Becoming a Monster

Chapter 345: Chapter 345: The Weight Of Gold

Mark realized that what he said was spoken without much forethought. He hadn’t meant to provoke Noah at all.

Now the weight of those words had drawn out a side of Noah that Mark didn’t want to face.

He panicked, but his body moved with clarity. His aura surged higher, a firm layer of blue mana formed a coat around him while a golden blaze of holy flames burst forth around the aura.

He had grown stronger, much stronger than before. It wasn’t his physical strength that gained him confidence, but it was his heroic aura that took on a qualitative change since his interaction with the holy energy. When he used his new energy, his mind became clear, his eyes sharper, and his spirit invigorated.

This time he believed he could have caught up to Noah. At least now, he could reach his shadow.

However, reality was...bitter...

The holy flames he had so much pride in, flames that should be able to purge any evil, to feed and overcome adversity, were snuffed out the moment they touched Noah’s presence.

It wasn’t even a contest.

The golden fire hissed and vanished, devoured by the sheer cold malice wrapped around Noah’s figure. This wasn’t a contest of power. The moment Mark’s flames made contact with Noah’s ominous energy, he felt his spirit nearly buckle from a mountain-like existence.

Now, the blue mana was the only thing keeping Mark from caving in under the pressure.

Bitterness. Mark was flooded with resignation instead of the fear that should’ve overwhelmed him.

He hadn’t caught up.

Not even close.

And as the firm layer around him also began to waver, it was Ailetta who stepped forward unperturbed by the pressure. And it wasn’t just her. Despite Noah’s rage, the pressure avoided all of his companions.

She placed a hand on Noah’s back, and for a moment, she too seemed like she would be encumbered by his aura.

”Noah,” she said softly, smiling somewhat mischievously.

He didn’t turn. But the storm around him paused.

”You should let him finish, unless you want to miss out on your chance to use the rest of your gold.”

The temperature in the room instantly returned to normal, the pressure surrounding Mark and the others vanished as if Noah’s fury had never happened.

Mark’s aura still surrounded him, his hands resting on his knees from the mental strain. His breaths were ragged despite not having moved a single step.

He looked appreciatively towards Ailetta who ignored his gaze. A low sigh escaped his lips, more relief than exhaustion.

Noah looked towards Mark. There was still a fierce glint in his eyes, but now he was hesitant, skeptical even. And as he waited for Mark to gather himself, he was beginning to lose his patience.

”Well? What were you about to say about ’my’ gold?”

Mark straightened his posture slowly, the weight of Noah’s stare giving him the will to overlook the spiritual strain.

”I was going to say...” Mark began, hesitating as he gathered his thoughts to ensure he didn’t repeat the same mistake. ”...If you aren’t able to use the gold anymore, then, you can use us. We owe you a debt that can not be repaid, nothing we can do can equate to what you have done for Paul. Allow us to use the shop in your stead. As long as you tell us what you want, then we can buy it for you. It’s the least we can do.”

Noah’s stare...an uncomfortable silence was created between the two. Despite facing him, Noah wasn’t looking at Mark at all, his mind was stumped. Could we actually do such a thing?

The solution seemed to be too easy, his distrust for anyone other than those bonded to him made it impossible for him to consider something so simple no matter how many times he thought about it.

He then glanced towards Ailetta.

That smile...

He could tell that Ailetta already thought of it.

But should he do it? And more importantly...If he wasn’t even able to use the system anymore, could he still use it that could only be obtained through it?

Without notice, he retrieved a weapon from his ring, a whip that he hasn’t used since the first time he got it. Everyone watched as he poured his mana into the weapon and nothing more. He then activated his Nexus Eye, perceiving the intentions, submit and control.

His first step came out as a positive factor. If the weapon that came out of a chest could still be used then why not everything else. But then when he thought about the upgrade stones, he began to doubt himself again.

The weapon in hand disappeared as Noah placed it back into the ring. Looking back to Mark, Noah still wanted to try. If it didn’t work, then he would insult the Being that he praised so much and return back to his home, planning for his next steps for the future. He doubted the shop’s disappearance was the only change. If that was all, then the Beings earlier warnings wouldn’t make sense at all.

”Alrigh-”

When he was about to answer, he froze. His eyes dazedly stared off into the distance.

This pause was different than before, but Ailetta quickly caught onto what was happening. Something must have happened at their home. Again.

”Noah?” she asked, already stepping towards him.

But he didn’t respond.

The atmosphere shifted. The feeling wasn’t as drastic as before. His aura didn’t bring about the burning, yet frigid coldness, but it was purely heavy...and terrifying.

”...We have to go.”

He forced out the words, barely containing his rage.

Ailetta didn’t ask, and neither did the others, but they were confused.

Was there an enemy?

Pandora and the others were successful in warding the creatures away the first time. However, this time he couldn’t delay, especially since the two golems that he left behind were now destroyed. And from the last vision he saw, the attackers weren’t a small group anymore, they were an army.

His frustrations stirred, not just the fact that his home was under attack again, but more importantly, he’d have to abandon the entire reason that he came here in the first place.

His gold...His eyes lingered on the chest a little bit longer.

If he couldn’t use it, should he leave it with Mark? The amount of gold he acquired, there was absolutely no chance that their power wouldn’t increase by leaps and bounds. At least then his gold wouldn’t go to waste.

His thoughts spiraled. His emotions fluctuated rapidly. He had to make a quick decision.

With long strides he reached the chest. As he picked it up, he remembered how heavy the first chest he’d ever tried to lift had been. Although he had grown much stronger than he was in the past, the chest still forced him to use half of his strength. It was absurd.

He clearly remembered Fenrir’s outing, how the werewolf was able to return with his spoils from the night. If Fenrir could accomplish it back then, what could explain it now?

Once again, he was getting distracted. His curiosity would have to wait.

He glanced towards Mark and the others one last time. He still had a decision to make, but deep down, he already knew what it was.

As he stood there, his mana churned deep within him. Within his soul, the diagram surrounding the stem began to glow.

The others watched in awe as an array had suddenly appeared under Noah’s feet. At first, it only was wide enough to cover Noah’s body. But as if responding to his will, the array grew even further before it stopped after reaching a ten-foot radius.

Noah turned his body towards the others, leaving his back to face Mark.

”Step into the circle. We’re leaving.”

One by one, his companions approached the circle. Their movements were cautious, yet they all stepped into the circle with zero hesitation.

The light of the array intensified, its lines humming in perfect rhythm that fully aligned with Noah’s heartbeat.

They waited; seconds, then minutes. The array took much longer than Noah expected to stabilize. He didn’t panic. He could feel it. The resistance wasn’t from a lack of power, but from the delicate nature of the array itself. If he poured in too much mana too quickly, the energy would fracture. He had to feed it slowly, steadily, pumping his mana through the same way blood would be pumped and exchanged through the heart.

But at last... the sigils stirred, and almost simultaneously, Noah and his creatures lit up in an almost entrancing glow.

Noah thought they were ready. All it took was a mental command and he could feel that he and others would be guided to the heart of his dungeon.

”Papa, Mama!”

However, Eve’s sudden cry alerted Noah’s gaze, he noticed that not everyone was glowing. Both Diablo and Ava stood in the center of the circle untouched.

He had nearly forgotten that the array was only connected to those who were connected to his soul. Any other living being wouldn’t be able to traverse with them.

Again, he was put in a dilemma. He thought he would have to make a hard decision, one where Eve might hate him for it.

Then, suddenly, Eve did something he didn’t expect. In her hands, the materialization of a book came to form. The very same grimoire that should’ve been held by Ailetta.

And by the looks of it, it underwent a transformation.