Arifureta: The Devourer

As Aio slowly opened his eyes, he found himself in the dimly lit confines of the labyrinth's second floor, which stretched out before him. Its rocky walls and uneven terrain creating an eerie and foreboding atmosphere. The air was heavy with a damp, earthy scent, and the distant echoes of dripping water reverberated throughout the cavernous space. Towering stalagmites and stalactites adorned the cave, casting long shadows that danced in the flickering light produced by the god stone and other crystals that adorned the walls.

With a languid stretch, Aio rose from his slumber, still enveloped in his transformed state. His massive claw bear form, standing at an imposing 8 meters tall, provided him both comfort and protection during his rest. He surveyed his surroundings, taking in the vastness of the labyrinth's second floor. So far, he had encountered no signs of life, granting him a momentary respite. With a grateful sigh, he reached out and retrieved the god crystal, a luminescent gemstone pulsating with latent power of both healing physical wounds and replenishing energy reserves, He cradled it delicately in his enormous jaws, savoring the sensation that relaxed his tensed muscles. 

So with renewed vigor Aio began to explore the labyrinth once again. As he traveled his steps echoed through the winding tunnels, his massive frame leaving an impression on the rough terrain. The minutes turned into hours as he wandered aimlessly, his mind craving the thrill of a worthy opponent and a meal. The monotony of the labyrinth threatened to weigh him down, making him feel increasingly bored and frenzied with hunger.

Just as he was beginning to resign himself to an uneventful journey, his keen senses detected a subtle change in the atmosphere. Aio's instincts sharpened, fixating on a specific point amidst the labyrinth's intricate twists and turns. There it stood, an enigmatic presence that demanded his attention—a Basilisk, its imposing presence drawing his attention. The creature, reached an imposing 3 meters tall, covered in scales bathed in an ethereal albino like glow, its eyes firmly shut.

Approaching cautiously, Aio observed the Basilisk, marveling at its features in anticipation. However, as he drew within a few meters of the slumbering creature, its eyes suddenly snapped open, it's intense gaze glowing with an eerie, faint blue light. A surge of adrenaline coursed through Aio's veins, his body instinctively preparing for the imminent danger.

Without a moment's hesitation, the Basilisk unleashed its petrifying power upon Aio's front legs. Realizing the peril he faced, Aio's mind raced, seeking a swift solution. In a display of quick thinking, he sank his teeth into his own petrifying limbs, severing them with a display of his apathy to pain. Utilizing the troll's regenerative abilities, he swiftly regenerated his front legs, the process unfolding before his eyes in a marvel of his biological transformation.

As the regeneration took hold, Aio's determination hardened. Understanding the urgency of the situation Aio underwent a quick metamorphosis changing his eyes to that of a twin-tailed wolf, and with a resounding roar, released a buildup of electricity that crackled through the air. The resulting surge of energy engulfed the immediate vicinity, obscuring his form within a cloud of dust and disarray. Utilizing this momentary cover, Aio seized the opportunity to initiate his ultimate transformation.

Drawing upon his knowledge and the essence of the labyrinth's diverse inhabitants he has thus far consumed, Aio invoked a powerful amalgamation of monstrous strength. He channeled the body structure of a behemoth, harnessing its raw power and imposing stature. The hair follicles reminiscent of a Claw Bear adorned his form, granting him an additional layer of protection. The distinct pigmentation found only in behemoths marked his transformed body, an outward symbol of his formidable presence. The sensitive mane of a twin-tailed wolf.

Combined with the regenerative capabilities inherited from trolls, with Aio's metamorphosis completed he cemented this amalgamation with the name Wrath. With Aio fully embodied as Wrath, he braced himself for the battle that lay before him. The Basilisk's eyes glowed with a malevolent gleam as it prepared to unleash its array of deadly talents. Wrath steeled his resolve, his instincts on high alert due to his lack of understanding of its abilites.

