Devouring Evolution: I Reborn as an Arctic Wolf Chapter 7: Chapter 7: Acquiring Talent.

Abandoning all evasion, Su Lin engaged the lynx in a brutal, direct confrontation.

Their exchange of strikes and bites turned incredibly savage. Under normal circumstances, a solitary predator like a lynx would avoid such a suicidal struggle.

However, the agony of having its flesh torn away, combined with Su Lin’s relentless taunting, had driven the feline into a blind rage.

Spray of crimson splattered the ground.

Su Lin endured two heavy blows from the lynx’s forepaws, but in exchange, he ripped another mouthful of meat from its body. Even with the fur still attached, he swallowed the prize without hesitation.

“Ding! Host has consumed lynx meat, gaining 2.4 Evolution Points.”

The diminishing returns on Evolution Points were far less severe when consuming the flesh of other carnivores.

Su Lin realized he was only two bites away from a breakthrough. This realization fueled his aggression, turning the battle even more lopsided.

As long as the lynx’s lethal claws didn't strike his heart or throat, Su Lin disregarded the pain entirely. He stayed within the lynx's guard, hunting for the perfect moment to strike again.

Thud!

A powerful swipe from the lynx’s paw lashed across Su Lin’s back, leaving a deep gash. Yet, Su Lin’s eyes shimmered with predatory light as he lunged forward, tearing a strip of muscle from the lynx’s own leg.

“Ding! Host has consumed lynx meat, gaining 2.3 Evolution Points.”

With its limb mangled, the lynx’s combat effectiveness plummeted. In its wild, feline gaze, the first signs of hesitation appeared.

Survival instinct warned the creature that even a victory would leave it too broken to survive the wild. For a lone hunter, a crippling wound was a death sentence.

“Roar!”

The lynx let out a furious snarl, attempting to disengage and flee. Su Lin, however, refused to let his prey escape, using his superior agility to stick to the cat like a shadow.

He leapt onto the lynx’s back, ripping away another chunk of meat and gulping it down.

“Ding! Host has consumed lynx meat, gaining 2.2 Evolution Points.”

As that final mouthful hit his stomach, a massive surge of heat erupted within Su Lin! The energy of evolution flooded his system, every cell in his lupine frame drinking in the raw power.

“Ding! Congratulations to the host for reaching Level 4!”

Name: Su Lin. Species: Arctic Wolf. Level: 4. (160 Evolution Points required for next level.) Qi-Blood: 400. Endurance: 40. Strength: 40. Defense: 40. Speed: 70. Evolution Points: 2. Additional Attribute Points: 10.

Without hesitation, Su Lin dumped all 10 points into Speed, boosting the stat to 80.

Feeling the explosive power vibrating through his limbs, Su Lin released a triumphant howl. Beneath him, the lynx managed a desperate roll, shaking him off before bolting into the distance.

The lynx’s desperate sprint, which previously seemed fast, now looked like a crawl to Su Lin’s enhanced senses.

His icy blue eyes locked onto the retreating figure, overflowing with murderous intent. If the beast intended to steal his kill, it had to pay with its life.

Now a blur of white fur, Su Lin accelerated with terrifying ease. He closed the gap in a heartbeat.

With 80 Speed and 40 Strength behind him, his pounce carried the force of a falling boulder. The lynx glanced back, terror finally filling its eyes as it tried to swerve.

It was too slow. The sheer impact of Su Lin’s strike shattered the lynx’s spine instantly.

The cat was sent tumbling across the snow for several meters. Blood leaked from its mouth, its eyes clouded by the massive internal trauma. It was clearly finished.

Su Lin showed no unnecessary cruelty; he stepped forward and crushed the lynx’s skull with a final, heavy swipe, extinguishing its last spark of life.

This first true test of survival had ended in total victory. The wounds Su Lin had sustained were already mended by the restorative light of his evolution.

As the lynx grew cold, a series of translucent notifications materialized before his eyes.

Defeating the strong as the weak! Battlefield Breakthrough! A Blood-Soaked Conflict! Ultimate Triumph! Target Neutralized! Combat Rating: S.

[Reward for S-Rank Rating: Hunting Talent (D-level) acquired.]

[Note: Ratings below S do not trigger system rewards.]

“Oh? What’s this?” Su Lin mused, surprised. He hadn't realized that life-or-death struggles could yield extra bonuses.

Evidently, the requirements were steep. An S-Rank rating likely required the level of intensity he had just endured.

He pushed the thought aside and focused on the new ability.

[Hunt]: D-level (Upgradable), Active Talent. Effect: Upon activation, increases movement speed and attack power by 50% while enhancing stealth. Duration: 60 seconds. Cooldown: 24 hours.

Su Lin’s eyes gleamed. This talent was a massive boon to his lethality. In the unforgiving Arctic, strength was the only guarantee of a full stomach.

He quickly dismissed the menu. He had two large carcasses to transport back to the den, and lingering would only invite unwanted scavengers.

After stashing the lynx in some thick brush, he dragged the reindeer back to the cave, then returned to fetch the lynx.

When he dropped the two bodies before the pups, they stared at him with wide, blue eyes. The respect they showed him now far exceeded what they felt for the Wolf Father.

Su Lin set the lynx aside, keeping it for himself since it was a valuable source of Evolution Points. He nudged the reindeer toward his Wolf Sister and Cousin, signaling them to eat.

In a wolf pack, order is everything. By controlling the food, Su Lin was establishing his dominance and ensuring the "Little Orphan Wolf" didn't cause trouble.

Among the pups, Cousin and the Orphan were the strongest at Level 2. Another pup, a grey-white female, was at Level 1. The smallest was his Wolf Sister, who sat at Level 0.

Being only a month old, her low stats were natural. Not everyone had Su Lin's cheat-like growth speed.

Seeing his sister struggling with her undeveloped teeth, Su Lin walked over to the reindeer. He tore away some soft, tender meat from the underbelly and dropped it at her feet.

“Awooo!” the little wolf yipped, her high-pitched howl filled with affection for her brother.