The Forest of Beginnings was quieter once the sun fully rose.
Mist clung low to the ground, curling around roots and stones like something alive. Shafts of light pierced the canopy in broken lines, illuminating drifting motes of mana that shimmered faintly in the air. To most creatures, it was simply morning.
To the mimic, it was overwhelming.
Every step sent a ripple of sensation through its unstable body. The rough approximation of a humanoid form wavered with each movement—arms elongating, fingers fusing together before snapping back into place, legs bending the wrong way for a breath before correcting. The mimic staggered, clutching at itself as foreign memories surged without warning.
A sword swing.
A shouted command.
Pain—sharp, burning, fatal.
"No—!" The word slipped from its mouth, half-formed and broken. Its voice cracked, slipping between tones, between identities. The mimic dropped to one knee, its body shuddering violently as the borrowed memories pressed harder.
This form was wrong.
Too close.
Too him.
The mimic screamed—not in sound, but in intent—and its body responded instinctively.
Bone stretched.
Muscle surged.
Stone and flesh flowed together as its shape collapsed inward and then burst outward, reforming with brutal efficiency. Limbs thickened, spine lengthened, and coarse black fur erupted across its surface. A muzzle pushed forward, teeth sharpening into fangs meant for tearing, not speaking.
When the transformation finished, a massive wolf crouched in the undergrowth, breath coming in heavy pants.
The pain faded.
The memories dulled.
This form fit better.
The wolf shook itself once, droplets of dew scattering from its fur. Its senses sharpened immediately—sounds became clearer, scents layered atop one another in complex trails. Earth. Moss. Prey. Blood, faint and old.
Hunger.
Without thinking, the wolf moved.
It padded deeper into the forest, away from the village paths, away from the place where the hero had fallen. Each step steadied its mind, instinct asserting itself like a firm hand on its shoulder.
Then—
A sound rang out inside its head.
Not a voice.
A bell chime.
SYSTEM INITIALIZATION COMPLETE
A translucent pane of light flickered into existence before the wolf's eyes, hovering no matter where it looked. Symbols resolved into words, sharp and unmistakable.
STATUS WINDOW OPENED
Name: ———
Title: Demon Lord Candidate
Level: 1
Race: Baby Mimic (Legendary)
HP: 120 / 120
MP: 300 / 300
Condition: Stable (Mental Load: High)
The wolf froze mid-step.
Its ears flattened against its head as it stared at the glowing text. The words made sense instantly, not because it understood them logically, but because they were imprinted—knowledge delivered whole, without explanation.
Demon Lord… candidate?
A pressure formed in its chest, tight and unpleasant. The wolf snarled softly, lips curling back from its fangs.
"No," it tried to say.
What came out was a low, rumbling growl.
The window shifted, responding to its agitation.
NOTICE:
High-potential entity detected.
Heroic Mana Residue: Confirmed.
Demonic Compatibility: Exceptionally High.
Another pane slid into view.
RACIAL TRAITS — BABY MIMIC (LEGENDARY)
• Adaptive Form: May replicate the physical structure of consumed creatures (Incomplete at current level).
• Object Imitation: May transform into non-living objects previously consumed or observed.
• Mana Assimilation: Absorbs mana at increased efficiency.
• Instinctual Learning: Skills may manifest through repeated action or consumption.
The wolf lowered itself into a crouch, tail curling inward as if trying to make itself smaller. The words legendary and candidate echoed unpleasantly in its mind.
It didn't want this.
It just wanted to—
Survive.
The thought hit with surprising clarity.
Survive.
The system responded immediately.
PRIMARY DIRECTIVE REGISTERED:
Survival
The windows dimmed slightly, as if acknowledging the declaration.
The wolf exhaled slowly. That directive felt… right. Simple. Manageable.
It began moving again, deeper into the trees, putting distance between itself and anything that might challenge it before it understood what it was. As it walked, another pane opened unprompted.
SKILLS — CURRENTLY AVAILABLE
• [Copy] (Passive): Replicate physical traits of consumed creatures.
• [Object Shift] (Basic): Transform body into simple inanimate forms.
• [Mana Sense] (Passive): Detect ambient mana sources.
The wolf paused, nostrils flaring.
Mana Sense.
The forest lit up—not visually, but conceptually. Warm concentrations pulsed beneath the soil, faint traces clung to living creatures, and stronger currents flowed along invisible ley lines threading the woods.
And there—
Movement.
Small. Fast. Alive.
The wolf dropped low, muscles coiling. A rabbit burst from the underbrush ahead, oblivious, its mana signature weak but distinct.
Instinct took over.
The wolf lunged.
The chase was brief. Too brief. The rabbit never stood a chance. The wolf's jaws closed around it, and with a sharp snap, the struggle ended.
As it fed, warmth spread through its body—not just physical satisfaction, but something deeper. Numbers flickered at the edge of its vision.
CONSUMPTION CONFIRMED:
Forest Rabbit
EXP GAINED: +12
Another chime rang out.
LEVEL UP!
Level: 2
HP: 140 / 140
MP: 320 / 320
Stat Points Available: 5
The wolf froze mid-bite, then resumed eating more slowly, thoughtfully. With each swallow, it felt more grounded, more real. The mental noise receded, replaced by a growing sense of cohesion.
This worked.
Hunting. Eating. Growing stronger.
The wolf hunted thrice more.
By the time the sun began to dip, its movements were surer, its form more stable. The system chimed softly once more.
SKILL ACQUIRED:
[Feral Howl] (Active)
A mana-infused roar that stuns nearby enemies briefly.
Cooldown: 30 seconds.
The wolf tested it instinctively.
It threw back its head and howled.
Mana surged through its chest, pouring into sound. The forest itself seemed to flinch as the howl rolled outward, heavy with predatory intent. Birds scattered. Insects went silent.
The wolf staggered slightly as the skill ended, surprised by the drain—but exhilarated.
Then it smelled them.
Other wolves.
A pack.
The air shifted as shapes emerged from the trees—lean, scarred bodies moving in practiced formation. Yellow eyes locked onto the mimic, assessing, calculating.
The alpha stepped forward, intent to challenge the one who released such a powerful howl. It charged, first darting quickly after using a skill and slashing the mimics side. Then the mimic gave in to the primal instinct:
Survive.
Claws raked fur. Teeth found flesh. The mimic was driven back again and again, instincts screaming as it barely avoided fatal blows. When the alpha lunged for its throat, the mimic unleashed its howl point-blank.
The alpha froze.
That moment was enough.
The mimic tore into its rival with everything it had. Dust and fallen leaves scattered around during the final struggle. Then the mimic stood trembling over the body, blood-soaked but victorious.
BOSS DEFEATED: Wolf Pack Alpha
EXP GAINED: +180
LEVEL UP!
Level: 4
HP: 200 / 200
MP: 380 / 380
New Skill Slot Unlocked
The remaining wolves lowered their heads.
Submission.
The mimic stood over the fallen alpha, chest heaving. It looked down at its bloodied paws, then at the pack surrounding it.
Strength.
Order.
Safety.
For now.
The system chimed one final time.
TEMPORARY ROLE ACQUIRED:
Wolf Pack Alpha
The mimic exhaled slowly and lifted its head, releasing a quieter, steadier howl—not a challenge, but a claim.
For now, this was enough.
I must learn.
I must grow.
I must survive.