My SSS-Rank Innate skill: Infinite Adaptation core

Countless warriors clashed against the endless beast tide while explosions, battle cries, and savage roars echoed across the battlefield. Behind his eerie mask, a faint smile appeared on Nova’s face.

”The real battle begins now.”

Two swords materialized in his hands from the inventory. Without hesitation, he reinforced them with lightning and infused a tiny trace of Chaotic Energy—less than one percent. Despite the minuscule amount, the effect was astonishing. The blades instantly became far sturdier and sharper, their cutting power reaching a terrifying level.

BOOM!

Lightning crackled beneath Nova’s feet as he activated Lightning Steps. Combined with his already absurd Agility, his speed exploded to an entirely different level. He shot forward like a bolt of lightning toward the front lines, leaving only a blur behind.

Any beast unfortunate enough to stand in his path was instantly reduced to minced meat before it could even react. Limbs, flesh, and blood flew through the air as Nova carved a straight path across the battlefield with unstoppable momentum.

At the same time, a flood of system notifications began appearing before his eyes.

[You have killed a Level 50 Hob-Goblin.]

[You have killed a Level 53 Troll.]

[You have killed a Level 49 Kobold.]

[...]

[...]

[...]

[+EXP Earned.]

[You leveled up.]

[You leveled up.]

[You acquired 1 Stat Point.]

Hundreds upon hundreds of notifications appeared within mere seconds as Nova continued his slaughter. The system practically went mad trying to keep up with the number of kills he was racking up. However, he ignored every single notification. This wasn’t the time to be distracted. His focus remained firmly on the battlefield ahead.

Still, one thing caught his attention.

Despite killing hundreds of beasts in a matter of seconds, he had only leveled up twice. That alone showed how little benefit weaker beasts provided him now. His level and strength had already surpassed them by too much, causing the experience gained from their deaths to become almost insignificant.

Naturally, such a display didn’t go unnoticed.

The nearby adventurers and mercenaries stared at the blood-soaked path Nova had created with wide eyes.

”The fuck? Who was that?!”

”Did you see that? He butchered those beasts like they were nothing!”

”Do we even have someone that strong in Frostholme?”

”I don’t know! I couldn’t even see his face properly. He was moving way too fast!”

Their voices were filled with disbelief as they watched the black-robed figure tear through the battlefield like a grim reaper.

Within moments, Nova reached the front lines.

There, he found William, the Guild Leader of the Frosthall Hunters, locked in battle against a Level 150 Ogre. The guild leader wielded a spear and was fighting with his full strength, yet the massive beast continued to push forward with overwhelming force.

Beside him were the leaders of the city’s other two guilds. One was battling a Level 90 Hunter Wolfang while the other struggled against a Level 100 Orc.

Before any of them could react—

WHOOSH!

Nova vanished from his position and appeared directly in front of them.

His swords flashed.

Several nearby demonic beasts were instantly sliced apart, including the three powerful monsters the guild leaders had been fighting.

Blood sprayed across the battlefield as the corpses collapsed to the ground.

”Wha—?!”

William’s eyes widened in shock. In truth, he would have eventually killed the Ogre himself, but Nova didn’t have the luxury of waiting. The real threat was elsewhere, and every second mattered.

”What? Who are you?”

William immediately tightened his grip on his spear and assumed a defensive stance. The masked stranger had appeared far too close for comfort.

”That doesn’t matter right now,” Nova replied calmly from beneath the mask. ”Just know that I’m an ally, and I’m here for the same reason you are.”

His gaze shifted toward the distant battlefield.

”I came to warn you. You’ve probably noticed it already, but those three beasts are far stronger than any of the guild leaders here. And now...”

Nova’s eyes narrowed.

”They’ve started moving.”

A brief silence followed.

”You need to focus on protecting the rest of the battlefield. I’ll deal with them.”

William frowned.

”Why should I believe you? And that aura you’re giving off... it’s anything but normal. For all I know, you could be an enemy.”

Nova simply shrugged.

”Believe whatever you want.”

His tone remained indifferent.

”Just don’t get in my way. You’re responsible for your guild members, so start acting like it. Can’t you see they’re already being overwhelmed?”

William instinctively glanced toward the battlefield and realized the masked man’s words weren’t wrong. The beast tide was beginning to pressure the defensive lines.

Nova slowly turned away.

”I’ll do what I need to do.”

He paused for a brief moment before speaking one final time.

”And if you’re so eager to know who I am...”

