Shen stared down at his hands, trembling with excitement.
"What the hell can I do with these… enhancements?"
He decided to find out.
He ran. His body blurred, faster than ever — three times his normal speed. He leapt, crashing head-first into the stalactites hanging nearly ten feet above. His fists pounded the cavern wall, splintering rock with ease. His grip crushed stone until it powdered between his fingers.
Yet, when he looked at himself, his body hadn't changed. No bulging muscles. No difference on the surface.
"Why do I still look the same?" Shen muttered.
The answer came instantly, cool and clinical:
[To safely increase musculature, food is required for conversion into mass.]
"Well, that explains it…" Shen scratched his head, then looked up at the cavern opening — at least twenty feet above. "So, can I jump out of here?"
[Affirmative.]
Shen's eyes lit up. Relief washed over him—
[Condition: food intake required first.]
"…Great." Shen's smile vanished. He scanned the ruins, stomach growling, but found nothing. As he wandered, the voice interrupted again:
[Optimal growth is achieved by consuming prey you kill yourself. Their biomass will be converted into strength.]
Shen blinked. "Wait… you're telling me I need to eat what I kill?"
[Correct.]
"…Well, sh*t."
He caught his first target — a rat scurrying across a broken pillar. Shen squeezed too hard, reducing it to pulp. He gagged, wiped his hand, and tried again. The second time, he managed to kill one cleanly. Hesitant, he ate it.
The System chimed immediately:
[1/10 rats consumed. Continue. After requirement is met, exit will be permitted.]
Shen shuddered. His stomach turned, but strangely, energy buzzed faintly in his veins. "So it's true… damn. Rat diet it is."
---
30 Minutes Later
Blood and fur littered the ruins. Shen stood panting, wiping his mouth.
[10/10 rats consumed. Requirement met.]
Power surged through him like wildfire. His arms were denser, his chest broader, his frame subtly beefier. He flexed and grinned.
"Now this… this is different."
Energy raced inside him, hot and restless, begging to be used. He marched back to the center of the cavern, looking up at the hole. His grin widened.
"If I can do this with rats… what about wolves? Or even stronger beasts?"
The thought alone made his heart pound.
---
Reflection
Shen clenched his fists. All his life, he'd been mortal-class — nothing more than a weakling who knew a single healing spell. He couldn't command the elements like fire, water, earth, or air. He couldn't shoot fireballs like a lower fire disciple, let alone condense them into deadly arrows like a mid-rank mage. He was nothing.
But now…
"How do I get stronger?" he asked aloud.
The voice answered immediately:
[Consume creatures stronger than yourself. Their DNA will be assimilated. Additional growth pathways: acquiring skills through combat, absorbing knowledge from spellbooks, and practicing existing techniques to increase proficiency.]
Shen's grin stretched wide. "So, you're telling me I can evolve by eating stronger beasts… and learn faster too?"
The System did not reply — it didn't need to.
For the first time in his life, Shen felt like destiny was within reach. He could rise through the temple ranks, maybe even carve his name beyond Luthandor itself.
He glanced up at the jagged lip of the cavern. Light trickled through the gap above.
"Time to get out of this damn hole," he said with a toothy smile. "And when I do… everyone will remember the name Tanda Shen."