Becoming a Monster

Chapter 186: Chapter 186: Is that All?

Ethereal Sentinels- The duration of the skill has been increased from 5 minutes to 7 minutes. The mana required to activate it has now been reduced from 15 to 12 mana per activation.

Threaded Gaze of Prophecy-The amplification per pupil now increases to one-eighth of a second.

Out of his spider skills, the two he chose to upgrade were also the ones that Noah felt would benefit him when encountering opponents of equal or greater power. What he was beginning to hate the most was not having other options to combat against opponents that outshone him in terms of stats alone. He could no longer rely purely on his physical abilities or his creatures’ brute force. If he didn’t have the physical power to contend with them, then he needed to improve his abilities, and that not only went for him, but also his creatures.

As their master, it was his responsibility to ensure they grew stronger. However, the more creatures he controlled, the slower their progress became. With four creatures now under his command; Fenrir, Arachne, Eve, and Ailetta; their experience was being spread too thin. What had once been a boon was now becoming a hindrance.

Unless he sent his creatures to different areas to gather experience independently, their levels would increase at a frustratingly slow pace. But dividing his forces posed its own risks. Noah understood that each creature had their own strengths and weaknesses and sending them off alone could leave them vulnerable to threats they might not be able to handle. Fenrir might be able to brute-force his way through most enemies, but the simple-minded canine could potentially end up being taken advantage of from his lack of awareness. And others, like Eve, would require a more controlled environment if they were going to thrive in battle.

Noah only gave a second to mull over those options, quickly disregarding the thought just as fast as it came. His monsters weren’t just a means to increase his strength; they were his family. However, that didn’t mean that in the future they wouldn’t be able to fight on their own. The direction of their growth already hinted to each and every one of them being able to sustain a force of their own; a force that would be more than just numbers.

But before that, he needed to continue to properly fulfill his role as their monster tamer. With the cores he was going to prepare, he was assured that none of them would have a level zero skill by the end of the night.

’In order to watch them grow, I must be strong enough to continue to pave their way.’

His eyes shined with a heavy luster as he now strongly gripped the last upgrade stone. The moment the stone dissipated, his eyes were already closed, wanting to see the moment the skill upgraded.

”Is it finally my turn?” The moment Noah opened his eyes, Ailetta, who was seated next to him all this time, scooted closer to him. Her voice appeared calm on the surface, but internally, she was beyond excited to share both body and soul with Noah now. Not only will she be an extension of his strength, but she will now forever add to his personal growth. If there was one thing she desired as much as having his child, it was to be able to pay Noah back for everything he has given her.

Noah stared deeply into Ailetta’s eyes, the hunger in her gaze mirrored by the burning anticipation in his own. No words passed between them; none were needed. They both understood what was about to happen. And with a subtle gesture, Ailetta summoned a small portion of herself, a slime creature that slid eagerly from her form and began to make its way toward Noah.

There was no hesitation, no second-guessing. As the slime reached his lips, Noah devoured it without a second thought. The gelatinous creature slid into his mouth; its texture strange but not unpleasant. A few bites were all it took before he swallowed the rest, the slime aiding in its own consumption, as if it desired nothing more than to be a part of him.

The moment Noah accepted the bonding of the slime genes to his own, he could feel a cold energy from the slime coursing through his veins, blending with his own mana.

His body was unable to immediately adapt to the changes, and all of his pores began to leak a gelatinous substance that held the same essence as Ailetta. The coldness continued to creep across his skin as the slime spread about him, the only parts unaffected were the parts of his exoskeleton; but even, if observed closely, one could still see the slime seeping out from under the hardened hide.

Noah’s transformation deepened as the slime invaded every orifice, flowing relentlessly through his body. His nose, ears, and eyes; no opening was spared as the viscous substance seeped out. The more it poured, the less human he appeared, his body slowly disappearing beneath the thick layer of slime. His veins pulsed with icy mana, the cold energy coursing through him as if trying to claim every part of him from the inside out.

Yet amidst the cold, there were pockets of warmth; small, comforting waves that began to spread across his limbs and core. Wherever the warmth reached, Noah regained control. It started small, with his fingers twitching as if responding to an old reflex. But as the warmth spread, so too did his awareness. His limbs responded fully now, but it was more than that. He didn’t just feel his arms and legs; he felt everything.

Once the realization fully set in, Noah focused his will to withdraw all of the slime back into him. Every bit of it slowly receded back into his skin, leaving his previous state exposed again.

If one were to look at him, no one would believe that he went through a mutation. His body was completely the same as before. But out of Fenrir, Arachne, and especially Ailetta, none of them were fooled. They could sense the change in him, even if it wasn’t visible. Because of their bond, a portion of the stat increase Noah underwent was also transferred to them.

The only one confused out of them was little Eve. Unlike the other three, she wasn’t bonded with Noah through the blood pact, leaving her unable to feel the same sense of growth. She could only remain puzzled, watching the others in quiet frustration, who seemed to have a tacit understanding with one another.

All the while, Noah ignored everything around him, closing his eyes as he felt that he had fully grasped the changes within him. With a calm breath, he let go of his thoughts, allowing the newfound power to manifest.

From the stump of his shoulder, a stream of dark violet slime shot out, fluid at first, almost like a river of liquid energy. It moved with purpose, extending outward as if it had a life of its own. The slime spiraled and twisted, reshaping itself mid-air. As it reached the length of his missing arm, the fluid mass hardened instantly, its surface firming up, taking on the shape of a limb. It looked like an arm, no exoskeleton, no strange distortions, just a perfect replica, though made entirely of translucent violet slime.

Testing its strength, he slowly curled his hand into a fist, feeling the resistance of the solidified slime beneath his grip. He raised the arm, swinging it lightly at first, feeling the force build with each motion. The weight was perfect, balanced as if it had always been part of him. Gaining confidence, he began to move more aggressively, his swings becoming powerful arcs that cut through the air.

Then, with a sudden burst of energy, Noah pulled back his arm and slammed his fist down toward the ground. The impact was immediate. The force behind the punch cracked the earth beneath him, sending a small shockwave through the ground. Dust and debris flew up around him, but his arm remained steady, unfazed by the collision.

”Finally....” He muttered to himself with a relieved smile. Every time he had to be reminded of his missing arm, bitterness filled his heart. But now, he felt that he could move on without having to be constantly reminded of that moment when he was utterly helpless against the Queen Ant.

As he basked in his thoughts, Ailetta’s brows were furrowed as she continued to look him over. Eventually, Noah was taken out of his pondering when he felt someone, Ailetta in particular, feeling over his body.

”Everything feels the same....Why isn’t your body like mine?” She muttered aloud, Noah quickly catching on that she was talking more to herself than him.

Her hands firmly gripped the skin of his real arm before working its way to his chest, where his heart was. She then proceeded to work her hand down to his stomach, pinching his skin while at the same time pressing inwards to validate her own affirmations.

”Muscles...pulse...heart...Did the transformation only make him produce slime and not actually become a part of it?” As she continued, her hand sneakily made its way lower, reaching past his lower abdomen.

”Is this part of your research too?