Drip drip drip.
The sound of falling water echoed.
Squeak squeak.
A monster's faint cries could be heard.
I recognized it. That was the sound of a goblin's cry.
Which meant this cave was inside a dungeon.
I sat still, thinking. Why did this happen?
It had been an ordinary day. I finished my part-time job, came home, washed up, and fell asleep.
Then when I came to my senses, I was in this place.
A remote corner of the dungeon. Barely large enough to fit this body.
If that were the only problem, it would've been manageable.
I lifted my arm.
The skin was blackish-red. What I called an "arm" dangled limply like a mollusk.
"Fuck, a monster. I've become a fucking monster."
Not human. A monster. I had truly become a monster.
"Fuck you, you goddamn bastard! Can't even manage humans properly!"
I hurled curses at God.
But my voice only produced buzzing vibrations, nothing resembling human speech.
Hah, now I can't even swear properly.
"No, this is a dream."
I wiped my face with what passed for an arm.
My mental state shattered. No matter how much I denied it, reality remained unchanged.
No amount of touching or waving my limbs altered what I saw.
"Fuck, this is insane! It's a dream. A fucking dream!"
Yes, a dream. Humans don't turn into monsters.
If I'd at least awakened some ability, I could've accepted this.
[Congratulations. You have awakened.]
[Obtained Class: Predator]
"Fuck!"
The System delivered the final confirmation shot.
Not a dream. I'd truly become a monster.
I felt like I'd lose my mind.
"Shit! Fucking bastard! Why me? Couldn't you even give me a shitty F-rank ability?"
I cursed at the System. True, I'd wanted to awaken - but not like this.
If given a normal ability, even a half-assed F-rank power, I would've lived contentedly.
[Granting abilities related to your Class.]
The System ignored my anguish.
Bright light emanated from my arm. The phenomenon when skills are granted.
I gained new skills. Or rather, became aware of organs I already possessed.
[Displaying Status Window.]
[Name: Lee Chan-hwi]
[LV1]
[Class: Predator]
[Strength:0.0001]
[Mana:0.0001]
[Health:0.0001]
[Agility:0.0001]
[Vitality:MAX]
[Displaying Skills.]
[Predation(LV1): Consume lifeforms to acquire traits.]
[Trait Bestowal(MAX): Pass acquired traits to offspring. Can arbitrarily adjust inherited traits.]
[Evolution(LV1): Enter a host's reproductive organ to evolve.]
"Hah... So I really am a monster now."
I accepted reality. Became a monster. Ceased to be human.
Look at those pathetic stats.
They showed rock bottom beneath rock bottom.
Tears welled at stats that had tunneled forty floors underground.
The only non-decimal value was Vitality.
Straight up labeled MAX.
"Fuck! What good is that when I can't even use it?!"
This wasn't just mocking me...
"Sigh... Is there a way to become human again?"
The System didn't answer. Normally it responds for motivation.
"Haaah..."
I sighed bitterly. This was unfair. I hadn't lived virtuously but never harmed others. If the System had physical form, I'd punch it hard.
Sssssk.
Just as I despaired over my life, vibrations approached my location.
I stopped sighing and focused on the vibration's source.
'Monster? Or human?'
Either meant danger. Monsters don't show camaraderie. Humans would kill me on sight.
Gulp.
Swallowing nervously, I concentrated.
Bzzzzzt.
"Haha, what? Just a cockroach?"
The vibration source was a cockroach. Not large - a small one.
"Got nervous over nothing."
The moment I relaxed, the cockroach charged.
'Huh? Why does it look so big?'
I belatedly realized the cockroach's size.
My lingering human memories delayed comprehension.
My current body was smaller than a cockroach's finger segment.
The cockroach opened massive pincers that tore into my body.
"Aaaagh!"
I screamed like a child. The pain was insane. Felt like half my body vanished.
Not an exaggeration. One attack erased half my form.
'I'll die!'
Staying meant death. Not by monsters - by a fucking cockroach.
Obviously, I didn't want to die.
I wanted to live.
"Fuck! I won't die to a cockroach!"
I lunged at the cockroach. My tiny body covered its face.
Giant pincers shredded me. The cockroach attacked relentlessly.
My divided body threatened to split further.
Shredding pincers. Intense shocks wracked my body.
"I said I won't die to a damn cockroach!"
