I peered at the forest looking for prey as I spread my wings gliding through the sky. I didn't need them to be five levels ahead of mine, as I was here for the [Exp]. Killing any intelligent beings would give triple the [Exp] I gain from normal animals, just like the kobold I killed earlier; the ones with any [Class] that specializes in combat would give four times the [Exp] just like monsters, but they would be harder to take on contrary to monsters that only acted based on instinct.
I located and observed some potential targets. One of the orcs was cutting wood in what seemed to be a small courtyard. I assumed he had no combat [Class], as he wouldn't be here if he did. Thus, I picked him for the hunt. My body shrank slowly until I was close to a normal crow, but a little larger. Then I accelerated downhill crashing into the pile of wood, causing some stir. I fell to the ground with a thud, catching the orc's attention. I acted dead, and soon I heard the orc's footsteps approaching me. Soon, I was picked up by the orc through my wings.
My eyes snapped open as I came to life calling my domain and pulling us inside. My body expanded as it morphed into my base human form knocking the confused orc away. I wouldn't risk wasting time in fear of someone coming to the orcs courtyard, so I immediately took the action. I felt my instinct taking over as I transformed, but I managed to resist it and act clearly.
I charged the defenseless fellow, which left its axe before picking me up. With swift determination, I seized the terrified orc by its shoulders, my large jaws split open widening as far as possible, and then, with a forceful motion, I chopped down on its head as the crunching sound echoed through the air as I swallowed it whole.
(You've killed a level 17 adult orc and gained 42 Exp)
I switched back to my crow form as I shrugged the feeling caused by what was left of my human conscience as I pierced the veil of reality placing my foot on the ground. I spread my wings taking off into the sky as fear assaulted me, I didn't want to get caught by the other orcs.
I left the village flying into the woods, and landed on the tree branch where I left my clothes. I recalled my domain and started to eat the orc corpse in my cobra form, as it was faster. It was delicious and encouraged me to go for another orc. Shortly after I finished my meal, [Predation] triggered, giving me ninety [Dark Matter] and eight [Attribute Points].
I jumped down, shifting to my human form, and landed on the ground. I put on my clothes and pulled my axe from the floor. I left in the direction of the wolf territory, carrying the large axe on my back. I stopped soon enough when I was far away from the village. I began chopping some of the smaller trees and placing them on top of each other, making a big pile as time passed by. After cutting about seven trees, I started processing them into thinner and smaller parts.
I finished the process and began digging down large holes around the area. I planned to use them as traps to capture and kill animals purely for food. My stomach must have grown larger with the increase in [Dark Matter], and I'd need more food. It was true for the future as well, so having extra food wasn't a bad idea.
I spent about three more hours working and setting up all my traps. Some were just done differently than others to carry some baits to trap predators, and some were light and deep enough for just animals passing by.
I finished my work late during the day, and the sunset was approaching soon. I took my crow form and flew into the sky, looking for some valid bait. Small animals or birds could do the deed. I spotted what seemed to be a rabbit hole and went down on a tree branch near it. I waited and observed the hole patiently, and soon, a relatively big rabbit with a mix of yellowish and white fur came running along with another one in grey fur. Both entered the hole.
I took my cobra form and went down the tree and then into the ground. I slithered my way into the hole, killing both rabbits, then grabbed them and went to my traps. I severed each into two parts, ensuring the bloody scent spread. I placed each part on top of a trap and left the area. I wasn't going to sit waiting next to traps; I didn't want to waste my time doing that. Both rabbits were just level 2, so I haven't gained any [Exp] from killing them.
It was night by now, and most of the orcs should be going to sleep, if not already asleep. I went back to the village; the streets were lit by torches attached to tall wooden stands. Not everyone was sleeping yet, but some huts were silent, and I failed to notice any activity, so I kept observing for a little more time. Not all houses were perfect; the roofs were not fully covered from above, and I could easily see if they were lit or not. I picked one small hut and slowly flew down toward it.
I landed next to the entrance and shifted to my cobra form, then slithered my way into the hut. An orc was sleeping peacefully on its bed, and next to the bed, I could see a small table. There was nothing else besides that; the orc was relatively smaller compared to the guards and the one I ate earlier.
I crawled up the bed, constricting the orc and keeping its mouth shut. Then I began to squeeze it, damaging it in the process. The orc was suddenly awoken, making muffled sounds in an attempt to scream as the pain caused by my actions was intense.
I felt no remorse or regret about what I was doing to the animals. I didn't know why; perhaps because I was just part human, or maybe because most of my emotions were dulled as a monster. I continued to squeeze, hearing the sound of bones cracking in the process. A few minutes passed like that, and finally, the orc was dead.
(You've killed a level 10 young orc and gained 24 Exp)
(You've leveled up!)
(You've earned 5 Attribute Points!)
(You've earned 1 Skill Point!)
I opened my mouth and began to swallow the orc from his feet until I had him entirely eaten. Thanks to the rapid digestion speed, I didn't feel weighed down by it. It took an hour to finish my meal. [Predation] triggered again, giving me another ninety [Dark Matter]. Sadly, I didn't get any [Attribute Points] from this one. I compressed my size and went out of the hut quietly, sneaking around the other huts. I found a couple of sleeping young orcs, killed them, and then pulled them into my domain, gaining seventeen [Exp].
