The first thing Kael felt was pain.
A deep, gnawing hunger clawed at his belly. His throat was dry, his body cold, and his limbs refused to move the way he remembered. His vision was blurry, his ears twitching at every little sound—skittering, growling, screeching.
Then it hit him: he wasn't in his own body.
"Where the hell… am I?" His thoughts were clear, but the voice inside his head sounded… different. Deeper. Wilder.
A rustle of foliage. The pungent scent of blood. His pupils widened.
He tried to rise, but fell onto his side—legs too short, bones underdeveloped.
Looking down, Kael froze. A tawny paw. Fur-covered limbs. His body was small, fragile—a lion cub, barely the size of a large cat.
He wasn't human anymore.
[You have been chosen for the Primordial Trial.][Reincarnation Complete: Abyssal Lion Cub – Grade E][Unique Trait Acquired: Sovereign Core (Hidden)][Mission: Survive. Grow. Conquer.]
A series of messages floated in his vision. He blinked, the translucent notifications fading slowly.
Kael's mind raced. He had died. That much he could recall—a blinding light, a metallic taste, the sound of cracking bones. Then darkness.
Now this.
No time to panic. Panic was a luxury. Rationality kicked in.
"I need shelter. Food. A safe zone. This body is too weak to defend itself."
He scanned the surroundings—twisted trees, fungal growths, the scent of rot and raw meat thick in the air. It was like a cursed jungle, the sky above choked with black clouds. This wasn't Earth.
It was the Abyssal Continent—and he knew instinctively, it was one of the most dangerous starting zones.
A screech tore through the canopy.
He ducked as a shadow passed overhead. A hawk-like creature with four wings and a skull face circled above.
"Shit. Even birds here look like final bosses."
He scrambled beneath a thick root, heart pounding. Minutes passed.
[Daily Survival Objective: Remain Alive for 24 hours.][Reward: 1 Evolution Point, 1 Territory Seed]
So he had to survive, earn points, and slowly grow stronger. This world was a brutal strategy game, and he'd started with the worst odds.
But there was one thing that gave him hope: his hidden trait.
[Sovereign Core – Rank ???]• Allows establishment of a personal territory.• Grants control over allied units.• Speeds up army development and evolution.• Passive charm and loyalty boost toward potential mates and subordinates.• Grows stronger with conquests.
Kael's eyes narrowed. "So I can become a ruler… even from nothing."
His stomach growled again, louder this time. He had to eat. With trembling paws and ears alert, he emerged from under the root and crept through the undergrowth.
Then he saw it—a small rodent, green-skinned and bug-eyed, nibbling at a fruit.
His eyes focused. Target acquired.
He leapt—more like stumbled—and missed. The rodent squeaked and ran, but not fast enough. His claws caught its tail. He sank his tiny fangs into its neck, biting down with savage instinct.
Warm blood sprayed. It kicked once, then went limp.
Kael's breath heaved. His first kill.
[You have killed a Plague Rat – Level 1][Basic experience gained: +10][Meat consumed: +5 Stamina]
He devoured it quickly, blood staining his face. The raw meat was disgusting, but it filled the void in his gut.
The hunger faded, but danger did not. This forest was teeming with predators.
Hours passed. He killed a second rat. Then a beetle the size of his paw. Slowly, he learned how to stalk, how to pounce. He leveled up once.
[Level Up: Abyssal Lion Cub – Level 2][HP: 15 → 20 | Strength: 4 → 6 | Agility: 5 → 7]
By the time night fell, he'd found a hollow beneath an old stone tree, warm and dry.
[Objective Complete: Survive 24 Hours][Reward Gained: 1 Evolution Point | 1 Territory Seed]
A small golden orb floated before him. He touched it instinctively.
[Do you wish to activate your first territory?]
Kael hesitated. If he used it now, enemies might find it. He was too weak to defend it.
"No. I'll wait. I need allies first. Fighters. Workers. Maybe… wives."
He smirked at the last thought. It sounded ridiculous, but the Sovereign Core practically encouraged it. A kingdom needs heirs, after all.
"First, survive. Then recruit. Then conquer."
He curled up, warm for the first time in hours. Above, the sky glowed with eerie light.
This world would eat the weak alive. But Kael wasn't just any lion cub.
He was a man with a mind like steel, a heart forged in ruthlessness, and ambition hotter than hell.