CHAPTER 70: THE TERROR OF VARYK

"How... do we even begin to battle such a creature..." Ethan’s question was terrified.

He himself wasn’t anything of a damage dealer — he could only do summons. But gazing at the hulking abhorrent creature, he knew instinctively that his Undead Cybertronics wouldn’t pose a challenge to it.

By his side, Dio wasn’t doing much thinking as he let his predatory instinct take over.

His ether burned as bones snapped into place, open gashes stitched themselves up.

His figure gradually bulged as he once more reverted to his full predatory form, the epic item ring on his finger glowing brilliantly as his claws buzzed in potent vibration.

His teeth bared as he lunged at the revolting creature, his claws digging into the pulsating, tumor-like skin. The flesh bounced in and out like tight elastic, causing the claws to be unable to penetrate.

One of the numerous arms of the mashed-up glob swung forcefully, bashing through Dio’s frame. Creaks and snapping sounds rang out as cracks ran through his sturdy skeletal structure.

One slap caused muscles to snap and arteries to erupt. His vision coated with red, his figure skidded backward, crumpled and mangled.

"S-shouldn’t... you... help?" Dio’s voice wheezed weakly, bubbling noises ringing out from his throat as blood clotted his lungs, slowly suffocating him.

"A-ah y-yes!" Ethan scrambled to his feet as he commanded a torrential wave of nanobots to engulf Dio’s mangled frame.

And in a second, Dio gasped in greedy amounts of air as he weakly got back to his feet.

"Fucker, get out of your head! Keep worrying instead of taking action and we’ll be dead sooner!" Dio berated, as he lunged back into the attack as though his previous plight hadn’t fazed him in the slightest.

Once more he was healed, and again he was broken. The cycle continued as Varyk took his time toying with his prey.

But after the ninth time, its series of smiling fetid maws slowly arched downward, its voice like sinister whispers and numerous wails haunting their ears.

"This is getting boring. It’s about time I end this..."

At this declaration, the atmosphere suddenly grew darker, the air stifling as though the very presence of the abomination warped reality.

Its numerous arms cracked and bulged as deep black fingers pushed through its skin. Its tumor-like flesh pulsated violently as something within writhed, and the elastic blob slowly shriveled.

A grotesque sight played out as its very own arms tore its flesh apart, rotting pus leaking from the torn wounds in place of blood. Though chaotic at first, its form slowly began to take on a semblance of order.

By the time it was done, its figure had morphed into a nine-eyed gorilla with drooling maws located randomly all over its body, each side of its frame bearing nine arms — eighteen in total.

Ancient cursed glyphs entched across it’s figure, echoing ancient chants and murmurs, and finally on its head we’re a set of onyx back long winding horns.

The arms stretched at odd angles as the monster leisurely cracked its joints. "You have gotten the honor of witnessing my apex form in full light... those that do usually end in my belly..."

The maws all over its figure split, smiling eerily.

In stark contrast to their pensive situation, Ethan exhaled in sudden relief.

He had hoped that the Finger would give him the brief time needed to customize his summons so they could be more lethal in this battle.

Dio had raw power, but it still wasn’t enough to contest a Finger. So right now, Ethan had to improvise.

[Custom Undead Cybertronics Summons:

Damage: 450

Constitution: 5

Speed: 100]

By forfeiting both defense and speed and focusing solely on damage, they might just be able to carry enough punch to affect Varyk.

Though they didn’t have enough speed to possibly keep up with Varyk, all that was needed was for Dio to hold him in place. And though it was established that Dio wasn’t strong enough to do that, Ethan had thought of the perfect solution.

It was still just a theory — he couldn’t be sure it would work — but he decided to try regardless. Only by understanding his ability to the fullest could he be stronger in this battle.

Dio was right. Sulking and waiting for death wouldn’t help. So he decided to get creative.

"Sorry in advance!" Ethan called as he outstretched his arm, directing the nanobots.

"Wait, what?" Dio seemed to realize something was wrong with the odd statement.

"Whatever you are planning on doing, it’s too late!" Varyk called out as his figure appeared before Ethan, moving so fast it bordered on teleportation. One of his numerous arms clamped Ethan’s neck tight.

Veins bulged across Ethan’s head, struggling to provide enough oxygen to the brain as his lungs stung. Worse, his neck bones slowly cracked under the vice-like grip of Varyk.

But regardless of this plight, Ethan still struggled to keep concentration, his arms still outstretched, focusing fully on Dio’s writhing figure.

Varyk, sensing the defiant strength of will from his prey, frowned. He loved raw fear and helpless despair — but this? This he found unpleasant.

Crack! Snap!

"Ghhhhhh!" Ethan clenched hard, stifling a scream.

The sickening sound was the result of the snapping of his outstretched arm.

All that was left in its place was a leaking, bloodied stump.

"Ahhhhhh... premium quality meat indeed!" Varyk shuddered in pleasure as he sniffed the ripped limb in one of his hands.

And he quickly shoved it into his mouth, his massive teeth grinding the arm — meat, bone, and armor alike.

"Don’t worry... I’ll be sure to savor you in full. I’ll be delicate enough for you not to be infected! After all, I am tired of corrupt, rotten meat. I want fresh blood and prime flesh — especially one like you!" Varyk’s voice was filled with euphoria.

Blinding waves of pain surged through Ethan, but his trembling eyes remained resolved as the stump stayed in place, still outstretched.

He didn’t really need his hand to direct the nanobots, but it was a force of habit. It helped him organize his control and extend his range.

Noticing that he wasn’t getting the reaction he wanted, Varyk smiled sinisterly. "Let’s see how many limbs it takes you to break! Thinking of it, this might be fun..."

Crunch! Another arm was ripped off, from the shoulder this time.

Ethan’s outstretched stump trembled, but it still remained up.

And so the worst moment of his life began.

Meanwhile, over at Dio’s end, something miraculous was happening.

[You are undergoing forced metamorphosis!]

[Eternal forces are acting on your system...

Your predatory genes are being strengthened!

Your gene is being rewritten!

Your bone structure is reforming!

Your bloodline is evolving!

You are casting off the shell of a drake man... and you are becoming a Dragonite!]

[Evolution successful! You have become a Dragonite!]

A pair of glowing, commanding crimson slits opened as Dio slowly rose from a pool of impurities...