NOVEL NEXT Chapter 2: ch.2
Chapter 2: The Jungle's First Challenge
The jungle was alive with sounds—crickets chirping, leaves rustling, and the occasional distant call of a bird. But Erik's focus was razor-sharp, his new instincts honed on survival. Every snap of a twig, every rustle in the underbrush, sent his senses into overdrive. The system's warning echoed in his mind: *Survive your first night.*
"Easy for you to say," Erik muttered under his breath, his voice a deep rumble that vibrated through his chest. He moved cautiously, his massive frame surprisingly agile as he navigated the dense foliage. The moonlight filtered through the canopy above, casting eerie shadows on the forest floor.
As he walked, the system's interface flickered in his mind, displaying his current status:
**[Name: Erik (King Kong)]
Species: Primal Gorilla
Evolution Stage: 1
Strength: 15
Agility: 8
Endurance: 12
Intelligence: 10
Abilities: None
Evolution Points (EP): 0]**
Erik frowned—or at least, he tried to. His new face wasn't exactly built for human expressions. "Strength 15? What does that even mean? And why is my agility so low? I'm a gorilla, aren't I supposed to be fast?"
**[Strength, Agility, Endurance, and Intelligence are measured on a scale relative to your current evolution stage. As you grow stronger, your base stats will increase, and new abilities will become available.]**
"Great," Erik grumbled. "So I'm basically a level 1 noob in a jungle full of monsters. Fantastic."
His musings were interrupted by a low growl to his left. Erik froze, his ears twitching as he pinpointed the sound. Slowly, he turned his head, his eyes narrowing as they adjusted to the darkness. There, crouched in the shadows, was a creature that made his blood run cold.
It looked like a wolf, but it was far larger than any wolf Erik had ever seen. Its fur was a mottled mix of black and gray, and its eyes glowed with an unnatural red light. Saliva dripped from its fangs as it bared its teeth, a low, guttural growl rumbling from its throat.
**[Alert: Host has encountered a Level 2 Shadow Wolf. Proceed with caution.]**
"A Shadow Wolf? Of course it's not just a regular wolf," Erik muttered. He clenched his fists, feeling the power in his new body. "Alright, big guy. Let's see what you've got."
The wolf lunged without warning, its speed astonishing. Erik barely had time to react, throwing up an arm to block the creature's snapping jaws. The wolf's teeth sank into his forearm, and Erik roared in pain, swinging his other arm in a wild punch. His fist connected with the wolf's side, sending it sprawling into the underbrush.
Erik glanced at his arm, where the wolf's teeth had left deep gashes. Blood dripped from the wounds, but the pain was already fading, his endurance stat likely mitigating the damage. The wolf, however, was already back on its feet, circling him with predatory precision.
"You're tough, huh?" Erik growled, his voice a deep rumble. "Well, so am I."
The wolf lunged again, but this time Erik was ready. He sidestepped the attack, his agility—though low—just enough to avoid the snapping jaws. With a roar, he brought both fists down on the wolf's back, the impact sending a shockwave through the ground. The wolf yelped in pain, its body crumpling under the force of the blow.
Erik didn't let up. He grabbed the wolf by its hind legs, lifting it off the ground and slamming it into a nearby tree. The creature let out a final, pitiful whine before going limp.
**[Congratulations! You have defeated a Level 2 Shadow Wolf. Reward: 10 EP.]**
Erik dropped the wolf's body, panting heavily as he stared at his hands. They were trembling—not from fear, but from adrenaline. He had just killed something. Not as a human, but as a monster.
The system's voice broke through his thoughts. **[Host has gained 10 EP. Would you like to allocate points to your stats or save them for future evolution?]**
Erik hesitated. "What's the best way to use these points?"
**[Allocating points to Strength, Agility, or Endurance will enhance your combat capabilities immediately. Saving EP will allow you to unlock new abilities or evolve to a higher stage once you accumulate enough points.]**
Erik considered his options. He had just barely survived a fight with a single wolf. If there were more dangerous creatures out there, he needed to be ready. "Put 5 points into Strength and 5 into Endurance."
**[Strength increased to 20. Endurance increased to 17.]**
Erik felt the change immediately. His muscles seemed to swell with newfound power, and the lingering ache from the wolf's bite faded entirely. He flexed his fingers, feeling the raw strength coursing through his body.
"Alright," he said, his voice steady. "I can work with this."
But the jungle wasn't done with him yet. As he turned to continue his journey, a new sound reached his ears—a chorus of low growls, coming from all directions. Erik's heart sank as he realized the truth: the Shadow Wolf hadn't been alone.
Emerging from the shadows were more wolves, their glowing red eyes fixed on him. There were at least six of them, each as large and menacing as the first.
**[Alert: Host is surrounded by a pack of Level 2 Shadow Wolves. Survival probability: 40%.]**
Erik clenched his fists, his newfound strength surging through him. "Forty percent, huh? Well, I've beaten worse odds."
The wolves lunged as one, and Erik met them head-on, his roar shaking the very trees around him. The jungle had thrown its first real challenge at him, and Erik was determined to prove he was more than just a man in a monster's body.
He was King Kong. And he was just getting started.
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