Reborn As An Evolving Monster

Running away? The Exit? 

I could.

Why would I?

To go where? To do what?

There's nothing for me out there. Nothing, no one!

All I have is this! All I have is now!

Notice it.

There must be something that I can do!

I won't leave! I won't stop!

The only way is forward.

Think about getting it done.

How do I win against them?

I can deal with one of them, maybe two. What about the rest of them?

"Ice Magic, Fire Magic, Corruption Magic, fast healing that resembles reconstruction, Ancient Magic, and the ability to wield the power of the Giants? Well, aren't you a lucky one, child. Show me more."

"Listing out what I can do... And wanting to see everything that I can do? Too greedy, Lich. Though..." Mark pushed himself off the ceiling, and slowly started falling. "I'm guilty of doing the same in front of a meal."

He fell with his torso parallel to the floor. His limbs extended. Only his tail wavered, allowing him to keep his balance.

The instant that Mark touched the ground, he propelled himself towards the closest enemy.

His claws were dodged.

An attack approached from behind.

Blood squirted out of Mark's lower back, as four limbs resembling Insect legs made their way out of his body.

"Gruesome..." The Undead Lich noted as it extended an arm forward. Just because the Commanders could get the job done didn't mean that the Undead Lich would stand around and do nothing.

The sharp tips of those limbs had pierced through the Commander's stomach.

Uncaring about, or, perhaps, unable to feel pain, it grabbed those legs, hellbent on keeping the white-scaled Monster in place.

The limbs were weak. Too weak to be pulled and freed from the Commander's grip.

Which is why more blood squirted as those limbs were detached.

Mark had jumped away, dodging a strike aimed at his head.

'Good. Now...' He stepped back, and his shoulders touched the wall. 'They're all in front of me.'

"Taking the corner? Well, I suppose it's fitting." The Undead Lich lowered its arm. "For a cornered insect."

'It'll be harder for them to attack at once now. The Lich won't be able to attack freely since they'll stand between me and it. But now...' The sensation of having the walls so close wasn't a pleasant one. 'I have nowhere to run. Can't even back away or dodge.'

The Commanders started moving!

'It's all... Or nothing now.' 

Which one will be the first to get here?

Which one will attack first?

How will it attack?

The white-scaled Monster's eye changed as a dark Aura started oozing out of its body.

The answer to those questions presented itself half a second later.

'Aiming to take it head-on? Ha! That could've worked, but that one boasts the highest Strength Stat of the five. How unlucky.'

An incredibly powerful and heavy front kick.

The Commander's left foot moved with great speed, but Mark had managed to move to the side just enough for it to miss!

Small pieces of rubble fell as that wall was cracked.

Its left foot was against the wall, but that didn't mean that it wouldn't pile on the attacks!

Its right fist was clenched and moved towards Mark's chin!

The white-scaled Monster raised its left palm in response.

'That arm...' The Undead Lich watched over the scene from afar. 'Will break. Even if it doesn't the force won't be stopped. That fist... Is going to-'

Just as the fist was about to connect with the palm,

[The Magic Skill "Partial Gigantification[A+]" activates!]

[Part of your left arm is imbued with the Power of the Giants!]

[The Chosen Body Part temporarily grows... ]

The fist had been stopped.

Mark took hold of that fist, and squeezed.

Crack- Crack- Crack-

That's not the sound of bones being dislocated.

The Commander tried to pull its fist away, but Mark wasn't done.

[The Magic Skill "Partial Gigantification[A+]" activates!]

[Your right arm is imbued with the Power of the Giants!]

[The Chosen Body Part temporarily grows five times more powerful!]

 A hit to the stomach.

BAM-

The Commander was launched across the room, and implanted into the wall.

The Undead Lich turned around. It was more shock than surprise.

'The strength it showed earlier... Was nothing like... Ancient Commanders... They only have about 50% of the strength that they used to have but... That still is-'

The shock had taken over both the Undead Lich and the Commanders. 

Mark did not miss the opportunity.

He ran towards the next enemy.

His left arm, limp from the elbow down, was swung backward like a whip, and the broken bones were Restored right away.

