The air inside the cave was still thick with the scent of blood. Rhia was crouched beside one of the Fang Rats, plucking out its fangs with a sharp rock. She didn't seem to question why I had asked if she felt different.
That was good.
I had no intention of revealing my System—not yet.
I turned back to the corpses of the monsters, something gnawing at my mind. The System had given me stats and skills for killing them, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I was still missing something.
The words Devourer's Mark (???) stood out in my status window. It was the only thing I couldn't understand.
Was it a hidden skill? A title? A curse?
There was only one way to find out.
I reached for the nearest Fang Rat corpse and placed my hand on it.
The moment I made contact, a sensation like fire shot through my arm. My vision darkened, and the world around me twisted.
Then, the System's voice echoed in my mind.
[Devourer's Mark Activated]
[Absorbing essence…]
[You have gained: 2 Strength, 1 Agility]
[You have gained: Skill – "Feral Instincts (F)"]
My body trembled as a sudden rush of power coursed through me.
Unlike before, this wasn't just a simple stat boost—it felt deeper. My muscles tightened, my heart pounded harder, and for a brief moment, my senses sharpened to an inhuman degree.
I could hear Rhia's slow breathing, the distant dripping of water, the faint skittering of something deeper in the tunnels.
This was different.
This wasn't just about leveling up.
I could absorb more than just experience—I could take their very essence.
A Secret Weapon
I looked down at my hand. It tingled, as if something had changed beneath my skin.
The System hadn't even asked for confirmation before activating Devourer's Mark—it had simply taken.
If I could do this to a simple Fang Rat… what else could I devour?
I clenched my fist, forcing myself to stay calm. I needed to experiment more, but not here. Not now.
For now, I had to act normal.
I turned to Rhia, who was still busy with the fangs.
"We should head back," I said. "Before the others notice we're gone."
She nodded, pocketing the sharpest Fang Rat teeth. "Yeah. We got what we came for."
We started making our way back through the cave, but as we walked, I couldn't stop thinking about what I had just done.
This Devourer's Mark…
It was more than just a skill.
It was a weapon.
And if I used it right…
I wouldn't just become stronger than the other goblins.
I would become something far beyond them.