The wolf's yellow eyes locked onto him like twin lanterns in the dim forest light. Fear surged through Lin Feng's small reptilian body—electric and primal. Their gazes met, the wolf let out a low, rumbling growl, and then—it leapt.
Lin Feng twisted sideways with desperate agility. The wolf's claws tore deep furrows into the moss where his body had been a fraction of a second earlier, sending dirt and shredded leaves flying. "I can't kill it. Not at Level 1… Not with Strength 2." This wasn't a battle; it was survival.
Run.
He dashed into the undergrowth, broad leaves whipping against his scales like green lashes as heavy paws thundered behind him, shaking the earth. The wolf was faster. Hot breath grazed his tail just as he spotted a narrow hollow carved into the rotting heart of a fallen tree trunk. Without hesitation, he dove inside.
The wolf slammed into the log with bone-jarring force, snarling furiously. Massive claws raked into the opening, scraping wood and earth, but the hollow was too small—too deep. After several enraged attempts, the wolf let out one final frustrated growl and retreated, its heavy steps fading into the distance.
Lin Feng didn't move. Minutes passed, then hours. He stayed curled in the dark, heart pounding, listening to every rustle until the forest sounds returned to normal. Only the next morning, when sunlight filtered through cracks in the bark, did he cautiously crawl out.
Hunger burned in his stomach like acid. He scanned the forest floor—nothing worth eating—until a soft rustle caught his attention. A snake, nearly six meters of thick, banded muscle, slithered between gnarled roots. "Can I hunt it…?" It was larger and stronger, but not as fast as the wolf.
A plan formed. He stayed downwind, belly low to the moss, circling quietly. When the snake lowered its head to swallow a small rodent whole, he lunged.
Teeth sank into the soft spot behind its jaw. The snake exploded into a frenzy, its body coiling violently around him and crushing his ribs with terrifying pressure. Pain lanced through his limbs and bones creaked under the squeeze, but he did not let go. Claws dug deeper; teeth tightened. The struggle lasted only seconds before the snake went limp.
Silence fell. Heavy. Absolute. A translucent panel shimmered into view:
> [Congratulations! You have killed: Forest Viper]
> [Scale Points +2]
>
Lin Feng's breathing came in ragged hisses. "So killing gives Scale Points…"
He wasted no time and began to eat, consuming everything—flesh, scales, and bone. Moments later, the system pinged again: [Devour Successful. Experience +10 XP].
For a brief moment, the forest became unnaturally still. No insects chirped; no wind stirred. It wasn't the silence of fear; it felt like something had been removed. Then, gradually, the sounds crept back. Lin Feng blinked, unease prickling his scales. "...Just my imagination."
> [Congratulations on First Devour!]
> [Newbie Pack Issued. Say "Yes" to proceed.]
>
"Yes."
The pack unfolded in a soft glow, revealing a Spirit Eye (Skill) and +3 Attribute Points. He focused on the skill description, noting it could be upgraded using Scale Points. Curiosity stirred, sharp and bright. "If it works on others… it should work on me. Spirit Eye—self."
The panel shifted:
* Name: Lin Feng
* Race: Lizard
* Bloodline: Primordial Dragon God (0.0001%)
* Talent: Devour (Transcendent)
* Origin: ———
The final line flickered violently. For half a second, ancient, twisted glyphs replaced the blank space before the "Origin" line vanished entirely. The interface stabilized as if nothing had happened. Lin Feng stared at the empty space. "...Origin?"
The system remained silent. He shook his head, dismissing it as a bug, and asked about the Scale Points. The system's mechanical reply about "complete resource reclamation" felt cold, but hunger interrupted his thoughts once more. He looked at the forest again. Yesterday, he was prey. Today, he had taken his first step as a hunter.