[Mutant Gecko · SSS]
[Talents: Bite (D), Camouflage (E), Fire Resistance (A), Hunting Instinct (B), Devour Evolution (SSS)]
[Weakness: Low-tier Creature]
[Strength Growth: ☆]
[Agility Growth: ☆]
[Defense Growth: ☆]
[Mana Growth: ☆]
[Potential: ★★★★★★★★★★]
[Description: This mutant gecko carries a trace of ancient ancestral blood, enabling a unique evolution skill. It can evolve its power by devouring creatures weaker than itself.]
Four choices lay before Arthur, each character boasting its own unique attributes.
Arthur teetered between the Dwarf and the Gecko, but finally, his eyes locked on the gecko's crazy potential. Gritting his teeth, he tapped on it.
Even though a gecko seemed puny right now, its potential far surpassed the others. As long as he got the right opportunities, Arthur believed that a tiny gecko could eventually become a colossal force.
[Congratulations, you have obtained the Mutant Gecko character. You'll be deployed into the Starshine Forest on the Marfa Continent. Please prepare yourself.]
[This forest is home to a hundred thousand different creatures. You can evolve by hunting and devouring those weaker than you, but be on guard—there are plenty of hunters more powerful than you!]
The system prompt still buzzed in his ears when suddenly everything spun. Arthur blinked, and the entire world around him had morphed beyond recognition.
Turning his head, Arthur realized his perspective had completely changed. Weeds that once went unnoticed now seemed to block out the sky. A tree not too far away looked like an ancient titan towering over him, so tall he couldn't see the top.
He crawled carefully across the ground, observing the area. Out of nowhere, a thunderous dragon roar boomed overhead like a rolling storm.
A rustling clamor broke out in the forest. Huge birds flapped their wings frantically, some tumbling from the treetops in panic. Feeling the suppression of a high-level bloodline, these ordinary birds couldn't handle it, their wings failing them from sheer terror.
Roar!
The roar echoed again, and Arthur watched a few smaller birds roll their eyes and topple over, feet in the air—scared to death.
Arthur couldn't understand; he didn't think the roar was that terrifying, just really loud.
Moments later, the bit of sunlight that had filtered through was suddenly blocked by a vast red shadow. A full-grown red dragon swooped across the forest canopy at lightning speed.
Arthur craned his neck, eyes wide, gazing at this giant beast blotting out the sky. Its striking wings, that fearsome physique, and its suffocating aura left a deep imprint on Arthur's heart.
"So that's a dragon? Dragons are among the top creatures out there. Wonder if I can evolve into a true dragon someday?"
Arthur felt a surge of excitement coursing through him. Sure, he was weak now, but with his SSS-level Devour Evolution, he believed he could eventually reach that height if given enough time!
While he was still dreaming big, the ground suddenly started shaking. A rumbling noise, like distant thunder, drew closer.
In no time, a horde of massive bodies, kicking up clouds of dust, charged straight toward Arthur's position. Spooked by the dragon, these beasts were trying to shake off their fear by stampeding through the forest.
Arthur scurried up a nearby tree, watching the chaotic stampede tear across the ground.
His respect for the dragon's power grew even more. Wherever that giant creature passed, all other beasts lost their nerve. That was the might of a mature dragon!
Arthur reflexively looked skyward, wanting to track the dragon's roar—but locked eyes with a pair of vertical pupils filled with panic and dread. It was a huge snake, desperately slithering away in terror, and its path was leading right to Arthur's spot.
Arthur's heart nearly stopped. Snakes are one of a gecko's biggest predators. If it laid eyes on him, he was toast.
He had no time to run. Thinking fast, he used the talent "Camouflage."
A second later, his body changed color in a snap, blending perfectly with the bark. His tiny form disappeared into the surroundings, and the giant snake happened to zip right by.
Arthur held his breath, feeling his heart cease to beat for an instant. Fortunately, that panicked snake couldn't be bothered scoping out every detail of its path. It slithered past him and disappeared.
Only when it was safely gone did Arthur release the tension in his body, gulping air like crazy, his little paws pressing against his chest to calm his hammering heart.
That was terrifying!
As that serpent rushed past, he could practically smell the stench off its scales and sense its oppressive, bloodthirsty aura. If it had spotted him, that would've been game over.
But it hadn't…so Arthur got to see another day.
Still, he refused to let his guard down, maintaining his camouflage until the dragon was gone for good and the forest gradually settled.
Finally, he dared to check his status.
When he entered this world, the Arch God Space had already embedded some basic controls in his mind. At his silent call, a holographic panel—visible only to him—appeared.
[Mutant Gecko · SSS]
[Strength: 1]
[Agility: 3]
[Defense: 1]
[Mana: 0]
[Evolution Points: 0/100]
[Status: Hungry (0/100)]
[Description: Right now, you're incredibly weak. Ninety-nine percent of the creatures in this forest can kill you with ease. Before you begin evolving, your top priority is filling your belly.]
Arthur felt dizzy, his stomach growling like crazy.
"Man, I'm starving. Gotta find something to eat!"
He scuttled down the trunk and crept through the undergrowth, scanning for any possible snack. But in the aftermath of the dragon's appearance, every living thing seemed to have fled or scattered. Even the smallest insects had either bolted or been trampled by the fleeing herd. There wasn't so much as a mosquito around.
Growing desperate, Arthur took a bite of a nearby leaf.
"Ugh! So bitter!"
He spat it out, the awful taste lingering on his tongue. Still starving, he hesitated, took another nibble, and forced himself to swallow with his eyes shut.
His stomach kept growling—he felt no fullness at all.
"Guess I'm not cut out to be a herbivore. I need meat!"
Muttering to himself, Arthur concluded he'd have to hunt for small insects, given his puny size. So he kept searching, nearly keeling over from hunger, when at last he stumbled upon a fully intact ant nest!
He crawled closer and finally spotted a whole troop of ants dragging a beetle's corpse toward their lair.
"Awesome!"