Enduring pain, I exerted force. The cockroach's shell cracked bit by bit.
I ate the shattered shell. No time to think about disgust.
With each piece consumed, my damaged body regenerated.
A chicken game began.
The cockroach tried to shred me to death.
I gnawed away at the cockroach piece by piece.
The ten-minute standoff ended.
"Hah... hah... Fuck! I won!"
I emerged victorious. I could survive decapitation - the cockroach couldn't.
I observed the headless cockroach. Its legs still twitched.
'Don't they live a week without heads?'
Disgusting vitality. Though mine surpassed even that.
'Wait, did I even have a head?'
No. Instead, a core existed. Instinctively kept safe to prevent death.
'Need to be careful.'
Core destruction meant death. My earlier regeneration had misled me.
"Do I really have to eat this?"
I stared at the corpse. Revolting. Forced to consume this?
Survival brought pointless thoughts.
[Predation ability activated.]
[Insect Shell×1]
[Acquired trait. Can strengthen body by absorbing traits.]
The System spoke, absent during my near-death.
I nearly cursed it again.
The System lacks will. It only spouts preset phrases.
Fighting it would be like punching a wall.
"Sigh... Fine, I'll try it your way."
Resigned, I followed the System's instructions.
I absorbed the trait. Inserted the cockroach-derived trait into my core.
The core analyzed the Insect Shell. Dissected every chitinous structure.
"Equipped" the trait to the core.
[Equipping Insect Shell. Stats and characteristics changing.]
[Strength +0.0001]
[Health +0.0001]
[Agility +0.0001]
[Acquired Trait: Hardness]
"Oooh."
An exoskeleton formed. My body hardened. My jellyfish-like form gained structure.
"This Predation... It's more amazing than I thought?"
Exceeded expectations. Just eat to grow stronger. I gained infinite potential.
Becoming a monster might've granted this powerful compensation.
"Guess I have to eat now?"
No choice. Must grow stronger to survive. Only cockroaches available.
I moved. Pounced on another cockroach. Crushed it. My new elasticity made it easier than before. Rebound force helped.
[Insect Shell×2]
Traits from devouring the cockroach.
[Equipping Insect Shell.]
[Strength +0.0001]
[Health +0.0001]
[Agility +0.0001]
[Equipping Insect Shell.]
[Strength +0.0001]
[Health +0.0001]
[Agility +0.0001]
I absorbed all traits. My body gained more elasticity. Meaning stronger rebound force.
"I'm stronger than before."
Power surged through me.
I swung my arm.
The effect was negligible. Overflowing strength brought no meaningful change.
After all, I'd only eaten cockroaches.
"Fuck... my life."
This was my reward for abandoning dignity? I wanted to cry.
[Unexpected Luck! Acquired hidden trait.]
The floating text snapped me alert.
Right. My dignity couldn't be this cheap.
[Acquired Cockroach's hidden trait.]
[Obtained Tenacious Vitality×1]
"Yeah, figures from a cockroach."
Nothing special. I abandoned hope.
Forgot - I'd eaten a cockroach.
Not a dragon or legendary monster.
I sighed.
Still better than nothing.
I absorbed Tenacious Vitality.
[Warning! Cannot absorb more traits.]
The trait bounced off.
"Fucking bullshit!"
Swearing erupted. I immediately opened my Status Window.
Checked the previously overlooked trait slots.
[Equipped Traits]:[[Insect Shell],[Insect Shell],[Insect Shell]]
The slots were full.
'Fuck, fuck! Can I at least collect traits?'
Tested immediately. Struck the ground. A cockroach arrived.
Whoosh.
I launched myself. Devoured the cockroach.
[Insect Shell×3]
Acquired the trait. Stats didn't increase.
"At least that's something... Oh right. Slots are full."
Despair set in. Seemed my fate was hiding in corners eating cockroaches.
[Gained Predation skill experience.]
[PredationLV1][12%]
But the experience message revived my spirit.
My Class name was Predator.
Maybe leveling Predation could provide a breakthrough.
"I'm counting on you, Predation."
Hope regained, I knocked on the wall.
Sssssk.
Cockroaches approached.
Soon antennae appeared. I launched myself. Devoured the cockroach.
* * * * *
[Insect Shell×3....]
[Insect Shell×2...]
[Insect Shell×4...]
[Tenacious Vitality×1...]
Time passed. I hunted cockroaches without rest.
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