Consuming

Thud...

As the lifeless body of the Wendigo fell before me, a mix of relief and weariness washed over me. The adrenaline that had fueled my every move began to subside, leaving me feeling drained and achy.

"I said I'll kill you..."

I carefully descended from the tree, my limbs trembling with exertion. The forest was silent now, the echoes of the battle fading away. The moon cast its pale light upon the scene, illuminating the twisted form of the fallen creature.

Bent over, I took a moment to catch my breath, my chest rising and falling heavily. Sweat mingled with dirt on my brow, and my muscles protested with each movement.

Tap... Tap...

With cautious steps, I approached the fallen Wendigo. Its once fearsome figure now seemed almost pitiful in death. The matted fur, once a dark and formidable presence, was now dull and lifeless. Its skeletal frame, once filled with hunger and malice, now lay still, devoid of any threat.

I reached out and touched the creature, confirming its demise. The coldness of its body sent a shiver down my spine, a stark reminder of the danger I had faced.

"Not so scary anymore, huh..."

A mix of emotions surged within me. Relief washed over me, knowing that I had vanquished a formidable foe. Yet, a lingering sense of dread remained, knowing that the Wendigo was only one of many dangers lurking in the depths of the forest.

Taking a moment to steady myself, I retrieved the arrows lodged in the creature's body, one by one. The wooden shafts were stained with dark, viscous blood, evidence of the struggle that had taken place. I wiped them clean on the creature's matted fur before carefully placing them back into my quiver.

With a determined grip, I also pulled out the spears that impaled the Wendigo's body, one by one. Each one released a sickening squelch as it relinquished its hold, causing a surge of unease to ripple through me.

After retrieving all my weapons, my eyes scanned the Wendigo's body, taking note of its features and characteristics.

"I have to do it, don't I?"

I muttered to myself, my voice barely above a whisper.

Swish...

A dagger, which I've taken from the goblin archer appeared in my hand, glinting in the moonlight.

With a deep breath, I braced myself for what I knew I must do. The dagger in my hand felt cold and weighty.

I hesitated for a moment, my mind grappling with the repugnance of the task at hand.

"Ughh..."

Gagging slightly, I slowly lowered the blade toward the creature's flesh. The stench of decay wafted up, assaulting my senses. I fought against the urge to retch, steeling myself for the grisly task.

Pluck...

Carefully, I began to slice through the Wendigo's matted fur and toughened skin. The blade met resistance, making a sickening squelching sound as it cut through layers of rotting tissue. The sensation sent shivers down my spine, and I could feel bile rising in my throat.

However, somehow pressing on, I focused on finding a portion of meat that seemed less ravaged by decay. My hands trembled, a mixture of revulsion and determination coursing through my veins. The task was gruesome, but I knew it was necessary.

Finally, I located a section that appeared relatively intact. The sight made me wince, but I knew that this meat could provide sustenance and aid in my survival. With painstaking precision, I cut away a small piece, being careful to avoid any areas that were too putrid or infested.

As I separated the meat from the Wendigo's body, I couldn't help but gag again, overwhelmed by the repugnant smell and the grotesque nature of the act. It took every ounce of willpower to maintain my composure.

Once I had procured a piece of meat, I carefully placed it on the grass, making sure that it wouldn't touch any dirt.

"Damn..."

I stepped away from the fallen creature, feeling a mixture of relief and revulsion. The meat in my possession was a macabre reminder of the lengths I was willing to go to survive. It was a testament to the harsh reality of this unforgiving world.

"Status..."

I whispered to myself, seeing an azure window appearing before my face and quickly pressed the button to display my traits.

One trait in particular...

𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

[ 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐫 ]

𝐔𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐚𝐭

≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈

"..."

I glanced over the window, making sure that I wasn't about to eat half-rotten meat without a reason.

My eyes shifted back to the meat, contemplating the potential benefits and risks. If I consumed this flesh, I could gain the traits and abilities of the Wendigo, enhancing my strength, agility, and resilience. It could be a vital advantage in the treacherous world I navigated.

With a cautious breath, I closed my eyes and delved into my thoughts, trying to recall anything about Wendigo meat.

However, after a few moments, I gave up. There was probably not a single mention of any character eating a Wendigo throughout the whole novel, so I was clueless.

What I knew though was that Demons were more resilient than humans and their stomachs could surely withstand any potential dangers from consuming this flesh.

"..."

Carefully, I picked up the piece of meat, cradling it in my hands. It was cold and unnerving to the touch, a reminder of the lifeless creature it once belonged to. Suppressing a shudder, I brought the meat closer to my mouth.

With a deep breath, I parted my lips and took a small, measured bite.

Crunch...