The sunlight crept softly through the dense forest canopy, forming a scattered mosaic upon the ground. Morning dew dripped slowly from the tips of damp leaves.
Wildflowers bloomed, exuding an intoxicatingly fragrant scent. Butterflies fluttered around them, landing gracefully on the pistils to sip the flower nectar with their proboscises.
Upon the damp earth walked a four-legged creature, his body shrouded in thick, black fur. His gaze was calm, savoring every moment around him. A strand of a smile graced his face.
A beautiful morning that stood in stark contrast to the nights which always kept him on edge.
The wolf finally arrived at a secluded clearing. No predators were within the reach of his senses.
It was time to try something.
Feeling safe, he prepared to do what he had planned. He filled the cavity of his chest with air. His eyes closed, full of concentration. His heart beat rapidly.
Then, something warm flowed through his blood vessels. A power both strange and familiar filled him.
A dark aura slowly smoldered around his body. His eyes opened, his vision felt clearer, his hearing sharper.
A grin flashed across his lips. Then he ran forward and leaped into the shadow of an acacia tree.
Slurp.
His figure vanished as if swallowed by the tree's shadow.
Empty. That was what it was like inside the shadow. Nothing but himself and a vast, dark room, like an endless, long night. However, the wolf could observe the outside of the shadow as usual.
So... this is that bat's ability. Wait, how did I get it? Could it be...
His head tilted a few degrees.
He realized he possessed a unique ability that allowed him to gain a droplet of power from whatever he ate. But he didn't fully understand how the ability itself worked.
Moreover, this was the first time the wolf had gained an ability belonging to another monster. Previously, he had only gained a tiny droplet of their power from every morsel of flesh that entered his stomach. Be it fresh meat or carrion.
I need to get out of here. My stamina is starting to drain.
After a while, for some reason, his instinct told him to jump as high as possible. He did as he was told.
Slurp.
Effortlessly, he emerged from the shadow space. Thanks to the memories and experiences of the bat that had been forcibly inserted into his head. That allowed him to learn extremely fast. Like an experienced individual recovering lost memories.
I don't know how to put it, but this is enjoyable.
Srek... srek.
The rustling of a bush caught his attention. A horned squirrel leaped out. But upon seeing the wolf, it seemed to tremble, dropping the nut stored in its chubby cheek.
A sharp grin.
His mouth opened and immediately snapped at the small squirrel. However, he only caught empty air. The small squirrel managed to leap high into the air. The wolf then swung his sharp claws but...
Wush...
What?!
He stared wide-eyed, watching the squirrel jump several times in the empty air. As if the little creature possessed an aerodynamic ability that made him click his tongue in admiration.
His eyes narrowed sharply. Could I possibly get that?
His legs bent low before pushing his own body even higher than the squirrel's consecutive leaps.
His mouth opened wide. Then, in one snap, the squirrel turned into a morsel of meat and descended into his stomach. Remnants of blood seeped between the gaps of his teeth before being cleaned by a lick of his tongue.
Delicious. It's been a while since I enjoyed a meal.
Though grateful for the fresh meat, there was a tinge of disappointment when he realized he hadn't gained any ability as he had hoped. Moreover, its size was too small to fill his stomach.
The wind blew softly, shedding dry leaves that still clung stubbornly to the tree branches. He looked up, letting his thick, black fur wave wildly. For a moment, his heart felt a little more at peace.
"[Khiiik!]"
Suddenly, a loud shriek shattered the silence of nature, piercing his ears which were sensitive to sound.
He grimaced in pain. His ears automatically shut. The sound... was annoying.
Right now, his blood raced, furious at the sudden noise that had wounded his ears. Turning west, he let out a low growl in the direction of the shriek.
I must hunt it!
A sharp curve appeared on his snout. His steps immediately quickened. A blaze of vengeance mixed with fervor ignited his hunting resolve.
Snap!
That was close.
While running, a plant suddenly moved and almost snatched him. Luckily, he managed to dodge just in time.
Even some plants in this forest were more like monsters.
After running for a while, pushing through thorny bushes, he finally arrived before a black bird the size of his head, currently preying on the carcass of a black fox.
His brows furrowed. A scavenger? Or is it truly the creature I'm looking for?
At a glance, his golden irises focused on the clotted blood around the fox's ears. He knew clearly that the fox had died from the loud sound earlier.
While the wolf was still confused, the bird sucked in as much air as it could, until its chest swelled to twice the size of its own body.
Kill it! That was how his instinct warned him.
The wolf immediately ran in a circle as fast as he could. Before the bird could release its sound, he pounced on its back and pinned its head to the ground to prevent it from being aimed at his ears.
[Khiiik!]
The bird shrieked loudly, so loud it caused his eardrums to bleed. But because it wasn't aimed directly at him, the sound wasn't as effective, allowing him to quickly kill the bird by mercilessly tearing its back open.
"Khii...ik..."
The bird's sound slowly ceased and finally disappeared completely, for now and forever.
On the other hand, he let out a long sigh. His ears were bleeding but fortunately, it didn't damage his brain.
I almost died a foolish death because of this little bird.
His eyes glanced at the bird's corpse for a moment before he started eating it.
Ugh! Here it is!
He felt it, the moment the flesh entered his stomach. A violent jolt of knowledge and experience seemed to forcibly assault his brain. The same exact pain and dizziness as when he ate the bat meat.
His breath rose and fell, panting. His stomach churned, as if demanding he vomit its contents.
After a few minutes, he stretched his stiff muscles. Lowering his tense shoulders, he tried to relax himself first.
Taking a deep breath. His chest swelled, filling with air rapidly. The falling dry leaves were pulled towards him.
[Roaaar!]
Then, when he opened his mouth, a sound wave erupted from his maw. Trees were uprooted from their earth-embedded roots. Everything in front of him was devastated by his loud roar.
He flinched slightly upon realizing the power of the skill felt far stronger than its original owner.
Could it be because of our difference in muscle mass? He thought before finally shrugging.
His eyes glanced slightly, and the trees in front of him immediately grew at an unreasonable speed, sealing the long, destroyed path. In a short time, the forest returned as if nothing had happened, as if mocking the roar he had initially been proud of.
The leaves of the trees rubbed against each other, whispering softly as the gentle breeze blew. Small birds sang from the high branches, as if showcasing the beautiful songs they were chanting.
The forest insects seemed unwilling to be outdone. They answered the song with their own unique sounds and rhythms.
The rustling symphony of nature echoed in his ears, like a small miracle occurring within the menace of this forest.
Even in a chaotic world, no matter how cruel the fate that befell him, nature seemed to be telling him to keep smiling.
Just as the gust of wind ceased, nature returned to its eternal silence.
The wolf sighed. That warm moment, lasting only an instant, would never leave his heart. But, it was time for him to return to his world.
Rest time was over. Time to hunt again.
His twitched, his nostrils flared, prey had been found. He pushed himself forward and began his hunt anew.
This time, it wasn't merely about survival, but an unconscious desire to dominate the forest with strength, as the law of the jungle should dictate.
Under the smiling, bright sun. His steps trod firmly. A blazing determination in his mind. A spirit mixed with a remnant of vague longing pushed him to go further than mere survival.
I... will meet her. Without a doubt!