Becoming a Monster

Chapter 143: Chapter 143: Making My Enemy Stronger

Noah’s breathtaking display of prowess didn’t only affect Arachne’s battle. The gauntlet-wielding beetle was on its last legs. Large pieces of its ”impenetrable” hide had been torn away, revealing raw, exposed flesh beneath. Deep gashes marred its body, and its wound leaked a greenish-brown liquid that also contained a trace of a viscous substance, reminiscent of Fenrir’s infectious venom.

The beetle’s movements were sluggish; each step was made with difficulty, but it showed no signs of retreating. In fact, the beast appeared just as mindless as Fenrir while empowered by his Ruler’s Fury ability. With Fenrir’s infectious venom capable of forcefully transforming both humans and zombies alike into mindless, hunger crazed abominations, the beetle couldn’t remain impervious to its effects. The venom coursed through its body, completely affecting its mental state.

However, the beetle wasn’t in danger of being turned into an abomination, but that didn’t prevent the creature from losing part of its sanity. Its instinctual mind became twisted, driving it into a frenzy. Its altered state pushed it to attack relentlessly despite its tragic condition and Fenrir’s overzealous ferocity.

The two clashed with a brutality that bordered on madness. Fenrir wasn’t like Noah; his instincts told him that he could overwhelm his prey with brunt strength, and his playful mental state became exaggerated during his trance, making him enjoy the hunt even more. The fight was more monstrous and seemingly more devastating than Arachne’s and Raven’s battle. Every other second, a shockwave from the impact of the beetle’s fists was generated, followed by the occasional explosions from a nearby car or the collision into a building after Fenrir was sent flying by its explosive punches.

Meanwhile, Fenrir’s abomination was in a desperate fight of its own. The beetle’s that came to their leader’s aid proved useless under Fenrir’s attacks. Just one swipe of his massive claws proved deadly, even against their resilient hides, making them unable to share in the burden of their leader’s plight. But the abomination was another matter. When they saw the smaller version of their leader’s aggressor attempting clawing and scratching at their leader’s backside, their mandibles clicked furiously in unison.

They converged on the abomination, while a few faithful ones still rushed towards Fenrir, only to be met with a bitter end. The abomination was set to face an overwhelming number of attackers as they tried to tear it apart.

Yet, even as the abomination was beset on all sides, it fought back with the intention of killing everything before it, with a tenacity that was almost as terrifying as its creator’s. It lashed out wildly and indiscriminately, clawing and ripping into every beetle that dared to come close. Despite the overwhelming odds, its regeneration kept it in the fight, allowing it to withstand the injuries inflicted upon it. Its enhanced regeneration makes it stubbornly refusing to fall.

But as the beetles continued to swarm, their sheer numbers and viciousness began to show results in their favor. Their bone crushing mandibles savagely chewed through the abominations flesh. The abomination was unable to prevent its arm from being completely chewed through. The loss of its limb marked the beginning of its demise. Its regeneration defied nature, even by the world’s new standards, but its otherworldly healing factor couldn’t grant the creature the ability to regrow its lost limbs.

The abomination wasn’t just a mindless beast anymore; the drastic injuries elicited a painful howl. Its regeneration only worked hard enough to close the wound, but by then, it was too late.

With only one arm to fight back, the swarm converged more relentlessly than before, their giant forms enveloping the abomination beneath their numbers, leaving the abomination’s fate undetermined.

——

With every exchange, Fenrir would become even more lost in its pursuit of carnage, exploding with increasing fervor, relishing every moment of the fight. His deadly claws swiped into the beetle’s hide, generating intense sparks as they scraped against the beetle’s armored exterior, each blow more ferocious than the last. His fangs sank deeper with every bite, the audible crunch of the exoskeleton giving way under the immense pressure.

Fenrir’s regeneration factor was supposedly an unkillable machine, but for the first time, his immortality was finally showing its limits. Muscles surrounding his injuries twitched sporadically as they attempted to heal. Each powerful movement caused an unsettling crackle in his joints and bones, signaling the growing limits of his regeneration.

The extensive damage was far more than Fenrir had ever experienced; a clear indication of the beetle’s formidable strength. Yet, even as his body began to show signs of wear, Fenrir’s ferocity didn’t wane. If anything, the pain seemed to fuel his aggression even more, sharpening his predatory instincts.

As their battle neared its climax, the air was thick with tension. The outcome hinged on one question: Would Fenrir’s regeneration hold out longer than the beetle’s formidable armor? Each clash brought them closer to the brink, the suspense building as both creatures fought with every ounce of strength left in them.

Then, Noah’s powerful ability made an impact on their fight. The pressure of Noah’s mana wasn’t enough to distract either of the two creatures locked in their relentless struggle. However, it was the Queen’s agonizing shrieks that managed to disrupt the beetle’s barbaric momentum. The cries snapped the beetle out of its frenzied state for just a moment, despite the effects of Fenrir’s highly toxic venom.

