The air in the jungle had changed.
I had emerged from the Whispering Tree, but it had left me with something else — an echo.
A sound only I could hear.
"Every form is a lie… until you become truly formless."
I had no time to dwell on it.
According to the system, some intelligent lifeforms were moving in a nearby zone.
And if I wanted to unlock the True Formless Path, I had to consume 100 different intelligent beings.
---
[System Scan – Active]
> Detected: Bone-Eater Pack (Lv. 4~6)
Species: Humanoid Cannibal Mutants
Status: Sentient (Low Intelligence)
Threat Level: High in Groups
---
I took the form of a Nightcrawler Hound. Using its speed, I neared their territory.
The ground was littered with broken skulls, chewed bones, and fresh blood.
Suddenly, a scream echoed.
A young beastkin girl was running from the monsters. Her leg was injured.
Three Bone-Eaters were chasing her — wearing metal claws and armor made of flesh.
I could hear their heartbeats — wild and ravenous.
I shouldn't have cared.
But something inside me stirred — maybe a memory from the squirrel or the hound.
Or maybe... I just needed another intelligent target.
---
"Let's test how good I've become."
I shifted into the squirrel form and leapt through the trees — silently.
I landed directly on top of a Bone-Eater.
I wrapped my liquid limbs around its throat —
Snap. Crush. Consume.
---
[Consumed: Bone-Eater (Lv. 4)]
> Form Unlocked: Bone-Eater
Skill Gained: Flesh Armor (Lv. 1)
Intelligence Fragment: Basic Tribal Communication
XP: +24 | Total: 66 / 100
---
The other two monsters noticed me.
But now, I had taken their form.
I spoke in their crude language:
"This one is my prey. Back off."
They looked at me… recognized me… and laughed.
"Eat her. We want the rest."
When they moved toward the girl —
I dropped the disguise.
In a single instant, I combined Nightcrawler speed + Flesh Armor + Liquid Form —
And blasted their heads apart.
---
[Double Kill Achieved]
> XP +60
Level Up: 2
Skill Upgrade: Rapid Dash (Lv. 2), Flesh Armor (Lv. 2)
Intelligence Fragment: Primitive Hunting Tactics (Merged)
Current Count: 4 / 100 Intelligent Lifeforms Consumed
---
The girl was still in shock. She looked at me, terrified.
"What… are you?"
I just smiled.
"I can be anything."
---
Suddenly, another system notification popped up:
[Quest Unlocked: Diverging Path – Hero or Hunter]
> Choice:
1. Help the girl return to her tribe (Unlock Communication Skill + Trust Path)
2. Consume the girl (Gain Unique Beastkin Physiology + Partial Evolution Boost)
Time Limit: 10 minutes
---
I looked into the girl's eyes… and the system's voice echoed again:
"Decision determines destiny."
---
Next Chapter Tease:
Chapter 4 – Choose to Devour or Defend
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