Becoming a Monster

Chapter 258: Chapter 258: Dominated by Stats

Out of Noah’s new transformation, his four spider appendages were the most noticeable change, mainly due to their size. There was no comparison to what they once were, a comparison would be from that of a spear and a lance. His spider legs each weighed more than his entire body, their strength proven with his latest attack.

His predatory slits continued to glow, a side effect from using his wrathful fury skill, yet there was still a hint of awareness in his stare. Experience told him that unless his life was fully at risk, there was no reason to delve fully into his skill for the full amplification.

Besides, with his transformation, not only was his strength and stamina amplified, but the potential of all of his Dread beast gene skills were further improved by 30 percent. His 75% boost from using his fury skill increase was further improved. It was also that very reason why his skill to temporarily control zombies was finally able to work on the zombie, despite his earlier attempt.

The massive boost in his states didn’t bring about the arrogance one would often become entitled to. He acknowledged his opponent to be superior to him when it came to comparing physical attributes. His ambush attack was just the start of the battle.

An overbearing roar was released from the zombie as Noah’s spider legs came raining down. The ground continued to not be able hold against the momentous pressure as both Noah and the zombies’ bodies sunk inches into the ground.

The sudden shift in gravity wasn’t something that Noah could easily adjust to. His body slightly staggered, each leg instinctively diverted to balance him to prevent Noah from being pressed into the ground. The momentary lapse in stability was all the zombie needed.

The zombie sent a fist cracking with electricity, the convergence of the energy chirped with the tremendous amount of voltage contained in that one strike that distorted the air around it.

Noah’s instincts flared. His mind barely had time to process before his body reacted.

One of his spider appendages shot out, attempting to intercept the punch, but the moment it made contact—

Boom!

The leg was thrown to the side, its weight causing Noah’s body to twist from the momentum. Its other arm was now already raising for a follow-up strike that aimed to return the favor to its skull.

Noah gritted his teeth, his only arm raising to brace for the attack. His eyes flickered with a notable glow, the same action that would occur when he would interrupt the zombies actions. The same ability that would stop the zombie for half a sec, was barely even a tenth of what it once was. He couldn’t avoid it.

Boom!

Another loud collision sounded. This one was less as empowering as the other.

Noah overexerted his muscles to obey, he retracted his staggered appendages, fully anchoring them to the ground. The strain from his back muscles flared, but he had to ignore it. He had to match the zombies speed, no, he had to surpass it or this strike would disrupt any momentum he had gained.

One clean hit was all the zombie needed.

The ground beneath Noah cracked from the pressure exerting into his anchored spider legs. The zombie’s first met Noah’s own, the impact forcibly blew Noah’s arm into almost striking his face.

The zombies’ brute strength was overwhelming. Noah’s muscles burned once again, but this time it was the muscles in his arm attempting to stop the giant fist from crashing into his face. His exoskeleton groaned as the impact reverberated through his body, forcing him back a step. His neck jolted strongly up from the heavy whiplash.

But that wasn’t the worst of it.

The moment their fist collided, Noah finally had to experience its electric prowess. The surge of electricity shot through his arm, crackling violently as it sought to burrow through his arm to enter the rest of his body.

The electricity’s path could be tracked running through Noah’s arm, and so too could one see that the energy never expended past the exoskeleton mass gauntlet that was his hand.

Even though Noah’s efforts of lessening the impact was subjected to his own fist bumping into his face, the impact was lessened due Noah’s eyes flickered with a sharp awareness. The mass and material of his gauntlet-like hand was serving as an insulator, diffusing the worst of the charge before it could wreak havoc inside him.

Once again, the zombie found itself not only stunned from someone else resisting its attacks after its transformation, but it was angered! The zombie barely gave itself time to process why Noah was still standing. Its gravity field rescinded. Its somewhat slower arm came powering through, threatening to completely destroy Noah with one strike.

But this time, Noah was ready. There was no joy within his expression from being able to find a worthy opponent. However, Noah considered this to be one of the only moments that brought himself the most passion.

His thought process was no different than a casual gamer and a pro gamer. One enjoys the fun of it all, while the other enjoys the thrill of constantly improving themselves through adversity, and Noah was the latter.