That brief distraction was all Fenrir needed. The beetle’s hesitation, even for a fraction of a second, gave Fenrir an opening he hadn’t been able to achieve against the beetle’s quick retaliation. With a roar that echoed out his pent-up rage, Fenrir lunged forward, twisting his jaws as he angled his face to avoid the beetle’s horn. He clamped down on the beetle’s carefully hidden face, sinking his teeth deep into both sides of its head, firmly securing his hold.

The lapse of the beetle’s concentration, compounded by its weakened state, left it vulnerable to Fenrir’s assault. With a savage force, Fenrir yanked the creature off balance, his powerful lunge driving it down to the ground. The beetle’s legs flailed, and its wings attempted to unveil in a desperate attempt to lift itself, but the wings were already damaged from its earlier fall off the building. Fenrir twisted his head violently, eventually tearing through the thin armor around the beetle’s face, eliciting a guttural, pained screech from the beetle that was barely audible as it escaped from Fenrir’s jaw,

The beetle’s awkward position prevented it from utilizing its greatest strength to remove Fenrir from atop of it. Its bulky, heavy figure resembled a turtle turned upside down on its shell, left at the mercy of Fenrir’s mercifulness which was practically nonexistent.

Seconds followed where the squeals grew louder with every crack in the beetle’s face mask, splitter wider under the pressure of Fenrir’s powerful jaws. Finally, a loud, sickening snap signaled the complete breakthrough into the beetle’s flesh. Its shrieks reached a fever pitch before tapering off into weak, pitiful noises, as it could only endure Fenrir’s savergery while the sound of tearing and eating filled the air.

————

Noah was unaware that both of his creatures had emerged victorious. He stood amidst the aftermath of his devastating attack, his tattered appearance showing that even he hadn’t escaped untouched from his own power. Parts of his armor had been eaten through from the heat of the blast, and his insectoid exoskeleton, which made up the backs of his forearms, was completely scorched after he instinctively braced them in front of his face to shield against the searing heat.

Despite the damage he inflicted on himself, Noah remained completely focused on what was in front of him, his two pairs of eyes narrowing with scrutiny towards the silhouette beginning to emerge from the clouded debris.

He had hoped for his spell to destroy the Queen entirely, leaving nothing behind. However, the clicking of her mandibles, mixed with her distorted screeches, was a foreboding indicator that she was very much alive.

Realizing she was alive, Noah’s heart raced like never before. His hand instinctively moved towards his other hand, materializing a vial into his grip. He chugged the mana potion with a crazed intensity that bordered on desperation, preparing himself for the next round.

Suddenly, Noah jumped backward, his heart pounding dangerously fast. In that fleeting second, a terrible sense of dread washed over him, the source unmistakably the Queen. She had been releasing agonized cries, but something had changed. He couldn’t quite describe the feeling, but he trusted his instincts; they had never failed him before. The Queen’s cries shifted, her distorted screeches evolving into something more menacing, more unnatural. The newly made sounds were more like a rumbling growl, but overtime, both her presence and the screeching wail she released amplified, overpowering even his senses. The change in tone sent a chill down Noah’s spine, confirming his deepest fears: the battle was far from over.

At this moment, a blur appeared at his side, causing Noah to jump away once again, this time aiming for his sword that had been flung away by the repulsionary force of his ability.

”Arachne?” Noah finally recognized the new presence he had initially misconceived to be an enemy. Subconsciously, seeing Arachne brought forth a sense of relief within him that even he wasn’t aware of.

Arachne wanted to address him, to let Noah know that she had not only overcome her adversary but was also ready to fight alongside him to kill the monstrous presence before them. However, the sudden spike of power in the area drew both of their attention away from each other. Their gaze snapping towards the Queen, who was now fully visible. The sight of her would make anyone question how she was still alive.

The sight was ghastly; her body was a mangled ruin. Parts of her limbs dangled precariously, barely attached, while one of her four arms had completely disintegrated. The Queen’s remaining exoskeleton was cracked and charred, the once red hue that made up most of her exoskeleton was engulfed in black scorched armor. A slight breeze seemed enough to finish what Noah’s attack had started, threatening to tear the Queen apart entirely.

Yet, despite her nightmarish appearance, there was a terrifying vitality in the Queen’s stance. Her remaining mandibles clicked together, and her eyes burned with a malevolent fury. Her excruciating wail grew louder, stirring up a powerful gust of wind around her that blew away any lingering debris.

Noah’s and Arachne’s vigilance heightened to all new levels. The Queen’s presence had doubled in power compared to when she was completely healthy. But Noah’s surprise threatened to materialize from his soul when a peculiar aura began to radiate from her body. A violet aura first began to manifest itself from her charred skin, the searing smoke turning into a purple haze that soon coiled around her body, forming a thin incandescent layer of light that enveloped her like a second skin.

”That’s....That’s my mana!” Noah gasped, his voice barely above a whisper.

He was more astonished than fearful of the new development. And though he should have been preparing himself for when the Queen finished stabilizing his mana into her own; Noah’s vision was engulfed with resentment. His hands moved to his sides in a stance that was unforgettable to the Queen. His eyes narrowed as mana gradually began to build within his palms once again.

”Copy this then bitch!”