Deep within the ancient forest, far from the makeshift camp of his pack, Seth finally allowed his shoulders to slump. The weight of their expectations felt heavier than any goblin's club.
"Strongest in the pack... me?" he muttered to a nearby, unassuming fern. "This has to be some kind of cosmic joke. The real Seth probably couldn't handle the pressure, his soul peaced out, and mine, fresh off the rage-bait express, got sucked into this fluffy body. What a mess."
He kicked a pebble, his new clawed foot sending it skittering into the undergrowth. The pack's elder had gathered everyone before he left, reminding them that in just four days, they had a territorial negotiation with a band of Orcs. Their survival depended on securing a patch of land that wasn't constantly being raided by goblins or hunted by humans.
Territorial negotiations with Orcs? Seth grumbled internally. I used to negotiate for extra hot sauce on my burritos. This is a bit of an upgrade. A terrifying, life-or-death upgrade.
He let out a long, exasperated sigh that ruffled the fur around his mouth. "Enough moping. If I'm stuck here, I might as well play the game. Time to see what this 'strongest' body can really do and farm some points for this weird system."
His new feline-like ears swiveled, picking up a faint skittering sound from a dark, damp crevice between two large roots. It was the perfect opportunity. Creeping forward with an innate stealth that surprised him, he peered into the shadows.
There, hunched over a cocooned beetle, was a spider the size of a small dog. It was grotesque, covered in coarse black hair, with multiple, glistening red eyes. A shiver of revulsion—a very human one—ran down his spine. But right on its heels was a thrill of anticipation.
Perfect. Low-level mob. Let's test the grind.
With a guttural roar that was half battle-cry, half nervous energy, he lunged. The spider, startled, reared back and shot a strand of thick, sticky webbing. Seth, acting on pure instinct, twisted his body mid-air, the web harmlessly splattering against a tree trunk behind him.
Whoa! This agility is insane!
He landed and swiped with his claws. The sensation was immensely satisfying. His obsidian claws sheared through the spider's chitinous leg like a hot knife through butter.
Target: Forest Arachnid.
Biomass Quality: Very Low.
Devour Points (DP) Gained: 3!
Current DP: 8/100
"Only three points? Cheapskate," Seth scoffed, his greed already flaring up. He finished the wounded spider with another swift claw, and another notification popped up.
Target: Forest Arachnid.
Biomass Quality: Very Low.
Devour Points (DP) Gained: 3!
Current DP: 11/100
New Skill Available for Acquisition!
[Venom Resistance (Minor)] - 15 DP
[Web Slinger] - 20 DP
Seth's eyes widened. "Oh ho! So I can get their skills too? Now we're talking!"
The greedy part of his soul, the one that loved min-maxing in games, roared in approval. He quickly located and dispatched two more of the large spiders, his movements growing more confident and brutal with each kill. The system chimes were like music to his ears.
Current DP: 23/100
He had enough for one skill. [Venom Resistance] was practical, but [Web Slinger] sounded way more fun.
"Let's go with utility," he decided, selecting [Venom Resistance (Minor)].
A warm, tingling sensation flowed through his veins, followed by a brief, strange tightening of his skin. It faded as quickly as it came.
Skill Acquired: [Venom Resistance (Minor)]
Current DP: 8/100
"Alright!" Seth grinned, flexing his claws. "Now, let's see if there's a bigger one around here. I need more points."
As if on cue, the shadows in the crevice deepened. A slow, menacing click-clack sound echoed from the darkness. From the cavernous hole between the roots, a much, much larger spider emerged. It was the size of a bear, its multiple eyes glowing with a sinister red light, and fangs dripping with a viscous, green liquid.
Seth's new feline instincts screamed DANGER, but his greedy, battle-hungry core shouted EXPERIENCE POINTS!
"Heh," Seth smirked, falling into a fighting stance. "Now you're talking. Let's see what you've got, you eight-legged freak."
The giant spider charged, and Seth met its charge, his DP counter burning in his mind's eye.
The farm was officially open for business.