Becoming a Monster

Chapter 298: Chapter 298: When the Enemy is Yourself

Looking at the shining item in his hand, Noah had a high expectation for the stone. It was significantly different than the others; he didn’t believe that the stone was as simple as just being able to upgrade any skill that was level three or lower like the other stones of its kind would.

He was about to pour in his mana to activate the item, but he gave one lingering look to the two women whispering amongst themselves. What he saw made him both smile but also worry about what Ailetta could be feeding into the still learning spider.

Arachne’s sullen mood somehow metamorphosed into someone who was now resolved to face the world. And then soon after, that same expression turned into a bashful and flustered mess.

”I don’t understand her..” Noah shook his head admonishingly. But there was no sign of disappointment in his voice, only a bewildered affection. He couldn’t understand how the woman who was so obviously obsessed with him is trying so adamantly to get him to accept someone else. And in the same turn, he couldn’t understand how someone so prideful as Arachne had allowed herself to be so vulnerable, to share her deepest feelings to.

However, seeing the two people he cared about so deeply getting along and comforting each other filled him with a strange warmth that he didn’t feel to reject.

Turning his focus back on the stone, he poured his mana into it without another thought. The moment the stone responded, he was filled with a sense of direction that truly surprised him. The stone was different, and it was better than he had believed.

The stone allowed him to upgrade any skill to level three, regardless of any requirements.

Instantly, Noah thought of five skills that he could use the ability on. But he needed to be smart and use the process of elimination to guarantee that he wouldn’t waste such an item. He had to hold back his impulsive thoughts to upgrade his ’Blood Pact’ ability. Although being able to gain another tamed creature, a creature that he could potentially make as strong as his other tamed companions. In the end, the skill was already at level two.

Using it wouldn’t technically be a waste, but he definitely wasn’t getting the items full potential either. So, he crossed it out.

Following that train of thought, he was tempted to upgrade his ’Vassal’ skill next. It was only level one; if he leveled it up to three then he had the potential to gain two more creatures of Kratos level. The odds of that were unknown, but chances weren’t zero.

With the skills in his possession, there wasn’t a wrong choice; out of the five abilities he thought of choosing between, any of those choices would have a qualitative impact on his growth. But he still believed that out of his choices, if he were to fully utilize the skill the way it’s supposed to be used, then upgrading it became his only choice.

Before Noah chose, the vision of the monster lying dormant in his soul flickered into his mind. And thinking of the creature made him rethink his choice because of the very being who put it there.

He had to remember that this strength, this creature, was a double edge sword, a sword that could not only cause him to lose his existence, but also the deaths of those around him.

Thinking of that being using his own body to kill his family ignited a fury that startled everyone around him.

His anger flared, but as he focused on the being that was the focus of his wraith, the sight of the creature caused his emotions to stabilize. Even if he despised the creature, even if he wished to tear the creature apart with his bare hands. The truth of the matter stands. He wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for it.

”There’s no reason to doubt myself. This is the path I have chosen. The moment its power became the source of my strength; there was never a choice of going back.”

This paradox helped him regain the clarity to make his decision without any regret. Because living in fear of the beings’ shadow was a path he refused to tread.

[Chimeric Nexus Lvl 0 has been upgraded to Lvl 3- You have obtained the ability to have up to four fused traits.]

Upgrading the skill, Noah didn’t feel a surge of power, instead he felt an emptiness in his soul; and a longing to fulfill it. His body was urging him to fuse his talents, craving it. At first, even Noah was tempted to immediately give in to that calling, but suddenly he became enlightened, figuring out the root of that desire.

”It’s you isn’t it?” Noah’s eyes narrowed, the creature’s image inside of him visualizing in his mind.

The creature was still sleeping within his soul, yet every few moments its body fidgeted as if it was having a nightmare. Its eyes twitched, threatening to open themselves to search for the reason why it hasn’t been given what it’s been calling out for.

Seeing this, Noah still didn’t regret his choice. He couldn’t see that creature as a weapon, or as a danger to himself, because that creature was still essentially....himself.

He thought about filling the creature’s desire, to fuse two of his traits just to see the impact it would have on the creature and to witness the strength of a fused trait. However, he wanted to wait.

Using the skill would still make him lose eight skills, even though he would potentially gain four more powerful skills, he wanted to be in the confines and safety of his home before he presided.

There was no telling if he would meet an opponent of equal strength or stronger on his journey back. He didn’t want to face such an enemy with skills he wasn’t accustomed to.

Resisting the urge to fuse his skill caused Noah to let out a mentally drained sigh before he finally took in his surroundings.

He first noticed his creatures looking towards him. They were concerned about his earlier outburst, while Kratos was the only one ready to fight.

”Sorry guys, it was a false alarm.” He tried to laugh it off, but he could sense that they didn’t believe him, though they didn’t question him either.

That was when he looked over to the other source of stares. The humans fearfully were positioning themselves for battle. This made Noah laugh even more, but this time it was genuine.

His eyes narrowed as they centered on the group leading them all, faces that he would never forget.

Noah retraced the earlier battle, comparing the people of today to the weaklings that followed behind him before.

Compared to him, they were still weak, but this time he no longer saw them as pathetic. Those who sought power to control their destinies and were willing to even risk their lives to gain that power was all worthy of his acknowledgement.

Despite that small amount of respect he had for them, he continued to ignore them. Instead, he made his way towards the small mounds of cores that his creatures piled up for them.

The moment Noah reached Fenrir’s batch, his tail was already swirling at full blast, the ground thundered under the ridiculous force.

”Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you continue to get rewarded for your hard work.” Noah responded in kind. The moment he finished speaking, his hand was already glowing. In his hand was a core that Ailetta would find very similar to the sphere that made up Noah’s soul. A core was even more vibrant; its violet and crimson hues were more alive than they ever appeared before. The core looked and felt full of life.

The moment the core appeared, Fenrir’s breaths turned ragged. For a moment, Fenrir almost instinctively activated his ’Wrathful Fury’ ability during his agitation.

His breath blew Noah’s hair back so hard that one would believe he was in the center of a typhoon, but Noah didn’t budge as he tried to hold back his smile.

”As long as you work hard then you will continue to get rewarded.” Noah stated as he tossed the core in the air. The ground trembled in that moment as Fenrir used every ounce of his strength to retrieve the orb before anyone else could have a chance of thinking about taking it.

And he was right to do so.

”No fair! They took them from my kills, what about me?” Eve zoomed into view. She didn’t simply run to protest to Noah, her body crashed into his while Noah’s body remained unmoving. Eve was unfazed to this as she stared daggers into Noah’s face, tears threatening to burst.

Noah pondered as he looked out to the zombies again, noticing that she wasn’t lying. The zombies gathered were all the zombies that were being controlled by her. Seeing the scene, his eyes shined in understanding.

He wondered why Eve, who loved the cores just as much as anyone else, would stand aside while the others retrieved the cores.

She planned this all along.

”Wait a minute...” Noah suddenly muttered. He didn’t believe Eve was capable of thinking of this on her own. His eyes snapped behind him, towards the only one who this devious vampire would listen to.

Again, he found himself sighing helplessly when he noticed Ailetta’s gaze towards him ”innocently” turned away.

”Why is it always you?”