I woke up late in the afternoon, and the first thing I did was survey the area. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary; the wolves were engaged in their daily activities, and nothing else caught my attention. I waited a couple more hours to allow my [Health] to fully recover. After two hours of rest, my [Health] was back at its maximum and I was ready to hunt. I descended from the tree, taking to the sky and heading toward a lake I had discovered during my earlier scouting. I had a plan involving the wolves in my domain.

Upon reaching the lake, I transformed back into my human form mid-air, landing on the ground with a thud, realizing I had no clothes, I was completely naked. I came up with a decent plan, then I activated my domain ability, I approached one of the wolves, consumed its organs, carried the remaining parts on my back, and left my domain.

Placing the wolf's remains near the lake, I scooped in some water. Transforming into a crow, I flew to a tree near the lake, landed on a branch, and began observing the area, hoping to lure some unsuspecting beings.

Time flew by, and the bushes nearby rustled, announcing the emergence of three figures marching in anticipation toward the lake's shore, with one figure towering above the other two, leading them. The three started filling what seemed to be a water container with fresh water from the lake.

Soon, one of them caught the bait as its vision wandered around, alerting the other two. They eagerly approached the bait as the older one pulled out a blade and started severing it into two parts, with one slightly larger than the other.

The lake's water rippled as a large lifeform sped up below it, approaching the three kobolds completely immersed in the bait. The shore started bubbling as a monstrous giant came charging out of the water, causing large splashes as it lunged at one of the smaller kobolds, capturing and pulling it back into the water.

The kobold clawed against the ground, screaming in agony as its blood dyed the floor, creating an ugly picture and forcing the other two to run in horror as they witnessed their kin suffocating under the water.

An unfamiliar feeling coursed through my veins as I witnessed the water's color turn slowly into crimson red. The kobold surged to the surface, screaming in agony just to be pulled back down in despair—a feeling I'd never experienced as a monster. It was fear. I eyed the wolf's corpse as I considered leaving it there; there was no chance in hell I was going there as I valued my life as a human. I had a family to go back to.

Realizing the wolf corpse was now a lost cause, I turned my attention to the fleeing kobolds and decided to pursue them. They were just good enough as a compensation. If they posed a significant threat, I had plans in place. I could burn my [Dark Energy] using [Phantom Form] to enhance my strength and confront them. Easily catching up to the fleeing kobolds, I followed them through the eastern woods. After about an hour, they reached a swampy area filled with structures resembling small wooden homes.

Descending from the sky, I charged at the younger kobold from behind, transforming into my human form mid-flight. I landed behind it, piercing its stomach with my left arm as I dug my claw into it causing massive damage and sending it into the heaven's doors.

I ripped my bloodied arm off the kobold as it screamed in pain, allowing it to fall to the ground. Turning my attention to the larger kobold, who had just noticed my presence and was charging toward me with furious screams, I leaped into the air, transforming into my cobra form. Charging at my opponent, I successfully bit his left shoulder, inflicting significant damage. However, I didn't escape unscathed, as he swiftly drew his sword, piercing a part of my body. Although the damage received was less than what I had inflicted upon him, the encounter left us both wounded.

The kobold's left arm fell to the floor with a thud, causing a small cloud of dust to scatter around.

(You've killed a level 3 adult kobold and gained 1 Exp)

The bleed damage was shortly healed, thanks to my [Regeneration] ability. The noisy ruckus and screams caused by my actions alerted nearby kobolds, and soon, some came charging at us. I disengaged from the screaming kobold and charged again, shortly as the fool dropped his blade to the ground and kneeled, holding and staring at his torn arm in shock.

"Sorry, no, not gonna happen," I shouted, but all they could hear was probably snake hisses. "[Absolute Darkness]," I shouted my ability as I circled my prey and constricted it, taking us both into my domain.

Foggy darkness emanated from below me as it spread through the air surrounding and enveloping us both in my domain completely blocking the outside world. I freed the horrified guy and slid into the darkness below us. Unlike him, I was completely one with my domain and could traverse any way I wished.

I took my cobra form in front of him again sending him into despair. He got up in a hurry and began running in the other direction. But how long could he keep running? There was no way out of my domain without my permission; he would just keep circling the domain as he ran into the distance desperately.

