Becoming a Monster

Chapter 268: Chapter 268: Ava

The skeleton was nearly done with its i-”her” transformation. If Noah was going to make a decision then it had to be now.

”Screw it, it’s better to be safe than sorry.” Noah assured himself. The moment he came to a decision, mana began to compress within both of his hands. With his strength, a full charge Manabolt should’ve sufficed, but in his mind, if the creature was even half as strong as powerful as that aura from before, then he couldn’t afford to hold back.

But something stopped him.

”Mama!”

A high pitch squeal quickly extinguished Noah’s gathering mana. Almost immediately, his gaze snapped towards Eve, his thoughts had yet to catch up to what she actually said until he saw the zombie scurrying towards the very being he was about to kill.

The skeleton’s hair was still growing, yet the unfinished growth held no part in the skeleton’s ability to move. The skeletal woman that Noah believed to be the shadowed figure from earlier, turned towards Eve running to her.

Noah’s body tensed, his body sprung forward with unbelievable speed, just to stop again a few inches away from Eve.

The skeleton merely stood there while Eve wrapped her arms around her, her beady eyes looking up into the skeletons menacing face as if the skeleton was the most beautiful thing in the world.

And yet, despite the obvious show of affection, despite the fact that Eve declared the skeleton as her mother, the skeleton did nothing to reciprocate the affection. In fact, the skeleton appeared just as much alive as Diablo, aware, but lacking the depths of true consciousness.

The lack of acknowledgment from the skeleton did nothing to waver Eve’s excitement, the little zombie smiling wildly, much more livelier than Noah has ever seen her show before.

His mind shook, not because Eve supposedly seemed happier with the skeleton than with him, but because now Eve was truly able to show emotions.

He thought back to how little changed with her appearance, but looking at her now, he was aware that the little zombie’s change had to do more with what was inside rather than her physical form.

Before he tried to process anything else, his mind went to his mindscape to check her status. He was first bombarded by notifications for what had just happened, and there his question was already answered.

[Zombie Vassal Eve has consumed a fragmented bloodline of a ???? A forced transcendence has commenced.]

[Eve’s original zombie race as a Soulbound Reaver has transcended into that of a vampire, obtaining the race Sanguine Dreadfiend. All of her states have increased by 50% from using a powerful bloodline; Original zombie perks have now mutated. Obtained the abilities Sanguine Ascension and Sanguine Resurrection.]

[Sanguine Ascension-Allows you to summon a Vampiric Vassal, an undead creature bound to your essence. The ritual, etched in your Grimoire, reanimates a fallen creature by binding its soul to its skeletal remains. At this stage, the vassal begins weak and unrefined, gaining power directly from you. The strength of the vassal is initially based on its base power empowered by drawing 50% of your current physical stats.

The vassal is bound to your bloodline and will always be summoned in the same form, but its power increases the higher the level of the skill.]

[Sanguine Resurrection – Using the power of your Grimoire, which contains the souls of fallen Revenants, you can empower the creature summoned through Sanguine Ascension. Upon activation, Sanguine Resurrection draws upon the collected souls stored within the Grimoire, bestowing the summoned Vampiric Vassal with both stat boosts and selective abilities drawn from the Revenants’ power. Only two abilities and ten percent of the selected revenants stats can be bestowed to the creature]

Name: Eve

Class: Sanguine Dreadfiend

Race: Sanguine Dreadfiend

Lvl: 14

Health: 100%

Stamina: 98%

Mana:646

Attributes

Strength: 72>36(41) |108(124)

Agility: 88>44(51) | 132(152)

Constitution: 90>45(52) |135(172)

Stamina: 122>62(71) |183(210)

Magic: 199>299(344)

Spirit: 187>281(323)

He just wanted to see her race, but the surplus of information was just too inviting and too overwhelming. The pieces of the puzzle he had been doubting to put together were beginning to come together. The reason Eve was now so expressive was because she was no longer a zombie. He felt exhilarated, proud even, but all of his joy was contained, all because of the creature that he believed to be the cause of it. Then they were quickly vanishing.

