Even as the cub's hunger intensified, it possessed an innate understanding that the entity before it was far more terrifying.

With the demise of both goblins and the metamorphosis of the final one, an eerie stalemate ensued, wherein neither side budged an inch.

"They proved to be weaker than I had anticipated," Arlo murmured to himself. "Perhaps I should have dispatched them immediately... Then again, I would then be unable to locate this place by myself or avoid those undead."

Unbeknownst to him, Arlo had once again undergone an unconscious transformation. He couldn't help but feel that he must have presented a ghastly sight—a grotesque amalgamation, bearing semblances of both goblin and Deathwalker Wolf.

At that moment, the cub emitted a growl, indicating its willingness to strike should Arlo make any sudden moves. Recognizing this, Arlo refrained from provoking the wolf-like creature. In his mind, he envisioned the Alpha Deathwalker, desiring to fully manifest his transformation as such.

Without delay, his body responded, embarking on a rapid metamorphosis. A mane, originating from the crown of his head, gradually extended down his chest, back, arms, and legs, solidifying with a sheen reminiscent of polished iron.

"No wonder the goblin mentioned that this mane could shatter swords!" Arlo exclaimed. Not only did it appear as if he were adorned in a suit of armour, but it felt that way too.

Simultaneously, his stature expanded, until he stood at the height of a human, surpassing the cub in size, though still somewhat smaller than a full-grown Deathwalker Wolf.

As the scene unfolded before the cub's eyes, any inkling of retaliatory thoughts vanished, leaving only cowering submission. It couldn't tear its gaze away from this abomination that loomed ominously.

The completed transformation bore little resemblance to that of the Alpha Deathwalker. At best, Arlo appeared as a hybrid creature, merging traits of the Deathwalker Wolf and a human.

"It seems I am not evolved enough for completing such a transformation, yet."

Though maintaining a bipedal stance, he retained the sinewy musculature of the wolves, as well as their razor-sharp, steel-like claws. Within his hand, Arlo could sense a contained power, waiting to be unleashed.

With a swift swipe of his claw, Arlo slashed a nearby tree, causing the bark to splinter into fragments, leaving a deep depression adorned with the imprints of his claw. Although the trees within the Crystal Room were not exceptionally sturdy, owing to their desert-like environment, they possessed enough resilience to render this feat quite impressive.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

However, mere moments later, Arlo was overcome by a searing pain in his stomach, which swiftly permeated his entire being, nearly causing him to lose consciousness.

"God damn it," he muttered through clenched teeth. "I am starving again!"

His gaze inadvertently fell upon the trembling cub, momentarily contemplating the idea of devouring it.

'After all, it was a matter of survival of the fittest, was it not? The cub had merely found itself in the wrong place at the wrong time!'

Such thoughts infiltrated Arlo's mind, his self-justifications reinforcing the notion that this would be a suitable course of action.

"After all, I, too, am a monster," Arlo whispered to himself as his claw inched closer to the petrified cub, immobilized by fear.

Yet, before his hand could reach the cub, the ground beneath his feet began to violently tremble. Reacting swiftly, Arlo leapt backwards, putting some distance between himself and the quaking ground. The tremors concentrated beneath the lifeless bodies of the two goblins.

Emerging from the depths below, a scorpion of gargantuan proportions, dwarfing even an adult Deathwalker Wolf, breached its way to the surface. With merciless ferocity, it savagely tore into the bloodied corpses, its massive mandibles reducing them to fragments within seconds.

"Damn it," Arlo muttered, his internal frustration mounting as he observed the scorpion feasting, an act that caused him to lick his lips and left him wanting.

Once the scorpion finished its macabre meal, its attention shifted to the cub, quickly seizing it firmly in one of its pincers. In a fluid motion, it unveiled its stinger and slashed through the air like a scythe of death, poised to claim the cub's life.

A resounding clash reverberated as the stinger and pincer were forcefully deflected, thrusting Arlo into the midst of the confrontation, standing between the cub and the scorpion.

"I am truly a foolish monster," he chuckled, inwardly regretting his failure to seize the opportunity and attack the scorpion from behind. "But you shall make a fine feast, either way!"

Hunger now gnawing at his insides, Arlo's limbs contorted and twisted into grotesque forms. Though his body armour effectively shielded him from the stinger, he continued to fend off each attack with those fortified sections, relentlessly chipping away at the scorpion's exoskeleton in a mad flurry of attacks.

"This is great! Where have you been?!" Arlo chortled with a crazed look in his eyes while the scorpion screeched in pain.

Every assault from Arlo proved devastating, yet handling the scorpion remained a formidable challenge. However, for a ravenous beast, such obstacles mattered little. Arlo focused his onslaught on one of the scorpion's pincers, relentlessly assaulting it until the exoskeleton appeared sufficiently weakened. Then, with a revolting sound of rending flesh, the pincer was torn asunder, prompting Arlo to immediately gorge himself on the exposed flesh.

"Delicious!" Arlo exclaimed. "I can feel my body recharging with every bite!"

The scorpion, seemingly stunned by this unprecedented display, recoiled. No humanoid creature had ever dared to engage it in such a manner, let alone consume its own flesh. It swiftly sought refuge by burrowing into the earth, attempting to retreat from the battle.

Soon realizing its futile efforts to burrow deeper, the scorpion glanced back, only to find itself caught from its stinger by Arlo's stubborn grip.

"There's no way I'm letting this prime feast slip away!"

Arlo's cruel laughter echoed through the air as he tore the scorpion into pieces, consuming its flesh at an astonishing pace.

"This zesty bastard far surpasses the taste of the wolf from the other day!" Arlo declared, his mouth revealing a maw lined with razor-sharp teeth, his body drenched in blue blood.

"I crave more! Way more!"