In a lightning-fast assault, the Basilisk unleashed its petrifying gaze. But Wrath, quickly and swiftly tore off the affected limbs before it could do any greater damage. With a primal roar, Wrath charged forward, his massive frame propelled by the sheer force of his behemoth physique. The Basilisk, agile and cunning, lashed out with its venomous fangs and elastic tail, seeking to exploit any opening. But Wrath's heightened reflexes and formidable strength enabled him to deftly evade the venomous strikes and tank the tail's snapping attacks. Unleashing a torrent of bone-crushing blows, Wrath struck back with an unrivaled ferocity. Each strike reverberated through the labyrinth, the force behind them enough to crack even the sturdy stone floors of the labyrinth. The Basilisk, formidable as it was, found itself hard-pressed to defend against the relentless assault of Wrath.

With every passing moment, Wrath's mastery over his amalgamation grew more evident. His assimilated powers and acquired strengths synergized seamlessly, bolstering his every move. The battle reached its crescendo as Wrath, undeterred by the Basilisk's venomous retaliation, launched a final, devastating assault.

The Basilisk, battered and wounded, could no longer withstand the relentless force of Wrath's onslaught. Its defenses crumbled, and its once-mighty strikes grew feeble. Writhing in defeat, the Basilisk succumbed to the overwhelming might of Wrath, its reptilian form falling lifelessly to the labyrinth floor.

Aio took a deep breath before exhaling happily due to the newest additon to his skill set and the battle that removed his mind numbing boredom. Before anything else however Aio quickly retrieved the god crystal placing it next to the Basilisks carcass and then consuming it

He would need the strenght if he wished to leave here alive. . .

----

(Time skip Unknown time (3 weeks since betryal) 32nd floor of the lower labyrinth )

Aio cautiously entered the 32nd floor, his senses heightened, and his body still in its wrath form. The labyrinthine cave-like surroundings were dimly lit, with walls adorned with ancient symbols and stalagmites jutting out from the ground. As he ventured deeper into the floor, memories of his betrayal and subsequent burial in rubble flashed through his mind. The experience had left him impaled on a stalagmite, but it also bestowed upon him the benefit of dulled pain, whether in his monstrous or original form.

Surveying his surroundings, Aio's alertness heightened, aided by the sensitivity of his red fur wolf's mane. Although he couldn't see his opponents, he could sense their presence in the large cavern. Eight powerful adversaries lurked nearby, some hiding behind large rocks, others concealed behind stalagmites, and one lurking in a dark corner that even Aio's basilisk eyes couldn't penetrate.

Suddenly, one of the opponents rushed at him from behind, spinning at high speeds with sharp spikes covering its body. Aio swiftly shifted to the side, narrowly evading the attack. The speed and agility of the hedgehog-like creature left him on edge, its blurred form leaving a circular imprint on the stone floor. Examining it closely, Aio noticed its resemblance to a hedgehog, albeit darker in color and more ferocious. Standing at around a meter tall and half a meter wide, its quills made it appear closer to two meters in height. Its dark gray quills contrasted with its dark brown body, which was slim with barely noticeable muscles. Its long tail, almost as long as its body, sported spikes reminiscent of an Ankylosaurus.

Aio's mane stood on end as he sensed the approach of seven more hedgehog-like monsters. He realized that his wrath form's speed was ineffective against them, despite its strength. Taking precautions, Aio stopped using [muscle compression], increasing his height to create more distance between himself and the creatures. The last thing he wanted was a repeat of the incident with the deep serpent, which had punctured his lung, requiring an hour for his troll regeneration to heal the wound.

Without taking any chances, Aio braced himself as the hedgehogs attacked. Four blurs appeared in his vision, striking at his chest and legs, causing him slight pain from seven different areas. Their attacks cut through his flesh easily, almost reaching his vital organs. Fortunately, their quills were not coated in poison, which provided some relief. Aio focused his mana into his troll regeneration to expedite the healing process, utilizing the properties of the monster core he had consumed from a golem-like creature on the 25th floor. Combining it with a god crystal, Aio enhanced his regeneration and made it more compatible with his monster body, which had a unique reaction to the god stone.

