Early the next morning, a familiar mechanical voice echoed in James's mind.
[System Notification]
Daily cycle completed.
Attribute panel has been updated.
James slowly opened his eyes.
"Updated?"
Still lying inside the cave, he immediately opened the system panel.
A transparent screen appeared before him.
Host: James
Species: Smilodon (Male)
Age: 3 Months
Strength: 3.1 (+)
Agility: 2 (+)
Endurance: 1.05 (+)
Gene Points: 1
Fused Genes: None
James studied the numbers.
His strength and endurance had increased slightly since yesterday.
But the improvement felt almost unnoticeable.
"My body doesn't feel any different."
Just as he was about to close the panel, he noticed something new.
A small "+" symbol had appeared beside each of the three attributes.
"What's that for?"
Curious, he focused on the plus sign next to Strength.
The moment he selected it, the panel updated again.
Strength: 4.1
Gene Points: 0
James blinked.
"So gene points can increase my attributes too."
Almost immediately, the system responded.
[System Explanation]
Gene Points serve as the system's base exchange currency.
They may be used to:
• Increase base attributes
• Convert into healing points to recover injuries
• Exchange for genetic sequences to perform gene fusion
Accumulating sufficient Gene Points allows the host to obtain and fuse the abilities of other species.
"I see…"
James finally understood.
Gene points were far more useful than he had expected.
They could strengthen his body directly, or be saved for more powerful genetic abilities later.
Inside the cave, he realized he had woken up earlier than the others.
He stretched his limbs, testing his slightly improved strength.
Then his stomach growled.
He was hungry again.
Reaching the top of the food chain could wait.
Right now, he needed breakfast.
Some leftover pronghorn meat from yesterday still lay nearby—but it was already covered with flies.
James stared at it for a moment.
Then quietly looked away.
His appetite disappeared instantly.
So what should he eat?
At that moment, Rosa rolled slightly onto her side, exposing her white belly.
As if responding to instinct, Zack, who was sleeping beside her, immediately crawled closer.
Moments later, the cave filled with a familiar sound.
gulp… gulp…
Zack had found milk.
Soon after, Zoe woke up as well. Without hesitation, she moved beside Rosa and began nursing.
James stared at them.
"Right…"
He had completely forgotten.
They were still cubs.
Which meant— Mother's Milk.
Without wasting another second, he trotted over to Rosa.
In his previous life, he had never imagined drinking tiger milk.
The idea felt strange.
But Watching Zack and Zoe drink so eagerly made it impossible to ignore.
He lowered his head and searched through the thick fur until he found what he was looking for.
Then he took his first drink.
The taste surprised him.
It was slightly rich, with a strong natural flavor.
After the first mouthful, he couldn't stop.
gulp… gulp… gulp…
For the first time, James realized something.
Tiger milk was actually delicious.
By the time he finished, his stomach felt comfortably full.
Rosa continued sleeping peacefully, seemingly unconcerned about the cubs climbing around her.
Afterward, James walked toward the cave entrance.
Fresh morning air drifted in from outside.
Compared to the heavy scent inside the cave, the outside air felt refreshing.
Still, he didn't dare wander too far.
The forest beyond the cave might look peaceful, but it was full of danger.
His new life had just begun.
He had no intention of ending it so quickly.
James sat near the entrance and sighed.
"Life as a wild animal is really boring."
In his previous life, humans had endless entertainment.
Phones.
Internet.
Movies.
Even just watching people walk by.
Here?
Nothing.
Just forests, rocks, and predators.
Leaving the cave alone wasn't an option either. Without Rosa and Reed nearby, he wouldn't survive long.
Then an idea suddenly crossed his mind.
"What if I train?"
Wild animals usually didn't think like that. They simply grew naturally by eating and resting.
But James still had a human mind.
He knew that targeted training could improve strength and coordination much faster.
The decision was made instantly.
He began exercising.
Running.
Jumping.
Practicing bites and pounces.
When Zack and Zoe woke up, they found their older brother moving around the cave like he was possessed.
Both cubs stared at him in confusion.
What was he doing?
Zack tilted his head for a moment.
Then suddenly lunged forward and tackled James.
The attack came without warning.
But James wasn't surprised.
Young predators often practiced hunting through play fighting.
It was pure instinct.
James turned and met the attack head-on.
The two cubs immediately tumbled across the cave floor.
Zack tried biting his ear.
James grabbed his tail.
Neither of them had enough strength to cause real damage. Their teeth were still small, and thick fur protected their bodies.
It was simply rough play.
Nearby, Zoe watched the chaos calmly.
Instead of joining them, she sat down and carefully licked her bright fur.
She clearly took pride in her appearance.
After more than ten minutes of rolling and wrestling, the noise finally woke the adults.
Rosa slowly lifted her head.
Reed stretched his massive body.
The two exchanged a soft roar.
Then Reed stepped forward and gently licked Rosa's cheek.
Rosa lowered her head and returned the gesture, grooming his jaw.
Watching the scene, James felt something unpleasant rise in his chest.
"Great…"
He had somehow turned into a saber-toothed tiger—
And still ended up watching couples show affection.
After their brief moment together, Rosa and Reed walked out of the cave side by side.
This finally allowed the three cubs to step outside as well.
Their den sat halfway down a hillside, hidden behind thick bushes. From the outside it was nearly impossible to see.
The scent of two adult saber-toothed tigers lingered around the area, warning most animals to stay away.
Even so, James stayed close to his parents.
His short legs carried him carefully around them while he explored.
Nearby, Zack and Zoe ran around excitedly, investigating everything they could find.
Watching them, then glancing at Rosa and Reed grooming each other in the morning sunlight—
James suddenly felt something unexpected.
This life…is strangely peaceful.
And perhaps more precious than he had imagined.