Becoming a Monster

Chapter 310: Chapter 310: Hidden Hatred

Noah glanced over at Ailetta, who was not trying to hide her true intentions. It was truly amazing how flippant her emotions were. At one point, she was enraged, deranged would’ve been the perfect way to describe her.

If one didn’t know any better, one would believe that she was still furious from before, and that was the reason she was trying to convince Noah to agree to her whims. But he was beginning to gain a clear grasp of her new character. In fact, it wasn’t that hard to see; he could practically hear the eagerness in her voice. Even now, she didn’t try to hide the insidious smirks all along her body.

He wanted to say ”Wasn’t it you who told me not to kill everyone in the first place?”, but knowing her, she would either deny the claim or find a way to redirect the conversation after being called out.

Although he found Ailetta a bit ridiculous, he wasn’t exactly against the idea either. And Mark could see that.

Mark was deeply doubting himself. As he heard that poisonous snake egging on the monster once again, he didn’t know what to say. Give him more time?

At first, it seemed plausible. When Malcolm appeared willing to let their transgression slide there was a possibility of having room for discussion. He wasn’t going to back down, but maybe the old man would understand that not everyone should be included in their confrontation. No matter which side won, no one would truly win if they lost those to defend the base.

The hypocrisy was strong. But Mark was willing to lead with the contradiction. Some deaths were necessary. They were willing to cause so many deaths out of greed, greed that they were haughty to even obtain themselves. He wouldn’t sit by, waiting for their next sadistic escapade. What other nefarious plot would they use to reap the benefits from everyone else’s suffering?

Mark’s chest rose and fell as his thoughts tangled with his guilt and fury. He hated how much his thoughts were reminding him of someone he once despised, ’some people deserved to die’; it was these very thoughts that he would once condemn people of. But he hated the people who had pushed him to believe those words even more.

He looked up, eyes blazing with resigned resolve. Burke made it appear as if he truly cared about the base and its people, but Mark could see through the charade, clearer than ever. He didn’t care about the people. Maybe he once did, maybe his intention for rallying civilians and his militia here was for the benefit of humanity, but then the power brought by the system and the benefits from the shop changed him into someone who fed off the feeling of having more power.

Mark should know, he too was tempted by his newfound power. There was once a time that he even considered himself the chosen one.

He coldly looked towards Burke, his eyes slowly falling on Vincent next to him, standing there as if everything was beneath him.

The strong grip he had on his sword loosened as he released a deep breath that made him feel as if a heavy load was relieved from his shoulders.

Everyone looked at him, confused as to why he stepped away from the door. Both Jasmine and Bailey were even more bewildered by what he was doing.

Instead of addressing Burke or of discussing the possible options with his sister and Bailey, Mark turned toward the person who truly had the final say in the matter.

”Noah, please... just don’t kill everyone.”

It was at this moment that Jasmine and Bailey finally understood, and they couldn’t believe what they were hearing. Jasmine was even more reluctant. She still had time remaining while merged with her spirit. She could still do something.

But looking at her brother’s resolved expression, she couldn’t find it within herself to argue against his decision. She could see it in his eyes; she could tell from his resigned, slumped shoulders. This decision didn’t come easily for him.

She glanced at Noah, yet her gaze still lingered to Ailetta before returning to her brother. She knew that if Noah chose to kill everyone, then her brother would take on that guilt for the rest of his life, working himself even harder as a way to repent for all the lives taken because of their inability to make a difference.

She didn’t want to see her brother go through such an ordeal. But when she looked back towards Noah, she sensed a dangerous aura pinning down on her, an unnerving pressure that made her feel one wrong move could be fatal. The feeling was even more intense now that she was merged with her spirit, allowing her to pinpoint the source instantly.

To her surprise, her gaze was met by pairs of eyes staring at her intently...maliciously. Ailetta wasn’t going to let anyone interfere anymore. Out of respect for her past self, she had made sure not to take any hostile actions toward the people she once considered friends. But if they dared to interfere with her goals, she wouldn’t hesitate to sever that old connection for good.

Noah was aware of Ailetta’s hostile pressure, making no effort to address her. Instead, he finally started moving forward, his eyes slightly pivoting to Mark.

”Every time, you make it seem as if I’m the villain here. I’m a monster, not the dev-” Noah hesitated before he could finish. Even he didn’t believe what he was about to say. Not only had he admitted to being a devil just a few days ago, but his title as a Fallen really made him second-guess what he truly was. For all he knew, he really could be turning into a devil.

”Whatever... I give everyone the same chances that they give me. As long as th-”

Again, his words were cut short. But not for the same reason. All the while that he was talking to Mark, he was making his way towards the door. His second pair of eyes was continuously scanning the room and his Nexus eye was gauging the auras of every potential threat.

He bypassed everyone as inconsequential, even ruling out Malcolm as a worthy adversary. However, his eye couldn’t overlook the abnormal amount of mana hidden within the person called Burke. The mana itself was comparable to his own. Even if someone fully specialized their stats into one attribute, Noah would still find it surprising to see a human with such high attributes.

Although Burke was an obvious threat, his second pair of eyes that were scanning the room had stopped on a particular pair of people.

There was an initial shock, followed by skepticism. Of all the people he could’ve met, the last he was expecting to ever see were his parents. Perhaps, deep down, he was already counting them dead, or at least, deep down that was one of his deepest desires.

As he became what he was now, the strength he gained, his new identity that shaped and warped his consciousness, and his new family, Noah firmly believed that he threw everything behind him.

Even when he confronted both Neal and Regina, the hostility, the hatred he should’ve had toward them never truly surfaced.

Yet the sight of his parents, the acceptance that it was really them, his eyes burned with a hatred so deep, so dark, that his feelings affected those of his creatures.

All of Noah’s creatures’ behaviors turned strange in Mark’s and the others’ eyes. Their aggression was visible in their stances. Each and everyone of them was radiating a bloodlust that was nearly suffocating just standing near them.

Mark couldn’t understand what was happening, but he realized that the change had something to do with Noah’s weird behavior.

The pressure he was feeling was nothing compared to his sister and Bailey.

Jasmine found herself pressed against the wall, her body retreating backwards out of pure bodily fear. Her body deactivated her merged skill without her realizing. She had never experienced such oppressive malice this close before.

And Bailey had it worse. It was because of her that Mark had taken notice of their circumstances. He noticed her buckle over, falling to her knee, her breaths were labored and excessively fast as she clutched her chest.

Her clenched hands were extremely pale, her face was already turning a different shade as the panic completely overwhelmed her senses.

Mark’s eyes widened, shouting Bailey’s name before he noticed his sister’s absence, only to find her skin pale as a ghost.

His aura exploded, gaining the ire of each and everyone of Noah’s creatures. He didn’t think what his actions would imply as he enveloped the two in his aura.

But as soon as he unleashed his aura, he didn’t make a move. The eyes that were glued to him were nearly screaming that if made another move that they would attack.

”Noah, stop!” Jasmine cried out.

But Noah wasn’t listening. He wasn’t there at all.

It was only when he silently began to advance forward that the pressure lessened. His creatures’ attention being redirected alongside their pressure.

When he stepped forward into view for everyone to see. He didn’t mince words, he didn’t pause, he simply raised both his palms. And under silent scrutinizing and cautious stares, a volatile mana began to circulate.