Genetic Ascension

Sylas stood in silence for a long while, gathering his thoughts and coming to an understanding about his new Comprehension.

He understood at that moment that was what was holding him back once again. If Comprehensions were just a mere boost to stats, then they wouldn't be Comprehensions.

There were many aspects of Madness that he just took for granted. His telekinesis only appeared after he comprehended Madness, for example, and that was back when his Will was incredibly weak.

What about his ability to target the minds of others with Madness? That too was an odd external ability.

He hadn't used it in very long because he learned to control and restrain his Madness so as not to impact allies. In addition, he picked Unique Genes that turned away from this method.

But who was to say that he needed external Genes to help it along further?

Much the same way, the abilities of Mixed Martial Arts weren't as simple as a boost to his Dexterity and Will either...

Sylas' mind suddenly shook and his gaze snapped back toward the Basilisk King. It was still in a slumber, but just now he had felt it stir.

'No...'

A burp came from the Basilisk King's mouth and a pressure was suddenly released. 'Trouble.'

Sylas didn't even think. He stomped a foot and shot forward.

At the same instant, a powerful pressure came from the Basilisk King's mouth.

BANG!

A shockwave bombarded against Sylas. The lava that had yet to settle down from the Basilisk King's earlier sput of telekinesis, but it was disturbed once again.

CRACK.

Sylas felt his Scorpion Warlord armor almost give way as he was sent flying.

The pressure of the lava to his back and the wave of strength coming from the front made him feel like his body itself was about to collapse. Compressed from both sides, his chest shook and he coughed out a mouthful of blood that was instantly eviscerated by the heat in the surroundings.

BANG!

A grunt came from Sylas' lips.

The volcano churned and a pillar of red gold pierced upward, so high that it almost burst through the canopy of the large mountain itself.

However, while it didn't, Sylas did.

The pressure sent him into the skies, a wave of vertigo and disorientation rocking his mind as he still hadn't quite grasped what was happening.

CRACK.

The sound echoed in Sylas' ears, barely snapping him awake. He realized he couldn't afford to allow his armor to shatter, not now. Given the situation, he wouldn't have the time to draw it again in short order.

His Wisdom surged and he forcefully reached out with Rune Essence, stabilizing the cracking Runes.

But he was only able to save a majority of them.

CRACK. CRACK. CRACK.

CHI.

It was impossible to stop. A few of his Scorpion Warlord Runes cracked, and his +1000 boost to Physical dropped to just 900, cutting his Scorned Wrap's boost as well.

At that moment, Sylas found himself slowing down. His vision just barely cleared, the pulsing, billowing soot in the air making his eyes water.

He stared through it just as he began to plummet through the skies.

His telekinesis flared and he caught himself. By now, he was more than strong enough to hold himself in the air. In fact, fusing with Mixed Martial Arts made him even stronger. With his Demonic Will stacked on top, he could exhibit his telekinesis with about 550 pounds of weight behind it.

Not only could he carry himself now, but he could do so with ease.

'What happened?'

Sylas gasped for breath, still feeling like his inner organs were doing flips in his body. If he hadn't had his Scorpion Warlord Armor active, he would have lost his life just now.

'Dammit.'

There was no time to figure it out.

Sylas stomped on the air and a platform of telekinesis shattered behind him as he shot forward.

His telekinesis borrowed the power of gravity and he accelerated even faster, wrapping around the pillar of red gold and squeezing himself through a small gap in the volcano's

Opening.

The Basilisk King's consciousness was still dormant and there was no feedback coming from

It at all. He had no way of knowing what was happening down there.

But he didn't realize until it was too late that he wouldn't have the luxury.

Blaring danger sirens shook his mind.

He suddenly came to an abrupt and forceful stop, arching his back in the wrong direction as he pulled on his own head with telekinesis.

CHI!

A burning pain came from Sylas' throat as a sharp pain ripped through it.

Blood spurted as a deep gash almost ripped his neck apart.

The arrow whizzed right by Sylas, disappearing into the distance in the blink of an eye.

BANG!

The inner wall of the volcano shattered, a large mass with the weight of a small hill being cut out of it. Boulders larger than even Sylas' body fell from the chipped pieces, plummeting through the air and kicking up large waves in the sea of red gold that were quickly swallowed up by the earlier commotion.

Sylas' head snapped toward a certain location.

A young woman wrapped in beast furs and adorned in bone held up a bow twice the length of

Her body.

She stood in the skies just like Sylas did, her bare feet tiptoeing across the air in an elegant, graceful dance as she fired a second arrow.

[Vaekra Zyrakhn (FFF+)]

[Level: 9]

[Physical: 1222]

[Mental: 1582]

[Will: 997]

The cracks in Sylas' armor, especially the one now in his throat, were quickly healing as it greedily swallowed up the Aether in the surroundings. But the arrow was faster.

It felt like Sylas only blinked once, but it was already upon him.

But Sylas took a step forward through the skies, red-gold wings spreading out to his back as

His hand curved through the air.

Time slowed.

The tips of his fingers slid beneath the body of the arrow, and a slight change in the angle of

His wrist sent it flying over his shoulder.