"Stay behind me." Leo said, his voice calm but firm as they stepped into the dense shadows of the Kuuderun Great Forest. The thick canopy above blocked most of the sunlight, casting eerie shapes across the forest floor. Despite the ominous atmosphere, Leo moved with ease, his senses sharp, attuned to the creatures hidden in the underbrush.
Frederica nodded obediently, stepping a little behind him. With her powers sealed by Leo's constant draining of her mana, she felt incredibly vulnerable. She was powerless in this state, and even the weakest creature could easily overwhelm her. The fact that she had to rely on Leo for protection only added to the frustration gnawing at her.
Leo sniffed the air, his sharp senses—[Keen Smell] and [Mana Perception]—alerting him to faint traces of several creatures nearby. He was sure of it—something was watching them. As they moved through the southern edge of the forest toward the eastern border, Leo's eyes flicked to a rustling bush ahead of them.
"Oh? A Horn Rabbit." He said with a light, amused tone. A small brown rabbit with a sharp, gleaming horn on its head emerged from behind a tree. Its eyes were wide, a mixture of fear and aggression flickering in them as it sized them up as potential threats.
The rabbit's ears twitched nervously, its body tensing, preparing to charge. Despite its small size, the horn on its head could easily pierce the flesh of an unsuspecting opponent if it got close enough.
Frederica's heart skipped a beat at the sight of the creature. She felt utterly helpless in her current state, knowing she could do nothing but watch as it approached. But Leo didn't even flinch.
"Easy now." He chuckled, his voice almost playful. He raised his hand, and in a flash, four thick, fluid tentacles erupted from his back. They were grotesque, made from his own slime body through his [Body-Fluid Control] skill, but they moved with fluid grace.
The Horn Rabbit's eyes widened as it sensed the danger. Before it could even attempt to flee, Leo's tentacles shot forward like lightning. They wrapped around the rabbit in an instant, coiling tightly around its small body, lifting it off the ground.
The creature thrashed, its horn glinting as it tried to break free, but Leo's grip was unyielding.
"Too slow." Leo remarked with a smirk. His tentacles tightened, squeezing the rabbit until its frantic movements slowed. The rabbit let out a faint squeal before Leo brought it toward his mouth.
With a quick, almost nonchalant movement, Leo opened his maw wide and devoured the rabbit whole. In mere moments, the creature dissolved into his body, vanishing completely.
Frederica watched in silence, her stomach churning slightly at the sight, though by now, she wasn't all that surprised. Leo's casual cruelty had become something she'd oddly grown accustomed to during their time together.
"Tasty." Leo commented, wiping his mouth with a small, satisfied grin.
"Could've used a bit of grilling, though." He added, his eyes flicking toward Frederica with a playful gleam.
Frederica didn't react much, her expression neutral. After all, hunting monsters was a regular part of her routine. She wasn't scared unless the monsters were stronger than her. The Horn Rabbit? A Grade 10 Existence—basically the weakest rank in this world. Whether human, monster, or demi-human, everyone was categorized into grades based on their strength.
Grade 10 was the lowest rank, while Grade 1 was the highest. Beyond that? Even Leo didn't know what lay ahead.
As for Leo, he was currently at Grade 9, though he was close to reaching Grade 8. A few more monsters and he'd probably get there. Frederica, on the other hand, was also Grade 9, though her power mostly stemmed from her limited magic abilities.
Just as Frederica was about to say something, a stream of notifications popped up in Leo's mind:
[Common Skill [Horn Strike] has been acquired.]
[Common Skill [Horn Generation] has been acquired.]
[Common Skill [Strong Jump] has been acquired.]
[Extra Skill [Escape] has been acquired.]
[Trait [Enhanced Leg] has been acquired.]
'Wow.' Leo thought, impressed. It seemed his Absorption ability was far more efficient at acquiring skills than Rou's. Rou had to consume multiple monsters just to gain a single skill if they were weaker than him, but Leo could absorb all their skills in one go. It made things a lot easier.
And if he ate the same type of monster again? He wouldn't gain new skills, but the ones he already had would become even stronger.
