Genetic Ascension

Chapter 1314: Stand Up [Bonus]

[Bonus Chapter Thanks to Chronotitan <3]

Sylas had tuned out the world, and ironically enough, even Brenna herself. He was looking at the Ape Warlord Armor.

Although it sounded like it was formed of metal shingle like the others, it was distinctly less... armor-like than the others Sylas had seen. Though, the Bear Warlord Armor was a bit similar in this respect.

The arms extended longer than that of the person wearing the armor. There was bristling illusory fur that coated them, and though the canines that extended from Brenna’s teeth were all her own, this helm had some of its own, even opening as though a visor to reveal the face of the one within and closing at will.

The Ape Warlord Armor was surprisingly crimson and emitted a shocking amount of bloodlust. All of Brenna’s inner thoughts seemed to be amplified several times over, and Sylas could even feel something pressing on his mind as though trying to influence him...

Like Madness.

But far weaker.

Though, it was a bit hard to tell in the moment if it was weaker because Brenna’s Will was so weak compared to his own, or if it was because the method overall was inferior to his Madness Comprehension.

Sylas had a feeling that it was both.

Then there was the biggest problem he was facing here.

If he was trying to study off of someone’s paper, that should make things easier... but that was only under the assumption that they would most definitely get 100% of the answers correct.

The problem with using these F-tiers to comprehend the Ape Warlord Armor was that they were all so incompetent.

This Brenna was ranked 23rd, but her Armor was drawn to the exact same specs as Casteel’s had been. She was probably only ranked so high because the Ape Warlord Armor was stronger, and potentially harder to learn as well, but her actual Rune Mastery was no less pitiful.

How was he supposed to learn anything from these poorly constructed Runes?

There was a flash in Sylas’ eyes and Brenna’s Ape Warlord Armor crumbled as she was about to make another flirty joke.

Her eyes widened and she tapped a foot, rapidly accelerating back to the edge of the arena, her heart beating out of her chest.

A completely drawn Armor should have had more protections against Sylas than that. Unfortunately for them, after his Rune Mastery reached perfection—or at least the start of perfection, whatever that meant—his Runeweaver Eyes had touched a completely different level as well.

His Rune comprehension and his Runeweaver Profession had always gone hand in hand. Before, what should have been impossible due to their Unique Gene acting as an anchor had become possible once more.

He could dismiss almost any F-Grade Warlord Armor with a push of his intention.

"Is that all?" Sylas asked.

"You..." Brenna’s lust faded to fury, her canines extended once again. It felt like with a few more inches, they would become something far more like tusks than they were ever like canines.

There was a reddening in her eyes and her hair stood on end, even down to her arms.

BANG!

Her aura exploded and her clothes seemed to go with them, but before anyone could see what was underneath their scantness, her crimson Armor began to shingle into place once more.

It was as expected. She had held back for the sake of speed before. But since Sylas was being so arrogant and giving her so much time, she would take advantage of it and show him the true extent of her Ape Warlord Armor.

Roars filled the skies and howling pulses of Aether swept forth in waves. Many weaker members in the crowd found their eyes turning red as they nearly lost themselves to the madness, but they were quickly saved by barriers and intervention from their seniors.

The last shingle slotted into place and their arms slammed into the ground as though she had well and truly become an Ape.

For some reason, Sylas felt a wave of disgust overtake him. It reminded him of the visions he had seen of Gogo’s Ancestor, once swimming through the skies and climbing the clouds, suddenly forced to crawl on his belly along the ground.

The scene was so different, and somehow supposed to be a point of strength for Brenna—it was a sign that her Armor was more complete, that she had done what so many others couldn’t hope to do and formed it to Soul Mastery.

And yet in Sylas’ eyes, it looked just the same.

"Stand up."

The words came out in a stream of Will that hardly seemed his own, and yet came from the depths of his heart. It felt as though he were looking at an Ancestor of his degrading and debasing themselves.

Without even his Runeweaver Eyes, Brenna was sent flying, her Armor shattering to pieces.

She fell hundreds of meters away, separating the crowd like the sea as she fell in a naked heap of her own flesh and blood.

--

[Class Upgraded]

[Primal Lord (Silver) > Primal Sovereign (Gold)]

--

The disgust slowly faded from Sylas’ eyes as his Scorpion Warlord Armor shook. It seemed as though it might collapse beneath the strong Great Ape aura he was suddenly resonating, but he had made one thing very clear when he began his Path...

His Will was what would dictate things—not that of others, not that of an unknown Ancestor, and certainly not that of a power he had casually chosen to pick up.

Had he descended from the Great Apes? Yes, he had.

But today, he was the Primal Sovereign, not them. Their current descendants seemed to deem it fit to press their fists to the ground and crawl around as though to make it easier to kneel before the next powerhouse they faced.

Unacceptable.

He could already sense the path toward the Ape Emperor Armor, but he had yet to even comprehend the Ape Warlord Armor. If he wanted to do the former, he would need to comprehend the latter first.

Luckily... his next targets seemed to already be here.

Two figures flashed into the crater Brenna lay in, their eyes hot with fury.