After my mother came back into the cave, her heavy footsteps shaking the ground, she looked down at me for a moment. Then, without a word, she walked closer, dropped the massive fish she carried, and tore it clean in half with her jaws — teeth like a grinding machine shredding through flesh and bone effortlessly.
I thought she was just going to eat it all herself while I watched, but instead, she pushed the torn half in front of me and let out a low growl.
(Eat it.)
I could understand. Was this… bear language? Instinctively, I replied with my own low grrr and gave her a small nod. Her eyes widened for a brief second — even she seemed surprised that her newborn cub could understand her so easily. But she didn't question it. With a satisfied huff, she settled down, her massive body shaking the cave slightly as she lay down, and before long, a thunderous snore filled the den.
I turned my gaze to the fish in front of me. Half fresh, still warm, blood pooling on the ground.
As a former human, the thought of eating raw fish — torn apart and still dripping — should've made me gag. But my stomach growled fiercely, overriding all hesitation. The scent wasn't disgusting at all — on the contrary, it smelled like a delicacy, a fragrance that seemed to awaken something deep within me.
Mesmerized, my small teeth sank into the flesh. I expected it to be tough — something a cub shouldn't be able to chew — but my teeth pierced through effortlessly, like my jaws were made for this. Warm blood gushed into my mouth, yet instead of revulsion, a strange satisfaction flooded my senses. It was fresh, almost sweet, like some divine juice flowing straight into my soul.
Without even realizing, I devoured the entire fish — not even the bones were left. My belly bulged slightly from the meal, warmth spreading through my body as I waddled closer to my mother's side. Her fur was soft, her warmth soothing, and within moments, my body curled up beside her. The cave filled with the sound of our soft, synchronized snores, a small cub and his monstrous mother, sleeping peacefully in the darkness of the Eastern Darkwood.
Ten hours later, I slowly opened my eyes, only to see the sky outside the cave already darkening. The air was thick with the sounds of the wild — distant wolf howls, strange bird cries, and the rustling of unseen beasts moving through the forest.
I turned my head to check on my mother, only to find her still sleeping, her massive body rising and falling with each deep breath. Was she always this lazy? Sleeping all day like this?
But just as I thought that, something strange happened. When my gaze lingered on her, a translucent screen flickered into existence — floating silently above her enormous frame.
was the same type of screen I saw after my own birth — my status window.
Did I unlock some kind of observation ability? Or maybe it's part of the system?
I realized that when I first saw her, hunger had blinded me to everything else. But now that my stomach was full, my mind was clearer — and my eyes could see.
---
Species: Abyssal Void Bear
Growth: Adult Bear Demon
Age: 25
Tier: 3rd Tier - Peak Stage Beast
Bloodline: Abyssal Void Bear Bloodline
Potential: 5th Tier - Peak Stage Beast
Skills:
Abyssal Fang (Lv 30) – A single bite can crush enchanted bones and leaves behind a corrosive void poison that weakens enemies over time.
Void Rend Claw (Lv 30) – Claws infused with void energy can slice through spiritual barriers and metal like paper.
Abyssal Thrash (Lv 30) – A full-body thrash that sends out a shockwave strong enough to crack earth and blow back enemies in a wide radius.
After observing her status, he realized just how powerful she was — which was a relief, since she was his mother.
After that, he called out to his system in his mind, wanting to check if any changes had appeared after eating the fish
Name: ???
Growth: Bear Demon Cub
Age: 2 days
Species: Abyssal Void Bear Cub
Tier: 1st Tier - Low Stage Beast
Bloodline: Abyssal Void Bear Bloodline (Dormant)
Potential: 5th Tier - Peak Stage Beast
Skills: Biting (Lv 1), Clawing (Lv 1), Thrashing (Lv 1)
Evolution Path:
1. Giant Blackfin Catfish - 200/1000 kg
After checking his status, his eyes were drawn to the evolution path section. Seeing the update, a chill ran down his spine.
"Am I… going to turn into a fish if I eat too much of this?"
The absurd thought flashed through his mind, but he quickly shook his head. Evolution couldn't possibly be that simple. There had to be something deeper behind it.
Other than sleeping, his mother would go outside to hunt once every three days. She didn't always bring back fish — some days it was a 2-meter-long rabbit, other days a colossal 3-meter wolf, and sometimes the same giant catfish.
Her life was simple: Sleep… Hunt… Eat… Sleep… Hunt… Eat…
Meanwhile, his own life was even simpler: Sleep… Eat… Sleep… Eat…
And just like that, two months passed.
Today felt special because my mother had brought back a freshly caught Giant Blackfin Catfish — a rare delicacy and the best meal she ever offered. After finishing my portion, she went to sleep as usual, her deep snores echoing through the cave.
Meanwhile, I opened my status window to check my Evolution Path.
Evolution Path:
1. Giant Blackfin Catfish - 1100/1000kg
Right below the progress bar, a faint new line of text appeared:
[System: Evolution requirement met. Do you wish to evolve?]
A shiver ran down my spine. None of the other beasts or fish I had eaten ever appeared here — only this species. It seems the Evolution Path locks onto a single creature at a time. Until the required amount is fully consumed, no other species can take its place.
After some hesitation, I whispered, "Yes."
The moment the word left my mind, my consciousness grew sluggish, my eyelids heavy. Before I could think further, darkness swallowed me whole.
In that darkness, I saw... flashes. Scales shimmering beneath murky water. Gills opening and closing with a quiet rhythm. A massive tail slicing through the current, faster than anything I had ever seen.
When I opened my eyes again, a full day had passed. The sunlight spilling into the cave told me morning had already arrived. My mother was still asleep, her steady breathing filling the silence.
I stretched, and immediately noticed — my body felt different. Taller, heavier. Checking my reflection in a shallow puddle near the cave wall, I could see the change clearly. I had grown, now standing at one and a half meters long — half a meter taller than before.
Curious, I summoned my Status Window, and my gaze locked onto a new addition under Passive Skills.
Passive Skill:
Underwater Breathing (Lv 10)
Without thinking, I focused on the skill — and in an instant, I understood. It felt natural, as if I'd been born with it. If I were to dive into water right now, breathing would be no different than breathing air. As if I had always belonged to the depths.
But that wasn't all.
Tier: 1st Tier - Mid Stage Beast
My tier had increased — proof that I had truly evolved.
After deep sleep, my mother finally stirred awake. The moment her eyes landed on me, they widened in shock. I had grown — my body now half a meter longer than before. For a brief moment, she seemed to mistake me for another cub that had wandered in. But the moment she felt my familiar scent, her tension eased, and she simply let out a low rumble before lazily flopping back down to rest.
Two days later, my mother once again brought back a Giant Blackfin Catfish, which I devoured without hesitation. It was just as delicious and satisfying as before. However, to my surprise, the same fish didn't appear on my Evolution Path again. It seems once I've fully evolved something, eating more of it won't trigger the same process.
As for the abilities I gain… they appear to be completely random. Still, as long as they aren't something harmful, I suppose it's a good thing.