Becoming a Monster-Chapter 106: Fenrir’s Showcase

Everything seemed to be going right for Noah. If the ant encounter wasn’t convincing enough, the slaughter Fenrir was creating provided ample evidence of his overwhelming prowess after his evolution. Effortlessly, he dispatched any zombie in his path. However, for Fenrir, this display of strength was not enough to truly demonstrate his power to Noah. He craved a stronger adversary.

He charged towards the grotesque figure, a chilling replica of the tall one from before. This abomination towered above him, easily surpassing twelve feet, casting a long, sinister shadow that seemed to swallow the ground beneath it. Cold, hungry eyes stared down, devoid of any hint of humanity. One arm was a monstrous, sinewy appendage, nearly dragging along the ground, its grotesque size and strength a terrifying sight to behold. In stark contrast, the other arm was a pitiful remnant, frail and emaciated, a skeletal shadow of its monstrous counterpart. Both legs, though powerfully built and rippling with muscle, seemed almost insignificant next to the hulking limb. The creature’s imposing height and grotesque asymmetry exuded a sinister aura for those without the strength to confront it.

Fenrir approached it, immediately clawing at one of its legs, brutally ripping into its flesh. Another savage swipe followed, creating deep, jagged lacerations. But before he could strike again, a gigantic fist came crashing into his ribs, the impact reverberating through his entire body. It wasn’t that the zombie was fast, but its massive fist left Fenrir with little room to maneuver around.

Just as it seemed Fenrir was about to be hurled away, the blow sent him veering several meters across the ground. He rolled twice, but his claws dug into the earth, anchoring him. With a fierce snarl, he sprang back towards the zombie, his speed and ferocity increasing. The wounds from the blow began to knit together, his supernatural healing fueling his renewed assault.

This time, Fenrir launched himself at the zombie’s torso with unbridled aggression, slamming into it with such force that the creature toppled, its colossal form crashing to the ground and sending shockwaves through the earth. Seizing the moment, Fenrir unleashed a relentless flurry of attacks, his claws a blur as they tore into the zombie’s flesh. Blood sprayed in every direction, but the zombie, undeterred by pain, retaliated with a powerful swipe, sending Fenrir flying once more.

Even as he was blasted away, Fenrir’s tail wagged; he was thoroughly enjoying the battle.

The Zombie prepared itself to meet Fenrir head on, but two things happened that turned the fight into something not worth mentioning.

"Fenrir, is this the strength you wanted to show Noah, our master?"

Arachne appeared next to their fight, she was constantly being made aware of everything going on in the vicinity. This heightened awareness wasn’t just due to her skills but also the increased perception she gained after transforming into a half-human form. She had been particularly vigilant of Fenrir ever since he allowed his prey to escape, and she didn’t like what she was seeing now either.

Without saying a word, Arachne’s mere presence was enough to refocus Fenrir. His pupils dilated exaggeratedly as he snapped back to full concentration. Initially, he wanted to make Noah proud of his newfound strength, but he had gotten lost in the thrill of the fight, enjoying the chance to "play" without restraint. Arachne’s presence made him realize his error.

Without any hint or warning, Fenrir’s size began to gradually change, growing in size. His size increased by almost four feet while everything else appeared to stay in proportion to his growth. The skill wasn’t instantaneous, it took about 10 seconds to complete, but why would the zombie wait for Fenrir to finish its transformation? And what about the zombies around him?

With Noah too far to assist, the sprinter zombies converged on Fenrir, their ravenous jaws snapping at his fur. Their minds were devoid of any purpose other than to feed, but their frenzied bites did little more than thin his fur in patches. Even when they managed to tear through the first layer of his skin, Fenrir’s rapid regeneration sealed the wounds faster than they could chew.

The large zombie quickened its pace, an instinctual roar ripping through the air. As it neared Fenrir, a dark purple aura suddenly enveloped it, shimmering ominously. Despite the eerie glow, the zombie’s actions continued unimpeded. The next moment, however, revealed the true effect of this sinister energy.

The zombie attacked with a wild, uncoordinated swing, its dominant arm crashing down towards Fenrir’s face with barbaric force. Yet, the expected outcome didn’t unfold. Instead of being hurled through the air, Fenrir’s head merely snapped to the side, absorbing the impact with surprising resilience. He staggered back only three steps, his expression shifting from surprise to a growling arrogance.

