Capítulo 4: Man, I'm Starting To Look Like G*dzilla
Arthur floated in the dark depths, his body still aching from the previous fight. Every muscle screamed in protest, a constant reminder that, despite his hardened carapace, he wasn't invincible. The battle had been brutal, and his newfound power had barely been enough to keep him alive. The water around him was eerily still, giving him a brief moment of calm. But in this world, calm was a fleeting illusion.
His limbs felt heavy, worn from the strain of combat. The deep gashes from the fight with the Speedy Fish—the sleek, predatory creature he had slain—had already started to heal, though slowly. His thickened armor had protected him, but his body had paid the price for every reckless blow he absorbed.
He hovered over the lifeless body of the Speedy Fish, eyeing it warily. Its sleek form shimmered faintly in the dim light, its long, agile frame a testament to the speed and agility that had made it such a dangerous opponent. Even dead, it looked fast. And now, it was his.
Arthur felt the familiar pull from deep within—the system's cold presence stirring at the edge of his consciousness. The hunger inside him had been growing ever since the fight, gnawing at his insides, urging him to consume, to grow. He had resisted until now, knowing his body needed to recover before attempting another evolution. But he could wait no longer.
He leaned in, his claws trembling with anticipation. His teeth sank into the creature's flesh, and once again, the warmth spread through him—deeper this time, more potent. The taste was sharp, electric, unlike the crab before. This was different. This wasn't just raw power—it was speed, fluidity, something beyond brute strength.
The warmth pulsed, and Arthur felt it surging through his veins, a foreign energy mingling with his own. For a brief moment, he lost himself in the sensation, the raw power coursing through him. And then, the system's voice returned.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
Congratulations, Arthur! You have absorbed the Soul Core of a distant descendant of the Titan of Speed.
New Evolutionary Traits Available:
Agile Limbs: Enhance your overall speed and dexterity, allowing for quicker movements in both water and land environments.
Velocity Strike: Gain the ability to perform an extremely fast, short-distance dash in combat, allowing you to strike enemies before they can react.
Aquatic Swiftness: Adapt further to underwater environments, drastically increasing swimming speed while reducing the energy cost of movement in water.
Arthur blinked, the words hanging in his mind like a promise. He had devoured the Speedy Fish, and now the system was offering him its power—a direct descendant of the Titan of Speed. The weight of the decision settled on him immediately. Each option presented a new path, a way to evolve that would change how he fought, how he survived.
His claws dug into the soft ocean floor as he mulled over his choices. The first trait, Agile Limbs, was tempting. It would make him faster in general, not just in water but on land as well. Speed was a constant advantage—whether in hunting, fleeing, or fighting—and he knew he couldn't afford to be slow forever, not if he wanted to survive against faster creatures.
But then there was Velocity Strike. The idea of having a burst of speed in combat was alluring. Being able to dash forward, to hit before his enemies could react, could be the difference between life and death. It was specialized, though. Good for combat, but would it help him outside of a fight? And could he afford to focus only on battle?
The third option, Aquatic Swiftness, was a more immediate benefit. He was still struggling with the sluggishness of moving through water. His hardened carapace made him slow, heavy, and in a world where speed often determined survival, becoming faster in the water could mean everything. He would be able to navigate the primal ocean with ease, outmaneuver predators, and reach new places quicker.
Arthur felt the hunger inside him stir, pushing him toward a choice. He needed to be faster. That much was clear. His carapace gave him defense, but without speed, he was vulnerable to faster creatures like the one he had just killed.
His gaze fell on the lifeless body of the Speedy Fish. It had been a fast, deadly predator, but it had still fallen to him. He needed more than just brute strength. He needed balance.
I need speed. But I can't sacrifice everything for it. He thought of the Velocity Strike, and the image of a quick, lethal blow excited him. But more than that, he needed to survive in this ocean—to move in it.
The decision crystallized in his mind. He would prioritize his movement. Speed wasn't just about combat—it was about survival.
[Evolutionary Trait Selected: Aquatic Swiftness]
Arthur gritted his teeth as the evolution began. The warmth from the Soul Core grew, spreading through his limbs like wildfire. His muscles twitched, and for a moment, his entire body felt like it was being stretched in all directions. His legs, his tail, every muscle fiber was shifting, adapting. The water around him felt lighter, less resistant, as though it no longer had the same grip on his body.
His limbs elongated slightly, the tension in his joints releasing as his frame became more streamlined. His tail, once thick and cumbersome, now tapered into a more fluid shape, perfect for cutting through water. Even his hardened carapace adjusted, the plates on his back shifting ever so slightly to reduce drag. It wasn't a massive change, but it was enough. Enough to make him faster, more agile in this foreign world.
He tested his new body, flexing his claws and swishing his tail through the water. He could feel it—the difference. The water flowed around him more smoothly, as though it no longer fought against him. His movements were quicker, more fluid, and for the first time since awakening in this world, he felt... free.
Arthur moved forward, swimming through the dark water with ease. The weight that had slowed him before was still there, but now it was manageable. He could move with speed and precision, something that would have been impossible before. He twisted through the water, dodging invisible obstacles, feeling the way his body sliced through the ocean with newfound grace.
This is better, he thought, his mind still reeling from the change. He was faster now, but more than that, he was learning. Each evolution made him stronger, each fight taught him something new. The system was giving him the tools to survive, but it was up to him to use them.
I can work with this.
But the hunger still simmered beneath the surface. No matter how much power he gained, no matter how much stronger he became, it was never enough.
Eat. Grow. Survive.
The rules hadn't changed.
But now, he was faster.
Presentes
-- Presente
recebido Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder