The Lord Who Levels Up by Devouring - Chapter 184

—————

This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

—————

Chapter 184. Crimson Torrent
Using Berserk Transformation [A+] for the first time.
At The Vanished Social Club, I had only confirmed Berserk Transformation [A].
From Berserk Transformation [A+] onward, it was uncharted territory.
The required Sanity cost was 6,400, though this too was merely an ‘estimate’.
So there was some lingering anxiety, but….
◆You consume 6,624 Sanity.
◆Berserk Transformation [?] is applied at rank [A+].
Fortunately, it went as expected.
I overshot by about 200, but it wasn’t a significant problem.
The real issue was this.
◆The skills you can transcend with this value are: Dragon’s Claw [A], Ultra-Reinforced Skeletal Structure [A], Hypersensitive Motor Control [A-], Regeneration [B+], Reinforced Skin [B], Nutrient Synthesis [B], Mucus Cells [B-], Assimilation [B], Low-Light Vision [C], Vibration Sensing [B-], Metabolic Acceleration [C+].
Choosing which skill to transcend with Berserk Transformation [A+].
I had been deliberating on this ever since the battle with Marzen.
Which skill would be best to transcend?
If I selected Dragon’s Claw [A], the dragon’s genetic ability, my pure offensive power would skyrocket.
And it would also affect Monomolecular Blade [S], opening the possibility of transcending it to [S+] rank.
Ogre’s genetic abilities—Ultra-Reinforced Skeletal Structure [A] and Hypersensitive Motor Control [A-]—would dramatically elevate my physical stats.
There were many other options to choose from.
But there was only one skill I could transcend with Berserk Transformation [A+].
I exhausted all my biological knowledge and deliberated endlessly.
And after that long contemplation.
What I chose was—.
◆Skill Metabolic Acceleration [C+] is upgraded to rank [A+].
Metabolic Acceleration [C+].
A skill I had already transcended with Berserk Transformation [B-].
As a result, I had already created the fusion skill Heartbeat Acceleration [E].
But.
From [A-] onward, it rivals the dragon’s genetic ability.
From [A] onward, it matches the dragon’s genetic ability.
And from [A+] onward, it surpasses the dragon’s genetic ability in certain aspects.
◆Skill Metabolic Acceleration [C+] transcends its limits!
◆You acquire Transcendent Skill: Biogenic Overmetabolism [A+]!!
◆Biogenic Overmetabolism [A+]
: When this skill is activated, the player maintains the basic effects of Metabolic Acceleration [C+] while being able to metabolize various biogenic energy resources within the body (calories, fat, muscle and hepatic glycogen stores, ATP, lactic acid, creatine phosphate, etc.).
【This skill is a transcendent skill that surpasses Metabolic Acceleration [C+].】
Metabolic Acceleration [C+] had transcended the dragon’s ability and been reborn as a new transcendent skill.
Currently, Ultra-Compressed Adipose Tissue [U] was sealed.
As a result, calories were limited.
But Biogenic Overmetabolism [A+] could metabolize ‘biogenic resources’ beyond just calories.
I activate the Transcendent Skill, Biogenic Overmetabolism [A+]!
The diverse energy reserves within my body.
Muscle and liver glycogen stores, ATP, lactic acid, creatine phosphate and other rapid-release energy sources metabolized, dramatically amplifying my stats.
“Stop pretending to be strong!!!”
Blake lunged forward with a roar. I tracked his movements carefully. Blake was equally aware of me.
‘Here it comes!’
Kwaaaaaaang!!
A tremendous impact erupted between us.
I forced down the blood surging up my throat.
“Aaaaaaaaaah!!”
Blake screamed, drawing upon deeper reserves of power.
The darkness coiled around Ahimsa Yuda intensified, and the entire landscape around us warped grotesquely.
I should have evaded.
I could have easily dodged.
But—.
‘I’ll meet it head-on!’
I had to erase the evidence here.
I never took my eyes off Blake within the distorted landscape. Maintaining my Monomolecular Blade [S], I gauged the precise timing.
But the exact timing remained elusive.
‘If I use Weak Point Hunting—.’
I cut off the thought.
That wouldn’t work.
Of course, Weak Point Hunting [M] wasn’t sealed.
But I couldn’t use it.
Because Regeneration [B+] was sealed.
Without Regeneration [B+]?
I couldn’t handle the cerebral overload.
So now I focused solely on the heightened senses amplified by Biogenic Overmetabolism [A+].
‘Now!’
Crackle—!
I forcibly consumed Blake’s mana with Mana Predation.
My mana reserves were insufficient to devour it all.
Moreover, without Weak Point Hunting [M], I couldn’t calculate the precise timing and flow.
Kwaaaang!!
A massive impact struck my Monomolecular Blade [S].
