Mikes POV

I began inspecting the castle. It was definitely big and I wasn’t going to take all the room. I just need a place to sleep.

I went into the castle and looked around.

“Well this room is all I need no need for more.” I said

“Now for the main dish, my level.” I said as I popped my status screen.

“Hunting lions or as those kids said manticores and wood wolves isn’t doing it for me anymore it’s getting harder and harder every time I level
and I need to do something about it but I doubt my stats to be able to kill stronger monsters.” I said

“Wait, the status screen said something about improving my physique to have bonus points to all my stats.” I said and began thinking I looked at myself and I was basically skin on bones well I will go to sleep and think about it tomorrow. I thought

I got out and took my shirt and gathered a lot of leaves and made a pillow with them and went back in and laid down and began drifting to sleep.

NEXT MORNING.

I woke up with a yawn and got out wanting to drink some water from the river. When I got out I was surprised that it was morning.

“Well I think yesterday took a lot from me.” I said as I began walking to the river I went and knelt took a sip and went back.

Well I think the left apples and berries make breakfast but I needed to get more food and meat if I was going to work on my physique.

“I don’t think the lions will make good meat but I need to find something I guess I have to go with rabbits for now.” I said as I began walking back to the forest.

After sometime of walking I found a manticore I wanted to take my dagger but.

“Shit I forgot to make a dagger.” I said but then I remembered my new strength and I was definitely going to risk it so I ran to the manticore with my new speed and it was startled and began to stand up.

But before it could completely stand up I was already near it fist cocked back and punched it.

“HOLY SHIT WHAT WAS THAT!.” I said and looked at my hand. When I punched it I heard a cruel crunch and felt my hand sink in it’s head It I shivered at the feeling of the brain and the bones mushed together in it’s head but damn I don’t need a dagger if I could kill one of those with bare fists.

I began trotting looking for some rabbits and found one. I smiled when I was chasing it. It was like running after a toffler with how fast I’m and caught it and Tried to snap its neck but I underestimated my strength again and snapped its head right off.

“sorry buddy that was cruel.” I said and began walking back and put the rabbit back in the castle so no predators try to eat it and went back to the forest again and caught another rabbit and headed back to the castle.

I set the fire up and I skinned the rabbit with only my hands. It was sickening but hey I need to survive I lied to myself it was for me to level.

I put them on a stick and waited for them to cook. As I waited I went to a tree and wanted to test something.
I punched the tree with all my might and there was a dent and a crack but it didn’t fall off but what surprised me most is that it didn’t hurt at all when I punched it. So I punched it multiple times and it began falling.

When it fell I dragged it to the castle and tried to lift it. It was hard but I did lift it and laid down and began to bench press it.

All I could do was three and my arms felt like they were to break and my chest was burning. I Rested for 30 seconds and stood up and holded it again and began training with the tree.

Then I laid it on my back and began doing push ups and when I finished I held the tree on my back and began running and it was hard but that's better and started doing squats with the tree and that's basically been my routine for the next month.

Wake up drink water get 2 rabbits wait for them to cook while training
eat the rabbits go get some berries and apples to mix the diet.

ONE MONTH LATER.

When I finished my training and ate the rabbits I wanted to take a walk so I went back into the forest and liking the peace it held but the animals didn’t make any sound it was in the fifth day of my training when the animals stopped making sounds when I went to the forest as if they knew what will happen to them when I looked for them.

I heard a sound of walking so I ran to the sound to my surprise. It was the zebra again and she looked at me with her eyes wieding and was about to say something when I interrupted her.

“No rhyming.” I said

“Ok but I need to warn there is a predator in this area. The animals are quiet and I’ve been finding manticores corpses around this area ” Zecora said.

“Uhhh… that’s me I’ve been hunting rabbits to eat and manticores so they wouldn’t take the food away.” I said and she looked at me with horror in her eyes and began to back away.

“Hey that’s rude I’m not a mindless animal to kill just for fun I do this to survive” I lied it was so I could level up. she seemed less frightened.

