Chapter 3: Temptation?
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I munched, again and again, devouring the kin I had killed.
A question flooded my mind.
Am I still me?
The kind-hearted Alister I once was?
I pondered the thought as my serrated teeth clamped onto flesh, tearing it apart. It was delicious.
My movements halted.
What have I become?
Was this truly justified? Killing my own siblings?
But… they were mindless beasts, weren't they? Knowledge etched inside of me, classified them as such.
So it's justified, right?
Right?!
A hollow laugh bubbled in my throat.
Even though I knew the answer, even though I had already decided, I still sought justification.
Would this be my life now?
Killing.
Devouring.
Hunting for strength?
My jaws crunched through bone, grinding it to pieces.
As I swallowed, another question surfaced in my mind.
What's the true meaning of life?
Would I truly become a monster just to protect the ones I hold dear?
I stumbled, my body still weak from battle, but I continued devouring my kin.
Then, a smile stretched across my face.
Hahaha...
If I had to become a monster to protect the ones I love…
Then so be it.
Never.
Never again.
Elara, the woman I loved, had been defiled, desecrated, and slaughtered.
Even in death, they didn't spare her.
And I?
I had been too naive.
Too weak.
Caesar had always envied me.
I should have noticed.
I should have seen the signs.
But I didn't.
Oh, how foolish I was.
How utterly pathetic.
The cost of my trust was her life.
Her dignity.
Elara…
Will you forgive me?
If I become a monster to make sure this never happens again… will you still see me as Alister?
A slow, twisted smile tugged at my lips.
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[You've Successfully Devoured]
• Stage 0 Tier 1 Level 1 [Whark]
• Stage 0 Tier 1 Level 1 [Whark]
[You have successfully devoured some of their stats.]
---
• Health +2
• Stamina +1
• Physique +0.2
---
[You have gained a skill.]
• Enhanced Teeth
[You already posses]
• Enhanced Teeth
[Your existing skill, have been strengthened.]
[Your skill have gained a level.]
• Enhanced Teeth +1
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So that's how it works.
Devouring a skill I already possessed strengthens it.
Clenching my teeth, I smiled as my biting force surged, the sharpness of my fangs had been amplified considerably.
Scanning my surroundings for my next prey, a pained grin crept onto my face.
What's left of my humanity, if I couldn't even protect her?
What use is morality when I let her be defiled?
It's all meaningless if I lack the strength to change anything.
Opening my maw, I lunged, sinking my fangs deep into the back of my kin.
It howled in pain, thrashing violently, but I didn't care.
My health had already returned to its peak
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[Health: 12/12]
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My wounds had fully healed.
Killing intent boiled in my veins as I maneuvered my body, using my weight to slam my kin into the ground.
Pain flared.
Three more latched onto me, their jaws clamping onto my tail fin and back.
I ignored them.
I pressed down harder, feasting on my prey's back as it screamed, its wails mixing with the unbearable pain of being eaten alive.
My jaws snapped through bone, without hesitation, I devoured every last piece.
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[You have slain.]
• a stage 0 tier 1 level 1 [Whark.]
[You have gained 10 EXP.]
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I twisted violently, but the grip of my three attackers did not loosen.
My health plummeted.
[HP: 6/12]
Damn it.
Spinning again and again, my stomach churned, the food I had devoured earlier threatened to rise.
Gurgh...
Damn it!
Fall, you goddamn bastards!
Motion sickness hit me hard, but I refused to stop.
One of my kin's bites weakened, it spun uncontrollably, its own nausea taking hold.
Without hesitation, I spun faster.
The remaining two thrashed, their grip unwavering, until finally, they let go and turned on each other, biting at one another in confusion.
Perfect.
I lunged.
My jaws clamped onto my staggering prey's fin, ripping through muscle and sinew.
It howled, struggling to maneuver its body.
Circling around, I bit into its tail, my body twisting as I used my weight to slam its head into the seabed.
A sharp crack rang out.
It screeched, its wails turning into weak, pitiful whimpers.
I bit down harder.
Deeper.
Again.
And again.
Until—
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[You have slain.]
• a stage 0 tier 1 level 1 [Whark.]
[You have gained 10 EXP.]
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I didn't stop to savor the kill.
My eyes locked onto the two remaining kin, still tangled in their frenzied brawl.
They bit at each other's tails, locked in a desperate, mindless struggle.
It was almost entertaining to watch.
But I wasn't here to watch.
I was here to survive.