Blood gushed from my mouth in torrents.
My consciousness flickered in and out.
…Yet still, I didn’t yield. I held my ground.
Ogre’s abilities, including Ultra-Dense Muscle Fibers [A+], remained unsealed.
And with the amplification from Biogenic Overmetabolism [A+], my physical stats were reaching three digits.
It was thanks to Mana Predation offsetting a portion of his power.
Thus, the Monoatomic Blade [S] and Ahimsa Yuda.
My attacks and Blake’s maintained a distance where they never quite connected, the balance teetering back and forth.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t push Blake back.
But conversely, Blake also ultimately failed to push me back.
Even with Contempt of the Weak [L] fully activated, Blake couldn’t overwhelm me.
And thus.
“What is this…!?”
Cracks began forming in the foundation of Contempt of the Weak [L].
Now was the moment.
I pressed the advantage.
Inscribing [Prey’s Mark] among the predator’s intimidation effects, I dragged my foot backward.
The sudden shift threw Blake’s balance into disarray.
Blake’s mist-formed arm rippled.
His center of gravity had shifted.
A momentary opening.
I lowered my stance, tightening the muscles of my thighs and driving my grounded foot forward with all my strength.
Boom!
The explosive propulsion amplified the damage, and [Prey’s Mark] added an additional +50% damage on top.
Blake’s body launched skyward from the amplified impact.
“Gah…!”
Blood sprayed from Blake’s mouth.
◆The seal on Regeneration [B+] is released.
◆The seal on Nutrient Synthesis [B] is released.
◆The seals on Reinforced Skin [B] and Rigid Transformation [U] are released.
The foundation of Contempt of the Weak [L], which had been cracked, shattered piece by piece. The seals on several high-tier skills and evolved skills partially came undone.
“Not a chance!!”
Suspended in the air, Blake wrapped Ahimsa Yuda around himself and swung it with a tearing motion.
That’s difficult to counter.
I quickly increased the distance between us.
Blake, landing on the ground, didn’t rashly charge forward.
We both widened the gap between us, each catching our breath.
…Unfortunately, I couldn’t unseal all his skills.
The foundation of Contempt of the Weak [L].
In other words, because I hadn’t shattered Ahimsa Yuda.
But.
I had achieved my objective.
Namely, the three skills that comprise Metabolic Runaway [U].
Regeneration [B+]. Nutrient Synthesis [B].
And I had unsealed the seal on Metabolic Acceleration [C+].
Earlier, Predation [S+] was never sealed.
Therefore, if I simply manifested the sealed genetic factors, I could combine the manifested abilities however I wished.
In other words, I could now use Metabolic Runaway [U].
But here’s the thing.
The foundational skill underlying Metabolic Runaway [U].
It had already transcended into Primordial Metabolic Amplification [A+].
◆Combination Skill, Metabolic Runaway [U] transcends its limits!!
An ability that reached the complete form of biological evolution transcended into a new ultra-combination skill and manifested.
Thus, the ultra-combination skill was born.
The existing ultra-combination skill, Heartbeat Acceleration [E], functioned by elevating blood flow and oxygen supply to temporarily enhance reaction speed and strength.
Through this, I could expect momentary combat power increases.
However, the tissue cells couldn’t handle the rapidly supplied oxygen and energy.
Consequently, the cells suffered damage before receiving the necessary energy, failing to exert proper strength.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t solve this problem.
It was recent.
I found a way to overcome this limitation.
None other than Isolde.
Her Divine Ascension—a superior version of Metabolic Runaway [U].
Divine Ascension didn’t just cause the endocrine system to runaway; it integrated every muscle fiber and nerve cell to runaway collectively, allowing transcendence beyond human limits.
I mimicked Isolde’s Divine Ascension.
And finally.
I could reconstruct it in my own way.
◆Dragon’s Blood Torrent [L]
: When this skill is used, the player forcibly metabolizes [all biological energy resources] within the body to enter a temporary [transcendent state].
During this process, the player’s [nervous system, musculoskeletal system, endocrine system, cardiovascular system] transcend their limits, amplifying the player’s [final stats] by [x12 multiplier].
However, at the moment the skill ends, [irreversible physiological damage] accumulates, causing [Strength/Stamina/Agility] stats to [permanently decrease] by [-12%] each.
【This skill is an ultra-combination skill that transcends the limits of Metabolic Runaway [U].】
