Becoming a Monster

Chapter 210: Chapter 210: Who’s the Real Master Mind?

Noah should’ve been ecstatic that his theory worked, but instead his thoughts became self-deprecating. There was still so much about himself that he had yet to uncover. The only times he uncovered more about himself or advanced his strength without relying on the system was when facing or about to face a powerful enemy. He didn’t want to continue on this route. He wanted to do better, to be better.

Looking ahead, he was more determined than ever to finish this. If he had time, time to think, time to rest, time to not have to worry about looking over his shoulder, maybe then he could find time to explore his strengths he was overlooking.

Glancing forward, his eyes centered on the giant monstrously Ailetta created. He remembered her smile, and how much she wanted to try out a new ’experiment’ she had just thought of. Although she didn’t tell him, wanting it to be a surprise, Noah was positive that this so-called experiment was an ability that wasn’t derived from any of her abilities that relied on the system. He wanted to do the same, no...he needed to do the same so he can stop being limited by the system too.

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While the group was finally making their way to the center of the forest. An army of creatures, the same creatures who were ordered to retreat, surrounded an opening. In that opening, the trees that were once lively rooted were now gone, their trunks, down to the roots, had fully died off. But in their once sky towering presence were now thick layers of webs that didn’t allow any one to venture into the sky or the nearby trees. Just like the trees, the grass was now empty soil. But in the middle of the space was one lone tree. A ’tree’ wasn’t the right term to suitably describe it. The tree was a mere sapling, not even eight feet tall. The tree bore no leaves, its appearance oddly resembling the same trees that were eventually drained of its life energy.

However, this tree seemed different from the others, carrying an eerie, almost unnatural presence that made the creatures hesitate to approach. Unlike the lifeless, withered trees that Noah came to experience, this sapling had a subtle glow, a faint, ominous energy that pulsed from within its barren branches, as if something was stirring just beneath the bark. Its color was a deep, unsettling shade between ash-gray and a dark amber, veins of eerie luminescence tracing intricate patterns across its surface, like veins of some unnatural life force.

The creatures surrounding the area kept a respectful distance, their gazes fixed on the sapling with a mixture of awe and apprehension. They shifted uneasily, almost as if compelled to protect it, yet wary of getting too close. Each beast, no matter how ferocious, lowered its head, eyes alert but submissive. It was as though they sensed that this strange tree held a power far beyond their understanding, a power that demanded both reverence and fear.

The tree’s roots glowed beneath the surface of the soil, the surrounding beast avoiding them as if they were the plague. Although they feared the little tree, the reason they didn’t flee or didn’t budge was because of the few figures that were bold enough to stand within its presence.

Three figures stood near the tree, with one standing closer than the rest, the other two merely could only wait at attention while facing that creature and the tree as if they too were subordinates, but behind the two creatures were a small group that acted as loyal bodyguards.

Of the two creatures, their presence was unmistakable, the two creatures took on mutated appearances, but their identities were clearly rooted with their species.

One was an almost entirely black ant that stood like a towering statue, one of the very special breed of ants that its Queen painstakingly placed a majority of its resources into. Its armored hide gleaming with a silver metallic tint. Its physique was broad and powerful, with thick, muscular shoulders and four massive arms that hinted at overwhelming strength, despite being composed solely of dense, hardened exoskeleton. The creature’s additional pair of arms, each equally robust, extended slightly below the upper set, adding an even greater sense of destructive potential. Though its form bore some resemblance to the Ant Queen, this ant was built like a fortress.

Every inch of its body was designed for combat, with its hide layered like armor and jagged edges along its forearms and claws, ready to slice or shield with stubborn aggression. With four clawed arms poised for action and its stoic posture, the creature seemed the ultimate embodiment of a perfect soldier, a living fortress primed for war.

Behind it were six other individuals, almost similar in appearance, yet their forms were smaller and thinner than their earlier counterpart. Their forms weren’t built for power but were more fine-tuned for speed.

Another creature, a member of the species that showed part of their independence during the earlier skirmish. The bees had sent their own personal envoys for the upcoming battle. However, just like the ants, their Queen didn’t present herself, leaving part of her royal guards, bred for combat, to stand in her place.

The bee at the forefront was no ordinary creature, and even the bees flanking it were far more menacing than one would expect. These weren’t the same bees as before. The hulking muscle builds of previous drones paled in comparison to the raw, intimidating power these creatures exuded. They were complete beasts, both in appearance and presence, monstrous in every sense.

