🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter : 40. Predator’s Method (2)
The essence of combat lies in offense and defense.
In that regard, I had completely solved the issue of offensive power with Dragon’s Claw [A].
However, my defense was somewhat lacking.
Relying solely on Toughened Skin [D] was woefully insufficient.
Even after evolving to grade [C], it was still not enough.
After all, the ones I would face going forward were the Emperor and the Imperial Army.
There was even the possibility of a battle against a Beast Lord looming on the horizon, and Toughened Skin [C] alone did not provide enough defense.
Of course, since I had Regeneration [B-], defense wasn’t an immediate, desperate issue.
But having Regeneration [B-] did not mean I could afford to neglect my defenses.
Because Regeneration [B-] wasn’t all-powerful.
If my head were severed or my heart destroyed, I couldn’t regenerate.
Above all, there was the unavoidable limitation of requiring nutrients for regeneration.
This was a limit that could not be overcome.
No living creature in this world had discovered a way to survive without consuming something.
Therefore, even if I devoured the genetic codes of all living beings on the continent with Predation [S+], even if I reached the “ultimate life form” Ian spoke of,
I could never be free from the issue of food.
If food ran out, I could no longer regenerate.
That was why I could not rely solely on Regeneration [B-].
I had to avoid injuries whenever possible, and I needed to steer the evolution of my abilities toward avoiding damage.
The fact that I could regenerate was certainly an advantage, but blind faith in it would be foolish.
In this sense, I researched and contemplated the Toughened Skin [C] I acquired from Dermexus.
And eventually, I was able to create the combination skill “Dragon’s Skin [U].”
The principles and mechanisms were as follows:
Human skin is composed of approximately 70% water, 25% protein, 2% fat, and 3% minerals.
The “keratin” reinforced by Dragon’s Claw [A] is a type of protein.
Of course, it is fundamentally different from the proteins that make up human skin.
However, with the evolution to Toughened Skin [C], I was now able to replace the proteins within my skin with keratin.
The abilities of Nutrient Synthesis [B-] and Regeneration [B-] were used in this replacement process.
Through this, I was able to transform the proteins forming the membranes of my skin cells into “keratin.”
And currently, my keratin was enhanced by Dragon’s Claw [A], increasing its hardness by +1,601,200% and its strength by +1,992,500%.
◆ Dragon’s Skin [U]
Upon activation, the player’s skin cell membranes are transformed into [Keratin]. By consuming [10,000Kcal], the player can match the hardness and strength of Dragon’s Claw [A]. During this time, all damage taken by the player is reduced by [-90%] for [5 seconds].
<This combination skill is formed by merging Nutrient Synthesis [B-], Regeneration [B-], Dragon’s Claw [A], and Toughened Skin [C].>
As the description indicates, this wasn’t “Dragon’s Scales.”
It was a “Dragon’s Skin,” degraded to suit a human like me.
And rightly so, as the proteins composing human skin are only 25%.
In other words, I could only replace 25% of it.
Thus, it was an incomplete skill.
However, this too was a combination skill with infinite potential for further development as I continued to evolve my combinatory abilities.
Most importantly, even in its current state, its power was nothing to scoff at.
After all, the degraded target was none other than a dragon.
The supreme beings of the continent, ruling over all other life.
Even Gelu Drake, a mere member of the dragon family, was called the ruler of these snowy mountains.
Degraded or not, it was not something the monsters of these snowy mountains could contend with.
It was at that moment—
◆ The duration of the combination skill “Metabolic Overdrive [U]” has ended!
A message appeared, indicating that the 500-second duration had ended.
With that, my rampaging endocrine system returned to normal, and the backlash hit me hard, instantly making my movements feel sluggish.
Monsters lunged at me, aiming for that momentary gap.
“No!!!”
A desperate scream from Serapia echoed from beyond the walls.
It was too late to dodge.
In that case—
◆ Activating the combination skill “Dragon’s Skin [U]”!
Consuming 10,000Kcal to reduce all incoming damage by [-90%] for [5 seconds]!
The moment I activated the combination skill, the cells composing my skin rapidly transformed.
Keratin was synthesized using Nutrient Synthesis [B-], and the keratin was instantly arranged into the skin’s cell membranes through Regeneration [B-].
