History Main / FoodChainOfEvil

* ''LightNovel/RebuildWorld'': Monsters based on OrganicTechnology combined with {{Nanomachines}} left behind by the NeglectrfulPrecursors called the Old World, originally designed to serve as security for facilities, evolve and change their capabilities based on what monsters they eat, and spend more time eating each other than humans off-screen, resulting in dramatically different subspecies. Being good enough at this results in the monster becoming a {{Kaiju}} that requires a massive effort to take down (or just a high level hunter).

But when you think about it, eating people is kind of old-hat. After a while, you begin to lose track of [[EverythingTryingToKillYou all the different types of monsters that eat humans]]. It just becomes a fact of life, so by the time you run into that guy who wants to [[CannibalismSuperpower devour your flesh to add to his own power]], you just sort of yawn because it's exactly the same as everything you've seen anywhere ever. So how do you make something distinctive, then? Well, if monsters that eat humans are no longer a threat... what about monsters that eat other monsters? To establish a Food Chain Of Evil, all you have to do is [[TheWorfEffect make the last threat the preferred prey of the next one.]]

* ''VideoGame/MetroidFusion'': The lynchpin of the plot. Metroids eat [[TheVirus X Parasites]] (and, according to [[Manga/MetroidManga the manga]], were specifically engineered to do so by the Chozo) and, by killing all the Metroids in [=SR388=], Samus disrupted the natural balance of the ecosystem, resulting in the X Parasites reproducing unchecked. This is, unsurprisingly, a Bad Thing.

* ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'': In [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20060501 one]] comic, as the main characters are heading through the sewers of Sturmhalten, Lars has to explain to their guides that most sewer systems aren't, in fact, infested with monsters. The guides express incredulity at sewers that aren't crawling with {{giant spider}}s, sewer serpents, [[OurGhoulsAreDifferent ghouls]], [[RodentsOfUnusualSize giant glowing rats]], giant squid and the like... because then what do the ''big'' monsters eat?
-->'''Guide:''' "That's a messed-up ecosystem, man."

*** This is also how spirits often work. Each spirit can eat other spirits that are similar to it (a water spirit eating another water spirit, for instance) or compatible with it (a wolf spirit eating a rabbit spirit), basically making an almost cannibalistic food chain. However, they are also capable of gaining Essence simply from being around the thing they represent.

* ''Series/StargateAtlantis''

* In ''Videogame/DragonAgeOriginsAwakening'', the Children are introduced devouring normal Darkspawn and instantly transforming into bigger and more monstrous forms.

* ''VideoGame/RatchetAndClank'':

** The Githyanki and Githzerai attack and kill mind flayers in preference to basically any other potential goal, including their deep hatred of one another -- they were once slaves to the mind flayers who successfully rebelled and now are attempting to completely exterminate them.

* ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'': Arguably the Necrons, the only race in existence with a working game plan to permanently destroy Chaos -- a sentient [[TheDarkSide dark side]] that operates by TheCorruption when it isn't taking matters into its own hands. Necrons are the entities that ''daemons'' are theoretically scared of, though Daemon players aren't usually scared of Necron players in practice.

*** Deep dragons feed primarily on subterranean aquatic creatures, and while their diet consists chiefly of albino fish and the occasional kuo-toa they also prey on aboleths.

* Doctors are experimenting with using viruses to treat antibiotic resistant bacteria. These viruses are specialized for infecting specific kinds of bacteria and are harmless to human cells. Bacteria can adapt resistances to these viruses, but by doing so lose their resistance to antibiotics.

* ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'': Invoked. The series's MonstersOfTheWeek, witches, devour humans and use them to reproduce. The core of a dead witch, a Grief Seed, is the only way for a [[MagicalGirl Puella Magi]] to replenish their strength, and so they hunt (or, in some cases, even cultivate) witches. One [[BloodKnight particularly cold]] girl, Kyouko, even calls it a food chain, with them at the top. [[spoiler:As it turns out, [[AllYouNeedToKnowAboutTheCryingGame Puella Magi are merely the larval forms of witches,]] and the discarded Grief Seeds are ultimately fuel for [[StarfishAliens their creators.]]]] Some fans have even produced [[http://wiki.puella-magi.net/Population_dynamics population dynamic models.]]

* ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'': In part one, the Stone Mask turns people into vampires (which is what happened to [[BigBad Dio Brando]], who eat people in order to get stronger. In part 2 we're introduced to the creators of the Stone Mask, the Pillar Men. The purpose of the mask? Pillar Men ''eat vampires''.

* ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'': The Pillar Men in Part 2 eat the vampires who were the primary antagonists in Part 1.

* In ''Film/QueenOfTheDamned'', Akasha drinks the blood of vampires and humans alike.
* ''Film/UnderworldEvolution'': Marcus becomes a vampire/lycan hybrid. From this point, he becomes pretty much omnivorous.

*** Mountain dragons mostly feed on rock, but when they wish to vary their diet they mostly scratch the itch for meat by preying on a few giants or dire bears.

** This is very often used in regards to dragons:

*** Beast dragons, dragons native to the Outer Plane of the Beastlands, revel in hunting challenging prey. They'll go after anything that provides them with a suitable test of their skills, but especially favor hunting dinosaurs and powerful evil monsters.
*** The Styx dragons, serpentine beings who live in the River Styx, will gladly eat any meat they can find, but chiefly prey on fiends such as devils and demons.

** The Behemoth King in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXV'' is a beast so powerful that [[https://finalfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Behemoth_King_(Final_Fantasy_XV)#Bestiary even daemons don't dare to approach it]]. Notably, it's found in the daemon-infested [[spoiler:Insomnia]] and apparently has no problems surviving here.

* The final episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{Bunnicula}}'' introduces Bunnicula's evil brother, who is a vampire rabbit who preys on other supernatural creatures by draining their energy, which also lets him steal their powers. He ends up nearly killing Bunnicula by trying to drain him permanently.

** Dragons find hydras to be incredibly delicious, and will go to great lengths to kill and devour the lesser monsters should they become aware of their presence.
** Beast dragons, dragons native to the Outer Plane of the Beastlands, revel in hunting challenging prey. They'll go after anything that provides them with a suitable test of their skills, but especially favor hunting dinosaurs and powerful evil monsters.
** Deep dragons feed primarily on subterranean aquatic creatures, and while their diet consists chiefly of albino fish and the occasional kuo-toa they also prey on aboleths.
** The Third Edition ''Epic Level Handbook'' has the sirrush, a large creature that looks vaguely like an armor-plated lynx and likes hunting dragons.

* ''TabletopGame/{{Arduin}}'': The ibathene was introduced for the specific purpose of providing a monster tougher than dragons, so as to provide something even tougher than the archetypal top monster of fantasy games. The result is an immense, reptilian beast strong enough to comfortably hunt and eat dragons and other powerful monsters -- in fact, ibathenes hunted dragons to extinction in certain regions of the world.

* The Behemoth King in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXV'' is a beast so powerful that [[https://finalfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Behemoth_King_(Final_Fantasy_XV)#Bestiary even daemons don't dare to approach it]]. Notably, it's found in the daemon-infested [[spoiler:Insomnia]] and apparently has no problems surviving here.

** Bebiliths are spider-like demons whose favorite prey is other demons.

** The Third Edition Epic Level Handbook has the Sirrush, a large creature that looks vaguely like an armor-plated lynx and likes hunting dragons.