From Disposable Prince to Level 9999: Forbidden Evolution

4. A forbidden evolution system!

FEW MOMENTS AFTER

HUAN

Darkness pressed against my eyes, heavy and suffocating. The air smelled of damp earth and pine. My body ached, every muscle stiff, but I was alive. Somehow, I was alive. I tried to move, and the forest floor was cold beneath me, leaves brushing against my arms. Then a voice, calm, commanding, yet mechanical, filled my mind.

"Host detected. Consciousness confirmed. Greetings, Huan Bloodstone. I am the Forbidden evolution system. Your awakening has begun."A voice said.

"W-what, what is this? Who are you?" I whispered, heart racing.

"I am your guide, your enhancer, your evolutionary protocol. You were on the brink of death. Now you are mine to refine."The system said.

A strange heat pulsed through me, and I felt my body stretching, growing. I looked down at my hands, my nails sharp, veins pulsing faintly with energy. I lifted my head and caught sight of my reflection in a puddle. My horns small, dark, just sprouting from my temples, curved subtly, barely noticeable but definitely there. My tail swished behind me, short but prehensile, balancing me instinctively. My eyes glinted brighter, sharper, alive in a way they never had been.

"APPEARANCE UPDATE: HALF-DEMON FORM DETECTED. HORNS: TINY, DARK ENERGY INFUSED. TAIL: SHORT, PREHENSILE. MUSCULATURE ENHANCED. HEIGHT: INCREASED."The system said.

I flexed my fingers experimentally, feeling the energy surge through my arms, down my spine. I shifted, and the tail lashed out, catching a branch and flipping it aside with ease.

"HOST STATUS: ALIVE LEVEL: 1. EXPERIENCE: 0XP. STRENGTH: 5, AGILITY: 5, ENDURANCE: 5, MAGIC: 5, FORBIDDEN EVOLUTION STATUS: ACTIVE. EVOLUTION POTENTIAL: MAXIMUM."The system said.

I could feel the system inside me, pulsing, alive. It was analyzing every fiber, every reflex, every nerve. It hummed with promise, a dark and thrilling energy: growth, strength, vengeance, survival.

"Host. Your physical and magical forms are limited. I will guide, enhance, and push you beyond mortal boundaries. Every action, every battle, every thought feeds your evolution. Begin."The system said.

I slowly stood, taking in the forest around me. Sunlight filtered through the trees, and the air felt charged, as if waiting. My small horns twitched with energy, my tail balanced instinctively as I shifted my weight.

"RECOMMENDATION: TEST LIMITS. RECOMMENDATION: SEEK FOOD FOR ENERGY. RECOMMENDATION: BEGIN COMBAT TRAINING."The system said.

A thrill ran through me, fear, anger, anticipation all mingling. I was no longer just the weak third prince. I was something else. Something dangerous. The forest smelled of wet earth and pine. Hunger gnawed at me, sharp and insistent. My tail twitched, horns tingling faintly.

"RECOMMENDATION: ACQUIRE FOOD. LOW-RISK TARGET: FISH."The system said.

I crouched by the stream, hands hovering above the water. Tiny sparks of fire flickered from my fingertips. A fish darted beneath the surface. I plunged my hands in, grabbing it barehanded, teeth sinking into its slick body.

"EXPERIENCE GAINED: 10XP. LEVEL 1 to 2. STAT INCREASE: Strength +1, Agility +1, Endurance +1."The system said.

The taste of raw life surged through me. My claws dug into the mud instinctively, fire magic humming faintly along my arms. Then a low growl behind me. Two orcs burst from the underbrush, green-skinned, twisted smiles on their faces.

"ENEMY DETECTED: ORC LEVEL: F. RECOMMENDATION: ENGAGE FOR EXPERIENCE."The system said.

"Fresh prey!" One hissed, swinging a crude club.

I crouched lower, tail coiling for balance, eyes glowing faintly. 

"Not today." I growled.

The first orc lunged, and I ducked low, swinging a clawed hand upward. Flesh tore, his neck snapping with a sickening crack. He hit the dirt, twitching. The second orc roared and charged. I leapt, fire surging along my arm. My clawed hand connected with his chest, flames scorching his skin, tearing muscle and bone. He collapsed, screaming, before silence claimed him.

"EXPERIENCE GAINED: 60XP. LEVEL-UP DETECTED: LEVEL 2 to LEVEL 3. STAT INCREASE: Strength +2, Agility +2, Endurance +1, Magic +2. SKILL UNLOCKED: SPEED BOOST. EFFECT: SHORT-TERM MOVEMENT and ATTACK SPEED INCREASE."The system said.

I crouched, panting, claws smoking faintly. My small horns tingled, tail flicking, fire magic still humming across my arms. I could feel the system humming approval inside me, my body growing sharper, faster, stronger. Then a snap in the treeline. Heavy, deliberate, fast. Something big was moving toward me. My heart hammered, instincts screaming.

"ALERT: UNKNOWN TARGET APPROACHING. HOST RECOMMENDATION: ACTIVATE SPEED BOOST."The system said.

I froze, tail lashing, claws flexing, fire surging along my skin. The shadow moved faster than anything I had fought. My senses screamed danger. A growl split the air. Deep, terrifying, and it was heading straight for me.

"WARNING: DANGER LEVEL UNKNOWN."The system said.

I crouched low, muscles coiling. Horns pricked, fire flaring, and then the shadow lunged, teeth bared, claws extended. My heart slammed in my chest, I felt fire ignite along my arms, claws flexing, tail coiling.

"SPEED BOOST AVAILABLE: ACTIVATE?"The system asked.

"Yes."I didn't hesitate. 

Everything blurred, I moved faster than thought itself, a streak of dark energy streaking across the forest floor. The shadow lunged, and I was already there, claws slicing through its shoulder. It shrieked, twisting, but I landed behind it, fire flaring along my skin. I struck again, claws ripping into flesh, teeth sinking deep. The creature fell to the ground, convulsing, smoke rising where my fire magic had scorched it. Then it went still.

"EXPERIENCE GAINED: 240XP. LEVEL-UP DETECTED: LEVEL 3 to LEVEL 5. STAT INCREASE: Strength +5, Agility +4, Endurance +3, Magic +6."The system said. "SKILL LEARNED: SPEED BOOST. DURATION INCREASED." The system said.

I panted, tail flicking, claws smoking, horns tingling faintly. My body felt sharper, faster, alive in a way it never had. Then movement caught my eyes, a blur on the forest path. A carriage, barreling along too fast for horses alone, merchants shouting, wheels rattling.

"HOST ALERT: MOVING OBJECT DETECTED. POTENTIAL TARGET: HIGH REWARD."The system said.

"A task huh?"I whispered.

I narrowed my eyes, muscles coiling. It was the carriage that was moving too fast, but not too fast for me. I sprinted, the ground whipping beneath my feet. Trees blurred as I accelerated, fire humming along my arms, tail balancing me perfectly. The carriage screamed past, horses panicked. I leapt, claws digging into the dirt, fire trailing behind me, and slammed my body against the wheels. It was time to get my first reward!