Mangowo
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Chapter 35: Hungry Dragon
🕑 Added 2024-09-10 00:30:02 +0000 UTCThe moment I knocked back that potion, my world blinked out—black as a crow in a coal mine. Time? Not a clue. Felt like ages. Then, I had this peculiar sense of being enclosed, all snug but with something pressing down on me. Naturally, I started flailing about, trying to get a sense of what was around me. The surface I touched was soft, like an eggshell but not quite. When I finally pried open my eyes, everything was dark, not a hint of those lovely hues I so was used to.
I could feel something else too. Different. My arms, which were now shoving against the shell-like stuff encasing me, had strength—proper, more powerful strength. And there was something else too... a hollowness, like an echo inside me. Ah yes, hunger. Ravenous, I was. Positively famished.
I made short work of that earthy shell with my claws, popped it open like a badger digging for worms. And just like that, the hues were back, washing over everything in a brilliant splash of colour. Honestly, it was downright strange to have them gone in the first place. Made the darkness feel all the more empty. But no sting this time though, not with my freshly upgraded eyes.
I glanced at Barn, who was still bobbing about in the same spot. The moment our eyes met, his fake ones went wide, and he started zooming about, scuttling up and down my snout like an over-excited puppy. Was it joy? Excitement? Who knows. But through our bond, I felt a wave of pure glee. It was ticklish though, nearly made me sneeze! Up he floated again, spinning in circles, as if telling me to hurry up. The cheek! Of course, I knew what he was saying.
I stretched my serpentine neck out of the earthy cocoon the ground had so kindly crafted for me to evolve in. I swear, it felt just like the inside of an egg—smooth as butter—but made entirely of dungeon soil. Quite posh, really.
And with that, I sprang forth! With purpose, of course. Had a plan, I did. But first things first—time to take stock of the new me. I twirled my neck around, and oh, what a marvel! This was always something to be thankful for in this new form. My old human skull couldn’t do this—such an easy tilt, twist, and switch to see my entire body! None of that awkward fumbling to peek at my own back.
And yep, I’d changed alright.
It was exactly like that blasted illustration I’d seen—spot on, really. First order of business: inspect the maw. Quite possibly the most grotesque feature of this new form, and creepy to boot. My claw traced the outline as I unhinged my jaw—it stretched unnervingly wide, nearly reaching the back of my throat! Snapped it shut with a clack. And the teeth? Changed too—nasty, curved little buggers.
Dark green scales glistened in the hues. My wings, now adorned with serrated, bone-like blades, felt heavier than before. I reckon I’d grown a bit as well. But, oh Thalador, my belly! I was fat! Absolutely round! Didn’t like it one bit, not at all. I used to be sleek, graceful, the very picture of a sinuous dragon. Probably. But this? This rotund form was an insult to my refined sensibilities!
I waddled around on all fours, still getting used to this bulk. Spotted a bit of debris a few meters away and jumped on it. Then off I went, darting left, changing direction, bounding from one spot to another in the tunnel. Hah! Agility still intact! A small part of me had feared that being this pudgy would slow me down, and I fully expected it to. But nope, still as spry as before. Thank the lord for that.
Ah well, I reassured myself, it’s only temporary—second stage and all. I’ll soon hit the third stage, and with any luck, I’ll shed this bloated look for something a bit more... sophisticated. Perhaps even a bit of that mage-monster vibe I’ve been aiming for.
I pulled up my stat screen.
Name: Jade
Level: 1
Species: Hungerborn Hatchling (Draconis) (II)
Attributes:
Strength: 15
Durability: 14
Intelligence: 31
Will: 18
Mana Points: 0/0
Stamina Points: 20/20
Species Skills:
Claw Swipe: Level 4 (I)
Tail Whip: Level 1 (I)
Roar: Level 1 (I)
Scale Harden: Level 2 (I)
Stealth: Level 3 (I)
Crunch: Level 3 (I)
Quick Dash: Level 2 (I)
Exclusive Skills:
Transformation: Level 1 (I)
Mutations:
Eyes - Focusing Lenses (II): +0
Claws - Claw Flexibility (II): +0
Scales - Colour Adaptation (II): +0
Wings - Hollow Bones (II) +0
Legs - Joint Flexibility (II) +0
Fire Gland - Mana Reservoir (II) +0
Macro-Trophic Sac +0
Resources:
Skill Points: 2
Morphogens: 0
Hah, no surprises here—the levels do indeed reset post-evolution. Just like when I took down that ghastly bug creature, which was clearly at stage 2 but sitting smugly at level 1.
I suspect my stats have seen a wee bit of an increase too, though I must confess, I wasn’t exactly poring over the finer details of stat gains during evolution. My attention was squarely fixed on the broader upgrades they’d offer me. The only stats that really grabbed my attention were in those blasted rainbow tomes—how could they not?
Still, can’t help but feel a smidge bitter about missing out on some of that evolution goodness. Anyway, onwards and upwards! Stamina’s climbed up to a hearty 20 points, lovely. Willpower and Intelligence both nudged up by one, and Durability’s had a little boost of two. Seems like I’ll be getting the same stat gains on each level-up.
