Genetic Ascension

'It seems that the additions to my Will and Charisma aren't on top of the previous additions, but rather updates. My Will only increased by seven, and my Charisma only by ten.

'There seems to be a purposeful imbalance between Charisma and Will. If not for my "A Flexible Will" Title, Charisma would have already long surpassed it. But if it continues at this pace, it's inevitable.'

…

Sylas appeared by the side of a tree, looking deeply at the BOSS that lay in the clearing across from him.

It was a gargantuan creature, with a body at least ten meters long and covered in fierce red scales. It slumbered much like the others had before it, and yet its slow breaths seemed to make the ground unsteady.

[Big Madness (F)]

[Level: 0]

[Physical: 50]

[Mental: 8]

[Will: 22]

Sylas walked in, gripping one empty fist and a sack weaved of leaves and vines.

Madness.

Big Madness stirred awake just as Sylas' domain of sorts descended. However, unlike the others, it really looked at him. As its yellow slit eyes slowly became redder, it truly looked as though it wanted to burn Sylas' image into its mind.

It opened its maw and unleashed a roar.

Sylas had never met the dinosaurs, but he assumed that if a raptor wanted to unleash a call to nature, it would sound exactly like this. It was a grating sound, one that made goosebumps jump across his skin and his bones grow cold.

Then it lunged at him in a maddened charge.

Sylas had no idea what threshold Big Madness had managed to reach, but unlike the others that thrashed about wildly, it seemed to be able to focus its irrational tirade on him.

Without a choice, Sylas could only quickly dodge out of the way, using his own speed while he maintained his focus. He had yet to activate <Little Madness>, and he didn't need to. However, he was quickly becoming aware of just how large Big Madness was and how small the clearing was in return.

There was only about 30 meters of diameter and they were surrounded by a ring of trees and the barrier. But Big Madness was already over 10 meters long. Even though it was slow, the space it covered was so vast that Sylas was never truly out of danger for any longer than a few seconds.

'This isn't good.'

A useless thought flew through his mind.

In the sack in his hand, he had gathered as many minion fangs as he could. It sounded like a good plan, but with this enraged beast looming over him, it truly felt… inadequate.

Still, Sylas reached into the sack, but the action slowed him down, almost allowing Big Madness' tail to smash his head to pieces. If nearly 100 Strength, matched with that weight, collided with his head…

'Wait. No, Strength should be a function of their weight. It shouldn't count more or the adjusted stats would be meaningless. Which means that the attack speed of this creature will be highly limited.'

A roar interrupted his thoughts.

Sylas forgot about picking out the fangs one by one. With a pull, he unsealed the bag and everything came spilling out. Two potions and a collection of fangs pooled onto the ground.

It seemed that he had made a mistake, but he didn't panic at all as Big Madness spun around and charged at him, leaving deep gashes in the grass as it slithered forward.

Sylas pulled with his intention and a fang was magically pulled off the ground, suddenly zipping through the air and right into Big Madness' right eye.

Big Madness whipped its head wildly from side to side, the sudden spike of pain pulling it out of its maddened pursuit. For a moment, it seemed to have almost entirely lost its mind, much like the previous BOSSes.

'It can actually feel the pain!'

Sylas realized that it wasn't entirely bad that the python was conscious.

He ducked and rolled to the side, diving over a whipping tail and barely dodging it on its way back with another leap.

His intention pulled at the ground again just as Big Madness managed to regain control over itself. Unfortunately for it, slowing down was the last thing it should have done, as its remaining good eye was ripped through by yet another fang.

Sylas thanked his lucky stars that these dungeon creatures had deviated from the path of normal pythons, or else it was impossible for them to be so effective. Well, that and his Charisma increasing to the point he could impose so much more of his Will on the world.

Unable to see, the agitation of Big Madness grew to the point it couldn't control itself anymore. It slowly sunk into the Madness as Sylas quickly dodged out of its way.

'I can't just use this opportunity to attack it. I'll break my hand. What do I do…'

There was a good chance that Big Madness might tire itself out, but the fact it had been able to maintain control of itself, and even regain control at one point, put Sylas on edge.

Snakes were known for their poor vision to begin with, Sylas knew this. If it managed to calm down, it could use its sense of smell to track him down.

'I'll have to cut off its tongue just to be sure…'

Sylas pulled at another fang from the ground. Timing it right, he sent it flying into the mouth of the python just as it roared. This time, he moved three at one time, lodging them in one after another.

'Fangs have good piercing power, but cutting…'

Sylas burst into action, <Middle Madness> activating. His Speed tripled and his Dexterity doubled.

In his own act of Madness, he suddenly gripped the flickering tongue of Big Madness just as it whipped its head to the side.