A/N: Fair warning this chapter was written on my phone, had a few days away from my laptop but still felt like writing so I apologize for any issues! I do plan to have this character develop somewhat slowly to avoid becoming OP too fast, but due to what he is, OP is inevitable if anyone has any guesses as to what the secret trait might be.
—--
The first few days were the worst of my stay on this planet, skulking and hiding, striving to find the means to survive in a land unknown to me. I had found more and more of these Orkish villages in the forests that bordered the wheat plain, each as rowdy and hostile as one might expect. I thus far have avoided any more forays into the villages for fear of what those giant greenskins might do if they found me, maybe one day with my ability I could match them, but not now. The smaller ones, snotlings and grows would serve as a way to grow stronger if they could be separated and absorbed into my new forms' biological makeup, but could I really force myself to seek out and slay a thinking thinking creature purely for personal gain? For now I have stuck to the prey animals in the area around the woods. Giant deer, turkeys the size of a small horse, and a form of squirrel which was about the size of a Chihuahua. The spear I had scavenged gave me some ability to deal some damage without getting too close at the least, and without fear of needing to light a fire to cook my prey, I was able to keep eating and growing stronger, though that was after I had learned how much different my new body was to my old.
—--‐—--
I crouched low to the ground, spotting a giant doe near the creek I had once sipped from. A beautiful creature, tanned fur dappled with darker browns, large brown eyes that seemed so intelligent. I had never killed an animal in my old life, my father loved to hunt and taught me, but I had never had any real interest. Now though… I had killed a thinking being, Greenskin it may have been, known through most univereses as a race of brutal and savage creatures, but still a thing with culture and language. The doe was different. An animal devoid of the higher intelligences of beings like me, and I must eat if I wish to survive. Humans, as a species are persistence hunters, not the fastest but able to run long distances compared to other creatures, I needed one good hit on this beast and then I just had to follow the blood trail and finish it off when it grew tired.
I drew back my arm, spear held clumsily in what I hoped was the right place, braced myself and blew out a long, slow breath. I throw it forward with all of my might, I watch as the spear flies faster than I expected straight at the doe, and stabs into its meaty haunch. It releases a cry, and bolts backwards into the wheat fields. I leap forward, stopping to grab my spear that had fallen from its thigh as it bolted, and rush after the beast. Arms and legs pumping, eyes watching for the scarlet signs of freshly spilt blood, or bent wheat talks from the swift movement of hooves. I am surprised when soon I hear the snorting and huffing of the beast ahead, far too near after such a blow. Was it slowing already? I was not skilled enough to know if this should be happening, but as I looked down I realized I was covering the ground at a blistering pace. Fast. Too fast. What have I become? I kept pace with the beast, able to slow down and keep a distance as it tired itself out.
As the beast finally stopped, laid on the ground, huffing and trying to regain its feet, I approached. I pulled the crude dagger from its sheath, placed my hand on the side of the beast, too tired to even fight back now, and plunged it down into its chest where I hoped its heart was. Blood flowed freely and swiftly as I removed the blood.
"I thank you for your sacrifice." My first kill that was planned, a damned doe and yet I felt a guilt in me. This wouldn't be the last animal I kill to survive, it was easy to not think of where my meat came from before or the brutal reality of the deaths of creatures that kept me fed. I would let no meal go without thanks to the animal that provided it. I would grow strong from it, and they would carry on as part of me, forever.
I began at the stomach, cutting it open and removing the organs inside, careful not to cut into the portions my father had shown me would lead to offal in my meat, though here was different than a rack in a barn in Tennessee, this was on an alien planet in the middle of a field. I pondered what to eat first, of the greens kind I had only had a portion, was that all I needed for growth? Would eating more lead to more growth? What was the limit and what was the minimum? It might have helped if I had some skill like Observe, but alas I didn't not know what level attributes this creature had and what amount of them I would gain.
"Status"
Name: John
Age: 8
Race: Human
Title: ?
Attributes-
Strength: 21
Dexterity: 22
Wisdom: 20
Intelligence: 21
Charisma: 21
Constitution: 23
Traits-
????- 500% bonus to skill leveling, you are unable to have your mind affected by outside influences, remain in complete control of your emotions.
Adaptive Biology- Your body seeks to adapt to its environment, by eating creatures you gain a portion of their attributes and skills. You are immune to food poisoning from eating uncooked food.
Skills-
Sneaking: Level 4
Dagger Mastery: Level 1
Spear Mastery: Level 2
It appeared as though I had gained some levels and a new skill from my hunt, though how much each level truly mattered was a mystery to me. How much of a difference did 1 level make? I would have to wait and see what information I could glean through my efforts.