The leader of the swarm stood on six sleek, sturdy legs; its form stripped of the soft, fuzzy hairs typical of bees. In their place was a dense, impenetrable exoskeleton that covered its entire body like armor. Even the wings, which unfurled with an eerie metallic gleam, were unlike any natural insect wings; they were made of a tough, armored material that felt alien and indestructible.

The creature retained its signature yellow and black color pattern and the infamous stinger, thicker and sharper than any ordinary bee’s. Yet now, one of its deadliest features was its mouth, paired with fully developed claws. Unlike many monstrous beings of similar size, its claws and mouth weren’t massive or grotesque, but their razor-sharp edges made them terrifyingly effective.

Despite the intimidating appearance of their leader, its followers refused to be outshined. Only five of them stood behind it, but each of these monstrous figures resembled something closer to towering bears than bees. Unlike their leader’s bare exoskeleton, their bodies retained fine, barbed-like hairs mixed with thick, dense fur. This fur was long and heavy, serving as a formidable barrier, as effective as any exoskeleton. It shielded their massive forms, leaving only a few gleaming exoskeletal plates visible around their enormous claws and powerful feet.

Perhaps due to the sheer bulk of their limbs, each creature had only one pair of arms and legs. Their hulking forms stood with a powerful presence, and their tails, though equipped with a stinger, acted more as stabilizers than weapons, helping them maintain balance in their aggressive postures.

Their primary weapons lay in their massive claws and fearsome jaws. Each claw, encased in hardened exoskeleton, was deadly, built to tear through flesh and the like with ease. Meanwhile, their jaws revealed sharp fangs that oozed a thick, honey-like liquid. This viscous fluid dripped slowly from their mouths, emitting a rich, tantalizing aroma that seemed to captivate every nearby insect. The allure was so strong that, if not for the powerful, warding auras radiating from the creatures, the other insects might have fought each other to the death to reach the precious liquid.

One would think that these creatures were the ones behind the aura, at least one would believe if not them, then it would be the Queen behind these two species that were the ones manipulating everyone behind the scenes.

However, these creatures remained meek in the face of the true overlord of this half of the forest, a creature whose mere presence commanded absolute fear and respect. This being was the source of the potent pheromones that lured Arachne to its domain, a creature that feared no man, beast, or monster.

It was a spider, though to call it that was almost misleading. It was, in reality, a behemoth. In sheer scale, this spider would dwarf even Fenrir after his transformation, towering to an immense 20 meters in height, with a sprawling body that seemed to consume the very space around it. Its form was like the embodiment of darkness itself. Its eerie resemblance to the smaller spiders scattered across the forest was no coincidence, each one was, in fact, its offspring.

Yet, there were stark and terrifying differences. This spider had not eight, but twelve legs, each as thick as a tree trunk and covered in thorny spines that tapered into needle-like points, deadly enough to pierce any armor or hide. Its face was a nightmarish creation, with glowing red eyes that put demons to shame, accompanied by two extra pairs of mandibles that clamped like iron traps, ensuring that any creature unfortunate enough to reach its mouth would have no chance of escape.

The creature’s back was the only part of its massive form that retained the fine, barbed hairs typical of smaller spiders. These hairs arranged themselves in an intricate, web-like pattern, a design uncannily similar to the vast webs strung across the forest, as though the forest itself were an extension of its being.

And the mother? She had been devoured mere moments after laying her eggs. It was the price paid in a strange exchange this monstrous spider had made with the lone, mysterious sapling that it guarded with fierce devotion.

The small and seemingly vulnerable sapling appeared out of place amidst the creature’s dark, twisted domain. Yet, its significance was profound, as it held the essence that allowed this terrifying behemoth to thrive, to grow beyond the bounds of nature, and to amass power beyond what any ordinary spider could fathom within this small timeframe. The exchange was simple and brutal: life for life, strength for sacrifice. And so, the mother was forced to give herself, becoming sustenance for the saplings’ growth. In return, the spider was able to acquire a devilish-like bond with the sapling. One where the sapling would give it addictive power, power that the spider could no longer live without, in exchange for guaranteeing the saplings safety while only providing it with potential substance as it did with the female spider.

Currently, that very spider that was waiting for Noah and them to show up, was now fuming with great frustration after hearing from the sapling that the intruders weren’t moving.

It was prepared to move out on its own, but despite its emotional turmoil, it couldn’t trust anyone else to protect the sapling, nor did it want any other creature to gain its strength.

As it thought about sending the creatures sent by the other partial leaders of its half of the forest, its body jolted after sensing movement ahead.