Becoming a Monster

Chapter 165: Chapter 165: Strength Forged Through Blood

The current scene was almost a mirror of a distant memory, the first time Noah drank Fenrir’s blood. Back then, the shock had been overwhelming, but now, the act felt oddly familiar. Fenrir, with his simple yet loyal mindset, didn’t overthink Arachne’s actions or the ritual significance of blood-drinking. To him, it was all about pack dynamics. By sharing his blood, Fenrir believed he was reinforcing Noah’s place as the head alpha, marking him with the same scent that bound the pack together.

With his powerful arms now reinforced by the dense exoskeleton covering his claws and forearms, Fenrir bit into the back of his bicep. Blood, dark and thick, began to flow more freely than necessary. Though the giant wolf’s instinctive action no longer surprised Noah, it still elicited a sigh of resignation. Shaking his head slightly, Noah stepped closer, positioning himself nearly under Fenrir’s massive frame.

He cupped his hands together, forming a bowl to catch the viscous liquid as it poured out. Fenrir’s blood resembled oil, its surface shifting with an almost otherworldly sheen. It shared the blackish hue of Noah’s own blood but lacked the familiar crimson undertone. Instead, a faint shimmering violet pulsed within.

A heavy weight began to build within Noah’s hands, a weight that showcased the eerie density of Fenrir’s blood, a substance that held a mysterious dual effect of being both a curse and a holy potion.

Noah spared little thought to the richness of the blood as he gulped down the blood with gusto. He had expected it, but the blood was just as flavorful and addictive as Arachne’s. If Arachne’s blood was savory sweet, then Fenrir’s was something raw and earthy, with a deep richness. Its addictive potency drove Noah to crave more, instinctively moving closer to the flow of blood, which had already begun to recede from Fenrir’s absurd healing factor.

Heat began to build in Noah’s chest, gradually spreading out through his entire body, surging through his veins and like wildfire. The burning sensation began to flare out towards the surface. He could feel the surface of his skin heating to dangerous levels. The blood within his palms showed slight bubbling under his touch as a result.

Noah’s forearms, already encased in a hardened exoskeleton, began to radiate intense heat, causing the surface to glow faintly with a molten hue. Thin cracks formed along the exterior, webbing across the surface as the heat continued to build. With a sudden, sharp crack, the exoskeleton split apart, shattering into jagged fragments. Beneath the broken shell, a new, even thicker layer of exoskeleton emerged. Its surface darker and shining against the light even more ominously, seemingly living breathing energies of crimson and violet pulsated interchangeably within the intricacies of the exoskeleton, resembling a living, breathing armor that was expanded out a few centimeters more than his biceps.

As the transformation continued, jagged stalagmites erupted from Noah’s exoskeleton, forming sharp, almost lethal extensions across his body. They protruded from his shoulders, forearms, and legs, each spike resembling spearheads crafted from the same hardened material as the rest of his armor. These weren’t just for show. Faint lines, akin to the intricate markings etched along his forearms, glowed within each piece, suggesting they were capable of harnessing energy; energy that Noah could unleash when enough energy was generated.

The changes gave the impression that he was receiving more physical changes than when he had consumed Arachne’s blood as the final touches of his transformation were coming into place. The patches of hair on his shoulders thickened, while his already silver hair grew longer, the ends sharpening into fine, deadly blades. Each strand of fur glittered with a metallic sheen, their sharpness suggesting they were more than mere fur.

Without the distraction of Fenrir’s blood, Noah was forced to endure the full brunt of the transformation’s agony. His jaw clenched, teeth grinding together as waves of searing pain coursed through his body, each pulse more intense than the last. Muscles tightened, bones cracked, and skin stretched, yet through the torment, he could sense something else rising within him, a budding power. Noah could feel it: Fenrir’s and Arachne’s genes were fighting for dominance, each vying for superiority, yet inadvertently merging together from the tug of war.

_______

Oblivious to the other’s stares, Noah once again observed his new form. This time, he was convinced that he was treading on the right path. Strengthening his monsters, aiding them in evolution, was comparatively strengthening himself; his path, he felt, was the true essence of what a monster tamer should be.

’And with these new skills...even without ’its’ help, I would have been able to beat that Queen easily.’ Noah further strayed from reality, diving into his system to review his skills and newly acquire a set of information before he could finally give Ailetta what she’s always wanted. And with the newly set of skills he obtained from both Fenrir and Arachne, Noah already had an inkling of what skill he would share with her.

[Organ tempering increased to level 2- Increased tamed creatures’ stamina by 35% from of your own stamina.

Efficient Tamer increased to level 3- Monsters bonded through Blood Pact will receive 30% more experience.

[Your body has been made anew, from your cells, your nerves, your bones, all the way to your mana; causing your body to accumulate growth to your overall stats by 25%.]

