Genetic Ascension

The Ossarans were one of the many Races across the universe with Bone Manipulation abilities. But what made them curious was that their abilities extended to their blood—or it could more accurately be said that they were rooted in their very Bone Marrow.

What had made them stand out to Sylas all the more than even other bone manipulation Races was the fact that their abilities were eerily similar to the Dogons.

All Dogons were born with Rune Flesh. Rune Flesh was usually designated as the fifth level of Rune Mastery. However, it was most well known for its relation to allowing Rune Masters to truly embody their Runes, drawing them onto their skin or using them to directly impact their combat abilities.

It could be said that Rune Flesh was basically the bare minimum requirement to have a truly powerful Combat Matrix Index. Without reaching this level, while it was still possible to have a Combat Matrix Index, it would be highly limited, almost as though one’s Runes were filtered through far too many layers.

If the Dogons were allowed to progress beyond the F-tier, it could be said that they would be true monsters. Without any sort of training, they would immediately reach Rune Flesh again and again with every step forward.

The most powerful Rune Masters in the Milky Way Sector were only C-Grade Rune Flesh Masters. A Dogon would reach this level the instant they touched the C-tier.

The Ossarans weren’t exactly like this, but the functional end of their abilities was far too similar.

While the Dogons would be technique Rune Flesh Masters, this only extended as far as they could actually etch Runes onto their bodies. It wasn’t as though they would suddenly have the comprehension of a Rune Flesh Master outside of a very acute sense.

The Ossarans, by extension, were capable of making direct changes to their Blood and Bone Essence. It was like this ability was an evolved form of what the Dogons were capable of.

The Dogons were able to use their bone as a medium to make direct changes to the strength of their flesh, while the Ossarans were able to use their bone as a medium to make direct changes to their Blood and Bone Essence.

However, this wasn’t what intrigued Sylas the most about the Ossarans.

Their unique trait was tied to what they called their Ossaran Blooming Wrath Gene Talent. It was a Gene Talent that allowed them to burn their Blood Essence for more physical strength and power.

However, there was a deeper method that Sylas had managed to piece together from a scattered few stories.

They were also capable of using their Bloom Wrath Gene Talent to burn their Bone Essence directly.

The cost of this was much higher, but as a result, they could tap into what they called “Ancestral Wrath.” Essentially, they could touch onto the grievances of the past and use it to influence the future, increasing their power severalfold.

Now, this ability… it sounded quite similar to the Kaelthar’s Mortal Clan ability, now didn’t it?

But more importantly than that… it sounded so very compatible with a certain Sanctum Lineage.

The Apes.

That was certainly an unnecessary leap to take. Sylas had no evidence that these people were tied to the other Sanctums. However, it was something he kept in his back pocket nonetheless.

Random connections he formed like this were often the reason he made deductions so quickly. While others were still trying to figure out what was going on, he had a rolodex of thoughts he had shelved long ago with the reason of insufficient evidence.

But now the question was… what should he do with these thoughts?

There was no confirmation that they were, indeed, the Ossarans, nor was there confirmation that they were a member of the Ape Lineage of another Sanctum.

“Syl, there’s a communication attempt.”

Sylas’ eyes narrowed. “What does it say?”

“They would like to have a dialogue with you. They’re wondering where you hail from.”

Sylas didn’t reply immediately, staring out into space.

“Reply with ‘I have no interest in communicating with Ossarans.'”

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Alex’s gaze flickered, but he did as he was told.

“Gear the ship up. We’re returning to the Sector for now. Leave this airspace.”

Brama took command of these aspects and began to prepare for entering the hyper highway. As they began to turn, though, they suddenly shook.

Alex’s expression lost its smile. “They’ve activated some sort of gravity array.”

Sylas had learned about these things. Usually, it was a measure on especially large and heavy ships to stop them from impacting the orbits of planets. However, in particularly advanced ships, it could be used both offensively and defensively.

In this case, it could be used to keep a much smaller ship trapped in your own orbit. Unless an especially heavy price was paid, reaching escape velocity while under the traction of such an array was nearly impossible.

However, Sylas didn’t have much of a reaction to any of this.

This reaction confirmed it for him. They knew of his identity.

It was one of two ways. Either they had already searched up the name Sylas Grimblade on the Nexus, or they deduced it from the makeup of his ship.

If they didn’t know his identity, the arrogance of his statement and the fact he had so easily guessed their Race should have made them hesitant. But they reacted so aggressively and with such speed.

It meant that they were as confident in his identity as he was in theirs.

“Do you want to escape?” Brama asked. There was a calmness to Brama right now that said it was only natural that it would be possible.

“Mm. But not too far. Just into non-neutral territory.”

Brama nodded. The moment they left the range of the gravity array, they would likewise be out of the range of the Astral Dungeon. Meaning… they would suffer suppression of their System Territory.

Brama took a seat in Andromeda and the ship suddenly shook.

A heavy cost?

Luckily, Sylas had nothing but money to burn.