Chapter 600 - 545: Be their Bane (1/2)

”Aaaaah!”

Noktox looked to the colorless sky and wildly roared, his muscles becoming bigger to the point that they ripped his cotton clothes, showcasing his massive and impressive body. The golden flames died down but his aura increased by several folds, even his eyes started emitting a red l.u.s.ter as if he was enraged.

'They didn't lie when they said that body cultivators are just muscle-heads.'

”Master, it's because they focus more on strength than any proper education but… don't you prefer simple-minded people.”

'You bet I do!'

After his overbearing and brief transformation, Noktox took large strides toward the humanoid cat. His feet left deep marks on the metallic ground, which is not easily damaged but ended up being treated like sand under the lion's feet. Arthur got on all fours, let out an unintentional hiss before charging at the opponent, leaving a trail of fading stars behind him.

Noktox clenched his fist and punched the incoming parasite while loudly shouting. Unfortunately, his fist went through the cat, which was nothing but an after-image, however, despite his failed attack, the lion beastmen didn't seem troubled as he violently banged his left foot on the ground, causing a golden circle to appear around him and instantly combust.

This area of effect spell forced Arthur of his momentary stealth and revealed his location to Noktox, who wasted no time and used his long tail to attack. The long tail wrapped around Arthur's ankle and slammed his body on the ground right in front of the lion.

The large beastmen was about to kick the parasite but leg went through the latter again but this time it wasn't an afterimage but a clone created at the very last second. It was a shadow clone meant to divert Noktox's attention and it replaced Arthur right after he was slammed onto the ground.

Like a ghost, a humanoid cat appeared from Noktox's side and slammed him with an illusory bronze platform. The first strike only caused the lion to groan, however, Arthur didn't stop and repeatedly used the platform until the target fell on the ground. Instead of finishing him off, Arthur retreated to a safe distance, unwilling to risk it as he knew Noktox isn't easily defeated, especially after he just empowered himself.

Not only did he have ridiculous defense, but his attack power is also extremely high. Just his tail was easily about to fling his body like a rag and decrease 10% of his health bar.

*****

”How do you know so much about parasites?” Arthur asked his copy, Claud Venice.

It was during the long training session he went through right after his fight against the Divine Beasts. When Claud took hold of his copy, he showed him how a parasite should fight, how to change bodies at the very last second, and choose the right ones depending on the situation and the enemies.

”I've never been a parasite but I've spent a great deal of my life researching them. Knowledge exceeds everything, and after being inside of you, I'm more or less adapted to the parasitic abilities hence my fighting style.”

”I still don't understand how you choose the perfect host in a chaotic battle. I've possessed hundreds of thousands of bodies and each has their unique abilities.”

”Yes, that is true and that is why I said knowledge is important. You need to study everything you possessed, even the weakest ones but they can also be beneficial. A worm can defeat a drake and a cat can defeat a lion, you just need to know how to efficiently use the hosts. Rather than trying to force yourself to understand skills and races, why don't you try feeling it?”

”Feeling it? How so?”

”When you possess a Naga, for example, you're supposed to become a Naga, not pretend to be one, after all, you're no shapeshifter. If this or that host was strong before you possess it, you need to be able to demonstrate the same amount of firepower when you're in control, if not more. In my opinion and after enough calculations, I've concluded that parasites are naturally more suited for long-range combat but that doesn't mean they don't excel in close range. In your case, if you don't screw anything up, you can even face a body cultivator thanks to your stats.”