It was then reinforced by Dragon’s Claw [A], and the incoming impacts and recoil were endured with Toughened Skin [C].
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
As the monsters’ claws and fangs struck my body, the sound of metal clashing rang out.
During this, my flesh did not tear, nor did my bones break.
Instead, it was the monsters’ claws and fangs that shattered and broke.
“This… This is impossible…”
Serapia couldn’t believe what she was seeing.
Just moments ago, as the monsters lunged at Adrian, Serapia’s face had turned pale with fear.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
But soon, dull, heavy sounds rang out.
Serapia’s crimson eyes widened to their limit.
Countless claws and fangs rained down upon Adrian, yet he remained unharmed.
These were the claws and fangs capable of shattering rocks and scratching steel, yet they couldn’t leave a single scratch on Adrian’s body.
Instead, it was the monsters’ claws and fangs that broke apart.
Even as she saw it with her own eyes, she couldn’t believe it.
“T-This, this, th-this…!”
“W-What is that?!”
The soldiers were no different. Everyone’s jaws dropped in disbelief at this impossible scene.
Even Kai remained silent, though his shaking blue eyes betrayed his astonishment at the bizarre spectacle.
The monsters were just as shocked.
“Grrrk?!”
“Grrraaa?!”
The monsters recoiled in alarm.
They may lack rationality, but that didn’t mean they were unintelligent.
Even they could sense that the phenomenon Adrian was displaying defied common sense.
In that moment of confusion—
WHOOSH!
Adrian seized the opportunity and slipped out.
He was thoroughly dominating them.
A single man, Adrian, was utterly decimating a monster horde that the entire count’s forces could not withstand.
And the more he fought,
the more he swept through the battlefield,
Adrian seemed to grow even stronger.
I dashed madly through the monsters.
Tearing out their hearts, I ceaselessly devoured them with Predation [S+].
After some time had passed—
◆ Regeneration [B+]
◆ Toughened Skin [B]
◆ Nutrient Synthesis [B]
◆ Promote Metabolism [C+]
No further messages appeared indicating the evolution of abilities through devouring additional genetic codes.
This meant I had achieved the complete evolution of my abilities.
As I lifted my gaze again, I noticed the monsters had started to flee.
“Looks like they’ve been ordered to retreat.”
That must have been the case.
The entity commanding the monster horde must have judged that they could no longer continue.
“My calories are about to run out anyway…”
Although I had replenished some calories intermittently, I couldn’t fully replenish them.
In the heat of battle, there was no easy way to consistently restore calories.
This, too, was a limitation of Regeneration [B+].
Therefore, continuing the fight any longer would have been unreasonable for me.
Perhaps having assessed my situation—
Kai suddenly leapt down from the wall.
Kai, who had faithfully followed my warning not to intervene.
However, realizing that I no longer had the stamina to continue fighting, he moved without hesitation.
Kai transformed into a golden wolf, fiercely pursuing the retreating monster horde.
If those monsters were allowed to escape, they would later become a threat to the count’s domain.
Now was the time to reduce their numbers while we could.
“Sir Adrian!”
“Are you alright?!”
Following Kai, the soldiers began pouring out from the walls in droves.
“Brother!!!”
Especially Serapia, who was dashing down the wall’s stairs with a face full of worry.
RUMBLE!
The firmly shut gates opened with a deep vibration.
I turned my gaze again toward Kai, who was chasing down the monsters.
“He’s fighting well.”
A golden wolf weaving through a flock of sheep.
Wherever Kai’s sword swept, monsters fell without fail.
Kai moved freely among the monsters, accurately stabbing and slashing at their vital points.
Somehow, Kai had become significantly stronger than before.
That natural genius was accelerating Kai’s growth day by day.
There was a reason he was called the Legion Commander of the Harsh Winter.
As I quietly watched him—
“Shall I give it a try?”
Having now completed the full evolution of my abilities,
and with mountains of devoured meat piled up through Predation [S+],
I opened the [Information] panel to check my remaining surplus calories.
Simultaneously, I confirmed the fully evolved abilities I had achieved through Nutrient Synthesis [B+].
And just as I had anticipated:
◆ Nutrient Synthesis [B]
Upon activation, the player can consume calories (Cal) to synthesize any desired nutrient. Depending on the amount of calories consumed, [all organic compound mixtures] can be freely synthesized.
