Darkness slowly peeled away.
Lin Feng's eyes snapped open.
For a moment, everything was silent.
Then the dull ache spread across his body.
Not the unbearable pain from before—but a deep, lingering soreness, like his body had been torn apart and stitched back together by force.
He didn't move immediately.
Golden eyes flickered, calm… calculating.
Alive.
He was still alive.
Memories returned.
The cave.
The fight.
The Wolf Boss.
That overwhelming pressure… the killing intent… the moment he stood on the edge of death.
Lin Feng slowly pushed himself up.
His five-foot-long body shifted, claws digging slightly into the ground. His scales—now thicker, harder—scraped faintly against the stone floor.
He exhaled.
Then, without hesitation—
"System… check evolution requirements."
A translucent panel appeared before him.
> **[Evolution Requirements]**
> • Kill a Boss Monster ✔
> • Scale Points: 562 / 500 ✔
> • Level: 16 / 20 ✘
Lin Feng stared at it.
"Level… still short."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Everything else was complete.
He had killed the boss.
He had more than enough scale points.
Only one thing remained.
Level.
His gaze slowly shifted.
In front of him—
The massive corpse of the Wolf Boss lay still.
Even in death, it radiated pressure.
Black fur, matted with dried blood. That massive body… a creature that had nearly killed him.
Lin Feng stepped forward.
No hesitation.
He opened his jaws and bit down.
*Crunch.*
Thick flesh tore.
Warm blood filled his mouth—heavy, rich with energy.
System notifications flashed instantly.
> [XP +48]
> [XP +52]
> [XP +61]
Lin Feng didn't stop.
He devoured.
Bite after bite.
Flesh. Bone. Blood.
Everything.
The taste was strong—but he no longer cared.
Only one thought remained.
Level up.
> [XP +44]
> [XP +57]
> [XP +63]
Energy surged through his body.
His muscles tightened.
His breath deepened.
> [Level Up]
> [Level 17 → Level 18]
Lin Feng paused for half a second.
Then continued eating.
More.
Faster.
More violently.
> [XP +39]
> [XP +46]
> [XP +58]
Finally—
He stepped back.
The Wolf Boss corpse was half gone.
His breathing was steady.
But—
"Still not enough."
He checked again.
> **[Evolution Requirements]**
> • Kill a Boss Monster ✔
> • Scale Points: 562 / 500 ✔
> • Level: 18 / 20 ✘
"Two levels…"
His eyes turned cold.
Without another thought—
He turned and left the cave.
Outside
The forest welcomed him with silence.
Too much silence.
The wolves were gone.
The pack had been destroyed.
But that didn't matter.
There were always more beasts.
And today—
Everything was prey.
Lin Feng moved through the forest like a shadow.
Fast.
Silent.
Deadly.
The first target appeared quickly.
A lone beast.
Before it could react—
*Slash.*
Claws tore through flesh.
*Crunch.*
Fangs crushed bone.
> [XP +21]
Not enough.
He moved again.
Another beast.
Then another.
Then more.
The forest echoed with brief, violent sounds.
No prolonged fights.
No hesitation.
Every movement was efficient.
Every kill precise.
> [XP +18]
> [XP +24]
> [XP +27]
Time passed.
The sun shifted above.
But Lin Feng did not stop.
He hunted.
Endlessly.
Relentlessly.
Finally—
A pulse ran through his body.
> [Level Up]
> [Level 18 → Level 19]
Lin Feng slowed for a moment.
Breathing steady.
Eyes glowing faintly.
"One more…"
He moved deeper.
Further into unfamiliar territory.
Stronger prey.
Better experience.
Then—
A presence.
Stronger than the others.
Not a boss.
But close.
A large beast stepped into view.
Lin Feng didn't hesitate.
The fight was short.
Brutal.
Claws met flesh.
Teeth met bone.
Blood sprayed across the ground.
Moments later—
Silence.
> [XP +36]
A pause.
Then—
> [Level Up]
> [Level 19 → Level 20]
Everything went still.
Lin Feng stood motionless.
Then—
"System."
A panel appeared.
> **[Evolution Requirements]**
> • Kill a Boss Monster ✔
> • Scale Points: 562 / 500 ✔
> • Level: 20 / 20 ✔
Complete.
All conditions met.
For a moment—
There was no movement.
No sound.
Only a single thought.
Finally.
Lin Feng slowly exhaled.
His body lowered slightly.
Muscles coiled.
Energy pulsed beneath his scales.
His eyes gleamed with cold anticipation.
"Evolve."
For a split second—
Nothing happened.
Then—
A surge.
A violent, overwhelming force exploded inside his body.
> [Evolution Initiating…]
Pain.
It came instantly.
No warning.
No build-up.
Lin Feng's body convulsed.
His claws dug deep into the ground.
Cracks spread across the earth beneath him.
Bones shifted.
Muscles twisted.
Scales vibrated violently.
A low, guttural sound escaped his throat—
Not a roar.
Not a scream.
Something deeper.
More primal.
His spine arched unnaturally.
His limbs trembled.
Every inch of his body felt like it was being torn apart… and rebuilt at the same time.
Heat surged.
Then cold.
Then burning again.
His vision blurred.
The world twisted.
But he did not lose consciousness.
Not this time.
His jaws clenched.
Teeth grinding.
Blood seeped from the corners of his mouth.
Inside his body—
Something was changing.
Something fundamental.
Not just strength.
Not just flesh.
Species.
The pain intensified.
Far beyond before.
His scales began to crack—
Then reform.
Denser.
Harder.
Sharper.
Energy surged wildly through his veins.
Uncontrolled.
Violent.
> [Species Evolution in Progress…]
Lin Feng's body slammed against the ground.
Once.
Twice.
Again.
The forest around him fell silent.
Even the wind seemed to stop.
This was not growth.
This was transformation.
A low, distorted growl echoed from his throat.
Time lost meaning.
Seconds felt like hours.
Pain consumed everything.
But through it all—
His eyes remained open.
Burning.
Unyielding.
The evolution had begun.
To be continued…