Even though the main motivation in coming here was to defeat the Rastrikan Demons and complete the sudden quest, obtaining the massive rewards that couldn't be ignored, there was another thing that piqued Rex's interest.
It's something that doesn't lose out compared to the rewards gained from the sudden quest.
A unique Demon, Caraptaros.
Based on the details provided by Aructh and Mazel from earlier, Caraptaros could serve as both a portal back to the Demon Kingdom if needed and also a site where the Rastrikan Demons would revive when they were killed in a battle.
From the moment he learned about it, Rex couldn't help but wonder an important question.
Can Caraptaros be turned into a Werewolf?
Just imagining the potential of being able to turn Caraptaros into a Werewolf, granting immortality to him and the others, stirred a raging excitement in Rex's veins, a possibility potent enough to drive him to the brink of madness.
Even if there were countless powerful legions standing in his way, he would not stop.
Rex would not stop until he had his hands on Caraptaros.
Granting immortality to the Silverstar Pack is something that he needed the most right now.
At the thought of this massive possibility, a layer of protection that would help him against the Executor, Rex quickened his pace. Reaching back to the lake, he stares intently at the massive dark boulder at the heart of the lake, which stands motionless in the midst of the gently swaying water caused by the breeze.
Caraptaros remained unresponsive, even with the death of the Rastrikan Demons.
It's still exactly in the same place as when Rex left it before.
Unable to contain the excitement, Rex's eyes glistened and scanned Caraptaros.
<Caraptaros the Ward>
Race: Fragmented Red Mordrak
Power: ??? - Inviolate Demonic Aegis
Mental: -
Strength: ???
Agility: 1
Endurance: ???
Intelligence: 0
Rex looked at Caraptaros' stats and frowned, he wasn't expecting something like this.
Most of the physical stats appeared as question marks, signifying their unidentifiable because he was too weak. But what intrigued Rex the most was the Mental stat point, which appeared as a stripe, something he had never encountered before.
System, care to explain this?
<Caraptaros is completely immune to mental attacks, thus the mental stat point is irrelevant>
Immune? Does it not have a consciousness?
<It possesses consciousness and intelligence akin to that of an animal. Yet, it's a creation born from a fragment of the Origin, resulting in an incomplete soul. This peculiar mutation accounts for its underdeveloped consciousness, and as a side effect, grants it immunity to mental attacks>
Upon reading this, Rex nodded, it's not completely mindless.
Approaching Caraptaros with steady steps, his heartbeat began to quicken in response.
Rex would now try and turn Caraptaros into a Werewolf.
However, the confidence he had earlier was nowhere to be seen, it vanished after he saw Caraptaros' stats. More of his confidence was stripped away when the System stated that Caraptaros was made by a fragment of the Demon Origin.
Throughout my days, I've never failed to turn someone into a Werewolf.
As he waded through the deepening water towards Caraptaros at the center of the lake, submerging half of his thighs in water, his mind raced, and cold sweat beaded along the side of his face. Even Demon Lord Arutch and Mazel were easily turned, so there shouldn't be any problem. But why am I feeling nervous right now...?
Despite never failing, Rex feels pressured at this current moment.
It was mainly because this was the first time that he tried to turn something like this.
None of his pack members were turned when they were stronger than Rex himself. But now, Caraptaros had several question marks in its physical stats, making it, in a way, stronger than the current Rex, adding an invisible pressure to turn it into a Werewolf.
Reaching beside Caraptaros, Rex gazed at its colossal body before taking in a deep breath.
Similarly, Adhara and Ryze also held their breaths in response.
Both of them could feel the nervousness coming from Rex which in turn made them also nervous. In addition, they also knew what this would mean if Rex really managed to turn Caraptaros into a Werewolf.
Upon touching the surface of Caraptaros' skin, a pulsating demonic malice could be felt.
A sinister flow of energy from hell itself permeates into Rex's hand.
System, tell me, can I turn Caraptaros into a Werewolf?
<Scanning...>
<Completed!>
<Yes.>
Looking at the last notification, Rex's eyes widened excitedly as this was great news.
However, his excitement didn't last long.
<But there are several factors that reduce the likelihood of the user turning Caraptaros into a Werewolf, as it's a fragment of the Demon Origin and has additional layers for complete transformation. Does the user like to know the probability?>
Tch, I knew it. No, don't tell me the probability, I'll just have to try very hard.
How many chances do I have until I can't try anymore?
<The user has 3 chances before Caraptaros is locked, and would never be turned forever>
Despite the slim odds suggested by the System's response, Rex remained unwavering in his determination. He decided to attempt the transformation without any prior preparations, still holding onto the belief that he would not fail in turning Caraptaros into a Werewolf.
Browsing through the System's shop, he bought a perfect rune for Caraptaros.
It's the Paramount Resistance rune.
A rune that would give Caraptaros the ability to be heavily resistant to energy attacks.
Since Caraptaros is already immune to mental attacks and is probably very sturdy as its endurance stat is a bunch of question marks, Rex thought that the Paramount Resistance rune would make use of its strength, turning it into a literal unmovable object.
Caraptaros would only need to be impossible to kill to utilize its strength effectively.
Placing his hand on the surface of Caraptaros' armor-like skin, Rex closed his eyes to center his mind and body, preparing to commence the process of turning Caraptaros into a Werewolf. After a few moments of profound silence, his eyes suddenly snapped open.
"Brand!" He chanted, initiating the branding process.