"Alright, I guess ill start with some thigh meat" As I slowly cut into the area around the doe's hoof, and began pulling the skin back until I could cut a large chunk of meat from its flank. The meat was still dripping with blood, fresh and raw. My mind had no quams with eating it, despite my old self despising raw meat. I took a large bite and chewed, enjoying the juicy flesh of the animal I killed. As I swallowed the last of the meat in my hands I looked up to my status screen.
Name: John
Age: 8
Race: Human
Title: ?
Attributes-
Strength: 21
Dexterity: 24
Wisdom: 20
Intelligence: 21
Charisma: 21
Constitution: 21
Traits-
????- 500% bonus to skill leveling, you are unable to have your mind affected by outside influences, remain in complete control of your emotions.
Adaptive Biology- Your body seeks to adapt to its environment, by eating creatures you gain a portion of their attributes and skills. You are immune to food poisoning from eating uncooked food.
Skills-
Sneaking: Level 4
Dagger Mastery: Level 1
Spear Mastery: Level 2
A small increase to both dexterity and constitution, more so to dexterity which made sense for such a fast animal. I continue taking bites from the doe, tearing off more and more flesh with the crude knife I had looted. Watching my dexterity increase by another 2, constitution by 2 and wisdom by 1. Nothing world shaking but definitely needed. I pondered eating more, but felt I had most likely gained all I could from this animal. I placed a hand on its side, a silent thanks for the meal.
"At 22 dexterity I can keep up with a deer, and all my stats started at 20… either the animals here are incredibly slow or I have higher base stats than a human should. What am I?"
‐—--
Day 7
It has been a week of life on an unfamiliar planet surrounded by a race of creatures that wants nothing more than to destroy me. I have been slowly increasing my abilities, hunting and killing an animal a day, sticking to prey animals so far for fear of what a wolf the size of a cow might do to me, and thankfully I had only seen one of those so far from a far distance.
There is a small ork village near where my current small campsite is, though to call it a campsite is generous. A small lean-to, with a blanket of wheat grass and leaves to provide some comfort from the hard ground.
I have stalked around the village all day, waiting for a lone ork to be far enough away from the others that I might be able to kill it and take some meat before fleeing. The large, muscle bound creatures would surely provide a boost to my flagging strength, compared to my other stats it had progressed the least.
Name: John
Age: 8
Race: Human
Title: ?
Attributes-
Strength: 22
Dexterity: 29
Wisdom: 23
Intelligence: 24
Charisma: 23
Constitution: 25
Traits-
????- 500% bonus to skill leveling, you are unable to have your mind affected by outside influences, remain in complete control of your emotions.
Adaptive Biology- Your body seeks to adapt to its environment, by eating creatures you gain a portion of their attributes and skills. You are immune to food poisoning from eating uncooked food.
Skills-
Sneaking: Level 8
Dagger Mastery: Level 2
Spear Mastery: Level 5
I have hope that these musclebound creatures will provide me with the strength and constitution to start making more active attacks and moves to live my life less as a skulking creature of the woods, and more as a predator. The thing others are afraid of.
Finally after hours of patience I spot an ork, of a medium size, walking away from the others into the woods. I stand to a crouch and walk slowly after it, waiting for the opportune time to strike. I would have only one chance before it yelled for help, I had to finish it quickly.
It's massive body was at least twice my size, though I had seemingly grown a few inches in the mere week I had been on this planet. It wore a brown tunic, stained with what I thought could be blood, and pants of what must have been leather of a sort, though it was hard to determine through all the grime. I snuck behind the creature, spear held in both hands. Point forward and aimed at its neck. I creeper slowly into range as the ork stopped to pick up something I could not see, I braced myself. I thrust my spear sharply forward and as deep as I could, only it wasn't deep at all and it felt as though I had stuck my spear into a tree. The beast roared and slammed its arm back into the haft of my spear, breaking it into pieces.
"Fuck." I reached for the dagger on my waist only to be back handed by the beast. I could feel my ribs creak as I slammed into a tree, slumping to the ground.
"Uh, a umie? Wuz a lil umie doing out ere? Eh, youz in for a crumpin!" As it finished it charged towards me, I pushed myself up and ran. I had overestimated my abilities and underestimated the strength of these monsters. I dashed through the trees, hand holding my side as I felt a large bruise already forming. I could hear the beat yelling behind me, but thankfully it wasn't as fast as me.
"Where you going umie?! Oi! Boyz we gots a umie!!"
I could hear the distant yells of more greenskins coming towards my position, and all I could do was run. I had no hope of winning against even one of these monsters. I ran and ran until I could no longer hear the monsters, and no longer knew where I was. I ran until dark, never stopping and never looking back. All I could see in the distance was a sliver of light on the horizon, it reminded me of the lights a city would make on the skyline in my old world. I suppose that'll be my next target, can't be much worse than the beasts behind me.
I slowed to a walk, and kept trudging on. I did notice that my side no longer hurt, the bruise having come and gone quickly, leaving even more questions about my body and still no real answers.