2.Drilling for Fire

Clar was forced into clarity by hunger. By the time she fully realized she had transmigrated into the world of the Beast Domain—and worse, into the body of the vicious female supporting character who shared her name—her stomach was already twisting in protest. The original owner of this body had left behind a complete mess, and Clar hadn’t even solved the most basic survival issue yet.

Where was the fire?

In this world of beastmen, fire was not something every tribe possessed. Only the Beast King Cities maintained a steady flame, but the Elk Tribe, where she now lived in the Southern Region, did not.

Yet in her hands lay a slab of raw meat, and the hunger gnawing at her grew louder with each passing second.

Clar had already started organizing what she remembered from the book she had read before her transmigration. The Beast Domain was divided into four great regions—South, North, East, and West—each ruled by a Beast King City. Between them lay the Dark Forest, home to ferocious beasts. Male beastmen could only strengthen themselves by absorbing crystal cores. These crystals awakened their abilities, but awakening came at a cost. Without the soothing presence of a female, they would lose control and become mindless, bloodthirsty monsters.

The original “Clar” had been the kind of female who attached herself to powerful beastmates while secretly sowing chaos. She had been with Kawa, the fierce tiger, Alex, the nine-tailed fox, Lucas, the lynx, Ross, the merman, Blaze, the wolf king, Mozart, the wandering snake, and Kael, the golden eagle—each one stronger and more dangerous than the last.

Compared to them, the Elk Tribe of the Southern Region was insignificant. But this unremarkable place might just become the starting point for her turnaround.

Clar’s mind was racing. The Beast Domain’s hierarchy, the tribal divisions, and the power struggles—she had read all of this before, but now she was living it. The original Clar’s mistakes, her manipulations, and her ill-fated relationships were already turning the tribe against her. The only way forward was survival.

Her stomach growled again, pulling her back to the present. Clar couldn’t wait any longer. She looked at the slab of raw meat in her hand and grimaced. She refused to eat it raw.

She ran to Ben, hoping to find a way to cook the meat, but his response was blunt: the Elk Tribe didn’t have fire.

For a moment, Clar stood in silence, processing his words. If fire didn’t exist in the tribe…

She would make it herself.

The dry season worked in her favor. The air was arid enough to help her, and she quickly gathered materials: a round stick, a flat wooden board, and dry grass. She sharpened the tip of the stick, placing the grass near a groove in the board. Then she began to drill, the friction creating heat.

Minutes passed, but still no flame. Her hands burned from the constant motion. Sweat dripped from her forehead, and her stomach twisted in hunger.

Just when she thought she might have to swallow the raw meat after all, a faint charred scent reached her nose. Thin black smoke rose from the board.

The next second, a tiny golden spark appeared.

The flame caught.

Clar nearly laughed out loud in relief, her hands trembling as she fed the flame with small twigs, allowing it to grow.

The fire flickered, casting a warm glow that illuminated her cave. It was more than just a source of warmth—it was a victory.

Clar hadn’t just survived this world—she was learning to shape it, bending it to her will. This flame, this small spark of fire, was her turning point. It marked the line between her and the original Clar. The one who had failed. The one who had given in to chaos.

With the fire finally roaring, Clar cut the meat into chunks, skewered them on thin branches, and held them over the flames. The sizzling sound filled the cave, and the rich aroma of roasting meat made her stomach growl in anticipation.

There was no salt. No seasoning. Just the fire, the meat, and her hunger.

But it was the first cooked meal she had since arriving in the Beast Domain. She devoured the skewers without restraint, the warmth of the food spreading through her body.

It was only after finishing the last piece that Clar realized something.

This amount of meat—enough to feed an ordinary female for several days—she had eaten it all in one sitting.

Clar leaned back against the stone wall of her cave, her stomach round and full. Her hand rested on her belly as she stared into the fire.

This flame wasn’t just a source of sustenance—it was a symbol of her resolve. It marked the beginning of her new life in this primitive world. The fire was a sign that she could survive, that she could thrive, using her knowledge and mindset from her previous life.

But little did Clar know, the piece of meat she had just devoured was not the one secretly laced with poison by Iris.

Iris had laced another piece of meat with the poison, intending for Clar to eat it. She had chosen the most tender cut, the one she thought would be irresistible.

Clar, however, had unwittingly avoided it.

But the true storm was still to come.

Clar suddenly felt a sharp, cramping pain in her stomach. It was a violent, twisting sensation, as if something was tearing at her insides. She gasped, clutching her stomach, her face pale with the sudden wave of agony.

Her breath came in short, shallow bursts as the pain intensified. It wasn’t just the aftereffects of a full stomach—it was something more sinister.

“Luna… my stomach… it hurts…” she gasped.

Luna and Lucas, hearing her cries, rushed to her side.

“Clar! What’s happening?” Luna’s voice was filled with panic.

Clar could barely speak, her body wracked with pain. Her world was spinning, and she could barely hold onto consciousness.

Without hesitation, Luna scooped her up and sprinted toward the healer’s cave. His face was pale with worry.

“Hold on, Clar. We’re almost there.”

The healer quickly examined Clar. After a quick examination, his expression grew grim.

“She’s been poisoned,” the healer said, his voice low and serious.

Poisoned. Someone in the tribe had done this.

Luna’s face darkened with fury.

“Who did this?” Lucas shouted, his anger barely contained.

The healer continued, “It’s Bewildering Grass. A small dose, but enough to cause discomfort. Clar will recover with rest.”

Luna’s heart twisted in anger. He knew exactly who was responsible.

“Iris,” he muttered, his voice filled with rage. “She poisoned the meat.”

Meanwhile, Iris had no idea her plot was already unraveling. She had carefully laced the meat with poison, thinking that Clar would eat it. But now, her plan had backfired.

Clar’s strength, her adaptability, and her will to survive had won out. And now, the true storm was about to unfold.