Unbeknownst to him, Arachne had activated her skill, casting a spell that significantly diminished the zombie’s strength. Dissatisfied with Fenrir’s performance, she moved on to seek more challenging prey.

Believing his newfound strength was due to his own growing power, Fenrir growled arrogantly. With his increased size, he grabbed the zombie by its sides, his claws digging into its decaying flesh and holding it in place. Despite its frenzied struggles, the zombie was no match for Fenrir’s overwhelming might. It thrashed violently, but its efforts were futile against the sheer power coursing through Fenrir, bolstered further by the debuff placed on the zombie by Arachne.

Chomp!*

Now that they were around the same size, Fenrir directly submerged the zombie’s head into his mouth before loud sounds of flesh tearing and crushing bones sounded loudly through the battlefield, much louder than even the earlier tremor that took place.

Noah proudly watched his creatures dominate the fight. If things continued this way, he was assured he could stay ahead of the zombies’ potential growth. His vigilance began to relax as he thought about how much stronger he was compared to the zombies now, especially those he had faced before. But he couldn’t fully relax. A troubling thought lingered in the back of his mind: experience had taught him there was always a more powerful creature lurking around the corner.

His mind drifted to the god’s warning, a reminder that his rapid power growth wasn’t unique to only him. It was only a matter of time before something even more ’monstrous’ appeared. This kept him on edge, ensuring he never let his guard down completely. He needed to stay vigilant, to keep pushing himself and his creatures beyond their limits. The world was evolving continuously, and so must he.

Noah watched as Mark and the others rushed past him to engage the zombies. His eyes narrowed, assessing the situation, he wasn’t worried that the others would attract the zombies towards their positing. He had positioned himself and Ailetta a safe distance away, ensuring the tier one zombie and its lesser counterparts remained unaware of their presence, distracted by the only enticing figure they could see, which was Fenrir.

However, as Mark’s group charged into the fray, the dynamic shifted dramatically. The zombies, which had been singularly focused on Fenrir, suddenly seemed to experience a trigger. Their heads snapped towards the new arrivals, and an eerie, synchronized groan echoed through the battlefield. It was as if the presence of human prey had awakened a deeper, more primal instinct within the horde.

It was as if they were no longer aware of Fenrir or Arachne’s existence. Because Noah’s creatures were always confronting the zombies directly, the others couldn’t tell that every zombie that wasn’t a tier one zombie was what Noah considered to be a sprinter. These sprinters, with their unnaturally fast movements, including their unnatural physical strength, were now locked onto Mark’s group, their predatory instincts ignited by the new targets, targets that zombies’ natural instincts screamed for them to feed upon.

The zombies, driven by their alluring hunger, converged on Mark’s group with terrifying speed. Noah’s assessment of the sprinters’ agility proved accurate as they closed the gap almost instantaneously. Their movements were a blur, nearly matching Noah’s own speed, and far surpassing what Mark and his companions were prepared for. Their agility, close to 60, made them threatening opponents to everyone who had comparatively lower stats.

Simultaneously, as the zombies surged towards Mark’s group, a gap started to widen between them and the zombies amassed near the gate. Slowly, a breach began to form within the campus gate, creating an opening that allowed additional zombies to approach from the other side. This influx introduced a danger that surpassed the current zombies altogether, posing an even greater threat to everyone within the campus.

Boom, Boom*

Subtle footsteps echoed against the concrete, their vibrations more discernible than the sound itself. Unlike the distressed group, Noah was keenly aware of the unusual noise.

"Ailetta, you need to step back," Noah urged, using his arm to gently push her away.

Ailetta didn’t notice the odd variable at all as she was even more focused to support her friends in their endeavor. Unsure if Noah commanded his creatures not to intervene in their struggles, she had mentally prepared herself for such a situation. While she couldn’t fault Noah for his decision, she also couldn’t stand by and let her friends fight alone.

’Sigh...’

Noah noticed this and didn’t bother anymore. Instead he turned his attention on what was coming through the gate.