The [Escape] skill, in particular, caught his attention. It wasn't just about fleeing faster—it also enhanced his adaptability to his surroundings, allowing him to quickly react and escape from tricky situations. Leo smirked to himself, imagining the potential. This ability would definitely come in handy.
Leo and Frederica continued their journey toward the eastern side of Kuuderun. After two days of traveling, they finally reached an area near the [Goblin Community]. But instead of encountering goblins, what they stumbled upon was a mine... filled with orcs.
In this world, orcs and goblins weren't considered monsters. Instead, they were categorized as Demi-Humans. They wore clothes, displayed intelligence, and even had some towns that allowed Hobgoblins to enter freely. It was a strange classification, but it made sense in a world where the lines between monster and demi-human often blurred.
Over the course of their journey, Leo had devoured several monsters, gaining a whole new array of skills. He'd taken down four new species: a Grade 10 Monster, the [Armored Tanuki], two Grade 9 Monsters, the [Night Viper] and [Blade Rabbit], and a Grade 8 Monster, the [Demon Spider].
The Armored Tanuki had the body of a raccoon, but with a thick, tough shell on its back, like an armadillo. From it, Leo acquired [Shell Defense], [Organic Shell Armor], and [Endure]. The [Organic Shell Armor] let him form a tough shell-like armor around his body, while [Shell Defense] improved its defensive capabilities. [Endure] enhanced his defense whenever he took a defensive stance.
The Night Viper, a black-scaled snake with speckled patterns, granted Leo a slew of new skills: [Thermography], [Venom Secretion], [Sense Presence], [Evil Eye], [Shed Skin], [Cold Blooded], and [Evil Eye Resistance]. The [Evil Eye] skill was especially handy—it allowed him to paralyze or intimidate weaker enemies. [Shed Skin] was a healing skill, enabling him to shed damaged skin. [Cold Blooded] wasn't particularly useful, considering Leo already had [Thermal Regulation], but he absorbed it anyway.
The Blade Rabbit, an evolved form of the Horn Rabbit, had gray fur and a blade-like horn. Leo gained [Blade Generation] from it, which was similar to [Horn Generation], but now he could create blades on his body.
Finally, the Demon Spider, a large black spider with yellow markings, gifted Leo [Sticky Thread], [Thread Manipulation], and [Expanded Field of Vision]. He also acquired the trait [Enhanced Sight]. [Expanded Field of Vision] was particularly useful, giving him the ability to see in a full 360-degree radius—perfect for detecting hidden threats.
Now, to explain a bit about Evolution: in this world, Evolution—or Rank-Up—is a special system for monsters. Once they reach level 100, there's a chance they can evolve into a higher-tier version of their species. Pretty straightforward, right?
Back to the present. Inside the mine stood a dozen orcs, led by an imposing Orc Leader, along with a subspecies known as an Orc Mage. The orcs had the typical pig-like features, brown skin, and were armed with pickaxes. The Orc Leader was larger than the others and wore silver armor, while the Orc Mage, draped in a black robe, wielded a staff.
Frederica watched them closely, anxiety creeping in. She took a hesitant step forward and glanced at Leo.
"Hey... are you sure you can take them on?" she asked, her voice tinged with worry. She felt something odd these days—a strange, unfamiliar concern for him during battles, like the one they'd just had with the Demon Spider. But at the same time, she was conflicted, reminded that he was still the one who had killed her companions.
Spending these past few days with Leo, Frederica had begun to realize he wasn't like any monster she'd ever imagined. He was different... gentle, in his own way. And, well, pretty handsome, too.
"Don't worry. I've got this." Leo said, offering her a reassuring smile as he gave her a gentle head pat. Frederica's face flushed instantly, and she quickly averted her gaze, hoping he hadn't noticed.
But Leo noticed. His lips curved into a knowing smile as he backed away and turned toward the cave entrance. He wasn't going to bring her along this time—it was too dangerous. Besides, he wasn't worried about her running off. His [Sense Presence] skill made sure he could track everything around him.
The orcs inside the mine were Grade 8—known for their overwhelming strength. Even though Leo had recently reached Grade 8 himself, he knew taking them all on at once could be risky. He'd need to be careful.
