A sharp glint flashed in Hansen's eyes.
He understood exactly what this was. Psykos wasn't just granting him a promotion; this was a test, a probe to gauge his ambitions and capabilities. But for Hansen, it was a golden opportunity served on a silver platter.
Power was now within reach.
He had spent years as a workhorse in his past life. Taking on a position like this, part logistics, part leadership, felt oddly familiar, almost comforting in its structure.
Without hesitation, he bowed his head and adopted a humble posture. "Thank you for your trust, my lord. I have full confidence in fulfilling this role."
"To serve the Association is an honor. It's just that..."
Gyoro Gyoro hovered, watching him intently. Pale blue psychic ripples radiated from its body like water across still glass.
"Just that what?"
Hansen straightened, his armored form unmoving as steel. "It's just that I might require a small favor from you, my lord."
"Oh?"
The woman behind the floating eye perked up.
Deep beneath the earth, at the true heart of the Monster Association, a mature woman with flowing blue hair reclined in a luxurious lounge. She gently swirled red wine in a crystal glass, the liquid casting shimmering ripples of crimson light across her voluptuous figure.
Draped in a shawl over a tight, silk evening gown, Psykos exuded sensuality with every slight movement. The fabric clung to her body, tracing every seductive curve. She looked like a goddess of vice, dangerous, intoxicating, and far too intelligent.
Ambitious subordinates didn't scare her. They intrigued her.
The creature speaking to her through the fleshball drone was just one of many twisted creations. But unlike the rest, he showed signs of rapid evolution, and that made him interesting.
If he continued progressing, she wouldn't mind indulging his ambition. Or his other appetites~.
"How interesting~ Then tell me, what kind of help do you need?"
Her sultry tone came through the pink, one-eyed drone like a villainess from an overacted stage play. Hansen lifted his gaze, eyes burning from behind his dark armor.
"My lord, I need Monster Cells. A large quantity of Monster Cells."
Gyoro Gyoro paused. For a moment, its single, wide pupil blinked with surprise.
Monster Cells?
To Psykos, they weren't rare. They were mass-produced commodities. Technically unstable, but available in abundance. She could have crates of the stuff shipped out by the hour.
Monster Cells were used to turn humans into monsters or to trigger secondary mutations in low-ranking creatures. But their volatility made them dangerous. The first dose nearly always succeeded. Every dose after that was a gamble, ineffective at best, deadly at worst.
Yet this strange bug-type monster before her… he seemed to possess some kind of ability to absorb Monster Cells directly and convert them into real power.
Now that was interesting.
Through Gyoro Gyoro, Psykos reassessed Hansen's value on the spot.
A monster who could consume Monster Cells without collapsing… and grow stronger with each one?
That wasn't just a strong subordinate. That was an asset. A potential breakthrough. A living experiment that might lead to unprecedented results.
After a brief silence, the drone let out another high-pitched giggle.
"Ohohoho, I see. You've got quite the appetite."
"I can grant your request. But everything comes with a price."
The pink fleshball flapped its twisted little wings and added, "Right now, there's not much you can do for me. Just do your job well for the time being, and I'll have someone deliver what you need on a regular basis. When the time comes for you to earn it, don't let me down."
Hansen's armored mask betrayed no emotion, but his posture was unwavering in its respect. "Understood, my lord. I won't fail your expectations."
"Very good."
Gyoro Gyoro sounded pleased, circling around him with deliberate curiosity.
"Your duties here aren't complicated. The most important thing is feeding little Rover on time. I trust that won't be an issue for you. Oh, and one more thing..."
It paused, as if a thought had just occurred to it.
"Make sure to pick a name for yourself. A powerful monster should have a powerful name. I hope that the next time we meet, your reputation precedes you. See you then~"
With that, the pink orb beat its wings and drifted deeper into the corridor, disappearing swiftly into the darkness beyond.
Hansen slowly straightened up, watching it vanish into the shadows.
"So… a name, huh?"
The suggestion from Gyoro Gyoro lingered in his mind as he stared into the void. Behind the dark mask, his expression turned contemplative.
This monster body was no illusion; it was real. That alone gave him a huge advantage. No matter how clever Psykos might be, she could never suspect the truth—that the failed wolf-level creature she had casually thrown away now harbored a soul from another world.
