Something hissed violently from behind a rock.
After many days on the higher levels, where monsters were weak, that sound brought me joy. Nothing beats an easy meal and priceless experience!
The two-headed snake was barely level 4 and a meter long. Its venom could make a mess out of anyone, but after gorging on poisonous mushrooms and barely surviving, I had developed the passive skill [Toxin Neutralization]. Now, a venomous bite from such a low-level monster could at most itch me!
It was unlucky to find itself between me and the wall. It tried to dodge to the side and bite my neck, but it didn't expect that after hunting the iron-skinned mole and gaining the special skill [Iron Skin], such attacks could at most scratch my scales and provoke uncontrollable laughter.
A few seconds later, it was over. I tore apart its slimy body and got to the meat. I devoured the whole reptile in a few bites and headed to the upper levels to finally check if it was possible to leave this disgustingly boring place.
Since my lucky escape from the three-headed hydra and the rest of its brood, I had already reached level 9. All my stats shot up sharply, but over time it became harder to grow stronger by eating common plants and weak monsters like this snake, which could do nothing more than hiss and break its fangs on my scales.
My body had grown large and insanely tough. I was no longer that soft, helpless lizard. After hundreds of consumed reptiles, insects, and amphibians, I realized that by consuming enough of them, I had a chance to acquire the special skill of that species — presumably, the weaker the species and the more common the skill, the greater the chance.
[Spit Venom] and [Poisonous Bite] became my offensive skills, and [Iron Skin] a reliable defense, in a place where everything wanted to eat and shit on me! With such defense, all it took was one bite to my prey and follow it until the poison took effect and paralyzed it.
I had already grown accustomed to this body. Surprisingly, I didn't miss computers or phones, nor energy drinks, which I had been obsessed with in my previous life. It turned out that the fight for survival and constant search for food in these endless cave systems was more than engaging enough!
I won't hide it — these three newly acquired special skills made life in this filthy place much easier!
I learned that every creature emanated something I could call an aura. The stronger the individual, the bigger and more overwhelming the aura. The weaker the creature, the less noticeable its presence. Perhaps that's why I didn't die of fear after hatching, being only a few meters from a level 49 hydra!
Over time, I developed a stable routine. I slept on high rock ledges in safer areas, where there weren't as many monsters. Upon waking, I drank water dripping from stalactites and flowing through cracks, then spent most of my time hunting and consuming common plants, mostly weeds and grasses.
As an economist who had some professional experience, I approached this as professionally as possible. With my claws, I marked maps of the area on stones, and for every expedition into the corridors and lower floors, I acted with full caution.
As they say, "better safe than sorry."
After many days, I was sure that this location had a multi-floor structure, and the higher the floor, the weaker the monsters. Where I hunted were just unpleasant, slimy creatures that could only serve as food.
I hypothesized that the exit (if it existed) must be somewhere on the upper floors — after all, it wouldn't make sense for the strongest monsters to dwell among the weak ones, which were abundant all around.
I swore I would leave this place.
However, I didn't want to get lost and die somewhere unknown. For now, I only wanted to find the exit and get a better grasp of my situation. The most frightening thought was that there might be no exit at all, and I would be stuck here until I breathed my last, devouring trash like cattle.
The most important thing now was evolving. Since the hydra that had laid eggs had three heads, while all its young had one, it was obvious that evolution existed. I hadn't yet learned its secrets, but I knew that if I wanted to survive in this bloodthirsty world, I couldn't remain at the first evolutionary stage forever.
[Evolution Stage: Newly Hatched]…
Not long ago, I was a tiny pseudo-lizard that could fit in a human's hand, and now I was over a meter long with half a meter at the withers. Hard scales and a tail that could crush stone, not to mention a tongue rough like a lion's.
Yet I still remained at the same stage and didn't know how to advance it.
All that was left was to follow my intuition and search for the exit. The higher I went, every few hundred meters, the warmer it felt, and greenery of various species and sizes began appearing more frequently on the walls. I had never been so high before; the vast corridors twisted and turned, with occasional steep inclines or ancient steps someone had once carved with a chisel. On the walls, I saw signs and drawings of pseudo-human figures and monsters. I didn't understand their meanings and wasn't in a hurry to.
The scale and strangeness of this world overwhelmed me.
"How the hell much farther to the exit?!" I cursed in my mind, still angry that, as a reptile, I had no way to communicate with others verbally — my only option was complaining in my old millennial human mind.
I could moan and think about thousands of things, but the fact remained — my time here was nearly unlimited!
I had nothing to do except eat weaklings and chew grass. I was bored as hell! For someone overstimulated in their previous life, the boredom at first was sheer torment.
Over time, I acclimated to this lifestyle. Now this hydra body was my body, and besides calmness and a sense of self, it gave me hope that maybe I wouldn't waste this life…
Closer to the exit, the corridors became shorter and turns more frequent. Small creatures scattered in all directions before my aura. After passing some strange, rocky steps — steep and slippery — I grew uneasy. There was no presence around me. Were they all avoiding this place? Should I be afraid of something!?
The desire to get out was stronger than the fear of the unknown.
I climbed the last step, and my reptilian eyes saw a vast space, like a plaza that could fit thousands of people, with richly decorated walls and floors, now overgrown and in ruins.
Two large statues — one wielding two swords, the other a shield and sword — guarded massive gates adorned with dusty, grimy jewels pressed into exquisite, metallurgical ornaments of strange shapes. I could have looked around for hours, but time pressed. I only wanted to see if I could get outside and what awaited me. I could always return to the caves.
