Sector Assimilator watched the Quantum Tear with a mixture of longing and boredom. Hour after hour, they watched as the strike team grew stronger and more experienced, while they were stuck aboard the vessel, waiting with no small amount of boredom for the anomaly to return. The only point of enjoyment after the initial excitement wore off had been when Strike Leader’s vessel had been crushed and sent flying through the tear. Nothing quite hit the spot like seeing someone annoying be killed.

Still that had been weeks ago (local time) and Sector Assimilator was itching for more bloodshed. They were tempted to send System Administrator down to die in a like manner, but knew better. That old koot was the type of spawn that would much rather die honorably fighting than being disgraced and imprisoned, which meant that the only fitting punishment was to make sure they made it back to stand trial. They were sure that they could build a solid enough case against them to see it happen at court, and if not, they could always line a few pockets to ensure that it fell in their favor. Especially with the crazy amount of coinage they would reap from this integration and the anomaly.

“Pity we are stuck up here doing nothing.” Junior Administrator said, reading Sector Assimilator’s thoughts perfectly.

“It is, isn’t it? We who are strongest in this entire sector and yet we are simply stuck watching.”

“It would take the main cannons breaking and another Tier 3 coming to force us to go down and fight.”

Their junior cousin’s words prompted an idea to come to Sector Assimilator’s mind. “Who's to say that a Tier 3 isn’t coming through that tear right now? It would be irresponsible of us to simply assume from here that there isn’t a Tier 3. Maybe I need to go down and investigate.”

“I mean, the viewing screen has everything at Tier 2.” their daft cousin said, not catching their inflection.

“Does it though?” Sector Assimilator asked, nudging Junior Administrator and swishing his jugular tentacles back and forth quickly–the spawn equivalent of a human wink.

“Ah, I see.” Junior Administrator said with a little too much sarcasm, spawn, their cousin was stupid. “Perhaps you should go check it out.”

“Yes, I think I will. I am leaving you in charge, be ready to beam me up if necessary.” Sector Assimilator said as they made their way from the chamber towards the main boarding station where their fighting equipment was stored. Things were going to get a lot more fun.

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A large rock came free, flying three feet through the air and into Brent’s elongated maw, turning into nothing before it reached the back of his throat. Light streamed through the opening created by the rock’s absence, the first he had seen in months, causing him to shriek in pain.

“AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHGG!!!!!”

It was much closer to the scream of a child than that of a man, but he didn’t care in that moment, all he could think was, “Why are my eyes burning!?!” As he reflexively scooted backwards. By this point, he had spent so long underground bumping into rocks, that he was completely oblivious to the sharp objects his body impacted as he hastily retreated. It took hundreds of yards of backpedaling before he finally felt comfortable enough to open his eyes, and even then, the light caused them to water.

“Miiiiiiiiiiike!” he raged, his now chronic anger for the man becoming his tangible excuse for every slight uncomfort he experienced, before his hunger overshadowed the pain and he set about inhaling every loose object in sight.

Several hours later, as full darkness finally enshrouded northern Montana, he was able to leave the cave, although even the light of the crescent-moon was near blinding, but not as blinding as the large System-enforced arrow pointing down at his location. He had forgotten that was even a thing. Not knowing which way to go, he simply set off into the woods, blindly crashing through the forest. Eventually, he would find someone that could direct him to Mike, they may even taste good too if he was lucky.

Every once in a while, he called loudly for the man who was to blame for his hunger-induced predicament, but no response was forthcoming, and instead he was forced to slurp up any sleeping creature he came upon. Mmmmm Travel Snacks! He thought joyfully, though the awaited bloating that most travel foods induced wasn’t forthcoming. Still, level 65 was way higher than anything else in this area, and it felt good to be on top.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

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Bjarn held back the whimpers as he took up position near the rear of the party. They had set out days ago from the village to gain some quick levels. Everything near their village was now underwhelming and scarce, forcing them to go further and further with each trip.

