Mike had been hunting peacefully, the fire-breathing skill still serving him well. His belly was full, and everything seemed calm—until the ground shook, and the air filled with the unmistakable thud of heavy footsteps. Mike froze.
"Not this guy again," he muttered under his breath. "This is just my luck."
From the trees emerged the huge, bumpy monstrosity that Mike had encountered before. Its face was ugly, with a smashed appearance that made it look even more intimidating. Its body was massive, and its eyes locked on Mike with an intense, predatory stare.
"Ugh, you again... You know what? You're officially Big Ugly now. I'm tired of calling you anything else," Mike grumbled.
The massive creature let out a deafening roar as it stomped forward, clearly enraged. Mike could feel the ground shake beneath him.
---
[Quest Available: Defeat the Beast]
Objective: Defeat Big Ugly (Level 15).
Reward: 500 Evolution Points, New Skill Unlock.
Failure Penalty: 300 Evolution Points deduction.
---
Mike's heart raced. Level 15? This was serious. But he wasn't backing down. He was determined to finish this.
Mike quickly scanned his surroundings. Unlike before, this time he wasn't just going to rush in blindly. Big Ugly was slow but powerful, and Mike knew he had to use his brain to win.
Taking a deep breath, Mike grinned. "Alright, Big Ugly. Time for some brains over brawn."
---
Mike had learned his lesson about charging in headfirst. He ducked behind a rock, watching Big Ugly approach. The creature's massive size made it an easy target, but its thick hide and monstrous strength would make a direct attack dangerous.
Mike waited for the right moment. Big Ugly stomped closer, its large feet causing the ground to tremble. As it reared back for another charge, Mike sprinted from his hiding spot and ran in the opposite direction.
The monster, enraged and hungry for a fight, charged after him without thinking. Just as Mike had planned, he led Big Ugly toward a narrow ravine. The creature's size worked against it here. It tried to follow, but the path was too tight for it to move comfortably.
Mike took a sharp turn and quickly sprinted up a nearby cliffside, using his Quick Sprint skill to gain height.
---
[Skill Used: Quick Sprint (Lv.3)]
Mike increased his speed to outpace the monster and gain a tactical advantage.
---
Big Ugly was struggling to follow, but Mike wasn't done yet. He waited until Big Ugly was right below him, its head barely fitting in the narrow ravine. With a grin, Mike prepared his next move.
From the cliff, he leaped, using his fire breath to distract the creature, sending a burst of flames toward its eyes. As Big Ugly recoiled, Mike landed gracefully behind it, catching it off guard.
Mike then used his Primitive Bite and took a snap at its leg. The creature roared in pain, but the damage was minimal. However, it was enough to stagger it, throwing off its balance. Mike had successfully distracted it, causing the creature to become disoriented.
He darted forward once more, jumping onto the creature's back and biting at a weak spot on its neck, aiming for an artery. After a few attempts, the creature let out a death scream, collapsing with a final, pitiful roar.
Mike stood over the defeated Big Ugly, panting but triumphant.
---
[Quest Completed: Defeat the Beast]
Evolution Points Earned: 500
New Skill Unlocked: Hardening (Lv.1)
Strength Increased: +2
Endurance Increased: +1
---
Mike grinned, wiping sweat from his brow. "That was easier than I thought... and smarter. Looks like using my brain really does work."
---
[System Update Available]
Evolution Points Reached 700.
Would you like to upgrade the system?
---
Mike stared at the notification in surprise. "700 points already? Well, if the system's offering an upgrade…"
Without thinking twice, Mike accepted the system upgrade.
---
[System Update: Evolution System Upgraded]
Evolution Point acquisition is now harder (1.23x multiplier).
Unlimited Growth Potential: Strength, Endurance, and other stats can now grow infinitely.
New Feature: Evolution Points can now be exchanged in the shop.
New Feature Unlocked: Height increased to 2.0 meters.
---
Mike blinked in disbelief. Unlimited growth potential? This was big. He had just unlocked the ability to continue growing without limits, but now it was going to be harder to earn Evolution Points.
"Well, guess I've got more work ahead of me now," Mike said with a wry smile. "But hey, I'll take it."
Mike looked at his new status window, a sense of satisfaction washing over him. He had grown stronger, gained a new skill, and the system was evolving alongside him.
---
Updated Status Window:
---
Mike, Baby Allosaurus
Height: 2.0 meters
Strength: 13/10 (Surpassed original max)
Endurance: 12/10 (Surpassed original max)
Intelligence: 10/10
Agility: 12/10 (Surpassed original max)
Evolution Points: 236.29/1,000 (next upgrade)
Skills:
Primitive Bite (Lv.4) – Increased damage and speed.
Quick Sprint (Lv.3) – Even faster bursts of speed, more efficient.
Fire Ignition (Lv.2) – Ability to generate more intense flames for cooking or combat.
Hardening (Lv.1) – Temporarily increases defense and durability by hardening the skin.
Mike rubbed his hands together. "Time to get stronger. Let's see what this shop's got for me."