Still, Leo had a trick up his sleeve. Orcs were famous for being... less than bright. They often acted on instinct, thinking with their lower bodies more than their heads. And that, Leo realized with a sly grin, was going to be his advantage.
He stood at the edge of the mine, scanning the orcs below. His mind raced as he plotted how to handle them with minimal risk. Orcs might be strong, but they had one glaring weakness: their lustful nature often clouded their judgment. Leo couldn't help but recall a woman he'd absorbed not too long ago—a human villager, with a curvy figure but nothing too remarkable in terms of beauty.
Leo's grin widened as he activated the transformation. He could feel the shape shifting inside him, changing his form into something that would make the orcs lose their minds. As soon as he finished, he confidently sauntered toward the entrance of the mine, his hips swaying with exaggerated purpose.
The orcs saw him—or rather, her—and their attention snapped to him immediately.
"BUHIIII!!" The air was filled with excited grunts and growls as the orcs' pig-like snouts twitched, their anticipation palpable.
The Orc Leader, much taller and broader than the rest, grunted out an order, but the orcs didn't need any more encouragement. With a collective roar, they charged toward Leo, their lust overpowering any remaining sense of caution. Exactly as Leo had planned.
As the orcs closed in, Leo moved with fluid, almost graceful agility, sidestepping their clumsy advances. Not a single orc could land a blow. They were all too distracted by the "woman" before them, completely ignoring the danger.
"Honestly, this is a bit too easy." Leo muttered to himself, a playful lilt in his voice despite the bloodshed about to unfold. He couldn't help but feel a little disappointed by how simple this was.
With a flick of his wrist, Leo summoned several strands of his [Sticky Thread], the fine threads coated with a mix of venom and paralyzing poison. He shot them out, watching with satisfaction as they wrapped around the orcs like an unbreakable net. Before the orcs even realized what had happened, they were bound tight, unable to move.
"B-BUHIII! GYAAA!" The moment the sticky threads made contact with their skin, the orcs began to stagger. Their powerful bodies trembled as the poison took hold, sapping their strength. One by one, they dropped to their knees, their grunts of frustration growing louder as they tried—and failed—to resist the paralysis. They were strong, no doubt about that, but not strong enough to fight off Leo's venom and paralysis at the same time.
"GURAAA!!" The Orc Leader, clad in shining silver armor and towering above the rest, managed to fight against the bindings. He wasn't fully paralyzed like his subordinates, thanks to his higher grade, but his movements were slow and jerky, like a beast struggling in a trap. His eyes burned with fury as he growled, straining against the threads that held him in place.
"Oh? You're still moving? Impressive, but it won't help." Leo's voice was light, almost teasing, as he watched the Orc Leader flail. His face twisted in anger, but Leo knew it was just a matter of time before the orc collapsed like the rest.
With a sudden motion, Leo darted forward, his form shifting back to its usual human shape. But this time, instead of his tentacles, he summoned his [Blade Generation] skill. A long, sharp blade materialized from his arm, gleaming with a cold, deadly light.
The Orc Leader barely had time to raise his halberd before Leo was upon him.
"Too slow." Leo muttered, his voice now cold and serious. There was no amusement in it anymore, just deadly focus. With a single, fluid motion, he swung the blade in a wide arc, slicing cleanly through the orc's thick neck. The leader's eyes widened in shock as his head separated from his body, rolling to the ground with a dull thud.
The massive body of the Orc Leader collapsed next, falling heavily to the ground at Leo's feet.
"See? Easy." Leo said nonchalantly, brushing a speck of imaginary dust from his sleeve as if the fight had been nothing more than a slight inconvenience. He glanced over at the remaining orcs, still hopelessly tangled in his sticky webbing, their bodies twitching weakly as they futilely tried to break free.
"Thanks for the meal." Leo added with a grin, his eyes sparkling mischievously. Then, without another word, he shifted back into his slime form. His body stretched out, growing wider and wider, until it enveloped the orcs completely.
There was no hesitation. Leo devoured them all in an instant. The orcs, their armor, and their pickaxes—all of it was sucked into his gelatinous body. Surprisingly, the orcs didn't taste half bad. Leo made a mental note to remember that for next time.