As much as Ashton wanted to witness the extent of his abilities, he was running out of time. The [Silent Kill Zone] wouldn''t stay active extensively, as it was an assassin ss skill. Sooner orter, someone will find them and Ashton had no desire to wait for so long.


    In order to figure out an exploitable weakness, Ashton used [Detection] on the creature. Instead of detriment, he found something hrious and promptly used it to his advantage.


    "Viper, the name doesn''t suit an octopus like yourself," Ashton chuckled.


    "Why you..." Viper hissed.


    Aiming for the throat, he darted in Ashton''s direction. A bold yet predictable move. A split second before reaching his target, Viper crouched and swung his knife to hit Ashton''s abdomen.


    In his dull life as a test subject in Tartarus, he never got the chance to fight someone as strong as himself. That''s why he rarely showed emotions. However, this time things were different.


    Fighting someone as strong as Ashton was a rare opportunity and Viper wanted to savour it. That''s why he changed his aim and struck Ashton''s stomach instead.


    Thinking he managed to outpace his opponent, Viper was excited. The adrenaline ran wild in his veins; it was the first time a kill had made him so unhinged.


    However, much to his shock and dismay, the knife''s de snapped in half when it touched Ashton''s skin. Only at that moment did Viper realise he had been yed. Ashton did not bother defending against the attack because he wore armour underneath his clothes.


    "What the hell!?"


    "It''s a dragon''s armour," Ashton smugly replied, "physical attacks can''t even tickle me, to be honest."


    Without wasting a breath, Viper jumped, intending to kick Ashton''s head off, but thetter effortlessly blocked his well-executed chain of attacks. With every attack that Ashton blocked, Viper''s frustration grew immeasurably.


    "DAMN IT! DAMN IT! DAMN IT!"


    "Your attacks are just as monotonous as your slurs. Add some variety to it, for god''s sake." Ashton smiled as he continued blocking Viper''s strikes with one hand, "You have potential, but that''s about it. Even a diamond loses its value if not polished properly."


    [Are you here as a guest lecturer or a thief?]


    ''Neither; I''m here as a guest.''


    [There''s no point arguing against you. Please do us all a favour and end it already. Let the man rest in peace, or in pieces, whatever you prefer.]


    Finish Viper off? Why would he do something like that afterparing him with a raw diamond?


    Instead of killing him, taking him in was more beneficial for Ashton as it would also contribute towards his evolution tasks. Although Viper wasn''t super strong, if Ashton converted him into a werewolf, he would get much more substantial.


    Who knows, if Ashton yed his cards right, he might even end up finding a sessor to rule over the undead. With that, he would have irrevocable influence over all the world''s major nations.


    ''Won''t that be a life worth living?''


    [Pretty sure your mysterious father would have already nned for it in some capacity.]


    ''Thanks for reminding me.''


    Back to the topic of conversion, once converted, Viper could act as a spy for him, and Ashton wouldn''t have to worry about looking for secrets and endangering himself.


    As forplications, there would be none as once bound by blood; Viper would have to follow the alpha''s orders, whether he liked it or not. But Ashton had a way of ensuring that Viper became an obedient puppy.


    "Alright, y time''s over."


    Ashton struck Viper''s rotary joints with lightning-fast motions, rendering him motionless. Despite Viper''s best efforts, his hands and legs remained motionlessly attached to his torso.


    "What did you do!?"


    "You were iling your arms a bit too much, and I can''t have you unnecessarilyplicate the procedure." Ashton whispered before grasping Viper''s neck while transforming into a werewolf, "This would hurt a lot."


    Before Viper could protest, Ashton had already sunk his fangs into his shoulders. There wasn''t anything Viper could have done to stop Ashton. Although the process onlysted a minute, the pain viper experienced was unimaginable.


    It felt like a hundred daggers simultaneously pierced his body. Even the bones weren''t untouched by Ashton''s bite''s effects. Everything until now was simr to what Ashton had gone through. But what happened next surprised both Ashton and Astaroth.<novelnext></novelnext>


    As Viper turned into a brown-furred werewolf, bursting through his body armour, the tentacles on his back reappeared and became one with his changing body.


    Four tentacles wrapped around his limb, and the remaining two covered his chest like armour. Instead of ws, des made of bones popped out of Viper''s hands.


    By the end of his transformation, Viper had be a weird hybrid between a tentacles monster and a walking werewolf.


    Solely judging by their stats as a werewolf, Ashton was somewhat weaker than Viper. This meant, Viper could challenge Ashton for the position of the ''Alpha''.


    [Houston, we have a problem.]


    "Oi admin, can''t you do something?"


    [Of course, I can. But do you want to get caught by the Xyrans?]


    "I knew you''d say that."


    [Why are you smiling? Don''t tell me you finally lost your damn mind!]


    Ashton shook his head but didn''t drop his smile. Although it was unlikely to ur, he was prepared for a scenario like this. After witnessing how Mera lost control over her ''pack'', it''d be foolish for him tomit the same mistakes.


    [Fucking hell, you actually did it-]


    "I did." Ashton smugly replied, "A little bit of my blood should keep him in check. But if things get out of hand, I might resort to putting a cor or something on him."


    __


    Your evolution tasks have been updated!


    Werewolf evolution task(s):


    >> Fight and defeat 10 B-grade beings: 3/10


    >> Turn 2 creatures into Werewolves: 1/2


    >> Add new members to your pack of werewolves. (Currently have: 3/7 werewolves in the pack.)


    Vampire evolution task(s):


    >> Consume fresh blood of 2 B-grade beings: 1/2pleted.


    >> Consume fresh blood of a legendary creature: 0/1pleted.


    >> Add a new member to your family. (Turn another creature into your ve): 1/1 members added.


    Grim Reaper evolution task(s):


    >> Raise a Lich (iplete).


    >> Create and Tame 10 summons. (Currently have: 6/10 summons)


    >> Consume the flesh of a mythical creature.


    __


    [Congrattions on raising a Vampirewolf, you freak.]


    "Thanks, useless admin."