Chapter 135: Absorbing Dozens Of Powerful Genes, Manifesting Traits And Mutations!

-----

After strengthening his bond with his wife, Riven also received several new notifications. A deep power within him had fully awakened after he consumed so many strong and unique prey.

[The Class Skill: [Gene Absorption – Level 2] has activated successfully.]

[You have absorbed the [Gashadokuro] Super Rare Gene.]

[You have absorbed the [Mizuchi] Super Rare Gene.]

[You have absorbed the [Inugami] Super Rare Gene.]

[You have absorbed the [Blue Oni] Common Gene.]

[You have absorbed the [Red Oni] Common Gene.]

[You have absorbed the [Jorōgumo] Common Gene.]

[You have absorbed the [Yuki-onna] Common Gene.]

[You have absorbed the [Kamaitachi] Common Gene.]

[You have absorbed the [Futakuchi-onna] Common Gene.]

[Genes are divided into four rarities: Ultra Rare, Super Rare, Rare, and Common. The higher their rarity, the stronger and more powerful they can be cultivated.]

Riven smiled lightly as he saw all the new genes he had been able to absorb.

And then, something new appeared.

[Do you wish to automatically absorb and cultivate all genes into your main Titan Physique?]

[Ultra Rare Genes have a 25% chance to manifest a Trait.]

[Super Rare Genes have a 15% chance to manifest a Trait.]

[Rare Genes have a 5% chance to manifest a Trait.]

[Common Genes have a 1% chance to manifest a Trait.]

[Traits are physical mutations of these Genes into your Physique. They can be from claws, scales, exoskeleton, the power of breathing fire without using Mana, etcetera.]

[Traits can be easily activated or deactivated at will.]

It seemed that the skill had not only reached Level 2 after he absorbed so many Genes, but it also finally revealed what it could truly do with them — Traits!

Traits were additional physical mutations layered onto his existing Physique. The best part was that he did not need to worry about permanently becoming some permanent weird monster. They could be activated or deactivated at will, which greatly eased his concerns.

"Well, why not?"

[Yes]

He pressed [Yes] without the slightest hesitation.

Suddenly, within every fiber of his being, his DNA started pulsing hungrily. It ravenously began consuming and integrating the genes it had absorbed from those magical and mythological creatures.

BA-DUM!

BA-DUM!

BA-DUM!

Riven felt his heart beating faster and faster. An immense quantity of raw power overflowed through his body. His Physical Stats began to skyrocket even further. His muscles grew massively in size and density. Without any conscious effort from a skill, black scales began to manifest across his skin — scales that required no Mana to maintain.

Aside from that, his hair rapidly grew long and jet-black, moving on its own for several seconds before calming down. Sharp bone claws also surged outward from his knuckles, reminding him strongly of a certain comic book superhero.

Lastly, a pair of white horns pushed out from his forehead. His skin constantly shifted between different tones before finally settling into a strange dual coloration — one half of his body red and the other half blue. His eyes turned completely black.

"Huh?!" Kagehisa gasped in shock. "Riven, you’ve taken the form of a chimeric being...! Did you undergo Yokaification?"

"No," Riven answered firmly. "This is different..."

He felt immensely powerful in that moment, yet he slowly forced himself to calm down. His black hair, which had gained temporary red and blue strands, returned to its normal state. His skin color and the other temporary traits faded away as well.

But the power they provided remained firmly within him.

"So this is Gene Absorption..." he thought with satisfaction. "Not bad at all."

What was truly amazing, however, was not just the temporary form. This process offered a much faster and easier path for his Titan Physique to grow stronger.

Ding!

[You have absorbed all available Genes into your Physique.]

[Your Titan Physique has undergone a powerful evolution, breaking through to Level 3!]

[Your Vitality has increased by 400,000.]

[Your Strength has increased by 200,000.]

[Your Endurance has increased by 100,000.]

[Your control over your own physical body, raw strength, dexterity, and movement precision and alignment with thought process has increased by 400%.]

[Your Link with Elisa has grown, and she is now sharing 25% of your Vitality and 5% of your Strength and Endurance Stat.]

[You have absorbed all Genes and manifested four Traits.]

[You learned the Trait Mutation: [Mizuchi’s Nether Scales (Super Rare Mutation)]: Increase Physical Defense. Decreases Magic Damage Taken. Can Absorb Spiritual Energy from the environment.]

[You learned the Trait Mutation: [Gashadokuro’s Sharp Bones (Super Rare Mutation)]: Increase Bone Density, Bone Endurance, and Bone Regeneration. Can grow bone outside of the body and retract it at will to an extent.]

[You learned the Trait Mutation: [Blue & Red Oni Horns and Skin (Common Mutation)]: Increases all Physical Stats by a small amount. Grants a passive Intimidation Aura that weakens weaker foes.]

[You learned the Trait Mutation: [Futakuchi-onna’s Deadly Hair (Common Mutation)]: Your Hair is Alive and can move on its own, grow rapidly, and fight. It is harder than steel and capable of fusing and transforming into clothes.]

"Wow."

As Riven felt the combined power of these new Traits course through every part of his body, something unexpected happened.

[x10,000 Multiplier Authority Activated!]

[All Four Trait Mutations have been multiplied x10,000!]

"What?!"

Riven felt his entire body suddenly burn with immense internal flames and raw power. His muscles bulged violently and then tensed before slowly calming down again.

Scales covered him almost completely for a moment before disappearing. He grew long, majestic draconic horns, and even a long Shenlong-style tail briefly manifested before vanishing.

His bones erupted outward from his body, forming a complete and even stronger biological bone armor that fully encased him!

At the same time his hair turned a brilliant silvery metallic color, glowing like pure mithril. Lastly, the dual skin colors fused into a living pattern that resembled burning red and blue flames. His demonic oni horns grew three times longer and burned with dual-colored fire.

"Insane...!"

His four Mutations had been boosted to the absolute maximum possible Rarity — a level of power Riven had not even known existed until this moment.

-----