Bio-engineered Dinosaur in the immortal world

The tension in the Savannah was suffocating.

The golden grasses swayed lightly, whispering in the wind, but the lionesses stood frozen, their muscles coiled, eyes wide with uncertainty.

They had come expecting to avenge their fallen King, yet the creature before them—a juvenile dinosaur, glowing with a strange aura of confidence—was unfazed.

No beast should have been able to withstand the full power of their King's might.

No beast should have dared to stand in his place and mock them.

But Wei Long? He simply grinned.

The system's warning still echoed in his mind:

Don't move, or the ability will disappear.

A small price to pay for evolution.

The process had already begun, creeping through his cells, rearranging his very being.

He could feel the change happening, but he had to stay still. Any movement, any shift in stance, and it would all be lost.

That meant he had to handle this with his words alone.

He let out a slow exhale, his blue eyes gleaming with amusement. "What's wrong?" he asked, voice dripping with faux innocence. "You came all this way… aren't you going to attack?"

The lionesses stiffened.

Some exchanged uneasy glances, while others growled lowly. One, bolder than the rest, stepped forward, her golden fur bristling. "You… killed our King," she snarled, her voice trembling not with fear, but rage.

Wei Long tilted his head, eyes gleaming with mischief. "Oh? Did I?"

A collective shudder ran through them. His tone was too calm, too composed. They had seen beasts kill before—merciless, raw, feral. But this… This creature was different. He wasn't just a killer. He was something else entirely.

Still, some of them remained firm. Another lioness growled, baring her fangs. "We should tear you apart where you stand!"

Wei Long chuckled, his teeth flashing in the fading sunlight. "Then do it."

The challenge in his voice made them hesitate. He could see their uncertainty, their wavering resolve. Good. They're scared. That was exactly what he needed.

He licked his lips and took a gamble, his words slow and deliberate. "Or… could it be… that you know you can't?"

A ripple of unease ran through the lionesses.

Wei Long continued, his voice dipping into a near-whisper, forcing them to lean in. "You know what's funny? Your so-called King tried everything against me. He roared. He clawed. He bit. He stomped. And yet… I'm still here."

The lionesses bristled, their eyes flashing with fury, but they did not move.

Wei Long sighed, shaking his head. "I thought you'd be smarter than this. Do you think you have a chance where your King failed?" His gaze swept over them, his smirk widening. "You're not even at his level."

That struck a nerve.

Some snarled, tails flicking aggressively. But none advanced.

Their instincts screamed at them—something was wrong.

Why isn't he moving?

Why is he so confident?

Wei Long could practically see the gears turning in their minds.

They're hesitant. But that's not enough. I need them to hold back completely.

He chuckled. "Go ahead. Attack me."

The lionesses flinched.

His eyes gleamed. That got them.

The group murmured amongst themselves. Some were ready to lunge, but others were whispering doubtfully.

One of the younger ones spoke hesitantly, "What if… what if he's luring us in?"

Another scoffed, "He's just standing there! He's acting tough, but he's vulnerable."

Wei Long's smirk widened. He took the opportunity to press further. "Oh, I'm vulnerable, alright. You should absolutely attack me right now."

The lionesses froze.

A nervous shuffle ran through them. If he was really weak, why was he telling them to attack? Why was he so calm? They had never encountered prey that invited death so freely. Something wasn't right.

Wei Long clicked his tongue. "You're not as fearless as I thought. You should've pounced the moment I said that. But instead… you hesitate. You second-guess. You fear."

One lioness roared, stepping forward. "We don't fear you!"

Wei Long raised a brow. "Then prove it."

Silence.

No one moved.

Wei Long sighed dramatically, shaking his head. "I see. The King is dead, and now, his pride has no direction." He let the words settle before adding, "I guess the Empower Lion wasn't as important as I thought."

That sentence changed everything.

The lionesses' ears flattened, their expressions twisting into something unreadable. Some looked furious. Others… confused.

"What do you mean?" one of them demanded.

Wei Long shrugged. "There's no more Empower Lion. That's all. You can't do anything to me. No more King is coming to avenge you."

The lionesses stiffened.

One of them growled lowly, "There are plenty of Empower Lions."

Wei Long's eyes flashed. Bingo.

He chuckled darkly. "Oh? Then where are they?" He tilted his head mockingly. "I don't see any rushing to save you."

One lioness stepped forward, her voice laced with certainty. "A new one will take his place. It is only a matter of time."

Wei Long smirked. "But not today."

Silence.