The skill that Eve had received that allowed her to summon the creature didn’t alleviate his concerns, it only increased his vigilance. If he had any doubts that the creature was the reincarnation from that figure from earlier than the name of the skill ”Sanguine Resurrection” alone was enough for him to determine what the creature truly was. The doubt that still lingered was whether or not he should still attempt to destroy it.

His concerns were warranted, it was for his and his companions safety. However, would destroying it truly solve the problem?

”Eve,” he called for the only one who could help him make the decision. If he truly wanted to destroy the creature, then that would also mean having to destroy Eve first. The figure’s earlier display removed the thought of simply preventing Eve from restoring the creature’s body. If the figure was able to use the book on its own to create its body, what was stopping it from doing it again?

The little zom-no, the little vampire turned to Noah, her smile still plastered on her face. But the moment she met Noah’s intense stare, any resemblance of a smile was gone, replaced with worry.

The genuine emotions reflecting in her eyes for the first time made Noah’s thoughts falter. His earlier blunt question hitched as he saw the childlike fear in her gaze.

Before Noah was aware of it, his hands were already relaxed by his sides, his shoulders slumped in acceptance.

Just like his other companions, he would indulge in Eve’s desires if that meant she was happy. But his heart was steeled for the future. He could feel it, the skeleton was a potential ticking time bomb. He just wasn’t sure if it was on the same level as the entity inside of him or just how much time he had before the creature acted.

All of his thoughts were going to be kept to himself, yet his eyes instinctively glanced towards Ailetta, hoping that the ever observant Slime wasn’t aware of his thoughts. It was just a glance, but his subtle look was met with her stare.

Again he released a heavy breath, closing his eyes to readjust himself. All the while, Eve still was left to her thoughts, thoughts that overburdened the little vampire who wasn’t used to her thoughts being contorted by her emotions.

Noah understood this, and that was why when he looked back up towards her, a small welcoming smile was on his face.

”What’s her name?”

His question elicited a blank stare from Eve, she was not at all prepared for the change. Her brain has yet to comprehend Noah’s inner turmoil. However, as she absorbed the question, her face lit up in joy as she reached out to grab his hand.

”Her name?” Eve repeated, her voice dropping as she had finally realized that she didn’t have an answer to that question.

She paused for a brief moment, as though testing the word in her mouth, before her eyes brightened further. ”Mother! She’s my mother.”

Noah’s lips twitched, remembering a scene not too different from this very moment. He didn’t know why he thought this time would be different. Still, at least this relieved his troubled thoughts, if only a little. For Eve to not know the creature’s name meant that the creature is not able to communicate with her; not in a way that the creature could manipulate her at least. Or maybe the creature was just buying its time, aware that Noah and Eve were bonded together.

Taking one last look at the creature, fiendish visage has not once changed, Noah said a name to Eve before he returned to the chest.

”Then ”she” will be called Ava.”

Noah’s back was already turned away, unable to see the small flicker of life that passed through the creature’s eyes towards the name.

__________________

As he returned to the chest, he paused to look at the contents again. His spirit wasn’t in the mood for feeling eager for the loot as he normally was.

His goal was to quickly organize the gear so he can finally go ’home’, that thought alone made Noah feel revived. His body moved a step faster, his hands moved towards the least aura inflated time first.

He retrieved an item that was probably the biggest one from the other two. A staff that was nearly as tall as his entire body. The staff was made of wood, wood that resembled dark mahogany that was streaked with glowing verdant green veins.

The top of the staff was crowned with a glowing gemstone, an orb that shifted in color between a vivid emerald green and a soft, ethereal blue,

As he held it, he felt his mind clear, his body feeling significantly calmer. He knew this feeling, his spirit had increased, massively so. His thoughts were proven true as he checked his stats. The staff increased his spirit by 250 points, the highest he ever received from his equipment so far.