[Time since transformation: 6 hours]
[Current Level: 1]
[Experience: 0.8%]
[Status: Starving]
[Warning: Prolonged starvation may lead to system deterioration]
The sensation of hunger had become unbearable, gnawing at the very essence of his being. Six hours of absorbing microorganisms had given Ethan practically nothing. His tiny body screamed for something more substantial, each microscopic cell desperately seeking nourishment.
[Environmental Analysis Updated]
[Potential Prey Detected]
[Type: Primitive Earthworm]
[Level: 2]
[Size: 4.3 cm]
[Success Rate: 31%]
[Target Analysis: Muscular tissue rich in protein. Genetic structure compatible.]
An earthworm. In his past life, Ethan had used them as laboratory specimens, dissecting them under bright lights while taking meticulous notes. Now, he was reduced to hunting them. The irony wasn't lost on him as his new form trembled with predatory anticipation.
How am I supposed to attack something bigger than me? The thought sent ripples of uncertainty through his amorphous body.
[System Advice: Analyze your options]
[Current Abilities:]
Basic Burrowing (Level 1)
Vibration Sensing (Passive)
Nutrient Absorption (Passive)
[Tip: Combine abilities for maximum efficiency]
The vibrations in the soil intensified, each tremor carrying a wealth of information through the dark earth. The earthworm was approaching, tunneling its way through the humus. Every movement sent waves that Ethan's body interpreted as a living three-dimensional map, painting a picture more detailed than any human eyes could see.
Alright, let's think about this scientifically, he thought, his mind still clinging to his academic training. Earthworms are practically blind. They react to vibrations and chemical changes in the soil. If I can use that...
[System Suggestion: Primal instincts can be valuable tools]
[Warning: Target may flee if detected]
Ethan focused, pushing aside his human revulsion at what he was about to do. His new body might be weak, but it was the product of millions of years of evolution. Somewhere in his primitive genetic code lay the answers he needed.
A particular scent caught his attention, triggering newfound sensory organs. Pheromones. The earthworm was leaving a subtle trail behind it, a chemical signature as clear as footprints in fresh snow.
[New Ability Discovered!]
[Chemical Analysis (Passive) Unlocked]
[Description: Ability to detect and interpret basic chemical signatures]
[Evolution Path Unlocked: Chemical Mastery]
Perfect, thought Ethan, his scientific mind already racing with possibilities. Now, if I can just—
A violent tremor interrupted his thoughts, sending shock waves through the soil. Something enormous was moving on the surface, its footsteps like thunderclaps through the earth.
[Alert! Major Predator Detected!]
[Type: Unknown]
[Estimated Level: 25+]
[Threat Assessment: Extreme]
[Advice: Complete Immobility]
The soil above him suddenly collapsed. A monstrous claw, tree-sized from his perspective, plunged into the earth. The impact sent the earthworm he'd been stalking flying directly toward him, its body twisting in panic.
[Opportunity Detected!]
[Action Window: 2.3 seconds]
[Recommendation: Immediate predatory response]
Without thinking, Ethan activated his devouring system. His body reacted instinctively, primitive hunger overriding rational thought. He launched himself at the disoriented worm, his skin partially liquefying on contact, immediately beginning to absorb nutrients.
[Combat Initiated!]
[Target: Primitive Earthworm (Level 2)]
[Advantage: Target Disoriented]
[Damage Output: 0.2/sec]
[Absorption Rate: Optimal]
The worm writhed violently, trying to escape Ethan's grasp. But panic made its movements chaotic and predictable. The dissolving substance Ethan was secreting began to take effect, breaking down the worm's cellular structure.
I'm... I'm actually digesting something alive, he realized with a mixture of horror and primal satisfaction, feeling the worm's biomass being incorporated into his own.
[Absorption in Progress...]
[Muscular Tissues Analyzed]
[Genetic Sequence: Compatible]
[Combat Bonus: +5% damage]
[Warning: First conscious prey consumption may affect psychological state]
The worm gradually ceased moving. Its body was literally dissolving into Ethan's, who felt each cell, each strand of DNA being analyzed and integrated by his system. The sensation was both terrifying and exhilarating, a rush of power unlike anything he'd ever experienced.
[Prey Devoured!]
[Experience Gained: +12%]
[Current Level: 1 (12.8%)]
[New Abilities Available:]
Enhanced Muscular
Contraction Dermal Resistance +1
External Digestion (Level 1)
[Evolution Progress: New paths unlocked]
A sensation of warmth spread through Ethan's body, accompanied by a tingling that suggested rapid cellular reorganization. He felt stronger, more... capable. His skin seemed more resilient, his microscopic muscles more responsive. The rush of successful predation sent shivers of satisfaction through his transformed being.