The first arrivals were other unevolved beings, and Noah anticipated they would be sprinters as well. Yet, to his surprise, they didn’t immediately charge towards the group.

However, Noah soon noticed a peculiar pattern: as each zombie reached a certain distance, its gaze fixated on the group of students before suddenly sprinting towards them. This behavior repeated with each new arrival.

Before long, more zombies flooded in, but it was the appearance of an unusual figure that caught Noah’s attention. Towering at an intimidating 8 feet tall, the zombie resembled a monstrous truck in its build, exuding an aura of raw, unyielding power. Its skin was not merely skin; it was more akin to a grotesque armor, a hardened exoskeleton that glinted dully in the light, explaining the thunderous footsteps echoing through the area.

This armored hide was a seamless blend of bone and some dark, metallic substance, giving it an almost impenetrable appearance. The interlocking plates covered its body like a suit of nightmarish armor.

The monster was menacing, one that even Noah considered would be a tough opponent for Arachne. Although Arachne was significantly more powerful than before, this creature’s mutation seemed to be a direct counter to her. A smirk formed on Noah’s face at the thought, the more challenging the monster was, the more experience they would gain.

Speaking of which, already he could feel that he had a notification. Remembering how close Fenrir was to leveling up, he was sure that the notification was concerning his growth.This was one of the greatest experience farms he could ask for, and it was just beginning.

[Your tamed beast Fenrir leveled up!]

[Player: Fenrir

Race: Werebeast

Class: Demented Werebeast

Lvl: 10->11

Exp: 9,933/12,800->124/25,600

Health:100%>77%

Stamina:100%->93%

Mana: 16/16

Strength:182>200(226))—>[276]

Agility:80(101)—>[81]

Constitution:150(203)—>[241]

Stamina:75(109)—>[90]

Magic:8

Spirit:75

[Accursed Weapons has been upgraded to level 2!: Your attacks now have an increased penetrative quality, allowing you to pierce through defenses with greater ease. Each successful hit applies a stack, with penetrative qualities increased by 10 percent per stack. Additionally, this ability amplifies your infectious qualities, enhancing the process of corruption, mutation, and transformation in those affected by your attacks.

Noah was reminded of his broken potential to fully dictate the growth of his creatures. His mind raced, trying to pinpoint Fenrir’s best build path, using his wolf’s already obtained perks as a guideline. Out of all of his perks, Accursed Weapons seemingly had the best potential for what Noah needed most for their synergy.

His plan was worth it; the newly upgraded skill provided an unexpected benefit. Now, if Fenrir couldn’t kill his opponent quickly, there was a higher probability of turning the enemy into an abomination. This abomination could be vaguely directed by Fenrir or even added to his pack, making it his first alpha.

Noah glanced at his ferocious beast with a sense of awe. "I’m truly making my own mini bosses," Noah thought pridefully. Although Fenrir often appeared simple, Noah didn’t see this as a bad trait, though Arachne would be inclined to disagree. He understood that Fenrir’s personality was due to his ongoing mental growth. Intellectually, Fenrir was still akin to a toddler and would only grow smarter with time.

"No-Noah!"

Noah turned toward Ailetta, noticing the strain in her voice. Her face was contorted with effort, making him believe that it was because controlling a higher-tier zombie was much harder for her than he had assumed.

She couldn’t afford to look at him; she was on her last legs.

"I’m running out of mana! They’re dying! Wh-what do I do?"

Ailetta was panicking. She had been using her skill relentlessly since the apocalypse began, but she had never pushed her mana to this extent before. The sheer amount required to reanimate the evolved creature, coupled with the effort needed to maintain control, was overwhelming. She wasn’t prepared for this.

Noah took a moment to assess their situation. There were people who were dead, yes, but he saw that Jasmine and the people that Ailetta supposedly cared about were still alive, so he didn’t quite understand her panic.

"They’re doing just fine, it’s not like we told them to rush in. Arachne has already killed off most of them anyway. And if your mana is low, then you should use the blue potion in the bag. This is the best time to grind as much as you can." He tried to remind her about what was important, but Ailetta stopped listening the moment she heard about the potion.

In one swift motion, she pulled the bag in front of her and rummaged frantically for the potion. Finding it, she chugged it down forcefully.

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