I kept following him leisurely; sometimes, he would slow down and look behind, spotting me, and then continue running. This went on a couple of times, and this cat-and-mouse chase came to an end as the kobold collapsed to the ground after losing its stamina. I was a bit far behind when it collapsed, and once I came near, I charged it, aiming at its neck with my fangs.

I began tearing its neck, and soon I separated it from its body, resulting in its death. I ignored the kill message, held its neck, and then threw it into mid-air, opened my mouth, and swallowed it in one go directly down into my stomach, triggering [Mindevour] in the process.

(You've killed a level 9 adult kobold and gained 7 Exp)

(You've leveled up!)

(You've earned 5 Attribute Points)

I continued feasting on what remained of the kobold's body, and once it was completely devoured, it triggered [Predation]. I earned 4 more [Attribute Points]. I decided to invest 9 points into [Heal], making it 29, and 4 into [Darkness], making it 13.

I checked my status; my [Food] increased by nine, making it twenty-six, and my [Health] was recovering slowly, rising toward its new limit of 145. [Exp] required for the next level was forty-five, and [Dark Energy] has a new limit of 78. The kobold form was 40 [Dark Matter], just a little less than my human form.

I slithered on the floor to the wolf's corpse that I threw at the kobold earlier and soon reached it. I began swallowing it; its value was forty [Dark Matter], and now I had its form. Unfortunately, there were no [Attribute Points], as it was just a level 4 corpse. My stomach expanded again, and the [Food] limit increased to 68. I was about to drop below the third, so I ate the organs of the last remaining corpse, just barely filling a little bit of my stomach.

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It was about time I recalled my domain, and I did. Once the darkness returned to my body, I found myself surrounded by kobolds; about seven were close, with four facing me. The rest would be alerted the moment I got attacked. 'Nice,' was all I could say in this situation. I couldn't take all of them if the majority were at level 9, like the one I killed previously. Hell, some of them were larger and possibly higher.

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Break

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I found myself cornered by kobolds and in a tough situation. One of them was noticeably larger than the others, reaching 6 feet tall, while the rest were 5 feet tall at maximum. I immediately took a defensive stance as they began pulling out their swords, and with a loud shout, I called [Phantom Form] which commenced my phantom form transformation.

My skin turned into dark scales, and then both my hands and feet started sharpening, turning into claws in the process. My veins bulged, and my muscles began expanding. My jaws were expanding at an alarming rate, and my teeth turned into sharp blades ready to crush whatever was thrown at them.

Rage was building inside me, and I felt my killing instinct screaming in sync with my transformation. I involuntarily screamed into the sky as my transformation was almost complete. Then, I faced the eldest kobold, which looked less intimidating now, and screamed my lungs out at it. The rumbling roar reverberated through the air shocking the kobold back.

I was completely overtaken by my instincts, just a monster driven by instinct and a desire for violence. I charged at the kobold that distanced itself in response to my transformation, my stomps shaking the ground as I ran toward it. It attempted to use its blade to damage me in vain, as I gripped the blade with my claws, crushing it effortlessly.

I held the kobold by the arm holding the blade and pulled it toward myself. Then, I sliced its chest with my claws, cutting it and causing it to scream. However, I took a slash to my chest, receiving more damage than I dealt in response to my savage actions, forcing me to let go of its arm as I gritted my teeth growling against the pain.

My injuries closed and healed thanks to [Regeneration], keeping the bleeding at bay. I would have taken more damage, probably, if I hadn't transformed. Charging at the kobold, the other kobolds came rushing towards me. I aimed to end this fight, knowing my transformation was about to end soon due to my low [Dark Energy]. I lunged at the kobold, knocking and pinning it down to the floor. I bit its right shoulder, aiming to rip it off with force, but surprisingly, my large razor teeth reached its neck in the process.

(You've killed a level 22 elder kobold and gained 60 Exp)

I pulled my teeth out with a chunk of meat, swallowing it in the process. I repeated the action a couple more times until the kobolds reached me. I took damage from the younger kobolds as they started slashing me with their blades. I pushed myself off the floor and knocked the ones around me away, preparing to escape for my life.

(You've received 18 damage from a level 14 adult kobold)

(Warning: Health below 25%!)

I quickly recalled [Phantom Form] and then took the crow form using [Shift], flying into the sky in panic as I noticed the warnings. I landed on a tree nearby and took a long breath; I was severely injured and unaware of my current [Health], so I accessed my status to take a look.

