The dungeon reeked of something that never seemed to wash out of your clothing — damp stone, charred flesh, and stagnant blood.
Eren Kael was used to it.
After all, he'd already made it down ten floors, following the party leader, Jace Varric — a lean, silver-mouthed swordsman whose smile could persuade you to give up your last healing potion. The rest of the party weren't exactly saints, either: Mira, the marksman with eyes of glass; Torren, the taciturn shieldbearer; and Velra, the healer who only smiled when it hurt someone else.
Eren thought they were his friends. Or, at least, his comrades.
The 11th floor changed that.
It was a cavern of jagged black rock, where acid dripped from the ceiling rather than water. In its middle was an old pit — a hole that appeared to have been bored directly through the planet itself. Legend had it that it had no bottom.
Jace stopped in front of it.
"Eren," he said casually, "check the edge for me? See how far it goes?"
Eren scowled but moved forward, peering into the dark. "I can't even see the—"
The kick was swift, vicious, square in his back.
His boots left the stone.
For half a second, his brain wouldn't compute. Then he saw their faces above him — not shocked, not panicked, but calm. Jace's lips moved, and Eren read the words easily:
Dead weight slows us down.
Then gravity caught up with him.
He fell.
The wind tore screams from his mouth. Torches on the walls blurred in streaks, then went out completely. The air grew thick, cold, until falling was like plummeting through liquid night. His ears popped and popped, the pressure building like the world itself was trying to crush him.
He hit water hard enough to see white.
The impact forced the air out of his lungs. He flailed to his feet, surfaced, and breathed in air that stank of rot and metal.
He was alive. For some reason.
A faint light came from giant mushrooms that clung to the edge of the cavern. Water lapped against black stone, and somewhere far away, something howled.
Eren dragged himself onto land. All his bones must have been broken — yet he was moving. His vision spun, his heart raced… and then something impossible happened.
{Ding!}
Hidden Talent Unlocked: [Adaptation]
Condition: Near-death survival in hostile environment.
Effect: Your body will mutate to survive any threat, adapt to any environment, and gain traits from anything you survive.
Warning: Adaptations are permanent. Your humanity will decline.
Eren stared at the words hanging in the air.
"What the hell…?"
He didn't have a system. He'd never had one — no blessing of the Guild's gods, no interface like the other adventurers. But there it was, glowing before him.
His chest burned. The air tasted foul. He coughed and spat black phlegm. Then, the burning… faded. His breath slowed. His heart rate normalized.
Another {Ding!}.
Environmental Adaptation Complete: Toxic Spore Immunity Acquired.
Description: Your lungs have adapted to filter airborne poisons.
Eren's hands trembled.
He had just transformed.
Chapter One – The First Predator
There was a splash behind him.
Eren turned slowly. The black water rippled, and something massive moved under the surface. Two silver eyes sliced the black — huge, unblinking, fixed on him.
The serpent rose, taller than a house, scales covered in slime. Its mouth opened, and teeth like rows of daggers showed.
Eren was not armed. All he had was a jagged rock he'd found on the beach.
The response of the snake was to attack.
His body reacted before his mind. He dropped low, rolled to the side, and felt the sweep of its attack rush past him. His senses intensified. His muscles hurt — but differently. Faster. Stronger.
{Ding!}
Combat Adaptation Triggered: Reaction Speed Increased by 12%
Condition: Survival during predator attack.
Eren didn't stop. He drove the rock into the closest eye of the serpent. Green blood sprayed his arm as the creature shrieked.
It thrashed, hurling him into the water. Instinct screamed to swim upwards — but another instinct, strange and new, told him to relax. He opened his mouth underwater… and breathed.
{Ding!}
New Trait Acquired: [Aquatic Respiration]
Breathe underwater indefinitely.
He caught up behind the serpent, grabbed the boulder again, and brought it down into the back of its skull. The creature spasmed once, twice, then was still.
Eren floated there, panting, as the green blood dispersed into the shadows.
His hands didn't stop shaking — but it wasn't fear.
It was hunger.
If this was his power… he could bear anything.