Genetic Ascension

Huffing for breath, Sylas stood before the bridge to the final BOSS, his claw blazing with a white-green light. It didn’t look like he was wearing a normal set of claws at all, but rather as if three flaming sabers were coming out from his forearm.

—

[Itzam (—)]

[Level: 47]

—

[Physical: 4889]

[Mental: 4003]

[Will: 2739]

—

Sylas clenched his fists, a reflection of light dancing across his Scorned Wraps, making him look as though he was encased in crystal.

Lightning sparked, and he exhaled a humid breath.

He took a step forward, and the water rocked on the platform beneath him.

The liquid sloshed about, kicking up into the air as though high tide was kicking into gear.

Sylas took another step, and the waves erupted above his head.

As they fell, they solidified into shards, a frosty air exhaling through in a foggy white-blue. Runes of deep blue crackled, sparks of lightning dancing between them.

He only had one goal in mind.

End this battle as quickly as possible.

There were other temples waiting for him.

Itzam moved the instant Sylas landed on his platform. There was a larger-than-life air about the giant. He was probably smaller than the others, and though clearly a head taller than even the tallest of humans, his body was compact and powerful in a way that belied what should have been his lankiness.

And his spear moved just like it.

Sylas side-stepped, running his forearm along the length of the giant’s spear in an attempt to get closer, but a Skill triggered.

The blade he bypassed expanded in size with a low hum. In one moment, it was the width of a palm, and in the next, it had grown to the point it was nearly a scythe all on its own.

Sylas had already seen this Skill before several times. It was like Blade Aura, but formed purely of Aether. It expanded the size of the giants’ blades at unexpected times. ȒἈƝǑβÊS̩

It was a simple Skill, but it was shockingly effective, especially when you were caught off guard.

Itzam was capable of using it to a far better extent than Sylas had ever seen. The others could barely make it grow to maybe three or four times the size, but this was easily over ten, to the point Sylas felt that if it expanded any more, it would simply take his head with it.

Still, Sylas was ready. His forearm pushed out, giving up on closing the distance between himself and the giant in favor of safety. The spear was parried to the side, and Glass blades cut through the air, targeting the giant from the side.

Itzam retracted his blade, its size retreating to a manageable level instantly. He expertly spun the shaft of his weapon, slicing apart Sylas’ attack.

Taking advantage, Sylas closed the distance with a strong step.

Itzam was shocked to find the Glass changing form. Lightning danced across his weapon, and every time it jumped from one arc to the next, a casing of ice would spread like poison across its body, Runes flashing continuously.

He tried to shake it off, but how could it be so easy?

Sylas slid across the ground, Glass dancing beneath his feet as he pierced with the Blackened Claw.

Itzam had no choice but to try to counter with a sweeping strike.

Claw and blade clashed, white-green flames falling in a rain of embers across the platform.

The two exchanged a series of blows, but it was clear that Sylas wasn’t very used to fighting with a bulky set of blades hanging off his arm. His movements were less fluid than they were used to being, and his reactions weren’t as precise.

Itzam took advantage of a sudden lull in Sylas’ attack to split an attack right down his side, aiming for his slow-to-react arm. While Sylas was still fast, even the slightest delay could mean the difference between life and death in a battle of his caliber.

And yet, Sylas’ gaze was frighteningly calm.

The Blackened Claws suddenly vanished.

Itzam realized he was about to lose his chance and immediately activated his blade-extending Skill again. But this time…

CHI.

The Glass coating the spear got in the way.

Itzam’s eyes opened wide, but it was already too late.

Sylas’ fist was already at his head, the Blackened Claws making a reappearance as they tore through the giant’s head.

Indeed, a single brief instant of time could mean the difference.

Itzam froze, and then his arms slowly fell to the side. Three blades ran right through the center of his forehead, even severing the Will that he had been relying on this entire time.

His stats plummeted even as his life drifted away from him.

Sylas retracted his Blackened Claws, huffing for breath. He looked down at them and shook his head.

He wasn’t happy with the outcome of that battle. He wasn’t good enough at using these claws, and they didn’t really fit well into his battle style. They worked well enough for a single sudden attack. But in a continuous stream, he couldn’t hack it.

On the bright side, he was getting more used to his Glassvolt Aether. Learning to balance the aspects of Ice, Poison, and Lightning wasn’t easy, especially since two of those—Poison and Lightning—were unruly elements to try and get used to.

Poison was volatile and wanted to sink its claws into everything, while Lightning was so notoriously difficult to control that even the Guiz family, a family of literal lightning spirits, had to create their entire Bloodline around controlling it better.

However, Sylas was finding that the combination of the three provided a very unique opportunity. With Ice as a stabilizer, he just might be able to become one of the best controllers of lightning in existence.

The subtle Earth aspects of his Glassvolt Aether would also play an enormous role.

There was no such thing as an Aether Path truly superior to another. But… Sylas would be damned if he didn’t show the world that his own was superior to all others.

A sudden flash pulsed through the world, and a floating golden light appeared before Sylas.

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