Its measured rank is Legend [L].
And Contempt for the Weak [L] only seals abilities and skills of ‘lower’ ranks.
◆Ultra-combination Skill, Dragon’s Blood Torrent [L] is activated!!
As the message materialized before my eyes.
…My heartbeat accelerates explosively.
Thump-thump-thump-thump!!
Every cell in my body began burning through its stored energy.
Whoooosh!!
Glucose, fat, amino acids within my body.
All biological energy resources decomposed and metabolized in an instant, surging through blood vessels and nerves.
Muscle fibers burned red-hot from within.
The nervous system overheated beyond sensory limits and radiated light.
Metabolism transcended combustion toward explosion, and my body rendered all biological limits meaningless, surpassing humanity itself.
My current stats were reduced by 75% due to Contempt for the Weak [L].
However, Hemolytic Torrent [L] amplified my final stats by a [x12 multiplier].
No matter how much that 75% reduction applied.
My current final stats were recording a temporary ‘transcendent state’—
In this very moment.
Roooaaarrrrr──!!
I stood on the threshold of the Ultimate Lifeform.
* * *
…Adrian had changed.
It resembled the last time.
That moment when his eyes were drenched in blood, his pupils inverted.
That Adrian, stripped of all reason, driven mad by uncontrolled instinct.
But.
…something was different.
No—vastly, profoundly different.
This wasn’t mere domination by instinct like before.
…His very existence operated on a different dimension.
Roooaaarrrrr──!!
A crimson aura surged across Adrian’s entire body.
Blake instinctively stepped backward.
In that instant.
A terrible force capable of obliterating the entire area without a trace descended upon Blake. Blake raised Ahimsayuda by pure instinct.
Roooaaarrrrng!!!
A colossal impact that shook his entire body.
He managed to block it.
But could this truly be called blocking it?
‘The damage…!!”
…This operates on a different ‘dimension’ than before.
His heart burned as though seared by flame.
“Kgh—hack!!”
Dark blood poured forth.
He gritted his teeth.
He tightened his grip on Ahimsayuda, steadying his vision.
And in that moment.
Blake could see and feel it.
A ferocious murderous intent that seemed to devour the entire world.
A chilling presence that suffocated everything merely by existing.
Though he felt it only briefly, Blake was utterly overwhelmed by that terrifying presence.
‘That is….’
…not human.
Neither beast nor monster.
Too savage to be human.
Too conscious to be beast.
Too absolute in presence to be monster.
Something that was neither human, beast, nor monster—
A more primal, more instinctual existence.
My body… wouldn’t move.
The instinct for survival was surrendering.
And so, once before.
I had faced a presence like Adrian’s.
I couldn’t think of fighting, couldn’t think of fleeing—and in that moment, I had become utterly weak.
Fear, terror, despair.
Such emotions were meaningless.
No matter how I struggled, I could never survive against that existence.
“You, you of all people…!!”
Even the instinct for survival became hollow.
“Nonsense!!”
I bit down hard.
When that wasn’t enough, I bit my own cheek.
The sharp pain dragged my consciousness back from the abyss.
‘…It’s not the same.’
That existence from before and Adrian now were not the same.
Unlike then, when even survival instinct became meaningless, now there was ‘fear’—the fear of wanting to live.
And yet they resembled each other.
That existence from before and Adrian now.
Which meant….
‘The same kind?’
…I couldn’t accept it.
But it was undeniable that Adrian filled me with terror.
So I had to flee.
I could never, ever defeat Adrian—
‘Defeat? Me?’
Me?
“How dare you…! How dare you!”
Emotion surged. Murderous intent flared sharp and bright.
I swallowed the humiliation, forcibly stitching together my shattered pride.
“How dare you, you of all people…!!”
I am not weak.
Never weak.
I am strong.
Not the weak being devoured, but the strong who devours.
Not the weak being trampled, but the strong who tramples and rises to the top.
Blake’s conviction in the power and authority he had seized was unshakeable.
However.
That very conviction of Blake’s—
CRAAAAAAASH!!!
His entire body shattered into fragments under the impact of bones pulverizing throughout.
* * *
The ashen mist slowly lifted from Caravana’s urban landscape.
Just moments ago, the fog had seemed to blanket the entire city, yet now it had nearly dissipated entirely.
And with that, the scenery beyond the windows had become crystal clear—
“Mmm.”
Marzen sat motionless in his chair, lost in profound contemplation.

—————

This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

—————