First kill

The Mightyena's red eyes gleamed in the darkness, locking onto Rei with a hunger that sent shivers down his spine. Its fur bristled, and its low growl rumbled like distant thunder. It took a slow step forward, muscles tense, ready to pounce.

Rei's breathing hitched. His instincts screamed at him to run, but he knew better. If he turned his back now, he wouldn't make it three steps before it sank its fangs into him.

His fingers tightened around the thick branch he had grabbed from the ground, its rough bark digging into his palms. He had no weapon, no Pokémon, no help. Just himself.

And he wasn't ready to die.

With a snarl, the Mightyena lunged.

Rei barely had time to react. He swung the stick with all his strength, catching the Mightyena across the face mid-air. The force knocked its head to the side, but it twisted its body, landing gracefully on all fours.

Rei stumbled backward, heart pounding. The impact had only stunned it for a second. Now, it was angry.

The Mightyena bared its teeth, saliva dripping from its jaws. Its deep red eyes glowed with bloodlust. Then, without warning.

It charged.

Rei dodged, rolling to the side as the beast's claws slashed the air where he had been standing. He hit the ground hard, dirt scraping his skin, but he forced himself up.

Rei couldn't outrun it. He couldn't overpower it. His only chance was to outsmart it.

His eyes darted around the forest. The trees, the roots, the uneven ground—he could use them.

The Mightyena growled and lunged again. This time, Rei didn't swing—he ducked. The beast sailed over him, its claws grazing his cheek, leaving a searing pain behind. He didn't have time to check the wound. He bolted toward the nearest tree, using his smaller size to weave between the roots.

The Mightyena skidded, then turned to chase. It was fast, but Rei had something it didn't—a plan.

There.

A thick root jutted out of the ground near a sloped patch of earth. If he timed it right—

The Mightyena lunged again, and this time, Rei jumped over the root at the last second.

The beast's paws hit the dirt, but its momentum carried it forward—straight into the twisted roots.

Its leg got stuck.

It yelped, thrashing violently, trying to free itself.

Rei didn't hesitate.

He grabbed the biggest rock he could find and threw it at the trapped Mightyena.

The beast snapped at him, eyes wide with fury and fear.

But Rei didn't stop.

He gritted his teeth, he continued throwing rocks at it until it stoped struggling.

The Mightyena let out a horrible, gurgling cry, its body jerking violently. Blood splattered across Rei's hands, hot and sticky. He could feel the life draining from the Pokémon beneath him as he kept throwing rocks at it.

Its struggles weakened.

Its growls faded.

Then, finally—

Silence.

Rei staggered back, chest heaving. His hands were shaking, coated in the Mightyena's blood. His heartbeat pounded in his ears.

It was dead.

His first kill.

His cheek stung, and when he touched it, his fingers came away slick with blood. A wound. It wasn't deep, but it would leave a scar.

Rei let out a shaky breath, staring down at the Mightyena's lifeless body.

He had survived.

But he knew one thing for certain.

This world was brutal. If he wanted to live—he'd have to be just as ruthless.

Rei's breath came in ragged gasps, his body trembling from the adrenaline still coursing through his veins. His hands, coated in Mightyena's blood, clenched and unclenched as he stared at the lifeless body before him.

The battle had drained him. His stomach twisted painfully, reminding him of something he could no longer ignore—Hunger.

His body demanded nourishment. He had been cold, exhausted, and starving ever since he crawled out of the river. The thought of food gnawed at his mind like a wild beast.

And now, there was meat in front of him.

Rei swallowed. His past self would have gagged at the thought, disgusted. But in this world? Out here, in the wild?

Hesitation meant death.

He kneeled beside the Mightyena's corpse, pressing his palm against its fur. The body was still warm, the heat fading slowly. He knew that in a few hours, it would start to rot. He had to act now.

His fingers traced the wound on the beast's chest. The smell of iron filled his nostrils. It should have been repulsive, but instead, something inside him stirred.

His fingers twitched. Then Rei tore into the wound with his hands, widening the opening. The flesh was warm. Steam rose faintly in the cool air. He could see the raw meat inside, dark and glistening with blood.

His mouth watered.

He leaned forward and bit into the flesh.

The taste of blood coated his tongue—metallic, thick, primal.

At first, his body rejected it. His stomach twisted, his mind screamed at him to stop, but he forced himself to chew.

The meat was tough, fibrous, and still warm. He could feel it against his teeth, feel the muscles breaking apart as he ground them down. He swallowed, his throat tightening around the unfamiliar texture.

Another bite.

Then another.

Each mouthful sent heat coursing through his body. It was raw, unseasoned, wild, but it filled the emptiness inside him. It gave him strength. As he ate the power within him started working. It's helping Rei digest the pokemon's meat.

His hands worked mechanically now, tearing chunks of meat from the corpse, shoving them into his mouth. Blood smeared across his face, his fingers sticky with it. His stomach, once aching with hunger, slowly grew full.

By the time he stopped, the Mightyena's chest was hollowed out, its ribs exposed beneath the shredded flesh. Rei wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, breathing heavily.

His mind felt clearer.

His body felt stronger.

This world was cruel. He had accepted that. If he wanted to survive and go back to his village, he had to embrace its brutality.