Rising above them, I glanced at my status.
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[Health: 4/12]
[Stamina: 5/10]
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It'll have to be enough.
With a final push, I launched downward, my fangs clamping onto one's back.
Using my momentum, I twisted my body and slammed both of them into the cavern floor.
They howled.
Like livestock ready for slaughter.
Their stamina was gone.
So was mine.
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[Stamina: 2/11]
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No matter.
Opening my maw, I ripped through their flesh, my fangs digging deep, straight into their brains.
One by one, their screams ceased.
---
[You have slain.]
• A Stage 0 Tier 1 Level 1 [Whark.]
• A Stage 0 Tier 1 Level 1 [Whark.]
[You have gained 10 EXP.]
---
Blood drifted in the water.
I exhaled, my body aching, my breath ragged.
But I was alive.
And that was all that mattered.
Slowly, I dragged myself toward the carcass.
Opening my maw, I clamped my fangs onto its scaled hide, tearing into the flesh.
Each bite sent a surge of vitality through my body, restoring me bit by bit.
As I ate, a thought surfaced.
I could feel it, somewhere in the depths of my bloodline, the Emperor of my race had fallen long ago.
Is that why I have this ambition?
I never cared for such things before.
Once, all I wanted was a peaceful, secluded life, Elara and I, far away from the cruelty of the world.
But fate is ever cruel.
Pushing the thought aside, I glanced around.
A smile crept onto my face.
There were thousands of eggs here, this cavern was as vast as a city.
If that were the case, there had to be stronger Wharks lurking within.
Tier 2, maybe even Tier 3, killing off the weaker ones to climb the ranks.
This wasn't random.
The Wharks above must have designed this place as a breeding ground, a brutal arena where only one survivor would emerge.
An Emperor.
And if my guess was right… that meant this cycle had happened countless times before but none have succeeded since it is still used.
I had noticed it earlier—the number of eggs wasn't decreasing.
It was increasing.
For every Whark that hatched and was devoured, more eggs appeared, constantly replenishing the numbers.
That meant someone, or something, was replenishing those and there are who guard this place, ensuring the process remained uninterrupted.
I scanned my surroundings again.
There.
To the south, a structure resembling an entrance stood in the distance.
But I saw no Wharks near it, meaning a stronger one was guarding it.
The weaker kin knew better than to approach.
Whoever planned this breeding ground was a genius.
Brutal, but efficient.
This is how our race advances.
And then, the long-awaited notifications appeared.
---
You've Successfully Devoured]
• Stage 0 Tier 1 Level 1 [Whark]
• Stage 0 Tier 1 Level 1 [Whark]
• Stage 0 Tier 1 Level 1 [Whark]
• Stage 0 Tier 1 Level 1 [Whark]
[You have successfully devoured some of their stats.]
---
• Health +3
• Stamina +5
• Physique +0.6
---
--
[You have gained a skill.]
• Bronze Stomach
• Enhanced Teeth
• Scaled hide
[You already posses]
• Bronze Stomach
• Enhanced Teeth
• Scaled hide
[Your existing skill, have been strengthened.]
[Your skill have gained a level.]
• Bronze Stomach +1
• Enhanced Teeth +1
• Scaled hide +1
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A rush of power surged through me.
The levels of my skills have increased yet again, I can feel myself becoming stronger by the passing seconds.
My stomach's capacity expanded, as did its acidity.
Right now, the way my stomach digest my food have greatly increased.
My scaled hide hardened, its texture becoming more defined.
And my teeth… sharpened even further.
A laugh escaped me.
This progress, this speed, was addicting.
I craved more.
More strength.
More power.
More prey.
My tongue ran across my fangs.
My hunger deepened.
For the first time, a part of me whispered.
Why stop?
Why struggle for years to grow stronger when I can simply devour my way to the top?
Again.
And again.
And again.
My reasoning faltered.
My mind cracked beneath the temptation.
No.
I clenched my jaw.
I can't let myself fall into this madness.
I can't lose who I am.
But the hunger and the temptation was too strong.
Someone whispered behind my back.
Why do you resist?
I shook my head.
Then.
Squeezed my eyes shut, forcing myself to focus.
I whispered the words that had always grounded me.
Be calm like water.
Be kind like a priest.
By doing so, I shall remain who I am.
The storm in my mind slowly settled.
My breath steadied.
When I opened my eyes, I was clear-headed once more.
Surveying the cavern, I searched for my next prey.
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