Mike took a deep breath, letting the scent of the wild wash over him. Dirt, leaves, the musk of unseen creatures. It was familiar. Comforting.
It reminded him of who he used to be.
A hunter. A predator. A beast that ruled the food chain.
Now? He was just… human.
Mike clenched his fists. Not for long.
Brutus led the group deeper into the woods, axe in hand. Kiera followed, scanning the surroundings with cautious eyes. Mike walked beside them, his mind racing.
For months, he had been stuck like this. Weak. Slow. Small. He had adapted, sure. He learned to use a sword, to fight like a warrior instead of a beast. But nothing—nothing—compared to the raw power he once had.
Today, that changes.
Brutus suddenly stopped. "There."
Mike's eyes snapped forward.
A Tusk Beast.
A massive, furred creature with curved tusks, each as long as a spear. Its muscles rippled as it sniffed the air, sensing them. A perfect target.
Mike felt something stir inside him. A feeling he hadn't felt in a long time.
The thrill of the hunt.
He cracked his knuckles, grinning.
"Finally."
---
The Hunt
The Tusk Beast charged.
Brutus met it head-on, his axe crashing against its tusk with a deafening CLANG. The impact sent shockwaves through the ground, but Brutus barely budged.
Mike didn't wait.
He moved—faster, sharper, deadlier. His instincts screamed at him, guiding his body like they used to.
Duck. Sidestep. Counter.
Mike slipped under the beast's tusk, blade flashing.
SLASH!
A deep cut opened along its side. Not enough to kill. But enough to bleed.
The beast roared in pain.
Mike's grin widened.
This is what he was missing. This is what he was born for.
Brutus took advantage of the distraction, swinging his axe in a brutal CRUNCH that split part of the creature's tusk.
Mike didn't hesitate.
With a predator's instinct, he vaulted onto the beast's back, sword raised.
"Time to sleep, big guy."
With one final strike, he drove his sword deep into its spine.
The beast collapsed.
Silence.
Then—
DING!
---
Mike's Status Window Update
Sword Master (Lv. 3)
Unlocks Advanced Stance and Power Strike techniques.
Predator's Sense (Lv. 4)
Increased detection range by 70%, now detects dangerous creatures more clearly.
Quick Sprint (Lv. 6)
Can now dodge faster and sustain movement for longer.
New Skill Unlocked:
Beast Slayer
Increases damage against large creatures by 25%.
Grants temporary attack speed boost after killing a creature.
+30 Evolution Points Earned!
---
Mike froze. Then slowly, a different kind of grin spread across his face.
Not excitement. Not arrogance.
Satisfaction.
Because for the first time since turning human—he was evolving again.
He exhaled, staring at his hands. No claws. No talons. Just flesh.
But that was fine. For now.
"Hah! Finally, Evolution Points!" Mike clenched his fists, almost vibrating with excitement. "I was starving for these!"
Kiera crossed her arms. "You look like you just won the lottery."
Mike smirked. "Better. I got my Evolution Points back."
Brutus clapped a heavy hand on Mike's back, nearly knocking the wind out of him. "Good hunt. Alright, warriors! Take this beast back to the village. We'll have a feast tonight!"
The group of village warriors, who had been standing around watching, groaned in unison.
"Oh, so that's what we are now? Just meat haulers?" one grumbled.
"We didn't even DO anything! They killed it in like two minutes!" another complained.
"We're warriors, not butchers!"
Brutus rolled his eyes. "You wanna fight the next one?"
Silence.
The warriors exchanged glances. Then, one sighed. "Fine. Let's haul the damn thing."
Mike, still high off his victory, grinned at them. "C'mon, guys. Think of it this way—you're helping your future Allosaurus overlord get his strength back."
Kiera joking. "Mike, you're not turning back into a dinosaur."
Mike smirked. "Not yet."
The warriors grumbled as they dragged the massive Tusk Beast back toward the village. Meanwhile, Mike walked beside Brutus, already planning for the next hunt.
Evolution Points meant options.
And soon, he'd be stronger than ever.
TO BE CONTINUED…