First Hunt
Ryu crouched low, his sharp claws sinking into the soft soil of the forest floor. His heart pounded like a war drum as he stared into the piercing amber eyes of the alpha wolf. The beast stood tall and menacing, its midnight-black fur bristling, lips curled back to reveal razor-sharp fangs. This wasn't just a challenge for dominance—it was survival, and Ryu knew it.
The wolf growled, a sound that seemed to rumble through the trees, daring Ryu to make the first move. His instincts screamed at him to attack, to lunge, to kill. But his human mind hesitated.
"What am I doing here?" he thought. "I was a man. I wasn't made for this…"
Another growl snapped him out of his thoughts. The alpha was closing the distance, its movements deliberate and calculated. Ryu's body tensed as his instincts took over. He wasn't a man anymore. He was a wolf—a predator. And predators didn't hesitate.
With a snarl, Ryu lunged forward. The two collided, a flurry of claws, teeth, and snarls echoing through the forest. The alpha moved with a deadly precision, its massive frame forcing Ryu to backpedal. Each strike sent shockwaves through his body, but as the fight wore on, he noticed something.
I'm adapting, Ryu thought.
His movements were becoming faster, his reactions sharper. The instincts of his wolf form were taking over, guiding him. He ducked under a vicious swipe, twisted, and sank his claws into the alpha's side. The beast howled in pain, but it wasn't finished yet.
The fight raged on, each of them bloodied and battered, until Ryu saw his chance. The alpha lunged at him, jaws snapping. This time, Ryu didn't dodge. He met the beast head-on, sinking his claws into its throat. The alpha's growls turned into a gurgling whimper as it collapsed beneath him.
Panting, Ryu stared at the lifeless body of the alpha wolf. His hands—or rather, his claws—trembled. A strange hunger gnawed at his mind, an urge he couldn't explain.
"Beast Assimilation activated," a mechanical voice echoed in his mind.
Without thinking, Ryu leaned down and bit into the alpha's flesh. As the blood hit his tongue, a surge of energy coursed through his body. His vision sharpened, his muscles felt stronger, and a new awareness filled him.
New Ability Gained: Alpha Instincts
• Enhanced agility and reflexes
• Heightened senses of smell and hearing
The information appeared in his mind as though it had always been there. He staggered back, his body trembling from the rush of power.
"So this is what Beast Assimilation does," he muttered, staring at his hands. "I can take their strengths… this could be my key to surviving here."
But before he could revel in his newfound strength, a low growl echoed from the shadows. Ryu's ears twitched as he turned his head. There, hidden among the trees, were two glowing red eyes watching him. The presence sent a chill down his spine. Whatever it was, it was bigger—and stronger—than the alpha wolf.
Ryu tightened his claws, his heart pounding as he prepared for another fight.
"This world doesn't give you a break, huh?" he muttered, stepping into the shadows.