Shaking off any distractions, Aio scanned the area, realizing that his wrath form's speed was insufficient in dealing with the hedgehogs. He needed a different approach. Veins heating up and his throat swelling, Aio unleashed the skill "Alpha's Call," emitting a primal roar that enveloped his body in a red hue. Simultaneously, lightning discharged in every direction, creating a swirling dust storm that shrouded the battlefield. Within this maelstrom, Aio underwent a metamorphosis, adopting the body structure of a Red fur wolf, enhancing his agility and speed for swift maneuvers.

In his transformed state, Aio possessed a combination of traits from various creatures. His connective tissue resembled that of a kick master rabbit, providing elasticity and storing energy for explosive bursts of movement. The muscle tissue of a Claw bear granted him remarkable strength, enabling devastating attacks. Inherited poisonous glands froma deep serpent allowed Aio to emit a potent venomous mist, disorienting and weakening his adversaries. The epithelial tissue from a silent snake enabled seamless movement, rendering him nearly imperceptible in the shadows. With the chromatophores of a chamaeleontis, he could manipulate his skin color, aiding in camouflage and stealth. The regenerative abilities of trolls accelerated his healing process, ensuring rapid recovery from injuries. Lastly, the [muscle compression] skill of an ogre compressed his muscle fibers, enhancing his strength and agility while reducing his overall size.

This hybrid form, which Aio had recently named Blitzkrieg, specialized in swift movements and quick fights. Its adaptations also allowed Aio to experiment with the venom glands of the deep serpent and the flame gland of a blaze lizard. By heating up the venom using the flame gland, he could release a mist instead of liquid. Though weaker than the corrosive liquid, the mist created cover that was impossible to see through. Over time, the mist would induce a state of shock in anyone exposed to it for an extended period.

Aio watched as the hedgehogs regrouped, their quills shifting with anticipation. Sensing their intent, he growled in response. Moments later, they began to curl up into themselves, spinning in place to build up speed. Aio released the poisonous mist and heightened his hearing, keenly aware of their approach. Reacting quickly, he dropped low to the ground, muscles tensed, and propelled himself into the air, evading the spinning attacks. The hedgehogs rolled out of the mist, their movements affected in various ways. One wobbled, another rolled on its side, gasping for breath, while the others were left heavily panting. Aio noted their vulnerability to poison, affirming his observations.

As he landed on the ground, dispersing the mist, Aio found himself surrounded once again. This time, however, the hedgehogs took a different stance. They spun in place horizontally, putting Aio on high alert. Panic surged within him as they unleashed a barrage of quills, shooting them in every direction. With nowhere to turn, Aio made a desperate gamble, summoning a wave of lightning from the lightning field of the twin-tailed wolf. To his dismay, the lightning did nothing to deter the onslaught, and the quills pierced his body.

In that terrifying moment, Aio believed his end had come, only to realize that he was still alive. The 10% boost from Alpha's Call had saved his life, allowing the quills to narrowly miss his vital organs. This realization triggered a primal response within Aio, plunging him into a state of fight or flight. With sheer determination, he utilized half of his remaining mana to release a surge of lightning, striking six of the hedgehogs. But he didn't stop there; his instincts pushed him further. Using the last remnants of his mana, he expelled a large wave of poison from the deep serpent's gland, hitting two more hedgehogs. They writhed in pain on the floor, twitching until their movements ceased.

As Aio regained his senses, he found himself breathing heavily, sweat trickling down his form. The remaining hedgehogs, now reduced in number, backed up slightly, regrouping. His anger flaring, Aio clenched his teeth and claws. He had been careless, and it had almost cost him his life. Determined to prevail, he readied himself for the next round, his eyes fixed on the two scorched and poisoned adversaries left to die.

For Now However. . .

He Would Enjoy The Lunch They So Generously Left Him

Thanks For The Meal.