Cursed Devourer

The cave was silent.

The stench of charred flesh and burning wood lingered in the air, mixing with the metallic tang of troll blood that had been spilled across the cavern floor.

Malik stood amidst the ruins of his prey, his body still buzzing with the aftereffects of his transformation. His breath came out slow and measured as his blackened scales receded, his elongated limbs and draconic features shrinking back to human form.

The shift felt natural, seamless even. But as he examined his own energy reserves, a realization dawned on him.

"I could've stayed shifted for as long as I wanted."

Unlike before, where he had assumed his full transformation would have a time limit, he now understood—there was no restriction.

However…

"Swapping between forms drains a ridiculous amount of mana," Kairo noted, his tone more analytical than amused this time. "You can shift once without issue, but doing it too frequently? You'll burn yourself out."

Malik flexed his fingers, feeling his strength settle, the new trait he had acquired from the trolls already integrating itself into his body.

Then—a sudden system notification.

[Level Up!]

[Level 3 Reached]

[+5 Stat Points Available]

[+5 Bonus Stat Points from Soul Devourer]

[+5 Intelligence from Seeker of the Forbidden]

He absorbed the information without breaking stride, scanning his updated status.

[New Trait Acquired: Regeneration (Lesser)]

[Grants enhanced healing. Wounds will recover over time, but regeneration is weakened by fire.]

Malik's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Similar to Goliath's regeneration back in my old world… but flawed," he noted. "Fire negates it."

"Which means you have a weakness," Kairo pointed out. "Unless…"

Malik smirked. "Unless I mix in my dragon traits."

Dragons were naturally resistant to fire. If he integrated his dragonic DNA with his new regeneration, he could create a stronger variation—one that ignored weaker flames entirely.

"Clever," Kairo mused. "Fire equal to or below dragon flames wouldn't affect your healing at all."

Malik exhaled slowly. He would experiment with it later.

For now, he focused on his stat allocation.

[Stat Distribution:]

[+10 Mana]

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Name: Malik Thana

Age: 19

Race: Primordial Shifter

Rank: Advanced+(Early)

Level: 3

Stats = 

Vitality - 60

Strength - 50

Agility - 50

Endurance - 50

Intelligence - 70

Mana - 70

Perception - 50

Charm - 100

Soul - 50

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With the Primordial Shifter ability requiring so much energy, boosting mana was the most logical choice. His dragon breath, shifting abilities, and spell-like traits all drew from it.

"Alright," Kairo sighed, stretching metaphorically in Malik's mind. "That was a hell of a hunt. You gonna fly back or take the scenic route?"

Malik didn't answer immediately. He stood at the cave's entrance, looking out into the expansive night sky before him.

"Kairo."

"Yeah?"

Malik's expression hardened.

"I shouldn't have transformed so easily."

The realization had been gnawing at him since he returned to his human form. The raw power had been exhilarating, but it had also been reckless. He had let his instincts drive him, revealing one of his strongest abilities far too soon.

"We need to be careful," Malik continued, his tone colder now. "We still don't know the rules of this world. Shapeshifters may be common, but what I can do? That might be something else entirely."

Kairo was silent for a moment before he let out a slow, knowing chuckle.

"So you're finally thinking like a strategist instead of a battle-maniac. About time."

Malik smirked. "I'll take that as a compliment."

"It is," Kairo admitted. "Hiding your true abilities until you fully understand the playing field? That's exactly what you should be doing."

Malik nodded to himself, his focus clear now.

He grabbed the three massive troll skulls, secured them with some makeshift chains from the cave, and launched into the sky.

Vel Ryn's city gates came into view beneath him as he descended, the familiar glow of torches flickering along the outer walls. He landed just outside the city to avoid drawing unwanted attention, folding his wings back into his body before walking toward the Mercenary Hall.

Inside, the usual rowdy atmosphere greeted him—mercenaries laughing, drinking, and exchanging stories about their latest bounties. But the moment he entered carrying three troll heads, the energy in the room shifted.