His senses were incredibly heightened, his instincts sharpening even more as another fist came barreling towards him, accompanied by the crushing weight of the gravity field pressing down on him.

’This is it!’ Noah’s thoughts erupted forth. He felt that he was on the cusp of a major discovery as he dug deeper within himself.

He went with the gravity, allowing two of his spider appendages to dig deep into the ground to fully ground himself. His body also moved in sync with the gravity, letting it pull him into a pivot instead of resisting it out right.

One of his spider legs struck out, once again aiming for his face that was covered with wet blood, but now its face was exempt from any broken bones or even exposed skin. The zombie was able to absorb another body within it much quicker than before.

It adjusted to Noah’s attack, its other arm already moving to intercept it. Noah was surprised by the zombie’s reaction to his attack. Clearly it was fast enough to adjust to the attack and yet it still decided to intercept the attack with its fist instead of deflecting it. It was as if the creature had a pride that wouldn’t allow it to do anything else but use brute strength.

Sparks erupted as his appendages clashed against the zombie’s electrified fists, the impact sending shockwaves rippling outward.

For a moment, they were evenly matched. With Noah being able to use two of his spider legs as two additional arms, he was able to use his most frightening weapon, his fist.

Two unique experiences continued to occur between their brief exchange. Each time Noah’s fist was blocked or was able to breach the zombies defense, the gauntlet would flash with a violet energy that would eventually form a small almost imperceptible layer of energy around his body that absorbs the initial force of the zombies blows.

After every fifth hit, that same aura would grow dense to where even the naked eye could see. A layered defense that was able withstand even an unguarded attack from the zombie’s abrasive strength.

The zombie was under pressure. Not because it was under the threat of possibly losing, it keenly was aware that if the fight continued, it would soon win, but time wasn’t on its side.

Lightning crackled over its entire body. It was interrupted before, but Noah hasn’t used his ability to make it flinch since they started their close quarter brawl. Electric quickly sprawled around both Noah and the zombie. It was an enormous current of energy that the light from the lightning was blinding.

Arrrgh!*

Noah roared, his fur catching on fire. Flames even erupted on parts of his exoskeleton, and yet his legs continued to strike. If it wasn’t for the spider legs he had ingrained into the ground, the initial damage would’ve been crippling.

The small layer from before had surprisingly taken on another change. The energy became darker, denser. The energy absorbed the electricity before it could wreck damage within his body even further. And as that energy took on the damage, his mana reserves were increasing at a frightening rate.

Boom*

Both of Noah’s spider legs struck the zombies face one after another. The zombie wasn’t able to defend itself while trying to maintain both the gravity and electric field.

The blow caused the increased gravity to completely vanish while mild currents still were being emitted from the zombie’s body. Its hands were covering its face.

This would be the best moment to capitalize its vulnerability. But Noah wasn’t able to respond with the same explosiveness as before. His body was still pulsing with the electric currents from their latest clash.

He couldn’t keep this going. He hated to admit it, but he would have to stick with the original plan to buy time. During their entire exchange he had noticed the scales tipping into the zombie’s favor. It was perceptively anticipating his attacks as the fight drew on longer.

He couldn’t continue with his current form, and he could no longer do this alone. But he smirked to himself as he jumped away. Eight massive Serpents came from the side, crashing down into the zombie and plunging it into the earth.

Dust completely enveloped the area where the zombie had been forced down. He exhaled sharply, rolling his shoulders as he watched the dust swirl in the aftermath.

He should feel weak that he wasn’t able to completely fight the creature on his own. And deep down he did. He understood that he still had many shortcomings when he continued to allow the system to be his judgment for growth. But there was one thing that he began to acknowledge. Needing his companions wasn’t a weakness. They were still a part of his skill, a part of his strength.

”Took you long enough,” he muttered with a somewhat strained smirk.

As he glanced to his side, Ailetta was walking towards him, but eight massive trunk-like tentacles, tentacles that were thicker than tree trunks, were constantly moving back and forth as the serpents continued to attack without her conscious effort.

”You looked like you were having fun.”