The atmosphere grew tense and heavy; conflict was about to erupt.
Yet instead of fear, the surrounding monsters grew excited, practically trembling with anticipation, eager for the two sides to clash.
If both ended up wounded, they'd have a chance to rush in and snatch an arm or leg for a feast.
But Hans didn't get angry.
Instead, he watched the system panel with amusement, his eyes glinting coldly as he studied the information of the "Slime Octopus."
[Monster: Slime Octopus]
[Disaster Level: Tiger (Mid)]
[Ability 1: Sticky Ink (N)] – Sprays large amounts of highly toxic, viscous ink that interferes with the enemy's senses and movement.
[Ability 2: Powerful Strangle (R)] – Eight tentacles possess immense muscular strength and flexibility, capable of high-speed wrapping and lethal constriction.
[Ability 3: Tentacle Regeneration (N)] – Broken tentacles can regenerate by consuming a portion of life force.]
'A mid-tier Tiger class, one rare R-level ability, two N-level ones.'
Before, Hans wouldn't have dared to provoke such a creature.
But now... things were different.
The "No Longer Human System" system ranked his power as High-Tiger, but in reality, it was far beyond an ordinary Tiger-class!
And this so-called strongest creature here, the Slime Octopus, was merely Tiger-Mid in the system's eyes.
With four golden abilities copied from Pochi, each one incredibly powerful, Hans now stood unmatched among his level.
"Yare yare… got a problem with that?"
Hans's voice broke the silence again, this time carrying heat like an erupting volcano.
"Of course I do."
The armored figure stepped forward, black plates gleaming with a dangerous light.
Though smaller than the Slime Octopus, his presence radiated explosive power.
"What's your problem!?"
The Slime Octopus' eyes turned vicious. Its eight tentacles flexed, suction cups snapping open and shut with a sickening sound, ready to strike.
It thought Hans would back down, but instead, he stood his ground.
"My problem is…"
Hans raised his head, eyes glowing crimson.
"…you should die."
"You bastard!!"
The Slime Octopus exploded in rage!
Its enormous head flushed red as its tentacles lashed out like furious pythons, the air cracking with their speed.
A wave of nauseating, fishy stench rushed forward.
"Fight! Fight!"
"Rip him apart, boss!"
"Kill that bug!"
The monsters around howled in bloodlust, imagining Hans's bones snapping, his body crushed and broken beneath the tentacles.
But Hans's eyes showed not fear, but excitement.
It was time to test the power of his SSR abilities.
In an instant, his senses sharpened to their peak.
Time seemed to slow; each of the eight tentacles moved as if in slow motion.
Attack patterns, speed, force, wind resistance, every detail was clear in his mind.
Just before the tentacles hit, Hans's body blurred like a black arrow loosed from a bowstring.
He slipped through the narrow gaps between them with impossible precision, reappearing at the monster's side!
That speed, completely beyond a Tiger-class monster's perception.
The Primal Instinct gave him a supernatural sense of danger and combat intuition.
Overgrowth and Beast Body granted him raw physical might that exceeded his supposed level.
"What- ?!"
The Slime Octopus's pupils shrank as danger screamed in its mind.
In the blink of an eye, Hans vanished from sight, then a claw covered in black carapace and glowing with a cold light tore through the air.
Shhkk!
Like a knife through rotten flesh.
His claw sank deep into the octopus's massive head, piercing skin and soft bone alike.
Half its skull caved in as blue blood and white brain matter sprayed out between Hans's fingers like a fountain.
"GRAAAAHHHH!!!"
The creature shrieked, a sound that barely resembled anything living.
Its remaining tentacles whipped madly, smashing against Hans's black armor in a frenzy.
But the blows only produced dull thuds and a shower of sparks.
Not even a scratch.
[Beast Body (Lv.1)] had toughened his defenses beyond what a mid-tier Tiger could hope to damage.
"This can't be!"
The Slime Octopus's one remaining eye was wide with disbelief.
Desperate, it reared back and spat a flood of black, corrosive ink, its secret weapon, Sticky Ink.
The liquid hissed with venom and heat distortion.
"Trying to trade shots, huh?" Hans smirked.
He severed a few tentacles with a quick slash, leapt backward, and opened his mouth,
A sphere of blinding white energy condensed inside, radiating heat and destruction.
"Scorch Bomb!"
The energy orb shot forward, colliding head-on with the wave of ink.
Tsshhh!
The moment the two met, the ink vaporized instantly under the intense heat.
The Slime Octopus' remaining eye widened in horror as the glowing red sphere filled its vision, and then everything turned white.
BOOM!!!
The explosion engulfed its massive body, the ground shaking beneath the blast.