Becoming a Monster

Chapter 528: Chapter 527: The Sword and the Shield

Noah remained completely still between the twin transformations. His eye watched each of them carefully, examining how the souls he placed within them would adapt.

He observed the way Kratos’ aura pulsed. With every pulse, the energy surrounding him compressed tighter until his presence nearly vanished entirely, making him feel deceptively weak.

However, Noah knew that wasn’t the case at all.

While Diablo’s explosive aura embodied raw destruction, Kratos was the only one who made Noah feel a sense of danger. And for one of his own creatures to evoke that feeling said enough on its own.

The surrounding mana destabilized the moment it came into contact with the nearly transparent energy wrapped around Kratos’ body.

At first glance, the soul Noah gave him didn’t seem particularly suited for a creature like Kratos. Ryder’s strength wasn’t overwhelming in power or anything that resembled physical strength.

It was a unique mana capable of cutting through other forms of mana.

For most creatures, it would have been an ability better suited for assassins, skilled fighters who relied on finesse and precision.

Or even mages like himself who could intertwine his own spells with that spell’s mana to counter other mages.

But Kratos was different.

He wasn’t a creature built for calculating strikes. He was a monster whose existence revolved around overwhelming physical force.

And that was exactly why Noah saw value in it.

Kratos never struggled against opponents physically weaker than him.

Noah realized his fault after facing Bolas.

Mana.

Barriers capable of withstanding his strength, enchanted defenses, reinforcement magic, and ranged spells. All of these were traits that Kratos didn’t have the versatility to face.

Against those kinds of enemies, brute force alone eventually reached its limits.

But if Kratos could force that mana into every strike, every movement, every part of his body... Then barriers would no longer matter.

Magic would no longer protect them.

Even reinforcement techniques meant to strengthen the body could potentially be torn apart the moment Kratos made contact.

And from what Noah could already see, Kratos wasn’t far from becoming exactly what he envisioned.

He then observed Diablo.

The miasmic fire was even stronger than before. Its ability to devour mana grew more insatiable, swallowing the surrounding mana without end and further empowering itself.

And that was with Diablo using it subconsciously.

The flames surrounding his spine were even more dangerous.

The fire itself felt unnaturally active, and, more than that, it felt as if it were sentient. With their proximity, Noah felt that illusion even more. It felt as if he could sense the flame’s desire for his own mana.

Noah could already see the changes taking shape within Diablo’s miasmic flames. And just like Kratos, the chosen soul didn’t stray away from his intention.

The soul fused into him was the fused soul of the two humans, Ryder and Samuel.

One possessed an affinity capable of amplifying fire mana beyond its natural limits, forcibly pushing flames past what they should have been capable of becoming.

And for a creature like Diablo, whose miasmic fire already devoured mana to empower itself, the compatibility was almost absurd.

Every bit of mana consumed by the flames was now being amplified further, causing the fire to continuously escalate in potency the longer it burned.

Even Noah couldn’t immediately determine where the limit of those flames would eventually stop.

As for the second soul...

Noah’s eye shifted toward the massive spine protruding through Diablo’s back.

The shield warrior’s abilities still hadn’t revealed themselves yet. But Noah was certain that would change the moment Diablo drew out his sword.

Noah couldn’t help appreciating the two of their developments. He almost wanted to laugh like a madman. The sense of fulfillment he gained from making monsters more perfect life forms was becoming more drastic than before.

He admired the two creatures while they were almost finished with their transitions.

Two perfect soldiers, with two completely different fighting styles.

After all, Diablo was unlike Kratos.

Diablo was akin to a shield, and Kratos, a sword.

The two monsters stood in silence as the conflicting mana gradually settled around them.

Due to Kratos’s soul being weaker than Diablo’s and weaker than his own, he was the one first to stabilize completely.

His scaled physique was no longer as lean as before.

Despite the soul used belonging to a physically frail human, Kratos’ body had thickened noticeably, as if his muscles and frame had instinctively adapted to withstand the strain created by the new mana flowing through him.

