Genetic Ascension

Its mood plummeted.",

These were just ants, after all. What would killing them prove?

Nothing at all.

Its head drooped down to the ground again. It caught Sylas' unconscious form out of the corner of its eye, and it was taken aback. How had this monster ended up like this?

It could remember every punch Sylas had thrown, but more than that… it could remember his eyes.

They flickered with a calm light probably even he wasn't aware of. There was never panic, never fear, and most importantly to the Basilisk King… there was never rage. Nothing could move him from his center of calm.

Should it kill him now?

Its lowered head slowly raised from the grassy ground, looming over Sylas. It completely turned its back to Garrick, not caring about his existence in the slightest.

Garrick didn't even dare to make a sound. In fact, when he saw the Basilisk King turn, he immediately did the same, rushing away at his fastest possible Speed.

The Basilisk King paid him no mind, its maw opening wide as it loomed over Sylas. Blood and saliva pooled from its teeth, dripping with malice.

A Basilisk King should have more pride than to attack a wounded enemy… but what pride did it have left, anyway? Wouldn't it be better to slay the monster here? So long as it ate this monster, it would grow stronger… who needed pride if you had strength?

A hiss filled the air as its head snapped downward.

Sylas' eyes snapped open.

The Basilisk King reeled, throwing itself to the side and bashing its nose against the ground. It didn't even seem to realize as it slithered up into a curled lump, hiding its head deep within. Its body quivered, loose scales and blood dripping down to the ground.

Sylas sat up, grabbing at his chest. His heart was beating particularly fast, and his breathing was hurried. He could truly feel the scent of death around him, and he almost couldn't believe that he had gotten the chance to open his eyes again.

And then came the splitting headache. It rolled in his skull like a continuous drum, and the pain was more piercing than even the first time.

---

[Name: Sylas Grimblade]

[Species: Human (F)]

[Affiliation: Grimblade Lineage]

[Profession: Beast Tamer (?)]

[Level: 0]

[Titles: A Flexible Will; System Breaker; Legendary Tamer; Skill Savant (FFF+); Madness Conqueror (FF-); Common Arts Enthusiast (F-); A Patient Stalker (F-)]

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[Physical: 77]

>[Strength: 100]

>[Constitution: 91]

>[Dexterity: 100]

>[Speed: 88]

[Mental: 136]

>[Intelligence: 205]

>[Wisdom: 62]

>[Charisma: 142]

[Will: 218]

[Luck: 22]

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[Skills: Madness Control (FF+); Basic Scouting (F-); Maddened Enlightenment (FF+); Astral Bind (F+); Momentum Shift (F+); Solidify (F+)]

[Comprehensions: Madness (FFF)]

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[Gene State: Soft]

[Fragmented Genes: Grimblade Lineage (F); (8) Dexterity (F); (6) Constitution (F); (4) Strength (F)]

[Common Genes: (4) Speed (F); (6) Strength (F); (4) Constitution (F); (5) Dexterity (F); (6) Intelligence (F); (2) Wisdom (F); (1) Will (F)]

[Bronze Genes: Basic Aetherflow (F)]

---

Sylas pressed a finger to his nose, and it came with a dark hue of red blood. He touched his ears, and the result was the same. No matter what answers that Madness Key had given him about this issue, there was simply no way for him to be at ease.

It felt like his brain was turned to mush. What kind of price was he paying for forcefully crushing these Stat Limits?

According to the Madness Key, it was fine… but was it really? What would happen the next time he accidentally awakened a Title and passed out in battle? Would he be as lucky as he was this time? Or would he have to purposely give himself a buffer from his own Stat Limits so that this wouldn't happen again?

'Question mark?'

Looking at his Beast Taming Profession, Sylas realized that this was the first time he had seen this sort of nomenclature on the system. He had seen a dash before, even the word "Dormant", but never a question mark.

His intention moved toward it in the hopes of distracting himself from his thoughts. At this point, between the Basilisk King and the defensive perimeter Sera and Gerrick had put up, he was probably in the safest place he could be, aside from a fortified village.

---

[Beast Taming Stream has been unlocked]

[Legendary Requirements are met. Profession has been forcefully seized by participant <Sylas Grimblade>]

[Legendary Beast tamed amplified applied]

[System Breaker amplification applied]

[All Paths unlocked]

[Please choose <3> Paths]

---

Sylas had barely moved when the wall of text assaulted him. He was completely floored by the choice and he didn't even quite understanding what he was seeing.

The so-called "Paths" ranged from Fragmented to Legendary, each one giving a unique benefit. It took a while for Sylas to understand, but it seemed that they would be like special abilities or Skills he gained in his profession.

He didn't know if being able to choose three was a lot of a little, but he was certain that most people wouldn't be able to see even Common Paths, let alone Legendary ones.

Sylas really wanted to read them all. That was just the type of person he was. Although logically it seemed that it was best to just ignore them all and only read the nine Legendary Paths on his screen, he felt that he needed a more comprehensive understanding of what was going on.

He was hoping that maybe in the future, if he ever passed out like this again, his beasts could cover for him. Well… that might be a pipe dream since the Basilisk King had just tried to take a chunk out of his head…

However, Sylas had a feeling that this was only because his Beast Taming Profession hadn't truly been activated yet. He hoped this world would give him a small path forward, at least.

He had been very lucky up until this point, but he couldn't just keep relying on luck.

So, that was what he did.