Conversations lowered, eyes turned toward him, and the scent of blood and burned flesh followed him like a ghost.

"You're getting a reputation," Kairo chuckled.

Malik ignored the stares, stepping toward the front desk where the same guild official from before was sorting through reports.

The man looked up, blinked at Malik's bloodied trophies, then let out a long, exhausted sigh.

"…You were supposed to bring back one."

Malik laughed, dropping the three massive skulls onto the counter with a heavy thud. "Got carried away."

The official rubbed his temples, muttering something about "overachieving maniacs" before pulling out Malik's bounty slip.

"Alright," the man said, adjusting his glasses. "The standard reward was 500 gold per troll. Since you've returned with three, the guild will increase your payment to 2,000 gold."

Malik's smile widened. "Now that's more like it."

The official handed over a small pouch filled with gold coins, the weight satisfying in Malik's palm. He tucked it into his robes, already considering his next move.

As he glanced around the hall, he noticed something.

Marithia and her mercenary team were gone.

"Already left?" Kairo asked.

The guild official, noticing Malik's wandering gaze, spoke up. "If you're looking for the mercenary group you were with, they took separate contracts in different cities. The elf went back to her kingdom."

Malik nodded, unsurprised. He had expected as much.

"She gave you a way to find her if you ever wanted to," Kairo pointed out.

Malik exhaled through his nose. That wasn't a priority right now.

He had work to do.

With his bounty claimed and his mercenary rank now upgraded to Advanced+, Malik turned toward the mission board once again.

This time, he had access to higher-tier contracts.

He let his eyes drift over the available missions, skimming past mundane requests—bandit exterminations, caravan escorts, and minor hunts—until he found something that caught his interest.

["Target: The Shadowfang

Rank: Advanced+

Abilities: Perception-based Mana Sense (Can detect prey through mana fluctuations). Highly corrosive acid, capable of melting even enchanted metal. Extreme agility and silent movement.

Location: Black Hollow Ruins, deep in the eastern

forest.

Bounty Reward: 5,000 gold (Potential for increased payout).

Status: Already accepted by a group of five mercenaries—additional participation requires team approval."]

Malik pulled the parchment from the board, his gaze flickering across the details.

A rare poisonous creature, known for its heightened sensory abilities, had been spotted near the marshlands to the east.

The Shadowfang is a nocturnal predator that hunts using its ability to sense heat signatures, tracking prey even through darkness and magical illusions. Its venom is lethal, capable of paralyzing its victims before digestion begins.

"This beast is perfect."

It wasn't just the gold that interested him.

If he devoured it, he could gain something invaluable.

A new sensory ability. A potential counter to stealth-based foes.

He turned away from the board and approached the receptionist.

The man at the desk—an older, sharp-eyed veteran of the guild—didn't even look up as he spoke.

"You want in on the Shadowfang hunt, don't you?"

Malik nodded. "What do I need to do?"

He gestured toward a group seated at one of the long tables.

"They're the ones who took the contract first. If you want in, you'll have to convince them."

His gaze shifted.

Five mercenaries, well-equipped and battle-worn.

But Malik had seen killers before.

And these men?

They were the wrong kind.

Not warriors.

Not hunters.

Predators.

But not his kind.

Malik strode toward them.

The leader of the group sat at the head of the table, his long silver hair tied back, a jagged scar running down the side of his cheek. He was dressed in black and silver armor, an enormous obsidian greatsword resting against the bench beside him.

His name, as Malik soon learned, was Kael Varian.

And the moment Kael's pale blue eyes flickered toward him, Malik knew.

He wasn't trustworthy.

But for now, Malik played along.

"I want in on your hunt."

Kael smirked, leaning back. "Do you, now? And who are you supposed to be?"

"Malik."

The other mercenaries exchanged glances, their smirks growing.

"Never heard of you," said one, a short-haired, twin-dagger wielder with strange, glowing tattoos running up her arms.