I felt a strange mix of excitement and uncertainty. Now I was sure there had to be humans in this world. In my previous life, I sucked at socializing, and now, in addition, I was a disgusting bloodthirsty monster.
I didn't know what to expect. All I could do was grab the bull by the horns.
Why did I have to be reborn as a hydra!? I was furious, but that was all I could do. I had no control over it. I could only complain, and this life and the previous one had taught me that it achieved nothing. Not worth the effort.
I approached the gate and struck it with my head. It rattled. The resistance was less than I expected, and the gates slowly yielded, creaking, revealing a massive space before my eyes.
Then my green-blue world changed! I felt the warmth of the sun on my face and saw the world in completely different colors. My vision was better than in life, and my perception of colors was sharper. As a layperson in biology, I would never have expected lizards to have such good eyesight! No wonder they're good hunters.
Before me stretched a vast expanse — the slope of a peak descended, revealing the harsh landscape of a mountain range. Sparse, dwarf trees stood like solitary lanterns, and between them, gray, dried grasses grew here and there. Rocks and stone terraces formed natural corridors I would eventually traverse to explore this terrain. The entire world around seemed shrouded in shades of brown, orange, and gray, contrasting with the clear blue sky overhead. I felt a strange, wild rawness — inhospitable, empty, yet calling me.
And so what! I didn't sense any aura, and besides venturing into the unknown, all that remained was returning to that hole. Again, grazing on grasses and insects. I quickly made my decision.
The warm ground felt good under me. The wind was calm, and the only sounds I heard were birds and the crackle of dry earth with each step. Soon, as I approached a cliff stretching about 200 meters, I felt an aura from below so powerful and terrifying that my heart nearly stopped. I panicked!
I coiled my tail and turned sharply west, into more forested terrain, just to stay away from the monster that must rule down there, amidst the massive chasm, as if something had unnaturally created it. I saw no river or stream, and the abyss extended beyond the horizon in every direction. Kilometers in a straight line!
I don't remember how long I ran at full speed, just to stay away from that terrifying aura!
Before I knew it, I was surrounded by trees and grayish vegetation. It was quite possible that these were local variants of grasses I hadn't encountered in the caves. I had neither time nor interest in examining each bush individually. The memory of what I sensed kept me on edge. To make matters worse, I felt hundreds of different auras around me.
This place was alive, inhabited by numerous animals and creatures.
I decided to calm down and think through my actions. Returning toward the dungeon meant approaching the cliff, which I wanted to avoid for now. Hunger and the desire to see who lived in these lands gnawed at me.
Soon, I got to work. I entered hunting mode, quieted my aura, and carefully moved through the wilderness, seeking prey.
Birds and ant colonies dominated here. Everywhere I looked, I saw ants of various colors and sizes, with mounds sometimes several meters above the ground. Terrifying. I realized that if an entire colony attacked me, I'd be done for, and even [Iron Skin] wouldn't save me.
I hid in a dense bush, trying to blend into the gray vegetation. My scales almost merged with the surroundings, and I minimized every movement — like a chameleon in a world full of predators. Before my eyes stretched small ant mounds, bustling with movement and sounds. I couldn't resist — I ate a few ants along the way to satisfy my hunger.
Finally, my patience paid off. I saw something resembling a huge monkey with black fur, holding a stick. It walked on two legs from mound to mound, using a sticky stick to pull out enormous ants, licking and eating them, smacking happily, unaware I was right next to it.
[ Species: Mountain Ape
Evolution Stage: Young Warrior
Level: 12
Threat: HIGH ]
I knew it wouldn't be easy, but I wanted to take advantage of the total element of surprise and my target being unarmed.
As soon as it locked eyes on me, I hit its face with a venomous spit and, furious, lunged at its legs, biting whatever I could reach. After a few seconds, the poison slowed its movements and tilted the scales in my favor.
It writhed violently, roaring to the heavens. Its roar was so powerful I nearly chickened out. I wasn't used to such resistance! Its flesh was tough and sinewy, and scratching and biting the ape drove me insane. Even [Iron Skin] couldn't protect me from bleeding and burning pain.
Finally, the beast gave in, and the struggle ended. It bled out and died. I could easily eat it and regain strength to return to the cave. To my surprise, something unexpected happened.
I grew. I felt excruciating pain throughout my body, warmth spreading into every corner. My aura concentrated on the left side of my neck, scales trembled, and the neck bones visibly expanded under the pressure of mass, some shifting to the left side of my neck.
From the left side of my torso, a gray-blue head sprouted!
The second head trembled, slowly rising upward. Its eyes opened — less blood-red, more mixed with brown. The long head turned its gaze to the carrion, growled, and with fury began biting the ape. Hunger and rage completely took control of it! I was scared of it myself!
[ Species: Cave Hydra
Evolution Stage: Young Two-Headed
Level: 10
HP: 573/612
MP: 21/21
Strength: 32
Agility: 19
Endurance: 41
Magic: 5
Physical Resistance: 12
Magical Resistance: 2
Passive Skills: Dark Vision, Bloodlust, Cannibalism, Toxin Neutralization
Special Skills: Roar, Iron Skin, Spit Venom, Poisonous Bite ]
Confused and surprised, I had no time to analyze what had happened or what my new special skill [Roar] was!
In the distance, a group of armed mountain apes was rushing toward me!