movement, but the only sound was the faint ripple of water disturbed by the breeze.
Knealing at the edge of the lake, the cold water slid down my throat, soothing the raw ache left by the evolution. It filled my stomach for the time being. As I leaned closer for another sip, the surface shifted, revealing something that made me freeze—my reflection.
A foreign face stared back—thick tusks curving from a broad jaw, dull red horns jutting from a roughened forehead, and reddish-yellow eyes that burned with predatory intensity. I froze, a wave of disbelief rippling through me. "I've really become an orc,"sigh. The cost had been immense, but staring deeper into the reflection, what stared back at me was a type of orc never before recorded by the mages tower. This body could still continue to evolve, so unlike my human body, there was hope in becoming even stronger, far surpasing anyone thats ever existed.
As a human, my body was brimming with mana, a walking calamity they said. This body, however, was void of mana entirely. Mana no longer resided within me, yet its faint presence clung to my skin—a tantalizing trace of what was lost. The sensation gnawed at me, fueling both frustration and resolve. My mind churned with questions as the hunger for answers only fueled my determination. It was infuriating—so close, yet untouchable. But something had changed. When entering this body, there was no sensation to the surrounding mana. Consuming my former self had undeniably evolved me, but what exactly had I become? The thought lingered, a mix of curiosity and unease as I considered the unprecedented nature of my transformation. The orc chiefs slain during the war were defeated easily with spells so simple, a child learning to wield mana could have dodged them.
Dwelling on it served no purpose now. Knowledge remained my greatest weapon. Plans began to form in my mind—each step needed to be a calculated move in order to reclaim what was lost and surpassing it entirely.
"Lets forget about the unknown and fix the current problems"
My first step needed to be fixing this manaless body. My only way to be a hero required the use of mana. Right now I lacked the resources and tools to fix this, but there was a more crude method that was researched in the mages tower. Blood rune carving, it was a method of carving into your flesh spell circles with the blood of beings with mana. It was what rune enchanters did to equipment but for the flesh.
The thought spurred me onward. Another sip from the lake steadied my resolve. "Wait for me you bastards," heading deeper into the forest. My path forward was clearer than ever.