📖 CHAPTER 9 – Apex and Ascension
The forest no longer intimidated me. Medium predators had been stepping stones, their traits absorbed, their strength folded into my own. Now, apex creatures roamed the woods: wildcats, large snakes, boars—predators built to dominate. And I would absorb them all, not slowly, but with speed that far outpaced even the sharpest hunter.
My wings, flexible and translucent with insect-like veins, flexed at my back. I could hover, dart, twist, and strike mid-air. They hardened instantly when needed, slicing through branches or deflecting attacks. My exoskeleton adapted continuously, muscles flexing under its support. I was no longer just a predator—I was a predator perfected, designed to conquer all life below and above me.
I spotted a wildcat prowling near the riverbank. Its eyes met mine briefly, instinct screaming danger, but I barely needed to prepare. With a burst of speed and a flap of my wings, I dove, landing lightly on the bank. My claws were faster than its reaction, and I absorbed it in moments. Reflexes, muscle fiber density, predatory instincts, and enhanced agility merged into me. My body adjusted instantly, exoskeleton reinforcing my spine and shoulders to accommodate new musculature.
I didn't pause. The riverbank was alive with life: a pair of large snakes, a wild boar sniffing the ground, and smaller predators fleeing at the vibrations of my movements. I swooped, wings beating rapidly, and plucked the first snake mid-strike. Its muscular flexibility, venom resistance, and precision coiled into my system. The second snake lunged, and I spun mid-air, using hardened wings as shields before consuming it. Each assimilation accelerated my strength, speed, and reflexes dramatically.
The wild boar charged next, tusks gleaming. I dodged effortlessly, wings flaring to harden and redirect the momentum of its charge. With a single leap and strike, I absorbed its skeletal density and brute strength. My muscles surged, lifting capacity jumping dramatically. I tested a fallen boulder, one-handed. Roughly 50 tons now. Striking force: amplified multi-ton impact. Reflexes: instantaneous. Durability: I could collide with trees, rocks, or predators without harm.
The forest trembled beneath my dominance. Birds scattered at the sound of my wings, smaller predators froze, sensing the apex predator above them. I didn't even need to hunt individually anymore—my gene devouring had accelerated so much that I could assimilate several creatures in minutes. A fox, a rabbit, a hawk, even a wildcat—all absorbed in quick succession. My body evolved at an unprecedented pace.
I rose higher, scanning the treetops. Larger birds of prey circled, curious and wary. I flapped my wings with perfect precision, diving to intercept them. One hawk lunged mid-air—its speed and maneuvering instinct merged into me seamlessly. I twisted, adjusted the wing membranes to harden partially, and redirected its momentum harmlessly before consumption. Each addition refined my aerial control further. I was no longer just a terrestrial predator; I ruled the air with equal ferocity.
A low rumble caught my attention. Moving cautiously, I spotted a lone human figure at the edge of a clearing, examining machinery. She wore a lab coat and goggles, her posture confident, yet unaware of the predator above. My mind cataloged her energy signature—it was unlike anything I had absorbed yet. Calm, intelligent, and unusually dense for a human. I descended cautiously, wings folding slightly but ready to harden.
The human looked up suddenly, startled. "Hey! Who—what are you?!" she shouted. Her voice carried authority and intelligence. My humanoid brain processed context rapidly. The world, the humans, the energy flows—they all aligned with memories from my prior readings and instincts. This was no ordinary forest.
I absorbed a small nearby animal instinctively, and with it, refined my sensory perception. Her name, apparently displayed on a handheld device: Bulma. I recognized the reference. The humans, the strange energy readings, the flying, the immense power—it clicked. This was the world I had been reading about before my transmigration. DBZ. Dragon Balls, ki, martial artists, extraordinary abilities. I was not on Earth as I had once known it—I had been placed into a universe of legends.
Bulma froze, gaping at me, but I did not approach aggressively. I had grown strong, yes, but this interaction was more important than domination. Knowledge was the next step. My wings flexed softly, membranes shimmering and partially hardened as a subtle display of strength. My humanoid body was tall, 1.9 meters, muscular and imposing, with insect-like wings that could strike or shield at will.
"You… you're not from here, are you?" she whispered, more observation than fear. My senses detected curiosity, intelligence, and intent. Perfect. I could gather knowledge and plan accordingly.
I hovered slightly, wings beating with precision. I had assimilated countless predators, from small foxes to apex snakes and wildcats, enhancing reflexes, strength, durability, and aerial agility. Lifting capacity: 50 tons. Striking force: multi-ton, amplified with flight momentum. Reflexes: superhuman. Wings: insect-like, flexible for maneuvering, capable of hardening into blades or shields. Exoskeleton: retractable and adaptive.
For the first time since my arrival, I allowed my mind to relax. I was not just a predator anymore—I was a humanoid apex, dominant over all natural life, now aware of the world I had entered. DBZ. Martial artists, energy attacks, flying humans. My evolution had prepared me for it, though I would need to study and adapt further.
Bulma blinked again, adjusting her goggles. "You… you're incredible," she whispered. I sensed no malice, only curiosity. Interaction, observation, knowledge—these would accelerate my next phase. My wings flexed gently, shining in the sunlight filtering through the canopy. The forest trembled below, but I had learned patience. Strength and domination were important, yes—but information, context, and strategy would determine true ascension.
The apex predators had been conquered. My wings gave me dominance of the sky. My humanoid form was nearly unstoppable. And now, this new human, Bulma, offered the first clue to the universe I had been placed in. My journey of devouring, evolving, and ascending had just entered a new phase.
The age of devouring had escalated, and now it intersected with knowledge. I flexed my wings once more, membranes glinting like hardened crystal at the edges. I had become not only a predator of the forest—but a predator in a world of ki, martial arts, and unimaginable potential.
Tomorrow would bring more challenges, stronger humans, and mysteries of the DBZ world. But for the first time, I understood the universe I now inhabited. And the age of ascension continued—faster, sharper, and higher than ever.
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âś… Chapter 9 Highlights:
Gene devouring accelerates dramatically, multiple creatures absorbed in minutes
Apex predators (wildcats, snakes, boars) consumed, lifting strength ~50 tons
Wings fully integrated: insect-like, flexible, can harden into blades or shields
Encounter with Bulma reveals he is in the DBZ universe
Strength & combat stats: Lifting 50 tons, multi-ton striking, superhuman reflexes, full aerial dominance
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