"— Raillers are all monsters that, for some reason, descend from a higher floor. These creatures unbalance the world they invade, becoming the top of the food chain."

The professor’s voice echoed through the academy’s auditorium. Melina took detailed notes while the other students whispered among themselves. The memory shifted…

"— They say there are eight Earths, and that every three floors you can find humans from other worlds... Do you think it's true, Melina?"

She laughed at her friend’s question.

Then why has no one ever returned with proof?

Melina woke up.

Her body ached. Her right arm was wrapped in makeshift bandages made from her own clothes, and a sharp pain pulsed through the left side of her abdomen. Her broken ribs made every breath feel heavy. She was lying in something that resembled a nest—dry twigs, tangled roots, and feathers… giant feathers.

Where… am I?

She tried to sit up, using her good arm. A wave of dizziness hit her. Looking around, she noticed the sky had two suns—one larger than the other—and the heat was suffocating.

“This must be… Atreus,” she muttered, unsure but trying to stay sane. “I need to get back…”

The idea of finding a downward portal gave her some comfort. According to theory, even if the group went up, there had to be a way back down. She walked. Wandered for hours. The suns spun slowly above twisted red trees. No portal. No humans.

The hunger grew worse. Her stomach had been growling since the day before, and her dry mouth left her tongue thick and sticky. In the distance, something moved. As she got closer, she saw a worm the size of a frog crawling in the shade of a rock.

“Finally… food,” she muttered, activating her ability: “Evaluate.”

[Reading Error]
Level difference too high for full evaluation.

“Even a bug is stronger than me?” she shouted, frustrated. “This is so unfair!”

Without thinking, she stomped the creature with all the strength she had. Disgusted, she picked up part of the squishy body and swallowed it quickly, trying not to throw up.

[+1 Experience Point Acquired]
[New Ability: Mana Gain from Eating Plants – Level 1]
Description: For every 1kg of plant consumed, 1 mana point is restored.

Her eyes widened.

“What…? I gain abilities by killing and eating…?”

She paused to think. I’ve eaten vegetables, fruits, meat before. I never gained anything. So maybe…

“I have to kill… to gain.”

With that thought, she searched for more worms. She found a nest with several and, within a few hours, had crushed and devoured dozens.

[Ability Evolved: Mana Gain from Eating Plants → Mana Devourer]
New Description: For every 200g of plant consumed, recover 80% of total mana.

[Ability Evolved: Evaluate → Advanced Evaluation Unlocked]
You can now identify subcategories of evaluated targets.

Evaluate

Crawling Insect
Type: Common — Low Level

Melina collapsed, sitting down, exhausted… but smiling. She was leveling up. Slowly, but surely.

Later, while searching for more worms, she heard something slither. A red centipede, over two meters long, crawled from the shadows. Its eyes gleamed, and black ooze dripped from its fangs.

Melina swallowed hard. She stepped closer, cautiously, and activated her ability.

Scarlet Centipede
Type: Common — Intermediate Level

“Common intermediate, huh… I can do this… if I think it through.”

The creature charged. Melina dodged to the side, grabbed a rock, and aimed for its eye. She missed, hitting the side of its jaw. The centipede let out a shrill screech.

She ran, weaving between twisted trunks, forcing the beast to chase her. She knew she couldn’t win by brute force. She had to outsmart it.

There—she saw a root trapped under a tall stone. She climbed it with effort. As the centipede climbed after her, she jumped and pulled the root loose, sending rocks crashing down onto the monster.

The impact cracked part of its exoskeleton.

She grabbed a sharp branch and stabbed it into the exposed wound. The creature thrashed. Hot black slime sprayed over Melina’s face. She screamed but held firm, stabbing until she heard a sickening snap.

[+18 Experience Points Acquired]

Gasping, lying on her back, Melina stared at the sky. The twin suns mocked her pain… but she smiled.

“I… survived.”

With blood and slime on her hands, she approached the centipede’s body.

“It’s this… or die.”

And then, with disgust and determination, she took the first bite.

[New Ability: Accelerated Digestion – Level 1]
Description: Reduces side effects of consuming unknown creatures. Increases ability absorption when devouring.

From afar, something watched her from between the branches.

Something… that wasn’t a centipede.