Becoming a Monster

Chapter 199: Chapter 199: Numbers Does not Equate to Strength

The corpses being controlled by Ailetta seemed almost endless. Her numbers of corpses were far more than when she created her army of undead puppets from before, and most of this achievement was not due to her own efforts, but because of Noah’s overwhelming spirit.

Ailetta’s magic reserves were already astronomically unmatched by most beings in the current realm. However, that alone wasn’t enough for the numbers of corpses she currently controlled, a number that almost doubled the number of creatures she controlled when fighting the Queen. With Noah empowering her with his ability, Grant Lesser Magic, his ability wasn’t just increasing her magic by the mere 10% as it was supposed to. Instead, the increase went up to a massive 44.4%. Just that increase alone would give Ailetta a significant power bonus, but the skill was able to be stacked twice on one target.

Ailetta’s horde moved as one, each undead puppet driven by her will, yet among the mass, five stood out, creatures enveloped in her abyssal slime. The contrast was unmistakable; where the regular slimes bore a uniform, neutral translucency, these five were shrouded in deep, pulsing violet hues, their forms shifting like shadows within a shadow. They moved with a deliberate purpose, not seeking to kill aimlessly but targeting her own puppet army, consuming it piece by piece.

As each abyssal slime devoured one of Ailetta’s puppets, it absorbed the remaining mana that had animated the fallen creature. This process replenished the abyssal slimes’ energy, allowing them to sustain themselves for longer without demanding more from her reserves. Ailetta watched as their forms began to shift, their bodies growing subtly stronger, denser. It was an evolution in real time, a process that transformed each abyssal slime from a simple servant of her will into something far more formidable.

With every puppet consumed, these creatures took on an increasingly potent aura, their appearance becoming more defined and their presence radiating a quiet but undeniable power to be used for something greater by the time they reached their destination.

As they advanced, they didn’t focus on merely killing; instead, they devoured other puppets in their path, consuming both flesh and the residual mana used to animate them. This cannibalistic approach extended their lifespans, and with each absorbed puppet, their own strength grew, subtly yet noticeably reshaping their forms.

Moments before all of this transpired, the forest’s atmosphere changed the moment Noah, and his creatures entered its domain. The oppressive auras he had sensed so distinctly before thinned, evaporating like mist until they were nearly undetectable. This abrupt shift unsettled him, and it was only when the forest exploded with life, a series of shrieks, roars, and growls, that he understood. They had crossed an invisible threshold, a boundary that the beings lurking within considered sacred. To them, Noah and his army were trespassers that needed to be eradicated.

But it wasn’t the aggression alone that caught Noah off guard. It was the creatures’ sheer lack of restraint, the reckless abandon with which they hurled themselves into battle. They showed no signs of caution, no attempt at strategy, and nothing that resembled a sense of self preservation. Instead, they charged headlong into his forces, driven by a primal instinct that verged on madness. The creatures tore through the forest, clawing and biting, showing no regard for their own survival.

Noah was able to see versions of creatures that he was sure he wouldn’t come across if he never came here; at least not until the vegetation in the world fully submerged their once civilized society.

Everything here consisted only of the giant counterparts of their predecessors, and even then, Noah realized that the majority of the insects and creatures here had a higher evolved ratio than even the zombies. But it would make sense if he thought about it; animals always abided by the laws of eat and be eaten. Unlike zombies, who would only begin to eat themselves when they haven’t found prey within an allotted time, the creatures here were always preying or being preyed on by one another.

As they were being sieged, Noah came across not only some of his old foes, like giant ants, and behemoth beetles. There were also the dragonflies from before, as well as other animals besides the toads that he had noticed earlier. From raccoons that were the size of bears, to different sizes of snakes that were as large as the most common centipede he had faced before.

But out of all the creatures there, there were only three species of creatures that made him the most alert, while only one creature out of a different species made him uneasy. They were also the only creatures that retained some form of awareness. The first were the ants, their soldier counterparts were a lot bigger than before. However, it was the appearance of the humanoid ant generals that made Noah wary, cautioning that there could possibly be another ant Queen along with the spider that Arachne mentioned.

The second was a cluster of bees swarming at a higher altitude than even the dragonflies. The bees were not high in number as one would assume, there were maybe twenty that Noah could see. Unlike the dragonflies, the bees in particular were even larger than their original proportions. The current bees were almost three feet in length, while their overall appearance was thick and muscular, resembling miniature tanks of buzzing fury. Even their legs were the size of a human arm. And then there were two bees that were even larger than the others, their sizes almost doubling those of the others. Another set of wings were attached to them, most likely to account for the extra weight.

The two giant bees hovered next to one another, their resonating vibrations of their wings even drowning out the surrounding dragon flies. while the rest of the bees coordinated their movements with the two giants as they formed a protective formation.