Nothing earth-shattering, though. Just a little “(II)” tacked on behind my species name and a shiny new organ tucked away in the mutation section. Delightful. Can't wait for the new flavour of agony when it comes time to upgrade that one... Oh, the excitement! Haha... (Help.)
I flicked the screen away and set my sights on the old bone tree, where those lanky, cursed-looking rat monsters were still trapped. Just the sight of them stirred something primal—a hunger gnawing away inside me. I reckon it’s part of the evolutionary perks, lucky me.
Barn was already perched at the top of the tree, probably waiting for me to get a move on. So, with a deep breath, I edged closer to the eerie, bone-laden thing.
Those rats’ eyes locked onto mine—they knew what was coming. Like lambs to the slaughter, they were. And they were terrified.
As much as my instincts balked at the thought of this crude, sacrilegious sort of hunt, I knew that if I didn’t force myself through it, I’d never tap into real magic. Proper magic. The sort one could weave and fine-tune, the kind I’d dreamt about for so long. Maybe even earn my way onto a proper [Magic Path], if the fates were kind.
So, I reached the nearest one. The bone cocoon around it shifted as I approached—Barn’s handiwork, no doubt—exposing its throat just enough.
Best get this over with quickly. I channelled Claw Swipe and, with all my might, slashed at its throat.
Done in one clean stroke.
[You have slain a Level 3 Valar rattus adultus (III).]
[Experience Points acquired.]
[Level increased.]
[Skill point obtained: +1.]
No blood came; its eyes simply dimmed, the life snuffed out. The cocoon of bone slackened, its thorns slinking away from the rat’s body, and it crumpled to the ground, now a hollowed, riddled corpse. A part of me briefly wondered how it had managed to stay alive before I finished it off, but the hunger roared inside me, overpowering any fleeting thoughts. Before I even realized, my teeth were sinking into its head. My jaw unhinged, maw wide, and I swallowed it whole in one savage gulp.
Ahh, the taste hit me like a wave, once again. First came the crunch of its skull, those thin, brittle bones snapping under the pressure of my curved teeth, crumbling away. The brain was immediately next. Oh, this mushy texture, this richness of fatty taste, almost buttery in a way. The eyes were small and slippery, yet even they were popped between my teeth. Immediately adding a sharp, bitter tang. The cartilage in the ears, chewy, metallic.
And then, with massive, greedy bites, I moved on. The neck went first. Sinewy. Tough. Yet tasty. The lungs, Metallic-tasting again, but with a certain... je ne sais quoi. The bittier yet scrumptious liver. The came the heart, ohh the heart. This firm and meaty morsel, and the sweetness it carried washed everything else away.
There was something else lodged near the heart, though—a tiny little thing, marble-sized, swirling with darkness. Probably its monster core. No interest in that—spat it out and carried on with my feast.
Before I knew it, the entire body was gone, devoured in a few feral, frenzied bites. The legs snapped like brittle twigs under my jaws; the spine crunched. The belly caved in under my claws, spilling out the softer bits—stomach, intestines, kidneys—all of it swallowed without so much as a pause.
[Morphogen source assimilated.]
[Morphogens acquired: +6.]
Yet, even with the whole rat thing devoured, I wasn’t full. Not even close. The hunger still gnawed at me, even more insistent than before, burrowing deeper into my bones. I needed more. Craved it like a mad creature.
My eyes flicked to another rat as the bone tree released it. Its throat was exposed, and in an instant, I was on it, claws slashing through the air with a sharp, deadly whoosh, tearing its throat wide open.
[You have slain a Level 7 Valar rattus adultus (III).]
[Experience Points acquired.]
[Level increased.]
[Skill point obtained: +1.]
And so it continued—kill, devour, level up, repeat.
[You have slain a Level 1 Valar rattus adultus (III).]
[Experience Points acquired.]
[Level increased.]
[Skill point obtained: +1.]
I had no idea how long it went on.
[You have slain a Level 17 Valar rattus adultus (III).]
[Experience Points acquired.]
[Level increased.]
[Level increased.]
[Skill point obtained: +2.]
The number of bodies?
[You have slain a Level 1 Valar rattus adultus (III).]
[Experience Points acquired.]
[Level increased.]
[Skill point obtained: +1.]
I lost count after the first few.
[You have slain a Level 9 Valar rattus adultus (III).]
[Experience Points acquired.]
[Level increased.]
[Skill point obtained: +1.]
All that drove me was that ravenous appetite. This insatiable gnawing that defied any logic.
[You have slain a Level 8 Valar rattus adultus (III).]
[Experience Points acquired.]
[Level increased.]
[Skill point obtained: +1.]
I wasn't full, not truly. I was... satisfied, yes, but something inside still yearned for more. Eventually, the levels stopped coming, but I didn’t. No, I knew what was pushing me forward, driving me mad with need. And before I could let a shred of doubt creep in, I had to finish the job.
Magic.
It was always about the Magic. That dream I’d never forget—the tantalising, glorious prize. And nothing—no, absolutely nothing, not even my scruples, not these instincts screaming inside about the disgrace of hunting this way—was going to stand between me and claiming it.
Comments
TheGreatSako
Hot damn, her hunger has really shown itself in such a...euphoric, indulgent manner!
CringeWorthyStudios
Well that’s mildly horrifying. Thanks for the chapter!
