Both of them has good effect overall.
The Toxic Blade Zombie Hunter was a solid choice if he was seeking instant impact in his attacks. Its ability to dissolve objects with acids offered a practical advantage against enemies who are stronger , restricting their ability to do both offensive and defensive maneuvers.
Just the knowledge that their bodies could dissolve if they weren't cautious granted him an advantage already.
Contrary to the Toxic Blade Zombie Hunter, the Viral Blade variant didn't pack as much at first.
This was particularly evident when facing off against someone like Dominic, who had a strong immunity against viruses. Plus, there were doubts about its effectiveness on monsters like Anna.
However, its potential surpassed that of its counterpart significantly. The capability to generate various strains of viruses would allow him to become more flexible , offering versatility and a strategic advantage.
While it might have started off weak, as he upgraded this power, it grew stronger to the point where creating a virus capable of causing a pandemic worldwide wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility.
'In the end, the Viral one is the best choice for the long term,' Reign muttered to himself after considering his options.
As he pressed the evolution button, his body underwent another change. A sensation of itching began in his stomach, signaling the start of his evolutionary process.
Inside, a specialized gland started to form, capable of producing viruses.
It looked like a small, pulsating sac, tucked among his inner organs. Its surface shimmered slightly, with delicate tendrils extending from its core, forming patterns like microscopic circuitry.
The purpose of this gland was to enhance Reign's capabilities by equipping him with the ability to produce viruses. It would store viral particles.
If necessary, it released these viruses by linking the gland to the claw through a dedicated veins. The viruses can be delivered directly into his attacks, infecting enemies upon contact.
When the transformation was complete, Reign didn't notice any outward changes, but he could feel a new type of power surging within him.
It was still weak, but he instinctively knew how to use it. His mind was filled with basic information about how this skill operates.
'So I need to absorb viruses ,' he muttered to himself.
After contemplating, Reign remembered that viruses were omnipresent, existing all around him, albeit often weak and harmless. He recalled a study stating that there were more viruses in existence than stars in the universe.
However, most of them could be easily neutralized by the human immune system.
With a deep breath, he reached out with his consciousness, seeking to absorb the essence of a nearby virus. As he focused his mind, he felt a surge of energy coursing through him as the viral particles merged with his own.
[System : Ordinary Viruses Detected ]
Lethality : 0.01%
Incubation periods : 2 days
Transmission routes : Contact
Virulence : Very Weak
"Damn, this virus wouldn't even kill a normal person," Reign sighed to himself. He had expected this scenario, but seeing it in real life was entirely different from imagining it.
Fortunately, there was a way to increase the lethality of the virus: upgrading his skills.
Reign discovered that with each level, the capacity of his gland to absorb viruses would expand. The larger it grew, the more viruses he could take in, enhancing his potential to create a more deadly type of strain.
This realization sparked a glimmer of hope within him, as he saw the path to unlocking the true power of his abilities.
Viral Slash I >> Viral Slash X [Capped]
After upgrading the Viral Slash he discovered that he was capped at level 10 .
'As expected, I'll need to level up more to raise the cap,' Reign mused.
It seemed the system naturally balanced itself this way. Or, he could just saved his skill points and invest them all in one skill.
With his upgraded skills, he began absorbing viruses into his body again.
This time, the suction force was way stronger, and he could sense the particles around him with greater clarity.
He felt like a vacuum, effortlessly drawing in the viral essence. It now took him a full minute to fill his gland to capacity.
[System : Ordinary Virus Detected ]
Lethality : 5%
Incubation periods : 15 minutes
Transmission routes : Contact
Virulence : Weak
'It's still weak, but at least the incubation period has sped up,' he mused to himself.
A 5% lethality rate could be deemed very dangerous if the virus were highly contagious. He recalled a virus from his past life that triggered a global pandemic, despite only having a 3% lethality rate.
However, his virus was different. It only spreads through contact, and once the host dies, the virus itself gets killed off within a couple of minutes.
Triggering a pandemic was currently out of the question.
Next on his agenda was upgrading his claw skill, having noticed that he still had two skill points available.
Claw III >> Claw V
He tested his claw to assess the effect and was highly satisfied with its increased hardness and quicker expansion speed.
"Now it's time to level up more," his gaze locked on the pile of corpses before him.
He had saved them to fully relish their taste. Keeping the corpses for too long wouldn't be ideal; after all, meat tastes best when it's fresh.