Becoming a Monster

Chapter 175: Chapter 175: Too Eager to Please

Footsteps impacted the halls once again, the two had already finished their transactions at the shop. With just a little over 6k gold, there were few things that Noah could invest in that could satiate his greed for power. But even still, he found himself satisfied with his purchases, enabling him to overlook the fact that the shop indeed was going to disappear within just a few hours.

”So, what are those for exactly?” Ailetta couldn’t resist her curiosity about the few items that Noah bought from the shopkeeper. Particularly, she was most curious of the small cores that were now in his possession that weren’t much different than all of the other mana cores that he had collected until now. However, the lightness in his steps and the slight hum that would escape his lips since they left the cell made it clear that there was something special about the cores.

Noah glanced at her, a small smile tugging at his lips as he held up one of them between his fingers. ”These,” he said, turning the core over in his hand. ”Are the cores that will enable me to finally increase my spider skills Le...I don’t know why it didn’t occur to me to look for something like this sooner.” He smiled intently at the discovery, even more so when considering the low cost for each core which only amounted to 200 coins each. And after buying up to twenty of them, it would be enough to even promote his newest skills to 100 percent.

”Although that is something to be happy about, why do I feel that there’s more to it than just that?”

Noah’s smirk deepened to her question, even making him turn around to give her his full attention. ”That’s because as long as I level up two of my skills from my spider trait, then I would finally meet the requirements to level up my Genetic Synergy skill! And upgrading that skill means....I can acquire another trait.”

Noah didn’t have to explicitly say it, his gaze told Ailetta all that she needed to know. There was no doubt in her mind that the genes he planned to acquire next would be hers. Her menacing aura exploded at the thought, and giggles emanated from every one of her mouths.

Despite her reaction, Noah’s excitement didn’t fade as he was fully aware of the effect of his words on her. In fact, although the things he mentioned were causes of his current joy, all of that was just a prelude to what he could now do next. Ailetta noticed Noah pop the core into his mouth, thinking he was going to gather more. What he retrieved instead was the Ascension Stone, that could enable him to instantly level up anyone of his level 0 skills.

All this time, Noah doubted what to use the stone on. The conflict started when he realized that he didn’t have a way to upgrade his Genetic Synergy skill right away. Though that was his original idea, he recognized that the thought was impulsive. He was so close to reaching the requirements for the upgrade that there was no reason to waste such a valuable item because of his lack of patience.

And now that he had finally found a way to do so without wasting the stone, he could use it on one of his skills that would surely take a lot more effort to upgrade without it, a skill that would also benefit him the most.

”I may not be able to use it now, but I’d rather have the skill be available to use when I need and not let a potential monster slip my grasp,” he muttered to no one in particular. Under his grasp, the stone dissipated into nothingness as he welcomed the update of his Blood Pact skill becoming level 2, unlocking the ability to bind yet another creature to his will.

However, Noah was cautious this time. He didn’t want to have a repeat of what happened before. So, with deliberate intent, he brought up the information for the progression requirements to upgrade his skill further. But as he scanned the process, his eyes narrowed at the steep necessities to promote the skill.

Blood Pact(Lvl 2): Progression requirements

1)Have four tamed creatures reach level 15

2)Creatures must consume 1,000 tier 1 cores eachTamer must reach level 15

3)Each creature has three skills to level 3

4)Each creature must go through at least two evolutions

5)Each creature must kill 5,000 tier one enemies in total.

Just like before, the requirements were more tedious to do than they were difficult, yet tedious was barely sufficient to fully describe the essence of what he was seeing now.

”Did the skill not evolve like you wanted it to?” Ailetta approached him after sensing his declining mood.

”It did...” Noah confirmed, glancing back at the display one last time, his expression shifting to one of contemplation. ”But the requirements for the next upgrade aren’t going to be simple at all. Unless I find another stone like the one I used before, one that works on level 2 skills; I doubt I’ll be able to upgrade it anytime soon.”

Not wanting to leave her left out, especially because now she will also be contributing towards the leveling goal, he told her everything that they needed to do.

