Chapter 25: The Endless Hunger Aura’s Power
-----
Riven attempted to stop his own Aura from starting to devour the Tyrant’s corpse, but he could not. He watched helplessly as dozens of ethereal jaws bit through flesh, scale, and bone with relentless hunger.
And the most surprising part was that...
"I am really eating it...?"
He felt every single bite through his Aura, shocked beyond measure by the power he could now channel with this incredible Class Skill.
His Aura continued growing stronger and denser as he watched the monster that had protected him several times, believing him to be her offspring, slowly disappear. A complicated mixture of guilt and gratitude filled his chest.
He closed his eyes tightly and gripped his fists until his knuckles turned white.
"I’m sorry... and thank you... for everything."
Once she was completely gone, not even leaving a single crystal behind, he felt her primal power settle deep within his own being.
BA-DUM!
BA-DUM!
BA-DUM!
His heart started beating faster and faster, pounding like war drums inside his chest. His aura fluctuated wildly. For a brief moment a giant dinosaur roared within it before the primal presence slowly merged into his own lifeforce.
"I can feel it..."
Scales began growing across his hands. From his nails, sharp dinosaur-like crystal claws surged outward. His eyes turned reptilian for a short while, and two crystalline horns pushed out from his forehead.
"This power...!"
It felt almost as if she had willingly given him everything instead of just a fragment.
This was something he had experienced before when consuming prey. He could never truly obtain everything a monster had to offer, and only now did he realize it was because the "spirit" of the beast had always refused him.
But this one? She had given him everything, perhaps still believing him to be her child until the very end.
And because of that, he finally understood... the true power of the Predator Class.
Ding!
[Grand Cave Tyrant fully consumed.]
[Talent Devourer: Chance Succeed]
[Skill Acquired: [Tyrant’s Force – Level 1]: Temporarily channel the almighty power of the Grand Cave Tyrant, increasing all Physical Parameters by 100%.]
[x10,000 Reward Multiplier Activated!]
[Skill: [Tyrant’s Force – Level 1] has been multiplied by x10,000!]
[You have learned the Skill: [Tyrant’s Embodiment – Level 1]: Temporarily transform part of your body by channeling the Spirit of the Grand Cave Tyrant, gaining sharp reptilian scales, crystal horns, incredible physical might, claws, tail, eyes, and fangs. When transformed, All Stats are increased by 200%. With each Skill Level, these bonuses and the level of transformation grow. Synergy: Biological Armor + Tyrant’s Embodiment = Dinosaur King Armor.]
[Talent Acquired: [Raw Power – C-Rank]: Increases the amount of Strength earned by Leveling or by Consuming Prey by ten percent. When fighting using your physical strength, it is possible to channel the physical power of all your body at once, multiplying your power several times over.]
[x10,000 Reward Multiplier Activated!]
[Talent: [Raw Power – C-Rank] has been multiplied by x10,000!]
[You have acquired the Talent: [Calamitous Power – SS-Rank]: Increases the amount of Strength earned by any means by thrice as much. At any moment, you can freely manipulate every fiber of muscle in your body to unleash your full power all at once, exponentially increasing your power and unleashing devastating, explosive force capable of warping the air around you and shattering stone like cardboard. The Power belonging to a Living Calamity.]
"Haaa... Haaa... Hahaha..."
Riven could not help but laugh. The power he had gained was simply too grand. It was immense, coursing through his body with so much intensity and vitality that he felt almost euphoric.
The partial transformation he had just experienced was provoked by the Tyrant’s Embodiment Skill, an incredible transformation ability. The newfound control over his muscles and the strength accumulated within them, the ability to redirect all of it at once... that came from the terrifying SS-Rank Talent.
But that was still not everything...
[Predator Class Level 25 reached.]
[Gluttony Triggered.]
[Stat Absorption: +1 Vitality | +1 Mana | +3 Strength | +1 Endurance | +0.8 Intelligence | +0.6 Agility.]
[x10,000 Reward Multiplier Activated!]
[Vitality +10,000 | Mana +10,000 | Strength +30,000 | Endurance +10,000 | Intelligence +8,000 | Agility +6,000.]
"Nngggh?!"
He fell to his knees as his body constantly broke apart and regenerated at a rapid pace, struggling to grow accustomed to the immense strength flooding into him.
Slowly, he became twice as tall as before, turning into a massive hulking mass of dense muscle and raw power.
"Fuck, can I go back?!"
He panicked for a moment. If he remained this large, Elisa would surely become afraid of him.
Slowly, he began forcing his own musculature to compress.
"Compress... don’t let it all out!"
Thick steam surged from his entire body as he began sweating profusely. He carefully compressed his muscles, refining their strength into something he could fully control instead of the other way around.
"It’s done."
Riven sighed in deep relief as the last of the steam left his body. He finally felt more like himself again.
And then, new system notifications suddenly appeared before his eyes, making them widen in surprise.
Ding!
[Congratulations, you have met the conditions. The power of the Skill: [Skadi’s Blessing: Titan Physique – Level 1] has been further awakened.]
"?!"
-----