[Warning! Threat Still Present!]
The system's reminder jolted him back to reality. The surface creature continued to dig through the soil, its claws passing dangerously close to his position. Each near miss sent pulses of primal fear through his newly enhanced nervous system.
Using his new muscular contraction ability, Ethan burrowed deeper into the earth. The sensations were different now, more acute. He could "feel" the layers of soil, distinguish between different densities with unprecedented precision. His body moved through the earth with a fluid grace that would have been impossible minutes ago.
["Burrowing" Skill Evolved!]
[New Level: 2]
[Bonus: Underground Movement Speed +10%]
[Special Effect: Soil Density Recognition]
For nearly an hour, Ethan remained motionless in the depths of the soil, listening to the vibrations above. His enhanced senses painted a terrifying picture of the creature above – a behemoth with countless legs and chitinous armor. Finally, it moved away, leaving behind devastated terrain.
[Danger Cleared]
[Current Status: Relative Safety]
[Advice: Ideal moment to analyze changes]
[Warning: Evolutionary changes may affect cognitive processes]
Ethan focused on his new body. The absorption of the worm had caused subtle but significant modifications. His form was slightly more elongated, his tissues denser. He could feel new organs developing, their purposes yet unknown.
I wonder... He attempted to recreate the digestive secretion he'd used during the combat.
["External Digestion" Ability Activated]
[Energy Consumption: 0.1/sec]
[Efficiency: 20%]
[Note: Ability can be improved through use]
A transparent liquid seeped from his skin, immediately beginning to break down organic matter around him. The process was fascinating to watch through his newfound sensory abilities.
This is incredible, thought the scientist in him. My body naturally produces digestive enzymes that shouldn't be possible. If I could analyze this in a laboratory setting...
The thought of the laboratory constricted what passed for his heart. His old life seemed so distant now. What had happened to Professor Chen? To the other researchers? Had the portal been stabilized?
[Psychological Analysis]
[Mental State: Nostalgia Detected]
[Warning: Emotional distraction in hostile environment]
[Advice: Survival requires total focus]
[Suggestion: Define short-term objectives]
The system was right. He couldn't afford to lose himself in memories. Not when each second could bring a new threat. Not when his very survival hung by a thread.
Alright, he thought. Immediate objectives: find more food, improve my abilities, understand this environment. Survive. Evolve. Learn.
[Objectives Accepted]
[Priority Update]
[Potential Prey Nearby: 3]
[Types:]
Earthworm (Level 2)
Insect Larva (Level 1)
Unknown Organism (Level 3)
[Recommended Target: Based on current abilities - Insect Larva]
Ethan "tasted" the air around him. Thanks to his new chemical analysis ability, he could detect subtleties that had escaped him before. The unknown organism emitted a particularly interesting signature, a complex cocktail of pheromones and metabolic byproducts that told a story of strength and potential.
Stronger than me, he reflected, but if I use my new abilities intelligently... Every predator has a weakness.
[Important Reminder!]
[Each evolution modifies consciousness]
[First observed sign: Enhanced hunting instinct]
[Warning: Psychological changes may be permanent]
The system's message made him pause. It was true. The sight – or rather, the detection – of potential prey awakened something primitive within him. A desire to hunt, to devour, to evolve. It was becoming harder to distinguish between his human thoughts and his new predatory instincts.
I must remain in control, he promised himself. I'm still Ethan Serra. Scientist. Human. No matter what I become.
[Psychological Analysis Updated]
[Internal Conflict Detected]
[Advice: Adaptation doesn't necessarily mean loss of identity]
[Suggestion: Use human intelligence to guide primal instincts]
[Warning: Successful adaptation may require accepting both aspects]
Focusing on the soil vibrations, Ethan began moving toward the unknown organism. Each movement was more fluid than before, his body responding with new precision. The earth seemed to part before him, his passage silent and efficient.
He might be a primitive larva, but he had something the other creatures in this world didn't: a human consciousness coupled with scientific training. And now, he had something else: the beginning of power.
And soon, he thought, detecting the heat signature of his prey, I'll be much more than this. Much more than human. Much more than monster.
[Hunt Initiated]
[Target Locked]
[System Status: Evolution Path Active]
[Message: Let the evolution begin...]