The third consisted of hunters lurking in the trees, a variant of spiders he had never encountered before. Each spider was almost identical to one another, if there were any other species of spiders in the area, Noah was almost positive that the current spiders had killed them all off. Each spider was completely black, saved for the white skull like symbol that almost encompassed the entirety of their backs. Their legs were practically thicker than Arachne’s while their size might as well have been the same as hers if not accounting for her human half.

Each spider’s legs were like thick, barbed spikes, but it was their glowing red eyes that were the most disturbing asset. The glow from their eyes radiating ominously above their mandibles, making their gruesome mouths more apparent. Not once did the spiders approach from the ground; it was as if they were being instructed to take advantage of the other creatures’ recklessness.

It wasn’t just the organization of the creatures themselves that made Noah carefully give them attention; it was ’because’ they were organized that made him caution their behavior. Organization meant having a leader to guide them, and having a leader meant a creature that was far superior than them.

Although these creatures were able to gain his attention because of their collective behaviors, one creature specifically stood out on Noah’s radar because of its sheer size alone. A massive snake curled and moved above the trees, its body easily stretching sixty feet long, slithering slowly from branch to branch. The snake’s girth was as thick as a tree trunk, and its movements were both fluid and deliberate, showcasing that it was not only a true predator but also capable of ignoring the influence of the creature commanding the others. In that moment, Noah realized that this serpent might be equal to, if not a contender for, the balance of power within the environment.

The abundance of webs that blanketed the treetops made it clear who ruled the food chain here. They glistened in the light, forming intricate patterns that caught the eye, yet all the creatures seemed to instinctively avoid them, navigating the forest floor with a keen awareness of the dangers above. However, the snake paid no mind to these silken traps. Its giant form tugged and dragged any webs that crossed its path, roughly rubbing them off against the rough bark of the trees. Each time it moved, strands of silk cascaded down like falling leaves, the remnants of a spider’s labor scattered in the wake of its imposing presence.

Noah observed the serpent’s audacity, recognizing that it displayed an almost defiant attitude toward the other creatures in the park, particularly the spiders whose webs were strewn across the landscape.

Despite the anomalies within the forest, the most dangerous creatures served as a guide for Noah, indicating who should bear the brunt of his wrath. His rage still simmered, demanding an outlet. His creatures mirrored his frustrations; no command was needed as Fenrir, ever impulsive and reckless, charged into the fray. The wolf’s instincts took over, propelled by an unrestrained ferocity as he lunged at the nearest cluster of enemies.

In his werewolf form, His gauntlet-like hands extended and sharpened more at his fingers, resembling more like blades than claws. The creatures of the forest seemingly didn’t have a chance under his fury, with four of his hands cleaving through their ranks. However, the creatures slowly proved that numbers were still terrifying when in variety.

The dragonflies hovered over Fenrir’s body, their stingers digging inches into his empowered hide, that was less dense in his werewolf form. The stings were almost negligible, but the never-ending stingers were relentless, and Fenrir was so focused on mindless killing, that he didn’t pay much mind to them attacks that resembled pricks. Each sting proved to be just a minor annoyance, yet soon, the buildup of attacks built up to a significant irritation, causing Fenrir to roar out in both pain and frustration.

”Arachne, take care of the bugs flying around Fenrir; leave the spiders for now.” Noah ordered as he stood back to let them fight. Underneath his anger still held reason; he understood that he should still save most of his strength for the creature or creatures at the end. Two creatures against hundreds made Noah appear ruthless, but not only did Noah have faith in his companions, they weren’t alone.

”Eve,” he turned to the little girl that had yet to leave his side. Her small head quickly jerked up, wanting to be able to do something to help in the battle.

”Are you able to have Diab-your dad, use that skill with his heart?”

Eve’s eyes widened at Noah’s question; her excitement elapsed by her brief confusion. She only hesitated for a moment, her mind grasping what exactly Noah could be referring to.

”Um, I think so!” She replied, her voice mixed with a youth enthusiasm that didn’t fit the situation as she turned to Diablo beside her. Her eyes glowed with a flicker of her mana that radiated with Diablo, whose eyes churned in acknowledgement. His giant skeletal figure ran towards the fighting with his shield and hand, while his other hand firmly grasped the hilt of his sword.

”Papa, go!” Eve shouted; her voice acted as the trigger to the overpowering pulsation of Diablo’s heart. Every creature in the vicinity, including Noah and the rest of his companions were instantly placed under his effects. The subtle fear gnawing at their bodies, threatening to overcome their desire to fight, creating a tug of war between their body and mind.

Diablo’s debilitating effect was much more powerful than before, before he had undergone his own mutation with the aid of Eve. Now, both Arachne and Fenrir felt their bodies were a lot more sluggish than before. Their concentration struggled even more to overcome the overwhelming dread that clawed at their minds.

One might wonder why Noah would allow Diablo to participate in the fight if it only resulted in friendly fire. However, to understand his reasoning, one had to consider the broader implications of Diablo’s presence. If his most powerful creatures were struggling under such difficult circumstances, what chance did their opponents have against such an effect?