David's breath hung in the cold night air as he gazed down at the lifeless form of the Shadow Wolf. Its dark fur shimmered under the faint moonlight, and its final growl seemed to linger in the silence. A notification blinked into view, stark against the shadows.You have successfully defeated a Shadow Wolf (Tier: Silver).Life Essence absorbed: 20.New Form Available: Shadow WolfWould you like to integrate this form into your Shapeshifter class?[Yes] [No]David hesitated for only a second before selecting [Yes].Form successfully integrated.Shadow Wolf: Specializations—Agility, Stealth, Shadowmeld (ability to blend into shadows).Transformation Limit: 10 minutes.Skill gained: Shadowmeld I (temporarily increases invisibility in low-light environments).A surge of energy coursed through him, wild and primal. The Shadow Wolf's instincts began to merge with his own, sharp claws scratching at the back of his mind. His muscles twitched, aching for the hunt. David took a deep breath, letting the rush settle as the system interface flickered again.Class: Shapeshifter (Level 1).Current tasks: Collect 300 life energy from different beasts to level up.He couldn't rely on these short bursts of transformation forever. The power the Shadow Wolf offered was substantial, but fleeting. He needed time—time to let the wolf's instincts meld with his own, time to understand how to move, hunt, and fight in that form. Half a year, at least, he figured. Maybe longer.But the system had given him a shortcut. With each new form, each skill absorbed, the timeline could shorten. He just had to keep pushing.For now, his focus had to shift. He needed more life energy, more creatures to hunt. The forest stretched endlessly before him, filled with beasts, some stronger, some weaker, but all essential to his survival.System Hint: Absorbing creatures of similar essence to current forms will lead to synergy bonuses.The Night Wretch, a twisted, four-legged creature with sinewy muscles and skin that absorbed light, would be his next target. It lurked in shadows, much like the wolf. He set off, his newly sharpened senses guiding him through the forest.The hunt took two days. David barely slept, moving with the predatory grace of the Shadow Wolf, refining his skills and tracking his prey in the dark. Finally, he found it—a hulking mass of fur and sinew, its yellow eyes gleaming in the night. It snarled, muscles rippling as it readied to attack.The battle was fierce. The Night Wretch lunged, its jagged claws tearing through the air. David dodged, slipping into the shadows as the wolf's instincts took over. The fight was a blur of motion, strikes and counters, but in the end, David emerged victorious. His dagger plunged into the creature's throat, and the Night Wretch collapsed with a final, guttural snarl.You have defeated a Night Wretch (Tier: Silver).Life Essence absorbed: 90.Form limit approaching.Would you like to integrate the Night Wretch form into your Shapeshifter class?[Yes] [No]David's heart pounded as he considered his options. He selected [Yes].Form integrated.Night Wretch: Specializations—Agility, Stealth, Claw extension.Transformation Limit: 6 minutes.He needed to be more strategic, choosing forms that provided different avenues of powervfor him rather than overloading himself with redundant abilities. The Night Wretch, with its chaotic movements, had only added minor benefits to what the Shadow Wolf had already provided.David set his sights higher.Two days later, deeper in the heart of the forest, he came across a creature far more powerful than the Night Wretch: a sleek, serpentine beast with thick, armored scales and the ability to spit corrosive venom.Lifeform detected: ??? (Tier: Low Gold).David's heart raced as the snake turned its narrow head toward him, venom dripping from its fangs. This fight wouldn't be like the others. The creature's scales were nearly impenetrable, and its venom could melt through stone.The battle was a test of endurance. David darted between shadows, relying on the agility of the Shadow Wolf form to avoid the creature's deadly venomous strikes. When he finally found an opening, he struck with precision, severing its spine with a single well-placed blow.You have defeated a Darkscale Stalker (Tier:Low Gold).Life Essence absorbed: 200.Would you like to integrate this form?[Yes] [No]The decision was easy this time. He went He needed raw strength, and the Stalker's durability and venom would provide another option alongside the wolf's finesse. He selected [Yes].Form integrated.Form limit exceeded.Warning: You have reached the limit of forms your body can handle at this level.To absorb additional forms, one must be sacrificed or enhanced.Darkscale Stalker: Specializations—Durability, Venom Resistance, Acidic Spit (Tier I).Transformation Limit: 3 minutes.The raw power of the Stalker settled into him, its essence thick and heavy in his muscles. His body felt tougher, more resistant, but there was also a sense of weight slowing his movements.A low sigh escaped his lips. There were limits to his power after all. He decisively discarded the form of the Night Wretch.For the next week, David hunted relentlessly, pushing his new abilities to their limits. But with each fight, the looming restriction of his class gnawed at him. He only had one form slot left. The pressure to choose wisely weighed heavily on his mind.On the seventh day of his relentless hunt, David felt the weight of fatigue pressing heavily on his shoulders. The forest, once a refuge of shadows and mystery, now seemed a labyrinth of darkness and despair. His senses, honed to the edge of their limits, picked up every whisper of wind and every rustle of leaves. The trail of the mid-tier gold-ranked Nightmare Fang had led him deep into the heart of this ominous woodland.David's movements were a careful dance of silence and precision. His footsteps barely disturbed the thick carpet of fallen leaves, and his breath was a slow, controlled rhythm. The night air was cold, carrying the faint scent of decaying foliage and distant, unknown creatures. His eyes, sharp as a hawk's, scanned the undergrowth for any signs of movement.As he followed the trail, the trees grew denser, their branches intertwining to form a nearly impenetrable canopy. The shadows seemed to deepen, as if the forest itself was conspiring to conceal its secrets. His heart pounded in anticipation, a rhythmic drumbeat that echoed in his ears. Each step brought him closer to a confrontation he knew would be both perilous and pivotal.And then he saw