Chapter 6: The Devouring

I instinctively flinched, bracing for the worst, expecting the venom to surge through my veins, my muscles to seize, my vision to blur, and my body to shut down.

But... nothing happened.

The bite hurt; the pain was unmistakably real, yet there was no spreading fire beneath my skin, no dizziness creeping into my head, no paralysis stealing control of my limbs.

I blinked, staring at the snake latched onto my arm, unable to stop the thought from crossing my mind.

Was I... immune?

I yanked the snake off my arm, but the damn thing refused to give up, thrashing wildly as it coiled itself around my wrist in one last desperate attempt to fight back. I simply tightened my grip until I felt its bones shift beneath my fingers. It hissed in protest, yet I couldn’t have cared less.

Hunger had long since outweighed hesitation.

So I opened my mouth and bit straight into it.

I tore its head off, eating it raw.

Because apparently this was my life now. Eating raw snakes in the middle of a forest.

And the worst part?

It tasted amazing.

Like, deep-fried chicken amazing.

I barely had time to process the surprise before instinct took over. Hunger ruled my body. I ripped into it, tearing off chunks of flesh, swallowing without hesitation. My jaw worked fast, bones crunching between my teeth, every bite fueling the fire in my gut.

By the time I finished the last of it, a familiar sound echoed in my head.

Ding!

[You have killed Venomous Snake]

I barely had time to celebrate before another notification popped up.

[Evolution Devourer Activated.]

[You have consumed the brain of Venomous Snake.]

[You have gained 1 stat point]

[You have acquired passive skill: Venomous Bite]

[Venomous Bite]

Description: The user’s fangs secrete a potent venom capable of paralyzing or weakening prey upon contact. Gained through the consumption of a venomous serpent, this trait enhances the user’s natural bite, allowing them to inject a fast-acting toxin into their target. The potency of the venom depends on the user’s strength and evolution, ranging from mild numbing effects to complete paralysis or internal deterioration.

I froze, then slowly, a grin spread across my face.

Venomous Bite?

Now that could be useful.

If it worked the way I thought it did, I could slowly weaken enemies in the middle of a fight, tipping the battle in my favor with every bite.

Curious, I clenched my jaw a few times, testing for any changes.

Did my teeth feel sharper? Longer? Was there venom pooling beneath my tongue?

Nope.

There were no fangs. No dripping poison. Just the same old brutal chompers.

Still, I had gained an edge.

A skill that could quietly turn the tide of battle without my enemies even realizing it.

And if Evolution Devourer had taught me anything, it was that this was only the beginning.

There were plenty more abilities waiting to be claimed.

A new, dangerous hunger stirred inside me, filling my mind with the overwhelming urge to hunt... to consume.

I was ready to find my next target when a rustle in the underbrush made me stop. Instinct took over immediately.

Whatever was watching me wasn’t another snake.

It was larger, and judging by the low, guttural snort that rumbled through the bushes, far more dangerous.

I barely had time to brace myself before it burst out of the undergrowth.

[Wild Boar – Level 5]

"It doesn’t know why it’s angry, but you’re definitely the problem."

I narrowed my eyes.

Seriously, what with these goofy one-line introductions?

The wild boar was a bullet of muscle and rage, barreling toward me with gleaming tusks and the kind of pure, unfiltered hatred only a wild pig could possess.

My body moved before my brain caught up!

I threw myself to the side just as the boar thundered past, narrowly avoiding becoming a goblin-shaped shish kebab.

It skidded across the dirt, kicking up dust, then whirled to face me, snorting like I had personally insulted its ancestors.

Okay. Change of plans.

This thing was big, about the size of a large dog, but denser, meaner, and carrying a dangerous amount of pent-up anger.

Its thick, bristly fur looked tough enough to shrug off weak attacks, while those tusks were clearly built for more than intimidation.

This wasn’t some helpless prey.

I was staring down a miniature bulldozer armed with tusks.

But I was still hungry.

