Genetic Ascension

“Summon your Totem,” Sylas said calmly.

Nosphaleen didn’t hesitate to do as she was told, but the moment that pair of silvery, rainbow eyes appeared, she coughed and took a step back, her Whale Warlord Armor shattering.

Sylas caught her before her tail slithered out from under her, holding onto her waist until she stabilized.

“Focus for now. You’ll be fine,” Sylas nodded, and Nosphaleen nodded back in return, taking a deep breath. “Okay, good. Follow my lead.”

It was just like Sylas had learned long ago. Comprehensions were more complex than just a mere stat boost.

Nosphaleen’s Mesmeryx Totem was her Comprehension. In fact, it was because this was her Comprehension in the first place that Sylas had been able to turn her into a Serpentes.

Comprehensions were as fundamental to a person as their Genes. This was why it was so difficult to have more than one, and a person needed special items like Sylas had used to stack them up.

However, mere stat boosts were just what Fragmented Comprehensions could provide.

Sylas’ Madness Comprehension had long surpassed this. As had his Mixed Demonic Arts Comprehension as well.

Now, it was Nosphaleen’s turn to take that step.

“Use your Totem as a medium and feel the Will of the Whale again. Project it through your Comprehension and use your Totem to embody it.”

Sylas’ voice seemed to have a mysterious cadence to it. He was speaking in Ancient Ithkuil, his intentions coming through as thoughts so fundamental to Nosphaleen that it was as though these were her own deductions.

He was explaining them in the exact way she needed to hear, massaging her thoughts until it sank into the very depths of her soul as cleanly as if she had spent years meditating on it all.

Slowly, those pair of silvery rainbow eyes began to change, their lashes becoming silky standings, and then their irises combining and fusing into one until they twisted and morphed… Into the body of a Whale.

Sylas’ eyes flashed as he saw the notification pop up on Nosphaleen’s behalf.

Indeed, it had worked.

—

[Mesmeryx Totem (Gold)]

—

Sylas’ eyes flashed. He never expected her Comprehension to just go to Gold instantly. In fact, he could tell that this was its true highest potential.

The Mesmeryx was a Gold Grade Serpentes, and it seemed that the Comprehension derived from it was likewise Gold. It seemed that not all Comprehensions could reach Legendary.

But this was more than enough…

The results spoke for themselves.

—

[Mesmeryx Totem (Gold)]

The line of illusion and reality, and reality and illusion is a barrier you dance upon with coy twists of your wrist and winds of your hips. The universe itself is mesmerized by your gaze and entranced by your lips, pulled into the call of your song and enthralled by the rhythm of your feet. Soon, even the stars themselves won’t be able to tell the difference between what comes from the fascination of your mind and what was birthed from its own bosom.

[+5000% Charisma]

—

Sylas’ own Madness Comprehension was only at Bronze right now, though he had Progenitor Mastery over it.

The irony was that his own Contract had surpassed him because his Intuition was just too powerful of an ability.

His Intuition right now was designed to help E-tier Serpentes progress. How much easier was it to help an F-tier in comparison to that? It was practically child’s play.

The fact Nosphaleen’s Comprehension was directly related to her Race as well made his understanding of it so deep that she leapt beyond so many levels in a single go.

Not only did she already have Legendary Mastery, but her Comprehension right now… well… Nosphaleen stood in a trance and her hand suddenly weaved out again. This time, even to Sylas’ eye, it looked as though her limbs had multiplied into silky strands across the air, drawing one Rune after another so quickly she succeeded in a single bound.

BOOM.

Her Armor radiated out a mighty pulse of strength and Sylas took a single step back, his eyes narrowing.

There it was.

100% Mastery drawn in barely a few seconds. It was still slower than him. But… A shimmering Gene appeared high in the air.

Nosphaleen looked toward Sylas for permission, and Sylas only nodded. With a glint of her eye, she pulled the Gene into herself and her aura seemed to completely change on the spot.

The lines between illusion and reality were, truly, blurring right this moment.

Normally, the Warlord Gene wouldn’t cause a change to one’s stats. Or so Sylas thought… This weakness was actually only a problem of the lesser Genes. They only gave better access to the Armor and direct ability to use it, but they didn’t actually increase the foundational strength of it all.

But this was different.

It wasn’t anything shocking. Nosphaleen only gained +500 to all of her Physical stats, and her Mental stats remained untouched. It felt like a drop in the bucket… Except for the fact that if she summoned her Armor now…

Sylas’ eyes narrowed as he felt the qualitative change. The Armor almost clicked into place like polished illusory sapphires, blazing with a sky-blue light as silver rainbow colors danced around her.

Even though the Armor wasn’t modified and perfected like Sylas’ own had been, the actual strength was exactly the same.

When the Armor was activated, Nosphaleen’s Physical stats increased by +10000, just like Sylas’ did when he activated his F-Grade Scorpion Warlord Armor.

—

[Nosphaleen Tideborn (Bronze)]

[Level: 50]

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—

[Physical: 505]

[Strength: 505][Constitution: 505][Dexterity: 505][Speed: 505]

[Mental: 20000]

[Intelligence: 20000][Wisdom: 20000][Charisma: 20000]

[Will: 20]

—

However, Sylas was far from done. As he had said… the foundation of Nosphaleen’s existence as a Serpentes was her Comprehension. And now that her Comprehension was perfected… How could it not have an unshackling effect on her stats?

Right now, she was recognized as a Bronze Serpentes by the system…

Why would that continue to be the case now?

He reached forward, pressing a hand against her chest.

Taboo Bond thrummed to life and Nosphaleen’s head tilted back as she felt her Comprehension erupting with might through her body.

Last time, Sylas hadn’t been nearly thorough enough.

This time, she would be undergoing a true, qualitative change.

A mere 20 Will? Even if she had this Armor, she wouldn’t be able to sustain it for long unless he continued to share his own Will with her.

But rather than doing that…

Why not give her her own?