[NOTICE]
You have consumed Beast flesh and Beast blood.
Physical strength has increased by 0.68%
Vitality has increased by 0.88%
weapon mastery has increased by 0.00%
Agility has increased by 0.05%
Perception has increased by 0.07%
Fortitude has increased by 0.02%
Elijah's muscles burned briefly as though ignited from within, yet the discomfort faded quickly, replaced by a surge of newfound strength.
His lips curled into a faint smirk. The raw meat and blood may have tasted terrible, but the benefits were undeniable. This world's brutality had its perks for those willing to embrace it.
"So that's how it works," Elijah muttered under his breath, brushing his thumb over the edge of the empty bowl.
"System, what kind of food was that?".
[NOTICE]
Monstrous Beast Flesh and Blood.
Consuming the flesh or blood of monstrous beasts grants a minor increase to specific stats, such as Strength (STR), Vitality (VIT), etcetera etcetera.
Monstrous beasts are the result of ordinary animals mutated by exposure to the Demon Lord's corrupted blood, spilled long ago during the clash with the ancient hero.
Warning: Excessive consumption may have unforeseen effects.
"Show me my present status window". Elijah said, completely ignoring the ominous message at the end.
[NOTICE: PRESENT STATS]
[NAME] [Elijah]
[AGE ] [Seventeen]
[SKILLS] [INNATE; Skill Name: Equip]
[TITLES] [???]
[RACE] [Demon]
[STR; 1.78%]
[VIT; 1.58%]
[WPM; 0.22%]
[AGI; 0.05%]
[PER; 0.07%]
[FRT; 0.02%]
[TRUE NAME; He who has been forsaken]
[MISSION] [???]
"Wait a minute, I was never much of a gamer in my previous life, what do all these abbreviated terms even mean".
[NOTICE]
Strength (STR), Increases physical strength and damage affliction.
Agility (AGI), Enhances movement speed and reflexes.
Vitality (VIT), Improves stamina and resistance to fatigue.
Weapon mastery (WPM), Provides greater weapon mastery of any weapon you have the slightest experience using.
Perception (PER), Increases sensory awareness, such as sight, hearing, and smell.
Fortitude (FRT), Raises resistance to poison and fear.
…
Elijah's eyes darted from side to side as he studied what was written by the Demon Lord Revival System.
"No wonder the Demon Lord Revival System kept urging me to eat the beast flesh and to drink its blood, My new stats slots are way more functional on the battlefield".
The discovery of monstrous beast flesh and blood actually made Elijah ecstatic. This meant he could raise his strength without the need to wait for the system to provide him with any missions.
He could just go find the monstrous beast, kill them and devour them raw, sure the taste was near unbearable but it was better than relying on the demon lord revival system.
Not to mention, earlier he was able to raise some of those basic stats just by training his physical body, Elijah was finally starting to feel like control over his fate was beginning to settle on the palm of his hand once more.
Elijah smiled foolishly, drawing a perplexed expression from Taelia.
She glanced horrifically at the monstrous beast meat and blood and immediately regretted eating them, because clearly they were making Elijah even more insane.
…
Sergeant Vren on the hand, sat on a little chair in the side of the room, his face a picture of perfect grief, grief for continuously failing to complete First Lieutenant Verayth's mission of utmost importance.
The recruits who had attempted to consume the monstrous flesh were scattered like broken toys, groaning or unconscious. One particularly unfortunate soul was curled up in the corner, whispering incoherently about nightmares made flesh.
"What in the world is that brat made off, even fellow monstrous beasts wouldn't eat their kins flesh because of how disgusting it was, but this kid just gulped it down like it was beef barbecue…".
Sergeant Vren's head slumped downwards in defeat, but how could he possibly let such a small setback prevent him from fulfilling Lieutenant Verayth's mission.
Vren steeled his heart and started plotting his next scheme, but before that, most of the recruits had already passed out from eating the monstrous beast's flesh.
"I should probably stop them before someone dies".
…
"Hey, you finishing that?" Elijah asked Taelia, his voice casual.
Taelia stared at her plate, her appetite long gone. The grotesque chunks of monstrous beast flesh glistened in a pool of dark, viscous blood that smelled faintly of iron and rot. Taelia didn't need to think this one through.
"No," she said finally, pushing the plate across the table toward him. "You can have the rest if you want."
Elijah didn't hesitate. Without a word of thanks, he grabbed the plate, pulling it closer like a wolf claiming its kill.
The sound of his teeth tearing into the meat was disturbingly loud in the quiet room, and Taelia flinched as she watched him devour it with an unsettling mix of respect and fear.
On Elijah's other side, the young boy with flaming hair that protested against Sergeant Vren, shifted nervously in his seat.
His freckled face was pale, and his trembling hands barely managed to hold his own plate. After a long moment of silence, he pushed the plate toward Elijah.
"Here you go, man," the boy muttered. "I still want to live to see my mother again."
Elijah paused mid bite, his sharp gaze flicking to the boy. For a moment, there was silence as the two locked eyes. Then Elijah smirked, blood staining his teeth and lips.
"Smart choice," Elijah said, his voice low and steady. He reached for the boy's plate without hesitation.
When he finally finished, Elijah leaned back, wiping his bloodied mouth with the back of his hand.
He smirked sinisterly as the continuous notifications from the demon lord revival system kept flooding in, Elijah felt the weird gazes of Taelia and the flaming boy and said lightly.
"You might want to get used to this".
Neither Taelia nor the boy answered. The weight of his words, and the feral gleam in his eyes said enough.
…
Sergeant Vren sighed and finally stepped forward, addressing the remaining recruits who hadn't yet succumbed to the monstrous flesh.
"All right, maggots! If you can still stand, you can take the rest of the afternoon off, but once it's four O'clock sharp, I want everyone back on the field for hand to hand combat training".
For some reason, Elijah felt Sergeant Vren say that last part with a little too much enthusiasm in his voice.