it.The Nightmare Fang lay sprawled across the forest floor, a creature of immense power now reduced to a pitiful, broken form. Its once fearsome visage was now twisted in pain and exhaustion. The black fur that had once bristled with menace was now matted with blood, stained a dark crimson that spread outwards in a gruesome pool. Deep gashes marred its sides, the wounds so severe that they exposed raw muscle and bone. Its breathing was shallow, each gasp a ragged reminder of its struggle.David's gaze fell upon the creature's eyes, which were no longer the sharp, predatory orbs of a fearsome beast but rather dim and lifeless. The Nightmare Fang's limbs, once powerful and poised for attack, were now twisted and motionless, a clear sign of its grievous injuries.But it was not just the sight of the dying Nightmare Fang that made David's blood run cold. Looming over the fallen beast was a creature that struck terror into the heart of even the bravest warrior: a pseudo-dragon beast. This formidable entity was a spectacle of dark energy and sheer, unbridled power. [System Notification]Lifeform detected: ??? (Tier: High Gold). The mini-dragon's scales shimmered with an otherworldly glow, each scale reflecting a different hue of darkness, as if they were absorbing the very essence of the night. It was basically a wyrm, at this point. Despite its apparent exhaustion, the Wyrm radiated an aura of raw, malevolent power that seemed to warp the very air around it. Its eyes, glowing with an eerie green light, were locked onto the Nightmare Fang, their gaze as cold and unfeeling as death itself.The Wyrm's massive, serpentine body coiled around the injured beast, the scales bristling with an ominous energy. Its tail, a thick and powerful appendage, lashed out periodically, sending tremors through the ground. The earth quaked with each strike, the force of the Wyrm's movements causing the surrounding trees to shudder.David's heart raced as he assessed the situation. The Wyrm was a high-gold-tier beast, a classification that spoke volumes about its strength and danger. The Wyrm's presence was a grim reminder of the high stakes of his quest. Despite its weakened state, the creature was still a formidable opponent, and David knew that confronting it would require every ounce of his skill and cunning.He took a deep breath, his mind racing through potential strategies. The Shadow Wolf's stealth abilities and his stealth skills were his greatest assets. He melded into the shadows, his form blending seamlessly with the surrounding darkness. His senses, sharpened by the wolf's instincts, allowed him to move with ghostly silence.As David prepared to strike, he noticed the worm like movements—each lashing tail swipe, each crackling burst of dark energy. The Wyrm was an unpredictable force, its power both destructive and chaotic. David had to be patient, waiting for the right moment to exploit the Wyrm's fatigue.The battle began with a sudden, violent clash. The Wyrm's tail swept through the air with tremendous force, creating shockwaves that shook the earth. David nimbly dodged, slipping through the shadows with the grace of a phantom. The mini-dragon's attacks were relentless, each swing of its tail accompanied by bursts of dark energy that scorched the ground and illuminated the night with an eerie glow.David darted between the shadows, using every trick he had made with Shadow Wolf form as a base. He weaved around the Wyrm's powerful strikes, moving with an agility that allowed him to stay just out of reach. Each moment of the fight was a brutal test of endurance and reflexes. The Wyrm's breath came in ragged gasps, a sign of its exhaustion, but its attacks remained devastatingly powerful.David struck with precision, aiming for weak points that the Wyrm's scaled armor could not protect. Each strike was a calculated risk, a dance with death that required both bravery and caution. The creatures's resistance was formidable, but David's persistence paid off. He used the shadows to his advantage, finding openings in the Wyrm's defenses and delivering blows that weakened the beast further.Finally, after a grueling and intense battle, David saw his chance. The beast reared back, its massive head lifting as it prepared for a final, devastating attack. David seized the moment, lunging forward with a speed and ferocity that caught the Wyrm off guard. His dagger, honed to a razor's edge, found its mark. With a decisive thrust, he pierced the Wyrm's heart, a strike that cut through the dark energy and reached the core of the beast.The beast let out a roar that echoed through the forest, a sound of anguish and defeat. Its massive body convulsed as dark energy crackled and dissipated. The Wyrm collapsed with a resounding thud, its final breaths coming in ragged gasps. The oppressive weight of its power began to fade, leaving behind an eerie silence and a couple of system messages. He integrated the Nightmare Fang and the Wyrm in the shapeshifter slots while discarding the shadow wolf, while it's stealth was great it was a bronze rank beast type that synergized with my stealth skill. This role can be taken by the Nighmare Fang from now on.You have defeated a Duskhorn Wyrm (Tier: High Gold).Life Essence absorbed: 400.Form Integrated:Form limit reached.Would you like to replace an existing form with the Duskhorn Wyrm?[Yes] [No]David's hands trembled as he chose [Yes], sacrificing the Night Wretch for the Wyrm.Duskhorn Wyrm: Specializations—Dark Energy Control, Shadow Magic, Enhanced Physical Durability.Skill gained: Shadow SurgeTransformation Limit: 2 minutes.David stared at the system interface. The combination of forms was daunting—stealth, agility, resilience, and now, shadow magic. But each transformation came with a price: time and stamina.For now, though, he had what he needed. Three forms, each with its own strengths. The Nightmare Fang for speed and stealth, the Darkscale Stalker for strenght and endurance, plus the, the Duskhorn Wyrm for raw magical power and strength.David leaned back against a tree, exhaustion tugging at him, but his mind was alive with the possibilities. The hunt had only just begun.[System Notification]Class: Shapeshifter (Level 2).Additional slot unlocked for a new form.Life Energy required for next level: 500.As the forest around him stirred with the night's creatures, David closed his eyes, a small grin playing on his lips. He had power now—power that could rival anything this world threw at him. But there was always more to hunt.And he would never stop hunting.