I kept repeating it again and again. I wanted to continue, but I was spotted by one of the orcs that were still awake. After I was spotted, I was being pursued, which forced me to take my crow form and fly into the sky, escaping that orc's pursuit. It was dawn, and the daytime was approaching soon. I took a look at my status to know the changes. My [Health] was 113, and I was level 5 now with 62 [Exp], and [Dark Matter] was two hundred and forty. [Dark Energy] was recovered to twenty-four, and [Food] was fifty-six. I earned 1 [Skill Point] and had eighteen [Attribute Points].
I spent 8 [Attribute Points] on [Strength] and 2 on [Darkness]. I used the remaining on [Heal]. My [Health] limit increased by 40, and my [Dark Energy] limit increased to 90. [Skill Points] were used to upgrade skills, and one point was given every five levels. I had no use for it now as I had no skills. I finally dismissed my status after I finished.
[Name: Arteus]
[Health:113/185]
[Food:56/96]
[Class: Hybrid Predator]
[Level: 5 | Exp: 62/90]
[Dark Matter: 240 | Dark Energy: 24/90]
[Strength: 44 | Dexterity: 20 | Heal: 37 | Darkness: 15]
[Ability Points: 0 | Attribute Points: 0 | Skill Points: 1]
Exhaustion gripped me relentlessly after the labor, rendering me incapable of further action. As my senses dimmed, an unfamiliar sensation overcame me, accompanied by the nagging realization that I had forgotten something important.
Unlike humans or intelligent races, animals didn't have [Class] or control over their stats; their level increases as they survive and grow. There were limits on the levels based on their species, but the usual rule was that every life stage counted as a couple of levels. Once the animal grows from one stage to another, its level resets back to one. It then rises as it continues growing until it reaches its limit at the end of its lifespan and dies.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
At the stroke of midnight, I roused from slumber, only to grasp the unsettling realization that an entire day had slipped away during my unconscious repose. Eagerly, I went to observe my traps, and to my surprise, I discovered a small fox stuck in one of them. Moreover, two other traps had captured additional animals. One contained a trapped tiger, and another held a severely injured wild boar being devoured by another tiger. The remaining four traps were empty and untouched. It seems I'll have to be patient and wait for more. I killed the tiger devouring the boar and threw its corpse into my domain. I left the remains of the boar there, hoping to attract more unsuspecting predators.
A deepening sense of disorientation washed over me as I observed my traps, a nagging certainty that my actions were diverging from the intended purpose. Suppressing the unsettling feeling, I descended to liberate the small fox as I deemed the endeavor a futile investment of time, consuming it would merely contribute to the unnecessary augmentation of [Dark Matter].
I took a look at my status; my [Health] was full, and I was in the mood for more hunting. I assumed some of the wolf pack would be out hunting now or anytime soon. Therefore, I turned into a crow and flew in their territory's direction, but that was just an assumption anyway. On my way, a couple of wolves were marching forward, one large adult and a smaller one. I had a hunch they were not from the pack, so I went down with a plan in mind to trick and kill both of them.
Emerging from the sheltering canopy where I had touched down, I transformed into the wolf form acquired through devouring one of the earlier wolf corpses. I deliberately chose this form for its larger size, aiming to exude a more formidable and intimidating presence than both my natural state and the wolves I had encountered.
Drawing near the pair, a low growl escaped me, directed pointedly at the larger one, conveying my challenge for its companion. In reality, my sights were set on the formidable adversary, suspecting a higher level and anticipating a richer yield of [Exp]. The response was swift—an echoing howl as the creature acknowledged the unspoken duel as the smaller one backed off, opting to spectate the fight from its place.
I engaged in a prolonged struggle with the wolf, our contest unfolded in a series of clashes and wrestles. Though I endured a few feeble bites that inflicted minimal harm, my counterattacks proved equally impactful, dealing damage comparable to the assaults I weathered. That was because our [Strength] stats were close to each other. I managed to win by killing the wolf, but I lost about 60% of my [Health] in the process. I found out it was a level 14 adult during the fight, thanks to the messages.
(You've killed a level 14 adult wolf and gained 9 Exp)
After I was done with that one, its mate came weirdly approaching me. It started purring and came closer to me, probably thinking I was a real potential mate. But wolves mated for life, right? In response, I approached the wolf, trying to mimic the way it was purring. It began rubbing its body against mine in approval, closing its eyes. A completely pitch-black wolf—what could be suspicious about that? Suddenly, I acted, digging my sharp teeth into its neck and bringing it down to the floor. I kept tearing and tearing until it died.
(You've killed a level 9 adult wolf and gained 4 Exp)
This one was a level 9. Devouring it entirely would have a negative effect on me, but I could have some uses for the corpse later. I had a total of 13 [Exp] and 7 [Attribute Points] through [Predation], triggered by the big corpse. I changed my mind and ate most of the other one, leaving its remains behind. I returned to my crow form and flew back to the orcs' village. Unlike yesterday, this time the streets were filled with patrolling orcs taking shifts and switching places with each other every half an hour. The civilians were asleep inside their huts normally.
