//exploring limits//

In what seemed to be the endless search for food, Spencer came across a variety of creatures, some creatures small, some so large that their steps along shake the earth, they were truly massive creatures.

he couldn't help but think about how he would easily outmatch these creatures in strength soon enough.

To pass the time he went around killing smaller animals and consuming them to make himself stronger and to gain the traits they had accumulated, he had eaten a few of them due to his hunger, but he mainly stuck to assimilating them into himself.

He had benefited a lot from assimilating these creatures, gaining a noticeable speed boost, he even adopted a more scaly appearance due to killing another one of those creatures he killed when he first arrived.

One of the first few creatures he came across was a snake, but calling this thing just a snake would be an incredible understatement, despite its appearance showing it to be one, its sheer size alone was contradicting that, it was over hundreds of times the size of a normal snake.

When Spencer had first seen the creature, he was greatly intimidated, it was much different from that thing he had fought when he first arrived, the snake did not only dwarf it in size but in sheer strength as well, fighting it was the last thing on his mind.

But despite his unwillingness to face this thing, he had no choice as the damn thing looked in his direction and noticed him.

At first, it didn't move, but not too long after spotting him, it began slithering towards Spencer rapidly, this had startled him, and before he could do anything it wrapped around him, trapping him as it slowly rapped itself tighter and tighter around his body, squeezing the life out of him.

Spencer was trapped unable to move, barely able to breathe as it just kept getting tighter, he was becoming more frantic, trying to shake himself loose, this did nothing but speed up the inevitable.

As a last-ditch effort Spencer began using his claws to scratch at it from within its entanglement, this proved fruitless as it scales were too thick for him to puncture, he began using his fangs to bite into it in an attempt to get it to loosen it's grip even a little.

*Crack* the sound of bones breaking could be heard.

To Spencer's dismay, it's grip on him only tightened, his lungs collapsed and his heart was pierced by one of his broken bones, crushing him in the process, leading to his second death in this world.

.

.

Spencer woke up laying in the soil, memories of what happened began to flood his mind, causing him to recollect himself and begin to examine his body.

*Another one on the list of things to kill it seems*- Spencer

Picking himself up off the floor, Spencer began to check his body to see what adaptation he had received from his death by the massive snake.

Giving his attention to his hands, he noticed that his claws had changed, becoming much sharper, gaining some length as well, the claws seemed to have also become more jagged, greatly increasing his cutting potency.

He also noticed that his skin was much thicker than it was before, gaining a more rock-like appearance, rather than the soft look of normal human skin., it also became slightly darker than his normal skin tone.

Spencer noticed that he was slowly sinking into the soil.

"Did I become heavier?" Spencer asked in his confusion

"mmmhh" Spencer was curious, how much stronger he had become?.

He walked up to a tree that had the same thickness as an elephant's leg and extended his claws.

*Slash*

The tree was sliced cleanly into five sections, matching each claw.

*Thud*

Falling to the ground after a few moments.

*Whistle* Spencer was amazed at how sharp his claws had become.

Remembering the snake, Spencer began to grin.

"Let's try that again"- Spencer

Planting his feet, Spencer jumped onto the branch of a nearby tree and began searching for the snake that had killed him.

after a while Spencer had found the snake, it was coiled up in a spiral position, appearing to be sleeping.

Seeing this, Spencer jumped down and landed in front of it, the snake seems to sense this, uncoiled itself and look at Spencer.

"Boo"-Spencer

The snake seemingly annoyed, jumped at Spencer bearing its sharp teeth with its mouth agape, but before it could bite Spencer, he jumped back as it snapped its mouth shut.

Spencer flashed a grin and rushed at the snake.

*Slash*

Spencer slashed at the snake, leaving a gash on its torso, this caused the snake to begin bleeding profusely.

The snake backed away from Spencer, looking at him with visible confusion as to how its previously eaten prey is now back, and stronger than before.

"Not so tough now, are you?"-Spencer began walking up to the snake.

Hearing this seemed to have angered the snake, despite its inability to understand Spencer's words.

"Hiss" the snake threw itself at Spencer bearing its fangs, hoping to cause him a fatal wound, sadly in the eyes of Spencer, the snake might as well be moving in slow motion towards him.

Spencer sidestepped, evading the creature's assault, as its head passed him, he raised his claws.

*Slash*

Cleanly slicing the snakes head off.

*Thud*

The head landed on the ground with a thud, the snake's eyes slowing dimming as it began to die.

Seeing this Spencer smiled, the last thing the snake had seen before its death, is the face of Spencer grinning uncontrollably.

Once the snake had moved on, Spencer walked up to its head, as he touched it, it began to liquefy and fuse with him, he then walked over to the body and absorb it as well.

*Thump thump thump* the sound of Spencer's heartbeat could be heard, getting louder and louder.

Spencer's body began to heat up, glowing red as steam began to be emitted from his body.

*Grunt*-Spencer could be seen in visible discomfort as he began to increase in height, his bones became bigger and stronger, his muscles expanded and condensed, and his skin became rows and rows of brownish scales, appearing to be unbreakable by normal means, his eyes soon became slits, replicating that of a reptile.

Trying to recollect himself, Spencer examined his changes and became amazed by the boost he gained by absorbing this creature, he was now over 9 ft, dwarfing his previous size of 6 ft.

He walked up to a nearby rock about his height, picking it up with shocking ease, placing it in his right arm, then throwing it full force into a tree a few meters away from him.

*BOOM!*

The rock collided with the tree, causing it to collapse

"Wow," he was amazed by his newfound strength.

Spencer then positioned himself into a running position, he launched himself forward soon disappearing deeper into the jungle.

Still in search of that giant creature that had killed him when he first arrived.

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