Immediately after that, his palm glowed as the rune forced its way to Caraptaros' skin.
However, in contrast to the usual swift branding process, a formidable resistance arose, vehemently pushing against Rex's hand and the rune. Fiery sparks of razor-edged demonic energy erupted from their point of contact, creating violent explosions in the surrounding water that gradually became more violent.
"Is it normal for Rex to struggle this much?" Ryze asked, watching this scene from behind.
Upon hearing this, Adhara shook her head, "No, it's not..."
Moments ago, the two had witnessed him effortlessly transform Aructh and Mazel into Werewolves. He did it with extreme nonchalance, quickly and very easily without a trace of effort as if turning others was merely a mundane task for him.
But it seems Caraptaros is completely different than the others.
Rex holds his right hand with his other hand, trying his best to keep his hand steady.
It's resisting this much when I'm only branding it with a rune...?
Although he was willing to try, he had severely underestimated Caraptaros as the resistance was too strong when it was only the branding process. He couldn't imagine how hard it would be to complete the transformation process using his blood.
Fueled with the desire to gain its power, Rex turned into his Werewolf form again.
In addition, he also activates all the enhancements in his arsenal.
Responding as strong, a surge of demonic energy that was abundant within Caraptaros' colossal frame violently erupted, unleashing a formidable wave of power that compelled Rex to take a step back, revealing the true extent of its might.
Just this rush of energy alone tells Rex that he's not capable of overpowering it right now.
"Adhara, Ryze, come help me!" Rex yelled without looking back.
Upon hearing this surprising cry for help, both of them quickly turned into their respective forms and rushed in, forcing their way through the rush of energy before eventually, after a hazardous attempt, standing beside Rex.
Still resisting the gush of energy, Adhara asked loudly, "What should we do?!"
"Focus your energy on the back of the rune and push until it reaches the skin, don't stop until it's completely engraved on its skin" Rex replied back, the gush of energy made it so that he needed to speak loud too.
Both Adhara and Ryze darted their eyes to Rex's hand and found what he was talking about.
A radiant blue rune can be seen in between Rex's palm and Caraptaros' skin. It was being held back by the relentless pushback of the demonic energy emanating from Caraptaros' impenetrable hide. Gradually, the rune is visibly yielded ground inch by inch.
Not wasting a single second, Ryze and Adhara quickly leaped into action.
Doing as Rex instructed, the two channeled their energies and helped push the rune forward.
Swish...!
Knowing that it still wouldn't be enough, Rex summoned Amanir and Devo to join the fray, adding their combined strength to the relentless push against the surging demonic energy, and only when the five of them combined their might that the demonic energy starts to be overwhelmed.
Bit by bit, it was pushed back, and the blue rune moved forward once again.
Eventually, the rune touched Caraptaros' skin.
Swoosh!
Boom!!
Upon managing to finally make contact with its skin, an explosion of energy happened and hurtled Ryze and Adhara away, crashing through multiple trees. Similarly, Amanir and Devo's physical bodies were extinguished, evaporating into spirit energy.
Rex was the only one left, and he was panting heavily as a notification appeared.
<Branding process completed!>
<Please infuse Caraptaros with the user's blood to finish the transformation process!>
<Unable to proceed! Please overwhelm the target first>
Gulping harshly, exhausted from the struggle, Rex fell to his knees to steady his breaths. He wouldn't continue this process of trying to transform Caraptaros right now. If he did insist and was reckless, he might suffer from this and weaken himself unnecessarily.
Due to that, he decided to end it to end it here.
After he made some preparations with the help of the System, he would try again.
Seems like I couldn't force to turn Caraptaros. It's my first time failing to turn someone, it feels like shit. Whatever, at least if I succeed, then this would be another layer of defense against the Executor.
Rex stood back up again after resting and nodded at the sight of the engraved rune.
While touching Caraptaros, he channeled his black lightning.
"Pneuma Spell, Ether Blink..."
Crack!
Blitz!
From the sky, a thick bolt of black lightning made by mana descended, striking both Rex and Caraptaros simultaneously. Within the electrifying surge, their bodies began to flicker wildly, as if they were transforming into pure lightning essence.
However, when the lightning strike dissipated, Rex and Caraptaros still remained there.
"I still can't use the stronger spells, huh... So how can I move Caraptaros? Is there no other way aside from carrying it?" Rex pondered out loud. He could leave Caraptaros behind, he needs to bring it back to Dargena City.
Conversely, he tries to use his Pneuma Spells but ultimately fails.
Adhara and Ryze came back from the lake and saw Rex rubbing his chin while looking at Caraptaros. Both of them could tell that he failed to turn Caraptaros, and is now thinking of something else entirely.
But under their surprised gaze, the two saw Rex digging his hands into the ground.
Following that, Caraptaros' body moved.
His muscles strained, bulging prominently, and his veins pulsated visibly as Rex heaved Caraptaros from the ground, which proved to be exceptionally heavy. It was a sensation he had long forgotten, for there were very few things he couldn't lift, and this was a rare reminder.
Like Atlas carrying the world, he carries Caraptaros, shaped like a turtle on his back.
Rex's step was now quaking the ground, the sheer weight of Caraptaros caused this.
"Do you need any help? It's going to be hard to carry that while following me from behind, you know?" Adhara teased, obviously making fun of Rex who was not long earlier, was burning with lust.
Clicking his tongue in displeasure, Rex walked past her in frustration, "Shut up"
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