Alphonse threw the old man to the floor. Quickly rolling to the floor, the tingling sense of danger ripped past him like a death beam from the reaper himself.

“How the hell does it know where we are?” Alphonse shouted. The lantern-like eyes shone within the jungle like miniature suns.

“I don’t know. This has never happened before.” The old man shook his head.

“We can’t run from it. If we take a single misstep, we’ll be vaporised.” Alphonse frowned. Its long range firepower was frightening. He could feel the danger radiate from those eyes.

“Here,” the old man threw over a potion as Alphonse caught it. “If you’re thinking about fighting that thing, drink it.”

Alphonse nodded. He tipped the bottle into his mouth and swallowed the contents within. His stomach warmed, an intoxicating feeling merged into his bloodstream as it coursed around his body. It was the feeling of strength.

Strengthening elixir consumed

| +50 temporary strength added

| +50 temporary dexterity added

Alphonse had no time to be surprised as the mana swirled around him like a heated blanket. The giant’s eyes shone. Alphonse took a step as he activated [ Flicker Step ]. Disappearing from the spot, he rocketed towards the oversized monster.

The humid air thrashed his face as he tore forwards. The condensed mana from the giant beamed directly at Alphonse. He activated [ Flicker Step ] again, reappearing in front of the monster.

The beam of light smashed into the jungle floor, melting a crater into the ground. Sending debris of dirt and rock outwards like shrapnel.

Alphonse did not know if his cleaver would even damage the colossal stone legs of the giant, so instead, he used his armour piercing teeth. Grabbing hold of the leg, Alphonse bit down repeatedly, devouring large chunks of rock. He swallowed them down into his stomach.

Titan Construct consumed

| 14.3 constitution added

| 12.8 strength added

Hunger's Evolution is taking place…

Hunger's Evolution has failed.

Alphonse didn’t have time to pay attention to the words inside his head as the giant looked down. Its eyes glowed with a frightening light. Now that he was closer, he could see something… wriggling behind.

Oh c’mon, the parasites can even take control of a fucking stone golem. Alphonse bolted past its legs as he continued to bite down, shaving away at the titan’s massive legs.

The Titan raised its leg, a spark of intelligence shone within its bright, wriggling eyes. It turned and stomped, attempting to crush Alphonse into the dirt.

Alphonse jumped to the other side, making use of the giant's sluggish movement.

The titan attempted to spin around, but it ended up stumbling. It was as if it wasn't used to its own movements or didn't expect Alphonse to rush for a fight into close quarters.

Whatever it was, Alphonse watched as the Titan stumbled off balance, its sheer colossal size tipped too far to one side as it came crashing down, felled, like an ancient tree. With a crash, it flattened the trees nearby, causing pollen to fall like a looming cloud.

Alphonse made use of the time to finish eating through the giant's leg; he wanted to make sure it wouldn't get back up.

The Titan's eyes shone with a powerful light, a beam of light shot up into the sky like a radiant beacon. It tried to move its neck, but it could not look in Alphonse's direction.

Alphonse rushed to the head, his shadowed teeth bit down, creating an opening in the constructs skull. A dazzling jewel shimmered within. His eyes opened wide at the sight of the gorgeous gem, his stomach growled. He wasted no more time as he chomped on the hard crystal.

The solid gem slid down his throat as the strong stomach acid within his body rapidly disintegrated it.

Then, an addicting sound within his mind caused his lips to turn up into a wide grin.

Titan Construct Core consumed

| 23.6 intelligence added

Hunger's Evolution is taking place…

Form Obtained - Titan Construct form: Take the form of the titan, gaining increased height and constitution. Able to use Titan Constructs skill: Eye Beam. In this form, your brain will act as a mana core granting bonuses to magic power.

With a thought, Alphonse looked down at the ground that quickly became smaller, like he was on a lift being heightened into the sky. His growth soon stopped. Although he wasn’t taller than the surrounding trees, he was almost there. Alphonse moved his arms in front of him, his stone hands visible.

Oh man, let’s try the skill. Alphonse giggled to himself as he felt his eyeballs sizzle with pain. Then, his eyes were blinded by the bright light as he felt his mind radiate with power. The skill ended. Alphonse looked ahead as a huge opening had been carved into the jungle. What it left of the trees sizzled and crackled with embers.

Then, as if all of his energy was expelled. He lowered back to the ground, reverting into his human form. His smile was hard to detain. Despite the mind numbing pain he was currently experiencing within his head, nausea hit him. It was like someone had taken an axe to his skull.

Seems like one is the limit. Alphonse couldn’t hold it in any longer. He vomited onto the ground as his strong stomach acid melted the dense jungle floor.

“Holy shit…” The old man appeared from wherever he was hiding. He looked at Alphonse in awe.

“I know, I’m great.” Alphonse flashed a smile before falling unconscious on the ground.

***

Back on the Garden of Eden.

A man stood high in the coliseums stands, overlooking the still red gateway. The whites of his eyes were on display. Strangely, the image of Alphonse was imprinted onto his eyeballs.

He stretched out his hand, maggot like worms squirmed on his palm.

His eyes turned to normal, a frown marred his face.

“And that’s why I keep telling you to stop relying on mere puppets.” A man next to him said. Two large gauntlets covered his fists. His body was covered in beast furs, grandly displaying his chiselled chest.

He leapt down onto the platform and took out a small device from nowhere. Placing it onto the gateway, the floor warped. A beastly smile formed on his face, his eyes shifted to the maggot man up above.

“Guess I’ll clean up your shit,” His gauntlets smashed together, causing a crackling boom to fill the room. “I’ll be quick. Admiral Kaisar will be none the wiser. It’s been a while since I’ve destroyed an apostle candidate.”

His laugh was cut off as he disappeared from the Garden of Eden.