The lionesses tensed, realization dawning on them. He was right. No new Empower Lion had come to claim the title yet. Their hierarchy was in flux. And that meant—right now—they were exposed.

Wei Long let that truth sink in, his grin never faltering.

Then, slowly, ever so slowly, the lionesses began to step back.

Wei Long didn't move. Didn't breathe too hard. Didn't do anything to provoke them.

Finally, one of the older lionesses turned her head, flicking her tail. "Let's go."

The others hesitated, but as she began to walk away, they followed. Some cast wary glances at Wei Long, still unsure. Others snarled in frustration, but none dared to attack.

And then—just like that—the pride disappeared into the tall grass.

Wei Long let out a breath he didn't know he was holding.

Ding!

A notification flashed in his mind.

Conditional Innate Ability—Unlocked.

Would be available for the host use in two hours.

Wei Long grinned, his body shuddering as the process completed.

He had done it.

He had evolved.

And the best part?

He hadn't even moved an inch.

Suddenly, Wei Long's laughter echoed over the silent land, his juvenile but terrifying form casting a long shadow in the twilight.

"I will eat you all, ladies!" he declared, his voice sounding with extreme malice.

No matter where they went, he would catch them with his prehistoric maw!

But then, just as he took a step forward—

Pain.

A sharp, agonizing wave of pain lanced through his entire body.

His limbs locked, his vision blurred for a second, and his breath hitched. His claws sank into the dirt, and his tail stiffened behind him.

He gritted his teeth.

This pain—was the claw of the Empower Lion truly this strong?

It had slashed deep into him, deeper than he had anticipated. He could feel it now, the wounds burning like molten lava under his scales.

He had expected his Bio-engineered healing to kick in immediately, but it remained dormant, silent as if mocking him.

Wei Long's grin faltered for the briefest of moments before he forced it back.

He refused to show weakness, even to himself. He clenched his claws into the dry earth and inhaled deeply. He could still hunt. He had to. If he didn't—

Another Ding! sounded in his mind.

Warning: Too much injury detected. Healing is required. Would the host like to focus on healing?

Catch: Satisfaction and Hydration will drop below 10% to 5%. If the host does not replenish, the host will die.

Wei Long's mind spun for a moment before he clicked his tongue. "Of course not," he muttered. "I'll just eat. I'll eat, and my Bio-engineered ability will handle the rest. As long as I eat and gain a little energy, I'll work on my healing ability to heal me… I don't need my bio-engineered instinct to take over me."

Even as he spoke, he wasn't sure if that was the full truth. His ability was a mystery, a part of him that he still didn't fully understand.

Was it truly meant for his survival?

Or was it something far more dangerous?

Something that even he couldn't control?

It was a gamble, and now, he cannot rely on it.

It's just a last resort if he didn't really have a choice anymore.

Wei Long pushed through the pain, his claws digging into the earth as he took another step.

Every move sent another wave of agony through his body, but he refused to stop. He had declared his hunt, and he would see it through.

Yet—

As he prowled forward, his monstrous figure shadowing over the dry plains, he realized something.

Everything around him—every beast, every creature—was avoiding him.

Even the carrion birds that should have been circling the fallen Empower Lion had taken flight.

The air was thick with something invisible, something instinctive.

Fear.

The creatures of the sanctuary were not just running.

They were terrified.

Wei Long's hunger burned, but it seemed that every potential meal had already vanished.

Every step forward was met with nothing but emptiness. It was as if the entire ecosystem had shifted, adjusted itself around his mere presence.

He prowled deeper into the savanna, moving through the golden grass like a ghostly shadow, his glowing eyes scanning the landscape. His tail flicked in irritation.

There had to be something, someone, some beast foolish enough to remain. His hunger gnawed at him, growing worse by the second.

But there was nothing.

His breathing grew heavier. His patience wore thin.

His claws flexed in frustration.

He wanted to chase, to tear into flesh, to devour—but his body protested, aching with each movement. He gritted his teeth as he pressed on, his muscles screaming in resistance.

His steps became slower, his tail dragged, his breath came in ragged pants. And still, nothing.

The sun dipped lower, casting long shadows across the land.

The once-vibrant savanna felt eerily desolate.

Even the insects had quieted, their usual evening symphony replaced by a tense silence.

Wei Long's vision blurred for a moment, his exhaustion weighing on him like chains.

Then—

Ding!

Warning: The host has wasted one chance and only has two more chances left to live. Would the host like to focus on healing?

Wei Long's breath hitched. His claws tightened.

Three more chances?