SSS Awakening: Creating Primordial Beasts To Be My Summons-Chapter 14: Adding More Monsters to the Party
The clash of Ram and Rat had a single outcome: devastation for the Rats.
Cohen, however, found their Nebula Charge and Hide interesting.
The Ashen Nebula Rams, vibrant with cosmic purple and indigo, launched their synchronized Nebula Charge down the narrow Ironvein tunnel.
The ground shuddered not from impact, but from the dense, swirling blue-purple energy they left in their wake, which immediately expanded into a blinding cloud.
This ethereal, exploding trail disoriented the hundreds of charging Rustfur Rats, whose sensitive vision and hearing were instantly overwhelmed by the arcane chaos.
They crashed into each other in a frantic, confused mass.
The Rams cut through the initial wave; their Nebular Hide let the frantic claws and bites of the few connected rats pass through like mist, turning the narrow path into a one-sided slaughter.
As the bulk of the rats converged, the fight became a chaotic, screeching melee, but the Rams held an insurmountable advantage.
Any rat that momentarily slipped past the Rams’ solid formation found its body met with a cold, focused death.
Perched safely behind the line of conflict, Bobby opened miniature black spatial rifts along the tunnel walls and ceiling.
With lethal precision, the slime used Rift Spit to launch the stored stones.
It bypassed the thickest rat clusters and pierced the heads and hearts of the strongest rats with high-velocity projectiles.
It ensured the relentless tide of Rustfur Rats was broken and completely overwhelmed.
From his vantage, Cohen observed the chaos unfold with a detached curiosity.
Feeling the wave of exp settle in, he watched the battle with a casual smile.
’Those two Rams, they’re good.
’The level 9 seems to be able to use Nebula Charge about four times, two more than most of them. And it uses it skillfully.
’The level 8 on the other hand excels at using Nebula Hide. It seems there are specific parts of their body which have the Hide effects more than others.
’It knows where its body is stronger against Physical damage and lets the enemy attack there.’
Cohen nodded his head in satisfaction.
He was clearing a Level 1 Dungeon without moving an inch.
In less than four minutes, the hundred level 3-7 rats were dead.
[You have reached level 10!]
[You have obtained 8 stat points!]
[Level: 10 (469/10000)]
[You may pick any one of the skills below]
[Void Web – Opens a network of small spatial rifts within a close radius. Anything passing through one rift emerges from another at a completely different angle.]
[Gravity Well – Projects a point of compressed gravitational force at a target location. Everything nearby is pulled toward it before the force releases outward in a sudden burst.]
[Stellar Javelin – Condenses cosmic energy into a spear of concentrated starlight that has an explosive effect on contact.]
’I didn’t think I’d enter level 10 here! That’s great. What’s more is I get the option to pick a skill?’
Cohen covered his mouth, letting out a giggle.
’These patterns. Indeed, Primordials are beings that possess affinity to the rare Cosmic elements.’
Letting the excitement settle, he closed the system, deciding to consider the skills more carefully later.
He’d rather think of each of their practical uses deeply.
The tunnels were stacked with corpses that were more of blood than flesh, victims of a brutal stampede.
’Sheesh. I wonder how normal Parties even fight all these. Then again, how numbers are attracting more enemies.’
In the tunnel, five straight lines appeared as a tear in reality. They expanded to square a square rift, flowing with yellow energy.
"Alright. Those who want to rest should go in. I’ll move forward with a group of 5, including Bobby and myself."
The Nebula Rams turned to each other as if they were discussing what decisions to make.
After a few beats, they all dispersed into the Gate of the Baptised.
As Cohen expected, the two enthusiastic and skilled rams stayed behind.
The last Ram present was the smallest in the group, standing alone in a far distance from where he gathered with Bobby and the two.
It hesitated before catching up to the group.
’These creatures are actually interesting. They’re developing personalities. Is it because they rose in rank or because they became Primordials?’
Cohen mused, tapping the two rams on the head while he walked forward. "Keep up the good work."
- - - - -
Cohen and his small party crossed into the second zone.
The air smelled of dust and iron, thick with the weight of centuries of mining.
The tunnels narrow here, the support beams closer together and visibly strained, cart tracks giving way to loose ore and broken timber underfoot.
It was quieter than the first zone — no skittering, just the occasional drip of water somewhere deeper and the sound of his own breathing.
Then a faint scrape of mineral-hardened claws against stone.
Appearing out of nowhere from two different directions, two of the dwellers of this region attacked.
They were lean, low-built lynxes with deep grey-brown coats packed with ore dust and pale, mineral-hardened fangs and claws.
Of course, Cohen had already noticed them the moment they stepped into his 20M range.
