The goblin den was a quiet chaos—soft grunts, whispers of movements, and the occasional yelp from one of the weaker ones who had been on the receiving end of a harsh elbow or a misplaced club swing. I remained in the shadows, a silent observer, my green skin blending with the rocks and dirt around me. My eyes narrowed as I scanned the group.
They were weak, no doubt about it. But they weren't entirely useless. There were a few among them whose skills could prove useful for my growing arsenal.
I had devoured two goblins already—both infants—and had gained their skills. But now, I needed something more. Something that would make me faster, stronger—something that could allow me to truly survive in this cruel world.
And to do that, I needed to hunt something better.
I crept from my perch, moving silently, a predator observing its prey. The older goblins still didn't notice me. They were too busy fighting for scraps of food or lounging near the fire, half-asleep. They didn't sense me. And that's exactly how I liked it.
I thought back to the Horned Rabbit, the first real hunt. Its horn had nearly pierced my ribs, and I'd barely survived. But I had adapted. I had learned. Now, I was ready for something bigger.
I stepped forward, and the silence of the night was thick. It was time to test my new skills.
I had already developed an instinctive understanding of my abilities. The [Rabbit Leap] was a surprise—it wasn't just a simple jump. It was a precision leap, with a speed that I hadn't anticipated. And the [Heightened Hearing]... it was as if I could hear everything at once—every footstep, every rustle of a leaf, the distant chirping of an insect. It was intoxicating, like a thousand whispers at once.
But I needed more.
I pushed through the thick underbrush, heading deeper into the forest. The trees here were larger, their roots like gnarled hands reaching out from the earth. The air was thick with the smell of damp moss and decaying leaves. The moon was hidden behind thick clouds, but the bioluminescent plants lit the way, casting everything in an eerie green glow.
Then I saw it.
A creature larger than anything I'd encountered before—a wild boar. Its dark, matted fur shimmered faintly in the moonlight, its tusks gleaming like daggers. Its eyes were alert, scanning its surroundings. It was alone.
The boar snorted, scraping the ground with its hooves. The air seemed to crackle with tension. This was a challenge.
I crouched low, my heart pounding in my chest. My claws flexed. My mouth watered—not just from hunger, but from something deeper. The instinct to fight, to conquer, to devour. The primal urge that had been awakened in me surged again, more intense this time.
I was no longer a weak goblin. I was a predator. And this boar?
It was my next meal.
I moved quickly, my [Rabbit Leap] taking me behind a nearby bush, just out of the boar's line of sight. My breathing slowed. I was close now. Every fiber of my being screamed at me to strike, to act.
But I waited.
The boar turned, its back to me for just a moment. That was all I needed.
I sprang.
The boar didn't even know what hit it.
I slammed into its side, my claws sinking into its flesh. It squealed and bucked, but I held on, twisting my body as I dug deeper into its skin. My teeth found their mark, sinking into the soft spot near its neck. The boar's thick hide was tough, but it wasn't enough to stop me. I tore into it, pulling out chunks of flesh with every savage bite.
The boar struggled, thrashing in panic, but it was no use. I was too strong, too fast. I sank my teeth into its throat, and in a few moments, its life was gone.
> Monster consumed: Wild Boar
Skill acquired: [Boar Charge]
Skill acquired: [Tough Hide]
Skill acquired: [Wild Fury]
I stood over the carcass, breathing heavily. The world felt sharper, more vibrant. My muscles thrummed with power.
My [Boar Charge] skill surged through me, an ability to launch myself forward with bone-crushing speed and force. [Tough Hide]—it was exactly what I needed to take on stronger opponents. And [Wild Fury]... that skill sent a rush of adrenaline through my veins, a savage, uncontrolled hunger that pushed me past my limits. It would make me even more dangerous.
I grinned.
This was what I was becoming.
I wasted no time. The boar's flesh was raw, its blood still warm. I devoured it, tearing into its hide, chewing through the muscle, the bones. I wasn't thinking about taste—I was thinking about power, about evolution. Every bite I took brought me closer to something more. I could feel the skills, the powers, sinking deep into my cells, fusing with my very being.
It wasn't just survival anymore.
It was growth.
---
The days passed in a blur.
I continued to hunt, testing my new skills, learning more with each kill. Every monster I consumed brought new powers, new abilities, new ways to control this world. It was like I was becoming something… unstoppable.
The other goblins noticed the change in me. They had seen me take down the boar, the first real victory. They had seen how quickly I adapted, how much stronger I had become. But instead of challenging me, they retreated, afraid of the monster I was becoming.
Good.
I needed to be feared. I needed to be strong. And the goblins? They were just tools, nothing more than stepping stones on my path to power.
And power, in this world, was everything.
---
I left the den one last time, setting my sights on something bigger. There were rumors of a beast in the mountains to the north—a creature so powerful that even the older goblins feared it. It was said to be a hulking, armored monster with a thick hide and claws capable of tearing through stone.
The perfect challenge.
But this time, I wasn't just hunting for food. I wasn't just hunting to survive.
I was hunting to rise.
The world had already seen my weakness. Now it would see my strength.
I was Raizel. The Devourer.
And nothing, nothing would stand in my way.
---
Skill List:
[Devourer]
[Sharp Bite]
[Night Vision]
[Basic Claw]
[Stamina Boost]
[Horn Charge]
[Rabbit Leap]
[Heightened Hearing]
[Tree Climb]
[Fang Pierce]
[Quick Reflex]
[Boar Charge]
[Tough Hide]
[Wild Fury]