The forest remained unchanged.
It remained silent. It remained cold. It still didn't care whether I lived or died.
I walked slowly through the trees, my steps still heavy, but no longer as unsteady as before. The hunger lingered, like a shadow following me, but it no longer stabbed me with such cruelty.
Gluttony had bought me time.
But I didn't know how long the effect would last. The panel didn't explain. The system didn't speak.
I'd learned one thing from my previous life:
Don't rely on something that can disappear at any moment.
I paused near a large tree trunk. Its bark was rough, covered in dark green moss. I pressed my palms against it to steady myself.
Breathe in. Breath out.
This forest was too vast to navigate without a plan. But I also had no map, no direction, and no goal other than one:
Survival.
I scanned my surroundings.
On the ground, there were small footprints. Claw marks. A few broken leaves. There was life here.
"Food," I thought.
I moved along the trail. Slowly. Take your time. My body is weak, but my own memories are still working.
Don't be careless.
A few minutes into my walk, I heard another sound. This time it was quieter. Like rustling grass.
I ducked behind a bush. My heart beat faster, but my head remained cool.
Ahead, there were two small creatures. Similar to the previous monster, but smaller. They were eating something on the ground, probably a dead animal.
I swallowed hard.
There were two monsters. Not one.
My fists clenched. I didn't know if Gluttony could work twice in a row. I didn't know if this body could handle it.
But I also knew one other thing.
If I retreated now, I would be hungry again. And hunger would kill me slowly.
I picked up a small stone from the ground. It was light, almost insignificant.
I threw it in the opposite direction.
The stone hit a tree trunk with a soft thud.
Both monsters turned.
One moved toward the sound of the stone. The other remained where it was, wary.
I waited.
As the first monster took a few steps away, I moved.
Quickly, but not hastily.
I lunged at the remaining monster, reaching for its neck.
The creature struggled. Its claws grazed my arm, leaving a stinging pain. But I didn't let go.
Gluttony.
Black light flowed into its hand again.
The monster's body dried up in my hand.
I staggered.
It hurt.
The claws had left an open wound. Blood slowly trickled down my arm.
Before I could breathe a sigh of relief, the other monster turned and leaped at me.
I didn't have time to fully dodge. Its body slammed into me. We fell to the ground.
I felt its fangs almost reach my face.
I braced myself with one hand, the one that was still strong.
My other, injured hand touched its body.
Gluttony.
The creature died.
I lay on the ground, gasping, black light flowing again.
Two monster carcasses lay not far from me, dry and lifeless.
The system appeared.
Gluttony: Consecutive Use
Energy Increase: Low
Warning: Body Pressure
I stared at the sign for a long moment.
"Body pressure," I thought.
It really did feel like that. My whole body felt heavy. My head was spinning. The wound on my arm was still bleeding.
I tore a bit of rags from my shirt and bandaged it up.
It wasn't neat. It wasn't clean. But it was enough to stop the bleeding.
I sat down, leaning against the tree again.
My stomach felt better. Not full, but enough to think.
I stared at the two monster carcasses.
If Gluttony could devour their energy…
then maybe I wouldn't need to eat like a normal human.
I tried touching one of the corpses again.
Nothing happened.
"Just once," I thought.
It made sense.
I stood slowly. My legs were still shaking, but I forced myself to move.
I had to find a safer place. Being out in the woods like this was dangerous.
I walked for a while until I found a gap between two large rocks. It was uncomfortable, but it offered protection on one side.
I sat there, my back pressed against the cold stone.
Night was falling.
The forest was changing.
Sounds began to emerge. Distant growls. Heavy footsteps from somewhere. I shrank back, holding my breath as each sound approached.
I didn't sleep.
I just sat with my eyes half-open, guarding against the monster.
In the silence, my mind began to work.
About my previous life.
About this body.
About the silent system.
"Why only the panel?" I thought.
"Why no sound?"
I got no answers.
I only slowly realized one thing. This system… wasn't like a helper.
More like… an observer.
Morning came without warning.
Gray light crept through the leaves again.
I rose stiffly. My wounds stung, but I could still move.
I stepped out of the crevice in the rock.
And that's when I saw it.
A small, trembling creature, trapped in a tree root. Its body resembled a small wolf, but its fur was white as snow, and its eyes were a pale blue.
An animal. Not a monster.
It had a wound on its hind leg. Blood trickled down its spine. Its breathing was rapid, panicked.
It saw me and tried to bite, but failed. Its body was too weak.
I stood still.
I could devour it.
Gluttony would kick in.
Energy would increase.
My stomach would feel better.
I raised my hand.
Then I stopped.
The wolf wasn't attacking.
It was just afraid.
I lowered my hand.
I crouched slowly, keeping my distance.
The wolf growled weakly.
I tore another rag from my shirt and gently tossed it toward him.
He stared at the rag. Then at me.
I didn't speak.
I don't know why I did this.
Maybe it was his eyes.
Or maybe it was because… I saw myself there.
Alone. Wounded. Waiting for death.
I slowly approached and tied the rag around his leg. The animal growled, but didn't bite me.
Once I was done, I backed away.
A few seconds passed.
The animal limped to its feet. It looked at me once more. Then it turned and limped away into the forest.
I stood there for a long time.
My stomach felt empty again.
I could have eaten it.
The system appeared.
No Status Change
I let out a silent chuckle.
"Stupid decision," I thought.
But strangely… I didn't regret it.
I continued on my way.
That afternoon, I encountered humans for the first time.
Two grown men, carrying simple weapons. They stopped when they saw me.
"Hey! Young man!" the first man shouted.
I stopped.
They approached, staring at my tattered clothes, my emaciated body.
"Alone?" the second man asked, smiling strangely.
I didn't answer.
One of them stepped forward and grabbed my injured arm.
"It must be easy to sell—"
I didn't finish my sentence before I moved my hand.
Gluttony.
The man screamed briefly before his body dried up and fell to the ground.
The second man fell silent, his face pale.
"Are you—"
I didn't finish my sentence anymore.
There was no mercy.
Two desiccated bodies lay on the ground.
I stood between their corpses, breathing heavily.
The system appeared.
Gluttony: Target Human
Energy Increase: Medium
Warning: Traces Detected
I stared at the bodies.
There was no guilt.
They were in my way.
That was all.
I walked away, leaving the desiccated bodies on the ground.
My steps are steadier now.
My stomach is warmer.
But in my chest, there's something heavy.
Not sadness.
Not fear.
More like… realization.
I've crossed the line.
And I know I'm not going back.
In this world, if I stop moving—
I die.