After hearing everything, Ailetta’s expression was more pensive than his own. Out of all the requirements stated, Noah realized he could only influence two of them; the other requirements were all up to her and the other bonded creatures. And with her mindset of desiring to be the only one Noah could depend on, she felt a bigger burden to make sure that his goal became a reality.

”Let’s not focus on it too much. First, I need to still level up all of my other skills, and....” Materializing another core into his hand, he popped it into his mouth, swallowing it whole. ”With these, I can at least start with upgrading two of my spider skills.”

The two continued on their way out of the building. By the time they exited, Noah had already finished off his last core. He was consumed with the thought of leveling up two of his skills, but as he eyes caught on to the otherworldly sight before him; a seemingly new world protected by layers of spiderwebs, his thoughts blanked.

Layers upon layers of thick, silken spiderwebs draped across the landscape, shimmering eerily under whatever light broke through. It was as if they had stepped into another realm entirely.

The woven domain left no specific area untouched; even the sky was accounted for as the webs stretched from the rooftops of the buildings.

With his eyes roaming over the spectacle, naturally he was also looking for any signs of Arachne. Not only did he not see her, but even Fenrir wasn’t in the vicinity. It only took a second for Noah to concentrate before his body turned towards the building, his gaze peering through the structure as he sensed the two on the other side.

His brows furrowed, picking up on the fact that the two were both in hostile states but weren’t fighting at the moment. However, he could sense the two moving further away from him.

”We need to go,” Noah said while extending his arm to grab hold of Ailetta.

Sensing the tension and urgency in his demeanor, she didn’t resist. She allowed his grip to pull her closer, her form briefly shifting to his strength, but at the same time, she took advantage of the situation, clinging herself onto him as she absorbed herself in his scent.

With Ailetta firmly latched onto him, Noah bent his legs, blood rushing into his legs similar to what Arachne has always been able to accomplish. His legs coiled like springs, ready to unleash explosive force. His muscles bulged under the pressure, veins protruding more visibly, though his exoskeleton-like features bore the brunt of the strain, reinforcing his body as it prepared for the jump.

Lacking the same finesse as a certain spider, Noah exploded from the ground, his leap destroying the ground beneath him. His body soared upwards, almost fully clearing the station. The moment his body reached its peak, the spider appendages on his back came alive. Each leg stabbed into the building simultaneously, slightly allowing gravity to pull him down before he propulsed himself further up, landing on the roof.

His steps never faltered even during his landing as he built up strength in his legs again, vauting to the other side in small, quick leaps.

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Meanwhile, on the other side, both Arachne and Fenrir stood still, their eyes locked on the end of the street. Their senses heightened as they stared intently into the distance, able to make out only the silhouettes of approaching shadows.

Arachne was just finishing up setting down the foundation of her webs on this side when Fenrir’s growls alerted her to the presence in the distance.

The two still loathed their inadequacy in the last battle, hoping that the figures approaching were powerful enemies that could allow them to redeem themselves. Fenrir was even more feverous in his actions, comparing his recent failure to Arachne’s. Out of the two, it was he who had almost lost his life, and also was the first one to fail in protecting Noah.

His growls deepened, becoming more menacing. The heavy vibrations in his growls caused slight tremors onto the ground around him. His claws dug deep into the ground, ready to rush towards the silhouettes alone.

”Stop dummy,” Arachne sternly warned him, but her warning went unheeded. Now that he was aware that Arachne was against the idea of going, he wanted to go even more. He shot her a sideways glance, his muscles tensing as if daring her to stop him. If at first he wanted to redeem himself, now the fire of competition burned bright in his eyes; this could be his chance to take back his chance at being Noah’s favorite.

Without a second thought, Fenrir’s back legs kicked off the ground, propelling him forward. Arachne’s eyes dangerously tracked Fenrir’s back, but then a resigned sigh followed, knowing that she had no choice but to follow. She was sure that Noah would be unsatisfied with them yet again, but she didn’t want to picture what he would think of her if she allowed anything else to happen to Fenrir when she’s supposed to be in charge.