Chapter 12: mysterious boy

Mike ventured further into the forest, his senses still heightened from the battle with the Scaled Ravager. The thrill of the hunt and the Evolution Points he'd earned had boosted his confidence. As he moved through the thick foliage, something unexpected caught his attention—faint cries and the sound of labored breathing.

He paused, scanning the area with his Predator's Sense. In the distance, near the base of a large tree, he spotted a figure. His sharp eyes picked out details immediately—it was a boy, no older than ten, with messy black hair, tattered clothes, and bloodied injuries covering his arms and legs. The boy looked fragile, his breaths shallow, as he clutched his side in pain.

Mike blinked in surprise. A human? He hadn't seen another person since he was transported into this monstrous, prehistoric-like world. For a moment, he was struck by confusion. How is he here?

The boy's head turned slightly, and his wide, terrified eyes met Mike's. Mike's massive, reptilian form was hard to miss—towering over the boy with sharp claws, gleaming scales, and a tail that flicked behind him. The boy's expression twisted into sheer panic. He tried to scoot away but winced in pain, his injuries preventing him from moving far.

"Wait—don't be scared!" Mike thought instinctively, stepping closer. He raised a clawed hand in what he hoped was a calming gesture, but his monstrous appearance clearly had the opposite effect. The boy whimpered, pressing himself against the tree as if bracing for his end.

Mike groaned internally. Great, how do I explain I'm not here to eat him? He tried lowering his head to look less threatening, but it didn't help. The boy trembled, tears pooling in his eyes.

Realizing he needed another approach, Mike opened his system interface. His eyes darted to the shop menu. There has to be something here that can help. He scrolled through the options quickly, his claws fumbling with the translucent interface. Then he found it: Communication Skill - 210 Evolution Points.

"Finally," he muttered, immediately buying the skill. His Evolution Points dropped from 456.74 to 246.74, but it didn't matter. A warm sensation washed over him as the skill integrated into his being. He took a deep breath and tried again.

"Hey, kid," Mike said, his voice soft yet deep, like a distant rumble. The boy froze, his teary eyes widening in disbelief. "I know I look scary, but I'm not going to hurt you."

The boy blinked, confusion momentarily replacing his fear. "Y-You… You can talk?" he stammered, his voice shaky.

Mike nodded, trying to keep his movements slow and deliberate. "Yeah, I can talk. Listen, I'm not here to eat you or anything, okay? You're hurt, and I want to help."

The boy hesitated, still wary. "B-But… you're a monster," he whispered.

Mike sighed. "It's… complicated. Let's just say I wasn't always like this. Look, you can trust me, alright? Let me help you before something worse finds you."

The boy hesitated again, his gaze flickering between Mike's sharp claws and his glowing amber eyes. Finally, he gave a reluctant nod. "O-Okay…"

Mike allowed himself a small grin. "Good choice, kid. Now let's get you patched up before the real monsters show up."