Allows decomposition of compounds into single elements.
No energy deficit occurs during synthesis or decomposition.
“So I really can synthesize any compound…”
Nutrient Synthesis [B], now evolved to grade [B], allowed me to synthesize any organic compound as long as I had calories.
It also enabled decomposition into single elements like oxygen and hydrogen, and could do so without any energy loss.
“Fuu…”
I took a deep breath.
What I was about to attempt required significant focus, even for me.
I swallowed down several deep breaths to calm my nerves.
At that moment, Ian’s words flashed through my mind.
“Adrian, you mustn’t fight like a human.”
He said I shouldn’t fight like a human.
“Fighting like a human will only harm you. I’m not telling you to abandon your humanity. I mean, don’t fight like a human.”
That I shouldn’t fight as humans do.
“Adrian, you need to master your own way of fighting. No one else can teach you. No one else should.”
Even Ian, the Hero, couldn’t teach me that.
In my previous life, I agonized over that method.
And finally—
I found the answer.
◆ Using the skill “Nutrient Synthesis [B]” to synthesize [Hydrogen], [Oxygen], [Acetylene], [Vinylacetylene], [Ethylene Oxide], [Hydrazine], [Nitrous Oxide]…
These were elements and compounds capable of “heat and explosive” reactions.
I dumped all the oil stored in my inventory into my mouth.
As calories accumulated rapidly, I consumed them all to synthesize these compounds again.
Then, using the combination skill “Metabolic Overdrive [U],” which combined Promote Metabolism [C+] and Regeneration [B+], I triggered a chain reaction.
Calories rapidly burned, and the synthesized explosive substances within my body multiplied uncontrollably, spreading throughout my system.
They expanded through my body with extreme heat and energy.
Ordinarily, my entire body would have been incinerated and disappeared.
However, I used Dragon’s Skin [U], a combination of Toughened Skin [B] and Dragon’s Claw [A], to forcibly contain it within my body to its absolute limit.
BRRRRRRRRR-!!
My body began to seethe as if it would explode.
Even with 90% damage reduction, it was this intense.
The excruciating pain followed immediately, but I suppressed it by blocking my sensory nerves.
My Predation [S+] ability—
Was not merely about absorbing the abilities of living creatures.
It absorbed the background and mutant genetic codes behind those abilities.
And biological evolution never occurs in an instant.
It takes at least tens of thousands of years.
Every living being on this continent had undergone such evolution over countless years.
Humans were no exception.
Through countless evolutions over tens of thousands and millions of years, we survived until now.
And in just ten months inside a mother’s womb, we undergo the condensed process of millions of years of evolution to be born into this world.
Because the genetic codes our ancestors built up over the ages are imprinted within us.
All life is the same in this regard.
My ability, Predation [S+], allows me to absorb the evolutionary process spanning tens of millions of years that each species has undergone.
Thus, by devouring Gelu Drake with Predation [S+], the “Dragon’s Claw [A]” I obtained was the result of absorbing a dragon’s genetic information.
In other words, within me lies the genetic information of a dragon.
If I utilize this, I can wield the abilities of a dragon.
And what I was about to unleash now—
Was the dragon’s power, “Breath.”
VRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR-!!
All the cells in my body ignited at once.
Flames soared throughout my entire body.
FWOOSH!!!
An inferno, using my entire being as fuel, erupted into existence.
A force of unimaginable magnitude.
It condensed, and condensed, and condensed again into my arms.
This was a skill born by extracting the dragon’s genetic information from Dragon’s Claw [A], then combining it with Promote Metabolism [C+], Regeneration [B+], Toughened Skin [B], Nutrient Synthesis [B], Metabolic Overdrive [U], and Dragon’s Skin [U].
An ability formed by merging powers that could never coexist in nature, a unique skill of the Predator.
This was—
The ultimate biological evolution, needing no swordsmanship, spearmanship, or martial arts of heroes.
This was the Predator’s Method.
Its measurement grade—
◆ Activating the combination skill “Dragon Rage Explosion [E]”!
[E] stood for Epic.
This ferocious power.
Could no longer be controlled.
“Now!”
I thrust my hands forward toward the retreating monster horde.