And now, I had [Venomous Bite].

That meant the pig was about to become my next dinner.

I crouched low, muscles coiled like springs, eyes locked onto the boar. It snorted, pawing at the dirt, nostrils flaring as it sized me up.

"Alright, piggy," I muttered, a grin tugging at my lips. "Come get me."

The boar exploded forward.

I dodged to the side—but this time, I wasn’t just getting out of the way.

I lunged, arms outstretched, and grabbed onto the boar’s thick, bristly hide. Big mistake.

The moment my hands made contact, the boar lost its mind.

It bucked violently, twisting and thrashing like a possessed rodeo bull. My grip nearly slipped, but I held on for dear life, my fingers tangled in its coarse fur.

The beast rammed into trees, kicked up dirt, and spun in circles, trying to throw me off.

I gritted my teeth in frustration.

Enough of this.

With a growl, I lunged forward—then bit down hard on the side of its neck.

Venom surged from my fangs into the beast’s bloodstream.

The boar let out a horrible, high-pitched squeal, its body convulsing as the toxin spread through its veins.

At first it thrashed violently, desperate to shake me loose, but I squeezed my eyes shut and clenched my jaw, refusing to let go no matter how hard it bucked.

Then I felt it.

The boar was slowing down.

Its frantic movements gradually lost their ferocity, wild kicks giving way to sluggish, uncoordinated jerks as the venom took hold.

The deafening squeals dwindled into weak snorts before its legs finally buckled beneath its weight, sending the massive beast crashing to the ground with a heavy thud that kicked a cloud of dust into the air.

I rolled off its twitching body, landing on my back, gasping for air.

Every muscle in my body ached.

My ribs felt like they’d been used as a punching bag.

But I was alive.

And more importantly, I had won.

A familiar ding echoed in my mind, and a glowing notification appeared in front of me.

[You have killed Wild Boar.] ℴ

[You have levelled up]

[You have received +3 free stat points]

I barely took a moment to process it before I acted.

Hunger took over.

Without a second thought, I dug in.

My teeth sank into the still-warm flesh, tearing off chunks of meat.

Juices dripped down my chin as I devoured the kill, ripping, chewing, swallowing—again and again.

Minutes passed. Bones piled up.

By the time I was done, the only thing left was a picked-clean skeleton.

And yet...I still felt like I could eat more.

Like there was a bottomless pit inside me, an endless hunger that no amount of food could satisfy.

Another notification flashed.

[Evolution Devour Activated]

[You have consumed the brain of a Wild Boar.]

My eyes widened.

Just moments ago, the thought of eating a brain had disgusted me.

Now, if someone asked me what it tasted like, I wouldn’t have an answer.

I couldn’t remember.

It was as though the hunger had swallowed every trace of hesitation, leaving behind nothing but a mindless instinct to consume.

[You have received 5 stat points]

[You have acquired passive skill: Boar’s Tough Hide]

[Boar’s Tough Hide]

Description: The user’s skin has thickened into a dense, leathery hide, greatly increasing durability and resistance to physical damage. Obtained through the consumption of a wild boar, this passive trait reinforces the body against cuts, abrasions, blunt impacts, and environmental hazards such as thorns, jagged rocks, and rough terrain. While it cannot completely negate powerful attacks, it naturally disperses a portion of incoming force, reducing injuries and allowing the user to endure punishment that would incapacitate an ordinary creature.

I froze, my breath hitching as I slowly flexed my fingers and rolled my shoulders, a strange sensation spreading through my body.

At first, it was nothing more than a faint tingling beneath my skin, but within seconds my flesh began to harden.

Frowning, I pressed a hand against my forearm and felt the difference immediately.

It was as though an invisible layer of armor had formed beneath my skin, natural yet undeniably real, making my entire body feel sturdier than it had only moments ago.

A slow, satisfied grin spread across my face.

This devouring skill was no joke.

If every creature I ate gave me something new, then...

I clenched my fists.

...I could continuously grow stronger.