The "Flame Of Chaos[B]" Magic Skill imbued Fire with the Flame Of Chaos.

By itself, it couldn't do much. Flames were necessary to use that Magic Skill.

The "Spark Of The Primordial Flame[A+]" Magic Skill was an Evolved Version of the "Flame Of Chaos[B]" Magic Skill.

The distance separating Mark from the Commander he was running towards was four meters.

It was the first enemy to shake off its surprise and turn back towards the white-scaled Monster.

The Commander approached rapidly, aiming to throw the first hit before the "Partial Gigantification[A+]" could be used.

Mark lowered his body to dodge the attack, and moved forward.

With his cheek against the Commander's stomach, it truly looked like the latter was giving him a hug.

Another set of Spider legs exited Mark's lower back. Those Spider legs circled around the Commander's stomach.

Using the same Activation Point is nothing but a habit.

A good habit that allows instinctive and quick movements.

A bad habit that can limit one's freedom.

The Undead Lich only understood what was about to happen once it was too late.

The tips of those Spider legs collided, and sparks were created.

One of those Sparks, was different from the rest.

A great and blinding explosion took place.

...

The rest of the ceiling had fallen.

Mark was completely unharmed, unlike the Commander he had used as a shield.

Its body fell to the ground, scorched.

Through the smoke, what had happened?

Mark did not know.

But with no time to lose, he crouched and started Devouring the fallen Commander.

[You have defeated an "Ancient Mummy".]

[You have acquired 2000 Experience Points.]

[You have Leveled Up!]

'So the others aren't dead-'

"GO!! DON'T LET HIM FEED ON IT!!" The Undead Lich shouted through the smoke.

The three remaining Commanders ran forward, and Mark was forced to jump back.

Not before Devouring half of the fallen Commander's body.

'The burns on their bodies... Each lost a limb... The one I hit didn't stand up, but it didn't die either. The Undead Lich must have protected them from the explosion... Tsk. Dealt with two, as I thought. But if I can't Devour more than this... The Cost in Mana is lowered by creating a Spark before imbuing it with... Whatever. Strange, but I expected it. Partial Gigantification uses up too much Mana. Added to that, the fact that I have to heal my Bones after using it... With my right arm, I can bring out all the power I have, but the Bones still get cracked. That's not good, but at the same time...'

Mark cracked his neck.

'It means I, now, have the strength to crack its skull. One good hit is all I need. How... Do I do that?'

Don't stop thinking!

The Sign that hovered earlier disappeared. 

'So it used a Portal to protect itself from the force, flames, and explosion? Simply by opening one in front of it?'

CRACK-

The ground was fissured as their fists landed on it.

Thunderbolts and Ice Spikes flew across the room.

I can't just keep dodging!

"Your versatility is impressive, it truly is. There aren't many who can wield so many Magic Types."

Keep blabbering on!

Give me more time!

"But it's strange. The same as with those Underlings of yours. Those you care for. Those because of whom you can't use that Skill."

Trying to rile me up?

Ha!

That won't work!

"A child born with a weak heart, you talked about that earlier, didn't you? Is that the kind of existence you led in that other World?"

Stay focused.

Their teamwork is incredible, but I'm getting used to it!

I just need a bit more time to figure something out. Otherwise, I'll need to buy enough time to recover enough Mana!

"Curious..." The Undead Lich whispered as it lay its hand on its chin. "Those Magic Types... Necromancy... There's something weird. The Magic Types he uses cannot simply be based on what he has Devoured, right? His Affinity to those Magic Types influences whether Devouring will allow him to use that Magic Type or not. Whether it will allow him to develop or acquire a Magic Skill or not. In that case..."

Tsk.

All I can do is dodge!

They're not giving me any time to-

"Child."

Focus.

"You lie to yourself often, don't you?"

A split second of hesitation was enough for a fist to find its way to Mark's chin. 

Launched into the wall, his vision had become blurry.

'Fuck... No...!' He fought back, refusing to lose consciousness.

His eye closed for a second.

Mark would stand up a second later, a completely different look on his face.