Bio-engineered Dinosaur in the immortal world

The golden-brown savanna stretched far and wide, bathed in the warm glow of the afternoon sun.

Rolling plains of tall, swaying grass shimmered under the soft breeze, the gentle rustling harmonizing with the distant calls of birds circling lazily overhead.

Acacia trees stood like ancient sentinels, their twisted branches reaching toward the heavens, casting long, dappled shadows on the earth.

The air was thick with the mingling scents of dry earth, fresh foliage, and the faint musk of the great beasts that roamed these lands.

Amid this vast expanse, a small pride of lion cubs tumbled through the sunlit grass, their golden fur catching the light as they wrestled, pounced, and dashed after each other in endless games.

Their soft, high-pitched growls and playful swipes filled the air, their tiny paws kicking up dust as they chased imaginary prey.

One cub, slightly larger than the others, let out a triumphant mewl as it pinned a sibling beneath its small but sturdy frame, its round, amber eyes gleaming with mischievous delight.

The other cub let out a protesting yowl, wiggling frantically before finally squirming free and bolting, sending the others into a renewed frenzy of playful pursuit.

Some cubs took turns sneaking up on an unsuspecting sibling, their tiny bodies crouched low as they inched forward, tails flicking eagerly before pouncing with exaggerated growls.

Others rolled onto their backs, swatting the air with their oversized paws before dozing off in the comforting warmth of the sun.

A pair of the youngest cubs, still wobbling on unsteady legs, tried to mimic the older ones but ended up tumbling over themselves, their tiny forms collapsing into soft bundles of fur and wide-eyed wonder.

The scene was one of pure innocence, a timeless spectacle of life thriving in the heart of the wild. But then—

The energy began to wane.

One by one, the cubs slowed their movements, their once-bounding steps becoming sluggish and uncertain.

A deep, unnatural stillness crept through the air.

A cub that had just leaped to tackle its sibling suddenly froze mid-motion, swaying unsteadily before its legs buckled.

White foam bubbles from the corners of its mouth suddenly came out.

Another cub, who had been pawing at a beetle in the dirt, let out a small whimper before its body slumped forward, its breath shallow and irregular.

The others, confused, mewled softly before their own limbs grew weak, their vibrant play dissolving into eerie silence.

The joyous chaos of mere moments ago had turned into a tragic stillness.

…

Elsewhere in the pride's territory, the lionesses had gathered beneath the sparse shade of a sprawling baobab tree, their sleek bodies lounging as they exchanged playful swipes and affectionate nuzzles.

Some teased each other over past hunts, their deep, throaty chuckles rolling through the air as one lioness flicked her tail over another's nose in mock defiance.

Others were grooming, their raspy tongues sweeping over golden fur, ensuring their coats remained pristine.

A more serious discussion took place at the heart of the group, where the elder lionesses held court, their wisdom respected by all.

They spoke of the coming hunt, of the mighty green-scale buffalo that roamed near the watering hole.

These beasts were formidable, their armored hides nearly impervious to careless attacks.

Precision and teamwork would be required.

One of the experienced hunters, her eyes sharp and calculating, demonstrated the proper technique for the younger lionesses, describing how to single out a weakened buffalo and corner it away from the herd.

She mimicked the silent stalk, her powerful muscles tensing with phantom strikes, illustrating how they would bring the beast down in a coordinated effort.

The others listened intently, some nodding, others flexing their claws in anticipation.

Yet, just as the lessons were reaching their peak, something changed.

A shudder passed through one of the lionesses.

Then another.

Their playful swats and conversations faltered as their movements slowed, confusion flickering in their golden eyes. One lioness, mid-sentence, staggered, her ears twitching in alarm.

Another let out a questioning chuff, but before she could react, a thick, foamy white substance began to seep from her mouth.

Panic rippled through the pride as more lionesses succumbed, their powerful limbs suddenly failing them.

Some tried to stand, their muscles betraying them, while others collapsed altogether, their deep, steady breaths becoming labored and uneven.

The baobab tree, once a haven of strategy and camaraderie, now bore silent witness to the inexplicable tragedy unfolding beneath its ancient branches.

The mighty huntresses of the savanna, the queens of the plains, now lay helpless, their bodies convulsing under an unseen force.

What was happening?

…

Not knowing that his lion pride members—cubs and lionesses—were all dying one by one, the Empower Lion King just lay there in deep slumber, his massive body sprawled across a smooth, sun-warmed rock.

His golden mane fluttered slightly in the breeze, continuously taking deep, steady, and powerful breaths.

His tail flicked lazily, ears twitching in response to the distant sounds of his pride.

Occasionally, his nostrils flared as he caught a scent on the wind—his cubs, his lionesses, the familiar aroma of home.

Yet, something was off.

A faint, bitter tang tingled at the edge of his senses.

He sniffed again, slower this time, his brow furrowing in his sleep.

A twitch.

Then another.

His mighty paw jerked involuntarily.

His muscles shuddered beneath his thick pelt.

His nostrils flared wider, taking in the scent that now seemed stronger.

Something was wrong.

His ears pricked up, the sleep in his golden eyes fading as the haze of unconsciousness lifted.

He groggily lifted his head, blinking.

The world swayed before him, his vision unfocused.

The ground seemed to ripple and tilt as though the very earth was alive, shifting beneath him. He blinked again.

The sky was… spinning?

The golden brown trees blurred.

He felt his stomach lurch.

His body trembled violently.

Panic clawed at his mind.

His instincts roared to life, but something was dragging him down, shackling him in invisible chains.

He tried to stand, his massive frame struggling against the weakness that seeped into his limbs.

His legs shook like dry leaves caught in the wind.

He managed to rise, but his stance was unsteady, his powerful muscles betraying him.

His head swayed from side to side, and his vision darkened at the edges.

What… what was this?

His heartbeat thundered in his chest, erratic and uneven.

The sky tilted again, and his legs buckled beneath him.

He fell, his weight shaking the ground.

Dust exploded around him in a golden-brown cloud.

His breathing grew ragged, his mighty chest rising and falling in quick, uneven jerks.

His ears twitched, struggling to pick up sounds, but everything felt muffled, distant.

Wei Long emerged from the shadows.

A dark smirk played on his lips as he stepped forward, his sleek, scaled form glinting under the sun.

His piercing gaze locked onto the struggling king before him.

He had been patient, watching, waiting.

Now, his prey lay before him, helpless.

His Bio-engineered toxic scales had never failed him.

He let out a chuckle, low and confident. "Heh, just as expected. No matter how mighty, no beast can resist my venom."

The lion twitched again, his massive body jerking involuntarily. His golden eyes met Wei Long's, filled with confusion and pain.

The once-mighty ruler of the savanna, feared by many, was now nothing more than a dying beast before him.

Wei Long stepped closer, his claws clicking against the dry earth.

"Honestly, I could've killed you in a fight, but this? This is much faster," he mused, eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "You won't even be able to fight back or run. Perfect."

The lion let out a weak, wheezing breath. His tail flicked once, then went still.

Wei Long licked his lips.

This was the strongest beast in the territory, and consuming it would bring him one step closer to evolution.

His stomach rumbled in hunger and seeing his new future.

He stepped forward, claws flexing, his mouth opening to take the first bite—

And then he froze.