A chilling pressure spread from his body.

”You can call me...”

”SLAUGHTER MONARCH.”

After warning the guild leaders on the left side of the battlefield, Nova immediately moved toward the center and right fronts. His plan was simple—warn them about the incoming threat and let them prepare accordingly.

He still didn’t know who was commanding the right flank, but from the powerful aura he could sense in the central battlefield, it was obvious that someone strong was holding the line.

Whoever it was, they had managed to maintain a stalemate against the beast tide, preventing the defensive formation from collapsing despite the relentless pressure.

Before heading there, however, Nova suddenly stopped and looked back at the battlefield behind him. Scattered across the blood-soaked ground were the corpses of countless beasts he had slaughtered moments ago. Among them were hundreds of powerful monsters ranging from Level 90 to Level 150. Looking at the mountain of corpses, a thought crossed his mind.

Then he calmly uttered a single word.

””

For a brief moment, nothing happened.

Then the battlefield changed.

Dark shadows began pouring out of the dead bodies. Black energy wrapped around the corpses as purple patterns swirled across their forms. One after another, the fallen beasts slowly rose back to their feet. Their flesh had transformed into shadow-like bodies, their eyes glowing with an eerie purple light. Although they retained their original shapes, there was no trace of life within them anymore.

They had become Deadborn.

Such a shocking sight naturally didn’t go unnoticed.

Even amidst the chaos of battle, countless warriors couldn’t help but glance toward the phenomenon.

”What the hell is that?!”

”T-The beasts... they’re standing up again!”

”No... those things aren’t alive. What kind of monsters are they?!”

”Who in the world is that person commanding them?!”

Fear, confusion, and disbelief spread among the nearby warriors as they watched hundreds of shadowy beasts rise from the dead.

Nova, however, paid no attention to their reactions. Since he was already disguised, revealing some of his cards didn’t matter. His gaze swept across the newly created Deadborn army before he issued his commands.

”All of you, assist the warriors here. Minimize casualties as much as possible and prevent the defensive lines from collapsing.”

The Deadborn immediately stood at attention.

Nova then looked toward the two strongest among them—a Level 140 Ogre Chieftain and a Level 130 Stone Golem.

”You two, go to the area where my father is fighting. Protect him and everyone around him from the shadows.”

The two powerful Deadborn nodded and immediately moved toward their destination.

Next, Nova shifted his gaze toward the three Level 100 Imp Archons.

”You three, enter the city. Search for anything suspicious—people, objects, or unusual activities. The moment you find something, report it to me immediately.”

The Imp Archons bowed before vanishing into the distance.

With all his orders issued, the Deadborn army quickly dispersed across the battlefield to fulfill their assigned tasks. Satisfied, Nova no longer wasted any time. Lightning crackled beneath his feet as he shot forward once more, heading straight toward the right front of the battlefield where the next stage of the battle awaited him.

On the middle section of the left front, a Bronze-ranked adventurer was desperately fighting a Kobold. His condition was miserable. Numerous wounds covered his body, and blood continued to drip from several deep cuts he had suffered during the earlier battles.

Every movement sent pain coursing through his body, yet he continued fighting, barely managing to stay on his feet.

Tears slowly streamed down his face as exhaustion and despair finally caught up to him.

”It seems I can’t hold on any longer... I’m sorry, my son. Father won’t be able to be there for your next birthday like I promised.”

The Kobold immediately sensed his weakness. Letting out a savage growl, it lunged forward with its claws aimed directly at his throat. The adventurer closed his eyes, having already accepted his death.

”GRRRR!”

CRACK!

A strange sound echoed before the expected pain never came.

Confused, the man slowly opened his eyes and froze.

The Kobold’s body had been sliced cleanly into two halves.

Standing before him was another Kobold-like creature, but unlike the one it had just killed, its body was entirely black, resembling a living shadow. Purple patterns swirled across its form, and its glowing eyes emitted an eerie light. As the stunned adventurer watched, the shadow creature casually bit into the fallen Kobold’s flesh.

”Did... did this beast just protect me?”

The man stared in disbelief, unable to understand what was happening.

Similar scenes were unfolding all across the battlefield. Wherever the Deadborn had been deployed, wounded warriors who were moments away from death suddenly found shadowy beasts appearing to save them.

The strange creatures slaughtered the demonic beasts without hesitation, holding the defensive lines and reducing casualties wherever they went, leaving countless warriors both shocked and confused.

Thanks for reading....