The lynxes attacked individually, aiming for the weakest Level 8 and 7 which they perceived to be the weakest first.
The Level 9 Ram simply used its horn to slam into the lynx, sending it back a distance.
Bobby protected the small ram by shooting an arrow that the lynx managed to tank with its hardened claws.
The lynxes didn’t stay, skedaddling back to the shadows of the tunnels, repositioning to attack again.
This was their home, their turf.
Or so they thought.
Within a few seconds, the lynx that attacked the small ram was dead after Cohen weighed its actions worse than its counterpart.
So, in the dark tunnels that lacked illumination, the party surrounded a lynx that had been well beaten, yet didn’t take deadly damage.
’Unlucky creatures. Perception of Gray is really making their home ground advantage useless.’
Cohen had turned to a turf claimer at this point.
Despite it seeming easy though, Cohen was constantly using the active version of his skill to locate the Lynxes properly.
Laughing at the unfortunate creatures, he viewed its information.
- - - - -
Race: Palefang Lynx
Tier: Common
Level: 9
Description: It moves without brushing the walls, always carrying itself like it’s about to disappear into them. Never strikes from the front. Circles first, waits for the moment attention shifts, then commits. If the hit doesn’t land clean it breaks off and repositions — it has no interest in a fair fight.
Traits:
[Mineral Fangs – hardened fangs and claws bypass a portion of physical defense.]
[Shadow Coat – near invisible against mine walls in low light]
- - - - -
"No need for theatrics." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢
Cohen muttered before stretching his hands.
"Baptise."
The lynx’s golden fur began to weep with shadow, the transformation starting not from the outside, but from a primordial energy that pulsed beneath its skin.
The golden-brown quickly bled into an absolute, light-absorbing black, moving like ink spreading through water, consuming every patch of color until its entire coat was like a void.
As the last hints of its natural essence were overwritten, the beast’s eyes—once amber slits—completed the change.
The light in them dimmed, guttered, and then vanished, leaving behind two perfectly featureless, obsidian pools that had a single white slit.
In the dimness of the tunnel, the lynx became less visible.
Cohen felt a thrill as the lynx evolved, its form now aligned with the Primordial path.
’Asides from being strong, I actually love the unique looks of these beings. And that’s a problem, their colours attract too much attention.’
Cohen felt bittersweet as he hissed and opened the new status.
- - - - -
Race: Obsidian Lynx
Tier: Rare
Level: 9
Trait:
[Erasure Mark – at every fifth strike, it leaves a void imprint that gradually erodes the target’s defense at the marked point over a short duration before fading. Striking the same point extends the duration. The erosion is like a slow leak rather than a break.]
Skill:
[Null Step – briefly steps fully into void space, becoming completely undetectable before reappearing at a different position within its immediate range.]
- - - - -
[You have obtained 0.5 stat points!]
"So my calculations weren’t off, 0.5 points per ram I Baptised last time. Is it based on levels or rank?
"Bobby was around the same range earlier, but I got 3 from it. So it should be the rank that determines the points I gain."
After dealing with the Lynx, the party of six began moving.
The process of dealing with the lynx was a slow process because the Lynxes weren’t one to easily agro.
And Cohen didn’t want to release the rams cause he needed them to recover before the next dungeon.
Time passed, and slowly, he made headway.
There were about 20 Lynxes between the level range of 8-13 here and he planned to convert 10 into Primordials.
And he was about to hit that mark.
[Baptised: 30]
Standing close to the Dungeon’s Third zone, he turned back, looking over the trailing darkness behind him.
Far behind the large party, a lynx stood, its gaze falling on Cohen.
It was larger than the rest, its presence heavier.
It was the highest level in this zone. Level 13.
Cohen looked at it with curiosity, Bobby also bubbling at the unfolding scene.
"I wonder why you were trailing us this whole time and now showing yourself. Is this a strategy?"
The sleek, brown-furred Lynx held a discerning look over the surrounding combatants–beings that were one of his.
Its gaze then settled entirely on Cohen.
With a smooth, unhurried stride, it moved toward him.
"Let it pass."
The Ashen Nebula Rams and the remaining monster horde parted ways for its passage.
The creature was clean, untouched by the dust of the dungeon, its deliberate walk a clear act of choice.
Reaching Cohen, the Lynx looked up at the human, letting a low growl.
"So you’ve made a choice," Cohen spoke, extending his hands.
The Lynx rested its head gently upon his–a profound, silent acknowledgment that solidified its status not as a conquered foe...
But as the very first creature to willingly surrender to the Path of Primordial and receive Baptism.
Cohen smiled, feeling the weight of the moment.
This wasn’t just victory; it was the start of something greater.
"Be blessed."