Still, dealing with a tiger always carried risk.
Psykos wasn't wrong,
In this distorted world, strength was the only law.
Only by seizing overwhelming power could he ever hope to shape his own fate.
Luckily, Hansen had secured a dependable supply of Origin Points, free contributions from the number one sugar mommy herself, Psykos.
The next step was simple: convert that raw potential into real power. Then, he'd be ready to face whatever lay ahead.
Without delay, he settled his mind and called up the system panel.
His sharp gaze swept across the digital interface, zeroing in on the golden ability sitting at the top of the list.
SSR: Excessive Growth
He didn't need a system description. Hansen already knew what it was worth.
It wasn't a flashy offensive technique, nor was it built solely for defense. It was the central pillar of Rover's entire power structure.
It was akin to Hashirama Senju's Wood Release, capable of conjuring colossal wooden Buddhas that could lay waste to landscapes. Yet in the hands of anyone less compatible, it wouldn't summon divine constructs... just enough lumber to build a modest house.
What made it terrifying wasn't the Wood Release itself, but the inherited Sage Body that gave it monstrous backing. That was the true source of its power.
Excessive Growth operated in much the same way. This ability shattered the natural limits of any species, granting Rover near-limitless vitality and vast energy reserves that supported his peak dragon-level combat power.
Upgrading it first wasn't just logical, it was essential. This would anchor his foundation, laying the groundwork for becoming a physical powerhouse.
No.
What foundation?
Every ounce of Excessive Growth wasn't some freebie, but it was earned through effort, blood, and sheer force of will.
With that thought burning in his mind, Hansen's gaze sharpened. "System, show me your limit. Level it up!"
[1000 Origin Points consumed. "Excessive Growth" leveled up! Lv1 → Lv2!]
Buzz!!
It felt as if a long-dormant volcano buried deep inside him suddenly erupted.
A concentrated torrent of life force and searing heat surged from his core, coursing through every cell of his body with violent intensity.
"Ugh... ahhh!!"
A strained groan broke from his lips as Hansen's body jerked backward.
His bones snapped and popped in rhythm, cracking loudly as though wrenched by an invisible force that was molding and stretching them into something new.
Muscle fibers ripped apart and rebuilt themselves in waves, each regeneration reinforcing the last. A strange yet exhilarating sense of growth overwhelmed his senses.
His energy reserves expanded at a breakneck pace, visibly surging like streams converging into a raging torrent, at least ten times greater than before.
His armored frame bulked up again, now stretching well beyond 190 centimeters and pushing into the two-meter range.
The crimson runes on his armor pulsed with radiant heat, flickering with every breath he took and casting a fierce glow like burning embers.
"Haah, huff!"
A jet of scalding steam burst from Hansen's mouth, tinged in red and carrying a heat that scorched the air like molten iron from a furnace.
This single upgrade to his core skill had elevated every facet of his being.
The surging strength was intoxicating, like potent alcohol igniting straight in his veins. His crimson eyes gleamed with a wild, uncontainable energy.
"More. Max it out!"
[2000 Origin Points consumed. "Excessive Growth" leveled up! Lv2 → Lv3!]
[4000 Origin Points consumed. "Excessive Growth" leveled up! Lv3 → Lv4!]
[Disaster Level Increased!]
[Ability Slot Limit +5!]
His stats climbed exponentially. Layer upon layer of enhancements stacked without pause.
Boom!!!
This time, the power surge was overwhelming. Hansen couldn't keep himself upright.
He didn't even register the system notifications as the power raging inside overtook him, smashing him straight to his knees. The ground beneath him cracked with a deafening crunch, like ice under a falling boulder.
"Uaaaarghhh!!"
A raw scream tore from his throat, echoing across the vast chamber.
The black armor encasing his body began to fracture under the pressure, splitting like dried clay as it struggled to contain his ever-expanding physique.
Deep red light poured from the spreading gaps, revealing sinewy flesh beneath, pulsing violently as it regenerated at blinding speed.
His body surged taller by the second, rising like an inflating titan. Two meters. Then two and a half. Then three full meters.
Only after nearly doubling in size did the monstrous transformation start to level out, and the unstoppable growth finally eased.
===
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