The increase wasn’t excessive enough to ruin his speed, but it finally brought his strength into line with his physique.

Even the scales around his arms and shoulders had changed slightly, becoming darker and smoother, almost resembling polished armor.

But what drew Noah’s attention the most were the markings.

Dark green runic tattoos had formed across Kratos’ body.

They stretched from the back of his hands up toward his forearms. Their color was dim most of the time, almost faded against his scales.

However, whenever that strange aura enveloped his skin, the markings immediately illuminated alongside it.

The runes were faint compared to Noah’s main bonded creatures, but they were unmistakable.

Noah’s eyes narrowed as he scrutinized it.

This was one of the few times he had seen a vassal developing the runes possessed only by his main tamed monsters... Which meant the fusion had affected Kratos far more deeply than he initially expected, or... his change had somehow begun to even affect his vassals.

Kratos slowly flexed his hand. The moment he did, the mana surrounding his claws distorted. To the others’ gaze, nothing happened, but Noah could see the surrounding mana instantly parting away from his fist.

Although Kratos’ changes weren’t as grand and imposing as the skeleton next to him, Kratos’ eyes gleamed as though he recognized the true potential of his strength.

Noah, however, understood the meaning behind that gleam. Kratos simply was itching to test it out in a fight. Already, he felt sorry for Fenrir, knowing that Kratos would call him out most likely before the day was over.

Then Noah’s attention shifted toward Diablo.

The torrent of black and violet flames slowly began to collapse inward, revealing the skeletal guardian.

Diablo’s appearance had changed far more drastically than Kratos’.

Long pale hair now draped down from his skull, contrasting sharply against the darkness covering the rest of his body. The skeletal guardian’s once exposed bones were now partially concealed beneath layers of blackened armor.

But Noah was able to see how the armor was made. It was created from Diablo’s own skeleton.

Before this, Diablo’s body had mainly consisted of hardened bone that naturally solidified into armor-like components over time. But the miasmic flames from the transformation had seemingly purified those bones further, using the surrounding mana as fuel for its creation.

The black and violet fire had melted portions of Diablo’s skeletal body before reforging them.

The remaining bone became the new framework of his body, while the excess was reshaped into the dark armor now covering him. Jagged black plates wrapped around his shoulders, chest, and arms like a second skeleton layered over the first.

And Noah could already tell the difference.

The armor had its own aura, almost like a piece of enchanted equipment instead of something naturally formed from bone. Judging from the amount of mana used to create it, it was likely nearly twice as durable as Diablo’s original skeletal frame.

A torn black cloak hung behind him, appearing like nothing more than useless apparel at first glance. Yet even now, it was the only part of his armor still actively absorbing the surrounding mana on its own.

But the greatest change was the sword.

Just as Kratos flexed his fist to test his new power, Diablo slowly reached behind himself and grabbed the hilt protruding from his back.

Unlike before, the protruding spine now rested within a structure specifically formed to contain it.

The dark handle extended outward from the center of his armored spine, large enough that it genuinely appeared as though an enormous blade was sealed beneath the armor itself.

The surrounding black plates had naturally formed around the weapon during his transformation, partially embedding the hilt into his body while still leaving enough space for Diablo to draw it freely.

Even while sealed, faint crimson light pulsed from the gaps around the hilt, accompanied by wisps of black and violet fire that continuously leaked from within his back.

The moment Diablo’s hand wrapped around the hilt, his aura suddenly shifted.

Anyone who was too close found themselves tensing in response.

Noah frowned inwardly as he sensed it too.

There was something within Diablo’s eyes that was never there before.

Diablo had always behaved as though he possessed intelligence. He could understand commands, react independently, protect Eve without hesitation, and even display preferences through his actions. Yet despite all of that, Noah had always felt an emptiness behind those burning eyes.

Like a weapon mimicking life.

But now... that feeling was gone.

The crimson flames within Diablo’s eye sockets no longer looked like simple fire burning inside an empty skeleton. They watched their surroundings with a subtle awareness that hadn’t existed before.

Something within Diablo has awakened.