Genetic Ascension

[Basilisk King (FF+)]",

[Level: 5]

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[Physical: 80]

>[Strength: 110]

>[Constitution: 123]

>[Dexterity: 42]

>[Speed: 45]

[Mental: 72]

>[Intelligence: 99]

>[Wisdom: 19]

>[Charisma: 97]

[Will: 91]

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Sylas faced off against the Basilisk King, his heart beating in a slow, steady rhythm.

He was a bit biased, but it was truly a beautiful creature. The bed of bones on its head shimmered with a golden color that truly made it reminiscent of a crown, the lines between its dark scales flickering with the same hue, making the snake look as though it was more a deity than a beast.

The Basilisk King was actually smaller than the other BOSSes by half, being perfectly eye-level with Sylas rather than looming overhead.

Even so, the aura of danger it exuded was on an entirely different level.

When Sylas stepped into its territory with Brant in tow, it unleashed a roar that froze the latter completely.

Unlike its counterparts, this Basilisk King had slit irises that were entirely crimson, not even a single drop of a different color in sight. It looked as though an array of shades of red had exploded like a nebula within its eyeballs.

It cast <Astral Bind> almost immediately, but it bounced off of Sylas as though it didn't even exist.

Sylas released the rope he was using to pull Brant along and rushed forward, his eyes sharp.

The head of the basilisk shot toward him, and he sidestepped. The stats of this creature were far too strong for him to meet it head on, he had to feel it out first.

He used his superior Speed and unleashed a cross right into its body.

Fist met scales in a dull thud and the Basilisk King swayed only for a moment before biting at Sylas' neck with a vicious chomp. Aether glowed along its glistening rows of teeth, revealing a strength that should shatter steel.

Sylas retreated with a fluid step and struck a palm at the edge of the snake's open jaw, pushing it to the side and parrying its strike in a single motion.

'Strong...' Sylas thought as he was forced to retreat again. He was only able to pull that off because of his superior Speed, and yet he had still almost suffered for it.

The Basilisk King was thrown somewhat off balance, snapping its maw closed around a gust of wind. Sylas moved forward in an attempt to take advantage, but the off balance BOSS suddenly reversed its momentum under a sudden rush of Aether.

Sylas' gaze sharpened. He had already come forward to attack, and it was too late for him to change direction. <Momentum Shift> only worked on singular attacks. There was no way for him to use it on his whole body like the Basilisk King just had.

Sylas found the Basilisk King's head snapping at him once again, its mouth roaring with malice. His arm was already punching forward, its destination the open mouth of the snake.

<Solidify>.

A shield, exuding a delicate green color, appeared. Aether was usually a silvery blue, but Sylas had found that whenever it was infused with his Will, it turned into a shade of green.

And that shade of green was precisely what the Basilisk King crashed into.

BANG!

The Basilisk King rebounded, its jaws snapping closed around nothing once again. Sylas' own fist shot right through the shield as though it wasn't even there, giving the Basilisk King a second dose of hurt.

It was formed from his own telekinesis. If he didn't want it to stop him…

It wouldn't.

The basilisk reeled, but Sylas pressed forward, unleashing a rain of fists. The creature roared out in pain, its buddy suffering several concussive blows.

Sylas realized immediately that he was doing superficial damage at best, but he expected as much. His Constitution, even with the boost from the Scorned Wraps, was more than 40 points beneath that of the Basilisk.

Suddenly, the beast glowed with another light of Aether. Its head fell back under Sylas' punches and its tail whipped out for a vicious blow.

The shield that had begun to lag behind Sylas flashed and appeared in the tail's path, but it only lasted a moment before it shattered into crumbling pieces.

'So that's what it meant by 200 Physical…' Sylas took note of this as he took advantage of the brief instant his shattered shield had given him, retreating out of the way of the tail.

It seemed that 200 Physical didn't just refer to the amount of damage <Solidify> could take, but rather the accumulated Physical. Otherwise, wouldn't the shield last forever?

Essentially, if someone had 50 Strength, the shield would last for four punches.

'I also have to take into account what boosts Aether might give to strength-output as well.'

Sylas calmly analyzed this matter, unperturbed that the beast had managed to gain itself some breathing room. The more battles he found, the calmer he found himself being, and the sharper his reactions and thoughts process became.

Of course, his recently tripled Wisdom played a large role in that as well.

He took a step, meeting the Basilisk King's enraged glare. It was time to see where his limits truly lay.

When he was in range, the basilisk roared and unleashed a vicious tail whip.

Sylas was prepared to slip out of the way, but he stopped his movements suddenly. The tail changed its trajectory, slamming down to the ground.

Sudden Burst.

He erupted from his stopped position and entered a region of close combat. A green glow coated his fists as he punched, unleashing a lethal combination. Blood and chipped scales rained as Sylas' Strength soared.

Madness pulsed to life as he began to use Basic Aetherflow, his high Intelligence fueling his every movement.

In that moment, it felt like his mind and body were truly connected as one. There was no lag between the thoughts of one and the action of another, and the result was devastating, one that made the air quake.