[Name: Arteus]

[Health:13/145]

[Food:31/48]

[Class: Hybrid Predator]

[Level: 4 | Exp: 15/60]

[Dark Matter: 120 | Dark Energy: 6/78]

[Strength: 36 | Dexterity: 20 | Heal: 29 | Darkness: 13]

[Ability Points: 0 | Attribute Points: 5 | Skill Points: 0]

From the memories of the kobold I ate, I got the name of this forest. They called it Gloom Woods, and it was a fitting name indeed. The most important information I got was the location of the nearest human-occupied area. If I went out of the forest through the western side, I'd find a road I could follow that would lead me there. I could find some information about my human home.

I was born in the capital city of Requies Kingdom as one of the Eastel family's children, alongside two siblings. The eldest, my sister, bore the name Evelyn, while my younger brother was named Igen. As the designated heir of our family. Our father, Moriai Eastel, and our mother, Lauren Eastel, who adopted our family name, played important roles in shaping our upbringing. I felt a growing distance from my family, and a sense of longing began to take hold. I knew I had to speed up my pace to return to them.

About four or five hours passed, and the darkness came purging the sunlight and devouring the forest again. I wanted to use [Phantom Form] again to confirm whether I would be able to act clearly or be clouded by my instincts taking over completely like the last time.

If I wanted to level up faster, then animal hunting wouldn't be enough; I had to find a dungeon or a ravine where monsters live or hunt other intelligent beings. Monsters gave more [Exp] than animals and intelligent beings, but dealing with monsters was risky for lower levels. I recalled my status to recheck my [Health], and I had recovered 34% now. [Dark Energy] was at twelve; I recovered three or four every hour, and it was really slow. I didn't need any [Dark Energy] for easy kills, and [Health] was fine as long as I didn't mess up.

I flipped my crow wings and took off into the air, leaving the swampy area behind as I headed back to the lake. The wolf remains were no longer there, probably taken by the crocodile. There was nothing I could do, so I just left. I landed on the top of a random tree, and I began to think of things I could do. Orcs were one of the races that shared the same tongue; they could understand and talk with humans, elves, and dwarves. Still, orcs were distrustful toward the other races and wouldn't befriend or allow me inside the village at all.

My purpose for going there was to get some clothes and perhaps some more information about this place. I wanted to know if I was still on my continent, Arcadia, or not. I dismissed my thoughts and closed my eyes, allowing myself to fall asleep. I woke up way too early disturbed by the loud noises of birds, I opened my eyes with a yawn witnessing the rays of sunlight slowly driving away the darkness of the night. I was still feeling sleepy and tired so I went back to sleep.

Time passed by, and I awoke again, almost ready to head out to the orc village. But I needed to do my preparations first; I went out to hunt again to fill my stomach. I managed to get some kills, gaining some [Exp] in the process. I avoided eating my prey entirely to prevent [Predation] from triggering, as none of the corpses were worth it—none were five levels above mine, which would result in more [Dark Matter] than what I needed and no [Attribute Points].

I collected some of the intact corpses and threw them into my domain. I kept two large deer bodies and one wolf corpse that I could trade for some clothes or better weapons.

After I was done with my hunt, I inspected my status. [Food] was now 48, and its upper limit was down to 60 as [Dark Matter] increased to 150. I took my crow form again as I dismissed the status panel and flew toward the east in the direction of the orc village. As I spotted the village, I flew down near it and took my human form again. The village was surrounded by fences made of wood, and I spent a few minutes looking for the entrance.

It was a large gate guarded by two orc warriors. After going back and forth negotiating with the guards, I was provided with some temporary clothes until they finished my request. I sold one of the deer for a large axe and the other as payment for my request. I gave them the wolf corpse to skin it and make some fine clothes out of it. I was told it would be done in no less than two days and up to three days; I decided to return in four days to make sure my request was completed by then.

I ventured deeper into the woods until I was concealed from view, then removed my clothes. Digging a hole in front of a marked tree, I stashed and buried my clothes. Transforming back into my crow form, I circled back to the orc village. Even though I wasn't permitted inside, I decided to use my tactics. In my relentless pursuit to return home quickly, I considered consuming some orcs to speed my growth.