“But how do you kill the manticores you’re bipedal so you’re not fast and I don't see claws or big canines and you seem thin!.” she said.

“I actually can surprise you with my speed and strength. I kill the manticores by punching them like this.” I said as I punched a tree and it fell right off I got stronger but my stats didn’t change and my physique was still average.

“Where do you stay and forgive me but I forgot your name” Zecora said.

“I live somewhere south from here I found an abandoned castle and made it my place. name’s Mike by the way.” I said casually but something was off I was not that social back home and now I’m talking to a zebra like it’s nothing.
“Maybe that's my charisma level” I thought.

“Well it was nice seeing you again and can I ask you for a favor.” Zecora said.

“Depends on the favor.” I responded

“Well I want you to take me back home seeing how strong you are. I don’t want to risk meeting manticores as they tend to go somewhere else if they feel something is threatening them… please.” Zecora said.

“Oh sure thing Z.” I said as I walked towards her and stood beside her.

“Well then lead the way Zecora.”I said and looked at her and she seemed embarrassed because I remembered her name and she didn’t

“Oh I want to thank you for saving the fillies that came here a month ago and got lost.” zecora said.

“Well I’m not letting a childs life get taken like that.” I said and we walked the rest of the way silently. When we were walking I noticed some manticores from time to time they were ready to pounce at us but they seemed intelligent because when they saw me they started backing away.

“How does it feel to be the prey” I thought as I looked at each one of them and smiled and they ran away after knowing that they were seen.

After a while we reached Zecoras hut and she turned and looked at me.

“Thank you mike.” She said.

“No problem Z.” I said. and turned around and began walking back.

“Wait I need to invite you to dinner as a tha-....sorry forgot you were a carnivore.” She said as she began blushing.

“Just to let you know I'm actually an omnivore so I could eat both. And thank you for the offer but I have to decline. I need to get back to the castle. Thank you for the offer Zecora.” I said as I went deeper into the forest.

After a while of walking I closed my eyes and began humming. after a while I felt something was watching me so I opened my eyes and saw
an orange tiny ho- pony an orange pony with a blond mane and tail with green eyes wearing a stetson oh the head it looked like a normal pony.

The other one was the imbodiment of gay pride a cyan coat with a rainbow colored mane and tail with wings and she was flying behind them was the kids I saw a month ago.
The orange one began rubbing it’s hoof on the ground and the cyan one looked like it was ready to charge.

“GIRLS GET SOME COVER!.” They both yelled and by the voice I knew they were female.

I simply just stood and looked at them with boredom.

“Wait applejack tha-” she was interrupted with the cyan one charing at me with surprising speed

I just stood and when she was near me I took my hand quickly and grabbed her by the neck and began glaring at her.

“RAINBOW!.” The orange one said as she charged at me.

“WAAAIT.” The three kids screamed and the orange one or Applejack stopped.

“Mike drop Rainbow dash down please.” sweetie belle said.

I let go of Rainbow dash who quickly flew back a little and glared at me.

“Applejack, Rainbow dash this is Mike he’s the creature that saved us when we were lost here.” apple bloom said.

both Applejack and Rainbow dash softened their glares at me and looked embarrassed.

“Thanks for clearing the misunderstanding Apple bloom” I said as I smiled towards the kids.

and looked back at the two ponies.

“I think we didn’t get to know each other on the best of terms. Name’s Mike.” I said casually.

“Uhhhh… forgive me for thinking ye were some kinda critter. Hello Mike Name’s Applejack ah work at sweet apple acres in Ponyville and this is
mah friend Rainbow dash.” AJ said.

“Fastest and coolest mare in Equestria.” RD said.

“Alright then sorry for bothering you guys I was about to head home from Zecora so Have a nice day.” I said and began walking again.

It was night time by the time I reached the castle and I was tired and wanted to sleep.

I reached my good friend Mr.Pillow and laid down and began drifting to sleep.

When I woke up the next morning the first thing I saw was the status screen.

YOU HAVE IMPROVED YOUR PHYSIQUE BONUS POINTS ARE.