Bjarn had originally loved the integration into this new reality, as it felt like his weekly Dungeons and Dragons game had come to life–each day was an exciting adventure offering new opportunities. Or it had been until the Zone barrier fell and the whole village suddenly had to fight monsters way outside their comfort zone. Six months later, even after conquering much of the land around Tarenford, (yeah, somehow Taren got a System award to name the town and that was the best he had) venturing out was still scary business.

The party had been tracking a herd of exceedingly large bobcats for the past two days, when suddenly, a large arrow appeared in the sky, causing everyone excitement to grow, especially when they Analyzed it.

[Existing Zone Quest Found: Headhunt

Kill the marked adventurer on sight.

Rewards: Double XP, Lottery Item]

“A lottery item?! Imagine if it was a new bow?” Ross, their archer had said.

“Or a new throwing dagger!” Angela, their rogue had chimed in.

Bjarn had remained silent, nervously eating through their stockpile of gooseberries as his compatriots agreed to leave the trail of the large cats and head towards their arrow, which had steadily grown closer.

Around five minutes ago, they had first heard it, the whirring of a tornado, occasionally punctuated by the howl of small forest creatures, but they hadn’t seen the source until 20 seconds ago. A withered man was wandering aimlessly through the forest, completely oblivious to his surroundings. His skin was pasty white and flaky, like there was no moisture in it all. His hair was stringy and filthy. But worst of all was his mouth. The enlarged orifice was stretched, spanning over a foot and a half in height. As the man walked, he constantly sucked any loose debris up before making it magically disappear. Bjarn had thought it was some kind of item until he caught the glint of small, yellow teeth inside.

Ben, the party leader, gave hand signals to the group, assigning each person a role in the upcoming battle, before he gave a final signal, having them all split up. Bjarn couldn’t remember what his role was, and woodenly shoved a few more berries in his mouth as he watched the battle commence.

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Brent sensed the lifeform approaching from his side, a perk of his most recent level advancement in Consume. Feeling that it was larger than just a small forest animal, he made the only assumption he could: Mike had heard him and had come to feed his unceasing hunger.

Pouncing forward and sucking as hard as he could, Brent stripped all the leaves from the bushes in front of him, revealing an archer with their bow pulled taught, who released the arrow immediately upon being seen. The useless projectile was gobbled up like everything else as Brent moved several more steps forward, all the while, inhaling as hard as he could.

The archer’s bow broke loose and joined the arrow, followed by his hat. In an instant, the man himself was being drug across the ground before his head entered Brent’s awaiting jaws. For the first time in months, he found himself with something edible in his mouth that didn’t simply vanish, and he chomped down with fervor, barely registering the shrieks coming from his meal. What he did register that nothing was entering his stomach despite his vigorous chewing. Not a drop of blood or a scrap of meat.

Sensing another lifeform within his sphere of perception, he vigorously yanked on the archer’s neck, causing it to detach from his body before simply ceasing to exist, the qualifications of the skill having been met.

Raging at not getting any actual sustenance, Brent pounced on the new life form, not caring that his body was being punctured by a small dagger–in fact, the pain was nonexistent compared to the insatiable hunger he felt.

[Congratulation: New Skill Unlocked, Blood Rites

Your enemy is the fuel that will make you whole.

Passively heal wounds using energy gained from Consume.]

The notification came as his second attacker was killed, and his wounds sealed themselves up in a matter of moments. Just in time for his next meal to come charging in from the side, a warrior covered in scale male. I’ve never tasted metal before, Brent though as he sucked the lunging sword from his attacker’s hand, Consuming it whole. Tastes just like everything else. He thought with no small measure of sadness.

As the last attacker fell, he continued walking through the woods, only to sense a final lifeform. Rushing over to its location, he saw a man staring at him with mute horror, his only movement was shoving small berries into his mouth.

“You would mock my hunger?!!?” he screamed, before lunging at the man and eating him bit by tasteless bit.

It was only when the last morsel was consumed that he realized he had missed a good opportunity to ask for directions.