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"To stay alive, I need just one thing... and that is your shape."
When I opened my eyes, all I could see was a dense, dark forest. Every tree was tangled with the others, like a web. There was a strange smell in the air — like blood had been spilled here. The forest wasn't silent… it was breathing.
I still wasn't human. My body was shifting in a liquid form, slowly moving like mercury. But I could think, I could feel… and I was hungry.
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[System Notification]
> Energy Low.
Warning: Without Organic Absorption, System Shutdown Initiates in 24 Hours.
Tip: Devour lesser creatures to gain energy, forms, and experience.
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"Then… let the hunt begin."
I took the form of a small insect and began crawling beneath a tree. Something primal was awakening inside me.
Suddenly, I heard a voice — "Is this thing even edible?"
I saw it — a 4-foot tall Nightcrawler Hound glaring at me from a corner of the jungle. Its eyes were glowing violet, and its mouth was dripping with blood.
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[Target Identified: Nightcrawler Hound – Lv. 3]
> Traits: Enhanced Senses, Rapid Dash, Bone-Bite
Threat Level: Moderate
Recommended Strategy: Ambush or Morphic Confusion
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I couldn't attack it head-on. But then a trick came to mind.
I took the shape of a dead squirrel lying nearby, consumed its body, and copied its size. I also gained its memories — it used to avoid the hound at all costs. But I wouldn't.
The hound approached. It thought I was dead… and just as it put its mouth on me—
"DEVOUR!"
I grabbed its face with my liquid form and pulled the entire hound inside. It screamed, struggled… but my body dissolved every organ it had.
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[System Update]
> Form Unlocked: Nightcrawler Hound
Skill Gained: Rapid Dash (Lv. 1)
Energy Restored: +37%
Shapeshifter XP: +12
Current Level: 1 (42/100 XP)
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"Nice... now let's see what else I can find."
I took the hound's shape and walked deeper into the jungle — the place where only monsters dared to go.
There stood a tree… but it was alive.
Its roots were moving, and when I tried to pass, it grabbed me.
"Shapeshifter... why have you come here?"
A living tree… was speaking?!
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[New Quest Unlocked – The Whispering Tree]
> Objective: Answer the tree's riddles or be consumed.
Reward: Rare Genetic Skill / Evolution Path Hint
Penalty: Devoured by tree and absorbed into its root-network forever
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"Fine… if it's riddles, then bring them on."
Now I understood… this forest wasn't just full of monsters, it was full of system challenges too.
And if I wanted to become the Ultimate Shapeshifter… I had to take the form of everything — be it monster, or the riddle itself.
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Next Chapter Tease:
Chapter 2 – Roots of Memory: The Whispering Tree's Riddle
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