15 skill points to all stats.
10 bonus points for continuous work without taking a rest and focusing on your physique.
100 health increase.

I looked at it dumbfounded and looked at myself.

“Oh my-” I was surprised that yesterday I was skin on bones but now I look like I’ve been training for 2 years I was shredded six pack with great pecs I looked at my arms and was surprised with how well defined they were my legs were larger….. but why does it work on that too.

The bulge in my pants increased in size and I was not even hard.
“why the hell did it change my dick size too.” I thought.
I remembered my bonus points and popped the status screen.

Name: Mike
Level: 10.
Status:
Endurance: . Strength: 49. Agility: 48. Charisma: 45. Stamina: 47.
physique: Muscular
Health: 250/250. Mana: Locked.

I was happy with myself. I didn’t think changing my physique would improve my stats that much but here lies a problem.

I don’t think I can improve my physique more that needs specific equipment and great weights that the equipment wont handle.

My stomach rumbling stopped my thoughts as I got up and got out of the castle.

It looked like there was a rain storm yesterday so I got to the river and took the usual sip and went to the forest to get some rabbits.

I noticed that my hearing and eyesight is better.

and began thinking about it when suddenly the status box appeared.

PASSIVE STATS:
Perception: 45 , Dexterity: 45 , Intelligence : 45 , Metabolism: 45 , Reflexes: 45.

“Holy shit so that's why I feel hungry and my eyesight and hearing is better and my reflexes are amazing but what’s with intelligence and metabolism!.” I said

“Well lets get back to hunting.” I said and began walking and looking for rabbits.
But there was none and I couldn’t hear anything except my footsteps and began trotting looking some more.

After a while of looking and not finding anything I was about to head back when I heard a distant and barely hearable screams.
I quickly thought about the ponies and the kids and ran towards the sound.

I was surprised by my speed. I felt like I was running at 150MPH but everything was clear there was no blur in the surroundings.
In a matter of seconds I reached Zecoras hut and saw something that made me lose my mind everyone was trying to get inside and there was
around 10 manticores approaching them.

I let out a cream and ran towards the first one my foot leaving a noticeable dent in the starting point and rammed into the first one and it flew in the air like 40 feet and fell on the ground with a thud and stopped moving everyone including the manticores looked towards me and the manticores seemed to recognize me but they were confident in their numbers.

I looked at them with a murderous gaze and one pounced at me I karate chopped its head and his head and skull split open I looked at the third one and it began to back down but I was near it in a fraction of a second
and punched it in the face this time instead of my fist my whole arm went through its head and into its body.

I took my hand out and looked at the rest of them and they began running trying to get away from the apex predator of the everfree.

I turned around and looked at the group of mares and walked towards them. They were trembling and looked at me with wide eyes.

I knelt down and hugged the kids.

“I thought something happened to you thank god you are okay.” I said and stood up and looked at the rest of them. They stopped trembling and looked at me with mixed feelings.

“Is everyone alright, no one is hurt?.” I asked. They shook their heads no.

I looked at Zecora and said. “Do you have a place so I could get cleaned up?.” I asked.

“No but there is a river nearby.” she said. I nodded my head and told them to stay here and went to the 3 dead manticores and dragged their bodies one by one and threw them somewhere and went into the river, cleaned myself and went back to the group.

“Did you want to go back to pony-something town?.” I asked

“yeah ah’m late on work ah didn’t expect it to rain like that.” Applejack said

“Yeah and I’m late for the weather team.” Rainbow dash said.

“Ok then lead the way I’m coming with you these manticores are getting smart.” I said. they nodded their heads and started walking.

I felt something grab my pants and looked down and saw Sweetie belle looking at me.

“ummm…. c-can I go on your b-back again please?.” she said and looked at me with a look that might shake even Hitler.

“sure thing sweetie” I said and picked her up and put her on my head and she started giggling and I felt a warm sensation in my heart.

the other two looked at me and without needing to hear them I knew what they wanted and picked them up and put them on my shoulders.

Applejack looked at me and the giggling kids and smiled at us and I smiled back.

Author's Note

Well I think I did a good job on this chapter.