Becoming a Monster

Chapter 209: Chapter 209: Chimeric Primarch Part 2

The strange occurrence made Noah want to investigate further, but suddenly Arachne’s human back was ripped apart. Eight spider legs, much longer and deadlier looking than Noah’s sprouted from her backside. Looking at her new limbs, Noah noticed she had two types of appendages that formed, each form being engraved with the same green engravings as before. Four of the limbs were tipped with jagged, razor sharp blade like scythes, each one meant to shred into her enemy instead of being used to pin and immobilize her prey. Those legs were the pair that positioned themselves inside of the other four. The four that were much longer and simpler in appearance and also regained some of its dark hairs typical of a spider. The appearance of the latter four clearly meant for stability and mobility.

As Noah focused, he realized that the last four legs also had small openings. With his Nexus Eye, he could see a trail of mana veins traveling throughout her body, eventually branching out through those four legs in particular. The same type of mana veins that traveled through her arms. Instantly he became aware that there was the possibility that her legs were now capable of being able to release webs.

Despite the lack of movement from her, her spider appendages seemed to have a life of their own as they were curling, waving and folding around her. The same time her legs were growing seemingly out of control, her face had a gradual change. Her facial features softened, while the exoskeleton that covered the majority of her face began to recede. Not enough to leave her face completely exposed, but now the middle of her face was left vulnerable from the hardened skin, only covering the eyes upon her forehead and the side of her face.

The moment seemed suspended in time as Arachne’s body stood unmoving. It was only when the aura finally relinquished that her gaze took back its awareness. Her eyes darted around herself, viewing herself with an eerie calmness despite her massive changes.

Unlike before, where her spider appendages moved without reason and without purpose. Her legs fully extended away from her, then brought back, uncurling and out stretching, holding in place in front of her eyes, allowing her to fully take in their changes.

Her gaze eventually settled on Noah, she could feel the power within her, and again it was thanks to her life companion. Her budding emotions inspired her to hug him, to hold him dearly in her arms to showcase how grateful she was. An urge that she wouldn’t have if not for her recent transformation.

However, the moment she tried to move towards him, the corners of her mouth etched into a frown. She irritably looked behind her, realizing that the spider portion of her wasn’t responding to her thoughts.

Noah, seeing her frustration, assumed that something had gone wrong with her transformation. He thought that now would be a good time to offer his aid.

”Annoying!” The clear voice of a woman he never heard entered his ears, causing his actions to stop at the same time as his thoughts. If not for the subtle hiss at the end, Noah would’ve taken a moment longer to register who the voice belonged to.

Despite the frustration laced within her voice, her tone still contained a soft, almost melodic flow, with a low, pleasant pitch. But because of her anger, the hiss in her voice was more perceptible.

Noah continued to watch while Arachne placed her human legs against the backside of her lifeless spider form. The part connecting her to the giant form was now much swollen than before, expanding out unnaturally. Everyone was stricken with surprise when they witnessed Arachne cut into herself with her bladed appendages, hacking away at her hindsight as if she didn’t care about injuring herself.

Noah would’ve quickly put a stop to her actions if not for the fact that he couldn’t perceive mana running through that portion of her, only within the small confines of her backside was there still mana that was circulating. Mana that was circulating just as strongly as the core that resided within her chest.

Cracks began to fill in the silence the moment she started to pull away from the spider form holding her down. A grotesque sound of sticky liquids followed as she began to separate from the empty husk. But trailing behind her was a new abdomen, one that wasn’t as large as her previous form but was still at least large enough when in proportion with her humanoid body. And etched on the backside of her abdomen still resided the same green runic symbol.

Now that she was free, Arachne retraced her last steps before she was distracted. Once again advancing towards Noah with a perceptive excitement within her steps. Noah was holding back the urge to check his system’s notification to find out what exactly had changed about her. It wasn’t until he was assured that her form was done transforming when he soon realized that her new metamorphosis may not be because she adapted and overwrote Noah’s old set of genes like how he did when changing his zombie lord genes for Fenrir’s. But he now feared that he wasted Arachne’s remaining chance of incorporating a gene. Having her keep the human gene he gained from himself while also now obtaining his new gene containing what he was now that he was no longer considered human.

While in the middle of his thoughts, Arachne was already upon him. Her body practically lunged into his, forcing him to plant his feet firmly to hold the both of them up.

Her arms wrapped around him, pressing her body tightly against his as her face nestled on the side of his. He hadn’t expected this sudden surge of affection from her, but it wasn’t unwelcomed.

”Thank you....” A small whisper entered his ears. Despite showing her gratitude, Arachne didn’t budge, continuing to hold onto Noah without the intention of letting go. His arms instinctively tightened around her, holding her closer as if to reassure her.

For a moment, Noah allowed himself to stay in that position with her, but after a while his thoughts pertaining to what all transpired with her transformation, and their upcoming challenge they faced, caused him to pull away.

”You can thank me by killing that bastard.” Noah voiced with a cruel smile. He was doing good masking it, but he couldn’t let go of the fact of someone coveting what was his.

”Consider it done,” she said with an unwavering confidence while the aura around her spiked dangerously.

”If you’re done, can we go now?” The two looked over to Ailetta. Arachne held a small irritable glare at having her moment with Noah interrupted.

”What?” Alietta questioned, her eyes not holding a hint of jealousy towards their physical affection. She understood Noah best, his affection for Arachne was pure, lacking any lust for her despite how it may seem. But she knew how that would all change the moment Arachne understood her own feelings for him and actually voiced them to make Noah understand. Perhaps if it was anyone else besides Arachne then she would find a way to plan an accidental death. But for now, she only found amusement watching Arachne trying to understand her budding emotions.

”I’ve already waited forever; I want to test out my-Ahem! I mean, I want to hurry up so we can officially make this place ours already.” Ailetta continued. Unlike Noah, the others looked past her little mix-up, instead, they resonated with her statement of finally making the place their home.

Noah chucked softly at her slip-up as he returned his focus back to the task at hand. ”You’re right,” he said, using this moment to remove himself from Arachne’s grasp. Let’s finish this. We’ve spent enough time getting ready. It’s time to conquer this place.”

His eagerness for battle was shared with all of the others. Nothing needed to be prepared as they began to trek their way down the path that the animals fled to while being led by Ailetta’s abominable creation. During their travel, Noah was finally able to cycle through his notifications.

[Your Beast, Arachne, has consumed a new source of genes, a mutated source of her original absorbed traits. She has been given the option of changing and upgrading the trait to the new source.

The continued consumption of the gene ’Chimeric Primarch’ has fully transcended over the original ’human’ gene, not only granting her a physical mutation but the empowered trait has forcibly advanced the subclass rogue into its new class ’Duelist’, increasing both agility and strength by 25% while also gaining the skills; Riposte, Parry mastery and Feint.

Duelist- Duelists combine a rogue’s speed with precise, parry-based fighting. They gain bonuses for agility and can counter enemy attacks. Skilled at one-on-one combat and counting enemy moves.

Riposte (Lvl 0)- When counterattacking after successfully dodging or parrying an enemy attack, bypass 20% of the enemies’ defenses.

Parry Mastery (Lvl 0)- Reduces the damage taken from melee attacks when deflecting by 10%. Stacks up by 1% for each parry, up to 5%.

Feint (Lvl 0)- A deceptive move that throws off the opponent’s defenses, making the enemy more perceptible to flinch, increasing the chances of scoring a critical hit on their next attack.]