The SSR-grade ability Swift Wind, a speed-based power, and the SR-grade ability Monsterization, something his failed monster body originally couldn't do!
The first one would give Hans's speed a qualitative leap, pushing his mobility and burst potential to an entirely new level.
The second one, though slightly lower in rarity, carried immense significance.
Because it gave Hans one crucial possibility.
The chance to shed his monster body and regain a human form.
For Hans, being able to return to a human form opened up countless options.
At the very least, he wouldn't have to go down with the sinking ship that was the Monster Association. He could level up while pretending to be loyal, all while planning his own escape route.
In some ways, that SR ability was worth just as much as an SSR.
Talk about a pillow showing up when you're dozing off!
The remaining two abilities were skill-based; Hans wasn't interested.
After all, even Sonic, the self-proclaimed fastest ninja, got one-shot by Saitama. It showed that all those flashy "techniques" were worthless before overwhelming power.
As long as your speed and strength were maxed out, those fragile glass-cannon ninjas were just waiting to be deleted.
Hans collected his thoughts and stepped forward, fully unleashing his Demon-level monster aura.
"This area has been requisitioned by Lord Pochi. All unrelated personnel, leave immediately."
Gale Wind, hearing that, actually relaxed a little.
'So this guy was just another lapdog showing off because he served a Dragon-level executive. Although…'
'How did a mere Demon-level flunky end up bossing around under a Dragon-level monster? That part didn't make sense.'
Still, being ordered around by someone weaker than him made the former top assassin feel a bit insulted.
But he wasn't stupid. Behind Hans, that massive black hound, lazily wagging its tail, was a true Dragon-level powerhouse, something he definitely didn't want to provoke.
"Got it."
Suppressing his irritation, Gale Wind nodded briskly and turned to leave.
'No need to stir up trouble; there were plenty of other training grounds. No point kicking a mad dog.'
"Wait."
Just as he was about to leave, Hans's voice came again.
Gale Wind froze, wary.
He slowly turned back, green eyes narrowing, hands instinctively reaching for the twin blades at his waist.
'What now? I already agreed to leave.'
Unexpectedly, Hans's tone softened, showing no hostility. "Judging by your look, you're new to the Association, right?"
"…Huh?"
Before Gale Wind could respond, Hans raised his clawed hand and pulled from his armor a faintly pulsing piece of dark red flesh.
"This place, Lord Pochi might visit often," Hans said, handing him the Monster Cell with a calm, almost senior-like tone. "Consider this a little welcoming gift."
"Just be careful when operating here. You wouldn't want to bump into Lord Pochi uninvited."
Gale Wind blinked at the cell, momentarily stunned.
He'd recently turned into a monster himself and was planning to form his own faction, using Monster Cells to create a monsterized ninja corps.
He never expected this fierce-looking insectoid monster to give him one voluntarily.
Though Hans's tone carried a trace of superiority, his action felt almost like he was following some unspoken code among monsters.
'Maybe… this guy wasn't as unreasonable as he looked.'
Gale Wind's opinion of Hans shifted slightly, but little did he know, Hans was actually even newer than him to this world.
Still, he didn't think too hard about it and quickly accepted the Monster Cell.
"Thank you for the warning," he said with a nod. "I'll take my leave and won't disturb Lord Pochi."
Without another word, his figure blurred into a streak of green light, vanishing into the dark passage ahead. His speed was terrifying.
Hans watched him go, a faint curve appearing beneath his black faceplate.
At the instant their hands touched,
[Ding! Contact with copyable target detected!]
[Successfully copied SSR ability: "Swift Wind" Lv1!]
[Successfully copied SR ability: "Monsterization" Lv1!]
[Current ability slots occupied: 6/15.]
A sudden whirlwind spiraled at his feet, sweeping the dust off the stone bridge.
Hans felt his once-heavy body lighten, and his senses of the surrounding airflow sharpened dramatically.
At the same time, his rigid, lifeless armor pulsed with new vitality, as if it could reshape or retract into his body at will, following his thoughts.
'Success.'
Seeing the new gold and purple icons on his system panel, Hans knew it had worked.
And the cost? Just a single Monster Cell.
He couldn't help but grin.
"Your ability's not bad, but the next second, it's mine."
The joy of freeloading was as pure as it gets.
"Awoo~~!"
A long howl pulled him back to reality.
He turned just in time to see Pochi, unable to contain its excitement, leap from the bridge in a massive arc straight into the abyss below.
Splash!!!
A few seconds later, the muffled crash echoed from the darkness far below.
Hans narrowed his eyes. It took several seconds for the sound to reach him. That meant the river beneath was at least a thousand meters down.
If he were still that weak Wolf-level fodder from yesterday, he'd never dare something this suicidal. But now,
Whoosh!
A gust of wind exploded as a shadow shot off the bridge, diving straight down with a sharp roar.
Seconds later-
The underground river erupted like a bomb, sending up towering waves.
Even Pochi, who had been happily splashing around, looked up warily. When it saw Hans emerging from the water, cloaked in compressed wind pressure, it barked twice in complaint.
"Arf! Arf~~" (Oh, it's you! Don't scare me like that!)
Relishing the sensation of cutting through the air, Hans didn't forget his real purpose.
He manipulated the wind to lift his body, stepping across the water's surface toward the giant black beast.
"Sorry to keep you waiting…"