"You will."

The laughter that followed was mocking, filled with arrogance.

Kael tapped his fingers on the table. "Alright, Malik. We're always looking for fresh meat. But I hope you don't slow us down."

Malik gave him no response.

He had already decided

If anyone was getting left behind, it wouldn't be him.

...

The next morning they met at a checkpoint designated by Kael and the party introduced themselves, with their names, monikers, ranks and abilities, also giving their role in the party;

Kael Varian – The Black Sun (Leader, Advanced+)

Wields a cursed obsidian greatsword, able to create gravitational pulses that slow enemies and can amplify his attacks by absorbing surrounding mana.

Lena Oris – Phantom Veil (Rogue, Advanced+)

Her glowing tattoos allow her to phase through objects momentarily and uses twin daggers imbued with lightning magic.

Dren Halos – The Ashen Hand (Mage, Advanced+)

Can ignite his hands with black fire that burns away mana defense, specializes in mana-disrupting magic to weaken foes.

Torik Vale – The Warden (Tank, Advanced+)

Wears enchanted armor that converts damage into temporary strength boosts, carries a tower shield that can redirect force-based attacks.

Orin Pyke – The Revenant Archer (Ranged, Advanced+)

Uses a bow infused with soul magic, his arrows can phase through physical barriers.

They were a professional team of killers.

And currently, Malik stood beside these professionals at the forest's edge, his gaze scanning the Black Hollow Ruins ahead.

This place was silent.

Too silent.

His golden slits behind his visor glowed faintly as he activated Perception to the maximum, boosted by his Draconic DNA.

Still Nothing.

No heat. No movement.

That's when it hit him.

"It's not hiding."

"It's already watching us."

A low hum rippled through the air.

Kael frowned. "Something's off."

Malik stepped forward.

The second his boot pressed into the ground—a blur of acid-green movement exploded from the ruins.

Then— it appeared.

It was nothing like they had expected.

A serpentine monstrosity, four long clawed arms extending from its torso, each one dripping with viscous green acid.

Its emerald scales shimmered, shifting between dark hues—constantly adapting, blending into the environment.

But the worst part?

Its four crimson eyes.

They pulsed. Not with sight, but with perception.

It wasn't looking at them.

It was reading them.

Kael's greatsword pulsed with gravitational energy.

"Let's go."

The Shadowfang lunged, its serpentine body twisting unnaturally, its four acid-dripping claws slicing through the air.

Kael swung his obsidian greatsword, unleashing a gravitational pulse that slowed the beast's movement, forcing it to react sluggishly.

Lena phased behind it, her glowing tattoos flaring as her lightning-coated daggers struck at its flanks, sending crackling energy surging through its scales.

Dren raised his burning hands, summoning black flames that clung to the Shadowfang's body, burning away the mana shielding its flesh.

Orin fired an ethereal arrow, its form shifting midair before striking the beast's underbelly, detonating in a burst of violet energy.

Torik braced himself, his massive shield absorbing an acidic strike, redirecting it into the ground where it sizzled and melted the earth.

Malik watched.

He hadn't moved yet.

Instead, he analyzed them.

"They're strong. They've fought together before."

Yet even as their combined attacks rained down, the Shadowfang adapted. It's crimson eyes pulsed, reading mana fluctuations, predicting the next set of incoming attacks—and suddenly, its scaled body flickered out of existence.

"Shit!" Kael growled. "It's moving—!"

A blur of emerald light erupted, acid spraying outward, melting the rocks around them.

Malik's instincts screamed.

His legs coiled, muscles flexing—

Then he moved.

A shadow ripped through the battlefield, his black-clad form slipping between strikes, avoiding both the beast and the mercenaries.

The Shadowfang's jaws snapped where he had been an instant before, its fangs dripping green liquid that hissed against the air.

"It's reading our movements."

Malik narrowed his eyes.

"Then let's see how fast it can adapt."