After killing the Bug God yesterday, Hans looked at the 30,000+ Source Points in his account and decided to spend them.
Upgrading UR skills cost a fortune, 10,000 Source Points for just one level.
He could upgrade them, but there wasn't much point for now.
Knowing that his Source Points would vanish fast no matter how many he had, Hans chose a more balanced approach this time, a "jack-of-all-trades" style build.
He leveled each SSR ability by one stage, balancing core strength with overall improvements, all about efficiency.
[Spent 16,000 Source Points, "Overgrowth" upgraded! Lv5 → Lv6!]
[Spent 4,000 Source Points, "Beast Body" upgraded! Lv3 → Lv4!]
After those two clicks, over half his Points were gone!
With what was left, he boosted the essential "Monsterization" ability for future fights, then dumped the scraps into his innate skills,
[Spent 1,000 Source Points, Ability evolved!]
["Basic Regeneration (N)" LvMax → "Rapid Regeneration (R)" Lv1!]
His regeneration ability evolved to R-rank, speeding up healing and limb regeneration even further.
[Spent 2,550 Source Points, "Spiked Carapace" upgraded! Lv1 → Lv9!]
Finally, he pushed his signature ability "Spiked Carapace" to the brink of evolution.
After one big spending spree, his Source Points were down to single digits.
All burned out.
Completely gone.
[No Longer Human System]
Host: Hans
Current Species: Monster (Unknown Bug-type mutation)
Disaster Level: High Demon-level (Upper)
[Ability List,]
Innate Abilities: 2
Spiked Carapace (R) Lv9
Rapid Regeneration (R) Lv1
[Ability Slots: 10 / 15]
Trillion-Level Division (UR) Lv1
Fusion Merge (UR) Lv1
Overgrowth (SSR) Lv6
Beast Body (SSR) Lv4
Scorched Bomb (SSR) Lv2
Beast Instinct (SSR) Lv2
Swift Wind (SSR) Lv2
Cellular Mimicry (SSR) Lv2
Monsterization (SR) Lv6
Cellular Self-Destruct (SR) Lv1
Source Points: 7
Looking at the system panel, Hans couldn't help but recall the thrill of yesterday's upgrades.
"Damn junk system, only a few upgrades and you've already hit your limit!"
Still, none of it was wasted.
His base strength had climbed into upper Demon-level, a huge step up after fighting the Bug God.
He was now just a step away peak Demon-level!
"Raaaagh!!" (Harder!!)
"Sorry, sorry, zoned out for a second, Lord Pochi."
Pulled back by the impatient howls of Pochi, Hans apologized with a grin. Crimson lines flared across his body as his upper Demon-level power exploded!
With Pochi Dragon-level defense, all it took was some rough play and the job was done.
"Is this pressure to your liking?"
"Rrroo~ (Much better~)"
In the cold underground river, an insectoid and a dog once again shared a strangely harmonious moment.
After finishing his daily feeding and dog-petting routine, Hans waved goodbye to the satisfied Pochi and started his usual solitary walk home.
He was already thinking ahead, killing small fry in the lower ranks was one thing, but slaying the Bug God? That would definitely draw attention from Evil Eye.
As for the low-level monsters who had helped haul the food...
Don't ask, they were all "crispy on the outside, tender on the inside." Old acquaintances, technically.
Not long after, a familiar psychic wave quietly enveloped him.
'She's here.'
Hans paused, looking up.
Perched on a nearby rock was a floating, one-eyed creature with a few twisted tentacles, one of Evil Eye's puppets used for surveillance and communication, Little Eye.
It hovered silently, its single eye cold and emotionless as it watched Hans.
Hans understood instantly. Calmly, he stepped forward and gave a respectful bow.
"Lord Evil Eye."
Little Eye stayed silent for a moment, then a cold, distorted voice echoed in his mind.
"The Bug God is dead."
"I killed it," Hans admitted without hesitation.
Silence again.
He could feel the will behind that eye, observing, judging his worth and danger.
"Why?"
Through Little Eye, Psykos's twisted voice carried her psychic tone:
"The Bug God was one of our key assets. You killed it. I want a reason."
Hans straightened, his black mask revealing nothing, but his tone dripped with defiance.
"Reason? Simple, I was stronger, so it died."
"To me, losers don't deserve to serve you, Lord Evil Eye."
Little Eye made no comment. In the Monster Association, losers usually did end up as snacks for Orochi.
"You once told me to come up with a fitting monster name, right?"
Hans took a step forward, his newfound aura radiating sharpness and pride.
"I think 'Bug God' sounds just fine."
"Since that shit proved himself trash by dying…"
He raised his clawed, spike-covered hand and Pointed to himself.
"From today on, I am the Bug God!"
The words echoed through the cavern, not loud, but full of conviction.
Behind Little Eye, Psykos listened. Even with all her intelligence, the corner of her mouth twitched slightly.
'This guy…Did he just steal someone else's name because he sucks at naming himself?!'
Still, jokes aside, what really caught her attention was his unbelievable growth rate.
In just one week, this guy had gone from a Wolf-level nobody to someone who could easily kill a peak Demon-level.
His strength, courage, and speed of evolution had far exceeded her expectations.
In Hans's blackened, armored form, Psykos even saw a faint reflection of her greatest creation, the Monster King Orochi.
'To me, Demon-level monsters are just disposable tools.'
'Old tools break. Replacing them with stronger, sharper ones… isn't so bad.'
"Very well," Psykos's warped voice said with amusement.
"Since you've proven your worth, from today onward, you are the new Bug God of the Monster Association."