SSS-Rank Evolving Monster: From Pest to Cosmic Devourer-Chapter 38: Sleeper Cells and Spiritual Seeds

"Darkness element!!"

Ricky muttered inside his head, a mysterious light flashing within his compound eyes, casting a faint black shimmer over the nearby leaves.

Unlike the Thousand Refinement breathing technique, which focused solely on body refinement, the Demonic Beings Roaring in Ten Directions was on an entirely different level. It strengthened both soul and flesh—melding two essences into one terrifying force.

Undoubtedly, it was a superior technique. A technique that dwarfed the Thousand Refinement breathing technique by several levels.

"Not just that, it suits me perfectly. My Venom Fang Mosquito bloodline also leans toward the dark path."

A rare expression of satisfaction bloomed on Ricky's tiny face. His instincts had guided him right. If he had formed his spiritual seed with the other technique, he would have regretted it deeply. Not that he would have succeeded anyway—spiritual seed formation required a certain threshold of spiritual force, one he hadn't reached back then.

Behind him, Noctyss grinned when she noticed his silence. Her expression turned a little wicked, and a gleam danced in her phoenix eyes.

"That puny mosquito brain must have turned into mush..."

She sneered inwardly, believing Ricky had been overwhelmed by the complexity of the technique.

But Ricky didn't care about her thoughts. He understood the severity of the situation far more than she realized. Without wasting another breath, he buzzed his wings and flew deeper into the forest, his mind focused on one thing.

Buzzz! Buzzz!

Noctyss' stunned face mirrored her confusion as she watched Ricky vanish from her sight.

"Wait, where are you going...?"

Her voice echoed weakly as she began to chase after him, clutching her bountiful assets in frustration.

...

Ricky didn't stop flying until he reached a quiet stretch within the forest, where the air felt heavier and the trees cast twisted shadows over the mossy floor. His compound eyes narrowed, his mind locked onto a singular goal: tracking the venom.

Specifically, the Sleeper Cell venom—his newest creation.

It was an undetectable poison he had developed using the evolution granted by his system. Laced into the veins of several warriors and cultists, it now functioned like a spider's web, letting him sense their movements from a distance.

"So many people from the cult..."

Hundreds of glowing dots lit up in Ricky's mind, like stars scattered across the forest. Each dot was a target he had previously bitten or someone who came in contact with one of his victims—tiny receivers of his venom, now turned into anchors for his perception.

The number was rising.

Rapidly.

And none of the dots were stationary. They weaved and wandered across the terrain, blindly searching for something... perhaps him.

"Instead of feeling fear, I should be grateful. The more, the better."

A cold glint appeared in Ricky's eyes, replacing any hint of hesitation.

"Come. All of you come. Come as many as you want, but none of you shall leave."

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"All of you will become the fodder that fuels my growth."

For the first time, Ricky's thoughts took a sinister turn. A twisted, bloodthirsty light flashed in his eyes as the repeated aggression shown by the warriors of this world finally wore down his patience.

He no longer viewed them as enemies.

He saw them as resources.

...

As he soared through the canopy, Ricky passed by a familiar area—a clearing with faint spiritual energy wafting through the air. Nestled in the center was Dark Shadow's garden, where glowing fruits shook faintly on twisted vines.

Dark Shadow, Boar, and Alexandria were in the middle of a serious conversation, their expressions darker than usual.

Their grim tone told him enough.

They were talking about the forest's current state.

Ricky simply nodded in their direction as he passed. No words were exchanged—time was a luxury he couldn't afford.

His wings buzzed louder, and he vanished into the dense foliage once more.

...

Behind him, Noctyss arrived breathless, her face red with frustration.

"Damn this mosquito, why is he running as if he understood everything?"

Her chest heaved as she stomped her foot into the ground, cheeks puffed with rage.

"Why didn't he ask any more questions?! That's not like him!"

She cursed once more and kicked a rock aside.

"Damn you, mosquito! Just let me out of your control once..."

...

Back at the garden, the three spiritual beasts continued their discussion.

"We need to unite like those weak humans and form a kingdom of our own; only then can we have peace," Boar said, his gruff voice surprisingly thoughtful.

Despite his massive frame, his words carried deep meaning.

Alexandria nodded softly. She still remembered the innocent beasts that had seen slain in cold blood. Her escape from that massacre still haunted her dreams.

She didn't want to see that happen again.

Silence fell between them for a moment.

Only Dark Shadow didn't speak. Her attention remained on her garden and, occasionally, on a certain six-legged thief.

"Yeah, only a little bit..." she muttered, playing with a strand of Nether Thread.

Then, her gaze shifted—and landed on a certain furious woman stomping around in circles.

"Hey! Water bucket, come here fast..." Dark Shadow called out with a teasing tone.

Noctyss froze. Her head snapped to the side, eyes narrowing with murderous intent.

"What did you call me?"

In a blink, purple light exploded outward as Noctyss dashed forward like a demonic specter. Her figure sliced through the air toward Dark Shadow.

"I will fucking kill you, you eight-legged moronic spider—!"

BANG!

An invisible barrier intercepted her mid-flight, slamming her into a spiritual wall.

Her body hit it with a dull thud, then slid down slowly like a bug on a windshield.

Dark Shadow tilted her head, a smile dancing on her lips.

"Hehehe... little water bucket, you're still wet behind the ears if you think you can touch me..."

Her mocking words pierced Noctyss' pride like daggers.

Boar and Alexandria exchanged glances, a chill running down their spines. Despite everything, this garden was no sanctuary. If anything, it was the domain of two extremely dangerous beings.

If it weren't for extremly gentle Spider Sister, Alexandria would've fled long ago.

...

Meanwhile, in another part of the forest...

A blazing fire burned at the center of a wide ritual circle, dark crimson flames licking the sky. Shadows danced on the faces of dozens of Abyssal Pact cultists, their eyes closed, their lips trembling with sacred words.

At the center, the High Priest rose from his kneeling position. His face looked ghastly, as if drained of life.

His voice trembled with power.

"O Divine Revelation, whose whisper shatters sanity and whose gaze blinds the soul..."

"Unveil the truths mortals fear to know."

"Tear the veil of illusion, expose the rot beneath creation, and let your sacred madness consume me."

"I surrender my mind, my flesh, and all lies—grant me your final, merciless clarity."

As the chant reached its crescendo, the flames began to change.

The fire turned black.

A wind howled through the trees—not a natural one, but something ancient, hungry.