I came up with a plan to trick the orc warriors at the gate into a fight, but I needed my [Health] and [Dark Energy] to recover more than it is now. I went back to a nearby tree and decided to rest for some time as my stats recovered. I kept checking my status now and then; it took seven hours for my [Health] to completely heal, and [Dark Energy] was back up to 65. It was late morning by that time. I jumped off the tree, taking my cobra form, landed on the floor with a thud, and started slithering my way near the village's entrance.
I had a massive size and hoped they would treat me as a threat. I charged, attacking one of the orcs by biting its leg. Then, I was quickly slashed by its sword. I started slithering fast in the other direction, escaping the angry orc that started chasing me. I heard one of the orcs going inside, shouting for more backup.
After going far enough, I stopped moving suddenly, shocking the orc. I turned around and shifted back to my human form, surprising the orc that was very familiar with it. It wasn't stupid enough to stand there unarmed, so it pulled its two axes off its back and shouted at me as he wandered around observing the domain, "What the hell are you? What the hell is this place?"
"I'm just a monster hellbent on revenge."
"Why? We've never held any malice against you!"
"Because eating you makes me stronger. But don't take this personally. You are just another one to perish in the cause of my revenge."
"I've thought you were human, a good one at that!"
"I hope your decision leads you straight to hell!"
I ignored its angry shouts as I began circling slowly around it, making my intentions clear. I roared at it triggering my phantom form and transformed, taking the large axe out of my domain.
Assuming my combat stance, I lunged at the orc, immersing myself in the clash of our weapons. The intense clash of axes pushed me back momentarily, but I regained my footing, launching back into the fray with relentless determination. Our weapons collided repeatedly until I sent one of its axes soaring into the sky.
In the aftermath, a sharp slash to my left chest inflicted a significant cut inflicting me with a searing wave of pain, resulting in sixty-seven damage. While this might have seemed inconsequential to the orc, it stood as a considerable advantage for me. Seizing the moment, I executed a forceful kick, propelling the orc backward and inflicting an additional ten damage. The calculated move proved effective, especially considering the orc's formidable level of 24 and presumably superior [Strength] stat.
Sprinting toward the fallen axe, I snatched it up in my free hand just as the orc lunged forward. With a swift motion, it hurled its heavy axe at my back, inflicting thirty-nine points of damage. A sharp cry escaped my lips in response to the intense pain, but I pushed through, executing a quick roll to the ground.
Rising with determination, I lifted my body using my arm, assuming an offensive stance once more. My axes swung with formidable force, gradually bringing the orc to its knees as I asserted dominance. Amid our relentless clashes, the orc's remaining axe succumbed to the strain, crumbling and breaking in the process.
Once its axe shattered, the orc resorted to deflecting my onslaught with its unarmored fists, each block taking its toll in damage. During this exchange, the orc managed to land a powerful fist on my chest, resulting in thirty-two damage.
Reacting swiftly, I retaliated by swinging my axe, thrusting it into the orc's right side, and inflicting thirty-two damage, reaching the maximum for bleed damage. The orc's agonized scream pierced the air as I withdrew my axe from its meaty side, intensifying its torment. Seizing the opportunity, I delivered a forceful kick, sending the orc sprawling backward. Without hesitation, I charged, ruthlessly stepping on its legs and crushing them in the process.
Inhaling deeply, I surveyed the incapacitated and terror-stricken orc sprawled on the ground, fixating its gaze on me. Utilizing my axes, I severed the orc's legs entirely, casting them aside to unburden my hands for the impending feast. Returning my attention to the subdued creature, I began the process of lifting it.
Without hesitation, I plunged my teeth into its left shoulder, exerting increasing force until it detached from the rest of the body. The sickening crunch accompanied my voracious consumption as I swallowed the morsel. The same fate befell the other shoulder, my teeth tearing into the flesh. Next, I drove my claws into its chest, extracting the heart and savoring each bite. When the heart was consumed, I bit through its neck, delivering the final blow that ended its torment.
(You've killed a level 24 adult orc [Warrior] and gained 76 Exp)
(You've leveled up!)
(You've earned 5 Attribute Points)
I let out a breath as I reverted to my human form, then to my cobra form, and continued my meal, devouring the rest of the orc, triggering [Predation] and [Mindevour]. I gained 12 [Attribute Points] and more [Dark Matter], along with the orc memories. Then, it was time to take a look at my current status to see my harvest.
[Name: Arteus | Status: Recovering]
[Health: 61/185]
[Food: 98/132]
[Class: Hybrid Predator]
[Level: 6 | Exp: 48/135]
[Dark Matter: 330 | Dark Energy: 17/90]
[Strength: 44 | Dexterity: 20 | Heal: 37 | Darkness: 15]
[Ability Points: 0 | Attribute Points: 25 | Skill Points: 1]
I dismissed my status and switched to my crow form, wary of the orcs that could be outside, as I prepared to leave my domain.