Chapter 1 - Reborn as the Error

The last thing Leo remembered was the screech of tires and the smell of burning rubber. He had died a failure—a struggling novelist whose stories were rejected by every publisher in the city. His last thought as the headlights blinded him was: If I get another chance, I won't just write the story. I'll become the legend.Darkness swallowed him. Then, a cold, mechanical pulse vibrated in his very soul.[Initialization Complete...][Soul Integration: 100%][Welcome, Host, to the World of Eldoria.][Detecting Mortal Soul... Calculating Potential...][Error. Error. Mortal Soul contains 'Authorial Will'.][Overriding Standard System... Initializing SSS-Rank Talent: Infinite Devourer.]Leo's eyes snapped open.He wasn't in a hospital. He wasn't in the afterlife. He was lying on a damp, freezing stone floor. His vision was a blurry mess of grey and green, and his body felt... wrong. It was heavy, covered in coarse fur, and incredibly small. When he tried to gasp for air, a pathetic, high-pitched whimper escaped his throat."Where am I? Why can't I speak?" Leo panicked. He tried to lift his hand, but instead, a small, grey-furred paw hit the stone with a dull thud.[Status: Starving Grey Wolf Cub (F-Rank - Trash)][HP: 5/10][MP: 2/2][Hunger Level: 95% (Critical)]Leo froze. I'm a wolf? A trash-tier wolf cub?He looked around. He was in a massive limestone cave. Beside him were five other cubs, all larger and stronger than him, huddling together for warmth. The cave smelled of iron, dried blood, and musk.Suddenly, the ground trembled. A massive shadow loomed over the entrance, blocking out the dim moonlight. A giant wolf, the size of a small SUV, stepped into the cave. Its fur was like jagged slate, and its eyes glowed with a predatory golden light. In its jaws, it carried the mangled, blood-soaked carcass of an Iron-Hide Boar.The Alpha female dropped the carcass in the center of the den. The other cubs immediately lunged for it, snarling and snapping their tiny milk teeth. They were bigger, faster, and meaner. One of the larger cubs—a black-furred brute—slammed his shoulder into Leo, sending the small cub tumbling across the sharp rocks.Leo's head hit the wall. [HP -1].Hunger gnawed at his stomach like a physical blade. If he didn't eat now, his "Hunger Level" would hit 100%, and he would die of starvation before the sun rose. He looked at the meat, then at his siblings. In his past life, he was a pushover. He let the world step on him.Not again, Leo snarled internally. I won't die as a footnote in someone else's story.[Detecting Host's Will to Survive...][SSS-Rank Talent 'Infinite Devourer' Initialized.][Passive Skill Unlocked: Absolute Appraisal (Level 1)][Active Skill Unlocked: Gluttony's Maw (Level 1)]Leo's vision shifted. Suddenly, the boar carcass began to glow with a sickly green light. Floating text appeared above it.[Target: Iron-Hide Boar (E-Rank Monster)][Condition: Dead/Fresh][Potential Gains: 20 Evolution Points, Skill: 'Hardened Skin', +2 Strength.]Leo didn't wait. As the other cubs fought over the choice prime cuts, Leo crawled toward the discarded, blood-covered hind leg of the boar. He opened his mouth, and for a split second, his jaw seemed to unhinge, revealing rows of translucent, spectral teeth.CHOMP.[Consuming Iron-Hide Boar...][Evolution Points +2. Progress to D-Rank: 0.1%][Strength +0.1]A surge of liquid fire exploded in Leo's chest. It wasn't just calories; it was essence. He felt his muscles twitch and expand. The high-pitched whimper in his throat turned into a low, vibrating growl.The black-furred cub, seeing Leo eating, decided to bully him again. He lunged, snapping his jaws at Leo's ear to drive him away from the meat.In his past life, Leo would have flinched. Now, he felt the Gluttony's Maw skill thrumming in his blood. He didn't pull away. He pivoted his small body and bit down on the black cub's ear first.YIP!The larger cub recoiled in shock, blood dripping from his ear. The Alpha female, watching from the shadows, tilted her head. She had expected the runt to die tonight. Instead, the runt was biting back.[System Notification: Combat Victory (Minor)][Exp +5][Note: Host has gained the 'Ruthless' trait.]Leo didn't care about traits. He went back to the meat. He ate until his belly was swollen, until the system messages were a blur of green text.[Evolution Points +5... +10... +20!][Requirement Met: Level 1 —> Level 2][All Stats +1][Skill Learned: 'Hardened Skin' (Passive)]As the moon reached its zenith, Leo curled up in a corner, away from the other cubs. His small body was radiating heat. He could feel his bones stretching, his fur thickening. He looked at the interface one last time before falling into an evolutionary sleep.[Name: Leo][Species: SSS-Rank Devourer Wolf (Larva Stage)][Rank: F+][Level: 2][Next Evolution: Shadow-Stalking Wolf (D-Rank)]Sleep well, little error, the System seemed to whisper. Tomorrow, the forest will realize you aren't a guest. You are the end of the world.