Attributes

Defense: 180

Strength:120>150(172)

Agility:132>165(190)

Constitution:243>304(350)

Stamina:155>194(223)

Magic: 260>325(374)

Spirit: 244>305(427) +69

Eldritch Fortification(Lvl 0)- Empower your gauntlet-like hands to absorb and channel damage you delivered, accumulating a layer of protective energy. With each successful strike, your damage resistance increases by 3% for a duration of 30 seconds, stacking up to five times. After reaching the maximum stack, you gain a temporary shield that absorbs an additional 20% of damage for 15 seconds. Each use consumes 10 mana while the stacks accumulated will reset if no stacks were accumulated within 30 seconds or when the temporary shield is formed.

Chimeric Predation(Lvl 1)- Harness your power as the apex of Dreadbeast to assert control over undead and tainted creatures. You tap into your primal instincts, bending them to your will, and infusion with chimeric energy. With a predator’s gaze, you can not only paralyze the directed creatures with a glance, but also force them to obey your command for up to 15 seconds. Stronger creatures may resist but can still be affected for a shorter duration. Cost 9 mana per use and consumes an extra 1 mana for each second for each controlled creature. Each successive use will decrease the effectiveness of the skill. Each use causes the next potential use to be halved, potentially causing the creature to become immune.

Expending an additional 50 mana, your controlled creatures receive temporary boosts to their physical attributes, extending the time of control to 1 minute. While under the effects of the temporary boost, can further expand 30 mana to slightly mimic your own physical appearance, gaining either more lethal traits or your defensive traits.

Vassals of the Dread Sovereign (Lvl 1)- As the Dread Sovereign, your authority over the undead and tainted has reached a profound level. When a creature is under the full effects of your chimeric Predation, you can forge a deep connection with the creature, making it into an eternal vassal. The creature will no longer be just bound by loyalty, but they will become ’living’ extensions of your will. Now being able to create two Vassals, each vassal undergoes significant mutations, evolving into powerful, unique entities that share your essence. The vassal’s abilities are not only drawn from their past abilities, but also enhanced by your own monstrous lineage.

Wrathful Overlord(Lvl 1)- You channel the unbridled fury of your monstrous form, not only bring out your full potential, increasing your physical stats by up to 50% in exchange for your sanity and spirit, but also invoking a terrifying transformation in creatures that are under the influence of both skills Chimeric Predation and Vassals of the Dread Sovereign. The transformation causes the affected creatures to grow in size and to receive the amount of attributes that the user received from activating the skill.

Undying Sovereignty (Lvl 1)- Restore 2% of stamina every 5 minutes. For every subordinate affected by Chimeric Predation and Vassals of the Dread Sovereign, the stamina regeneration increases by 2%. And when the user’s health reaches the danger levels of 20%, it taps into not only yours, but also your subordinates’ stamina, converting vitality into life essence that will enhance your lifeforce by 10% while also temporarily receiving a 10% damage resistance for 30 seconds.

Abyssal Guardian(Lvl 1)-The range of your domain expands to 20 meters. Within this radius, you and your subordinates receive an augmentation of 15% to all stats. When activating the skills secondary effect, expend 30 mana per minute to draw in the domain, forming a protective barrier while temporarily losing the enhanced stats. The protective barrier mitigates damage by 25% for 1 minute or until the barrier accumulated damage passed its threshold. 10% of all damage mitigated by the barrier is absorbed and converted into mana.

Dominion Devourer(Lvl 1)- Upon consuming the essence of defeated foes, increase the bodily stats by 20% for 1 hour when fully satiated while also restoring 20% of total mana and stamina. (half when used by minions under the domain of abyssal guardian. When ability is activated, the residual essence consumed temporarily adds a thicker layer formed on your exoskeleton, temporarily increasing your defense by 15% percent for 1 hour or when too much damage was accumulated.

Undead being the first trait Noah has received since he obtained the chimera trait, he had more skills that were affected by his transformation than Arachne’s. Seeing the skills incurred a smile that was unsettling to behold. It wasn’t that the skills he received from Fenrir were necessarily better than the ones he received from Arachne, but it was the fact Noah’s first inherited trait, the undead, which helped him reach this far, had now developed into skills of such proportions.

Thinking about where he started compared to where he is now, this would be the first time Noah has ever truly felt accomplished with himself, and he had to become a monster to achieve it.

”Noah, I can’t wait anymore!” Noah’s reminiscing was interrupted by Ailetta, who tried to sit by quietly. However, after seeing that foolish smile of his, she couldn’t restrain herself any longer. The sound of her squishy steps was already upon him, her eyes dangerously staring him down. ”You got a good skill, didn’t you? You must have; there’s no other reason for that smile if you haven’t. So what are we waiting for? Love me!” Ahem* ”I mean....tame me...” Ailetta innocently looked away while one sneaking eye peered around her leg continued towards him, while two of her mouths whispered, ”But if you want to love on me...then I won’t stop you...”