Genetic Ascension

Chapter 1346: Spark a New Path

Sylas almost couldn’t believe that he had overlooked something so simple. It wasn’t that he didn’t know about this—he couldn’t use that as an excuse this time.

When he was in Andromeda, he had seen that the Golden Grove had various Titles for sale. Or, more accurately, the path to unlocking them.

In fact, back when he was on Earth, he had seen such a thing several times. One of the very first Titles he had—Common Arts Enthusiast—was unlocked exactly like this.

What he hadn’t considered was the fact that since one could infuse one’s Titles into their Foundation, many organizations would have systematic methods of helping their disciples do exactly that.

In fact...

The booklet shook and then vanished into motes of light. Sylas had only barely sensed the Runes when they multiplied and then fused into his body.

Sylas wasn’t sure what it was until it clicked.

His notification screen began pinging continuously, and then he saw a long list of Titles—some of which he already had some progress on, and some he had none at all on.

’C-tiers can do this?’

This wasn’t a normal feat. It seemed simple, but allowing Sylas to see his own progress... that felt like an act of manipulating the system. In this world, that might as well be an act of god.

It bordered on the actions of a deity.

Sylas’ eyes flickered. Indeed... it seemed that he really had no right to overlook C-tiers so easily—or D-tiers, for that matter. If he couldn’t even guarantee defeating all F-tiers in existence, then he didn’t have such a right.

Suppressing his thoughts for a moment, he began looking through the Titles.

Some of them were absolutely ridiculous, things that maybe Sylas would have stumbled into earlier if he ever wasted time on such a thing.

[Sight Master’s Touch (F-) (Title)]

You’ve practiced enough that the difficult has become second nature to you. Familiarity is your friend, and experience is your guide. Talent is secondary, and grit is foremost.

[+10 Wisdom]

[+1% success in drawing F-Grade Runes]

Sylas stared at this Title a bit blankly. It was the first on the list, and when he saw it, he thought three things instantly.

First... there were Rune Master Titles?

Second... there were Titles that could increase Rune success rate?

Third... you could fail in drawing Runes? Since when?

Sylas thought back and realized that he had never actually failed in drawing a Rune before. Usually what happened was that he would deduce ahead of time that he had made a mistake and restart, or he would not attempt at all because he felt that he didn’t have the skill to do it.

For example, he had yet to even attempt to draw an E-Grade Rune. It was a waste of his time, and the potential backlash could harm his Will.

Sylas didn’t even understand what the implication for an improved success rate meant. Did the system step in and forcefully stabilize things? Or did it correct you as you were drawing?

If it was the former, it was alright. But if it was the latter... Sylas didn’t actually want the system influencing his drawing. He didn’t like the idea of that.

"How does it work?" he asked the little girl.

"It enlightens your senses, improving your perception of Runes while drawing. It essentially improves your Rune Mastery in an acute sense."

Sylas’ eyes narrowed. That was better than he thought. Was that really possible? And would it work for him as well?

1% to a Sight Master was pitiful—you weren’t even considered a true Rune Master until you became a Breath Master to begin with. This Title did seem like it was designed for Sight Masters.

But... 1% to a Spark Master like Sylas?

[Progress]

[27 / 10,000 Consecutive Strokes Drawn]

Looking at the progress bar, Sylas almost found it amusing.

To unlock this Title, you needed to draw the same Stroke, diligently, ten thousand times over. He had never done that before because it was entirely unnecessary.

The closest he had gotten was when he was studying the individual Strokes of the Scorpion Lineage. But even then, 27 seemed to be his record.

A lot of these Rune Master Titles were like that, requiring repetition for the sake of repetition.

Well... that wasn’t necessarily fair. Usually, one would need this much practice to become a strong Rune Master. Most unlocked these by accident.

But Gralith seemed to know his disciple well enough to know that Sylas didn’t even have any of these simple Titles.

"If I integrate all of these Rune Master Titles—all 97 of them—excluding the ungraded ones, what would happen to my Foundation?"

"All of them?" the little girl chuckled. "You know, some of these aren’t easy to get, even for you. The fact the Sanctum knows about them at all is a bit peculiar. Your master’s background probably isn’t so simple."

Sylas took this "suggestion" as the little girl knowing something he didn’t—but also that he probably couldn’t afford it, or else she would have asked him to pay for it.

She was right though. Even disregarding the unmarked ones, there were some Titles here that weren’t easy to get at all...

[Drain of the Essence (FFF+) (Title)]You’ve grasped the core of a Rune, understand it like the back of your hand, and can pluck it from anywhere with a single thought. You’ve forgotten the meaning of a jack of all, becoming the master of one.

[+50% success in drawing Chosen Rune]

[+10% Rune Mastery in drawing Chosen Rune]

[Convert any Rune to your Chosen Rune]

... For others, that is.

[Progress][7 / 10,000,000 Runes Drawn to Essence Mastery Consecutively]

It felt like a joke. He had to purposely lower his Rune Mastery Skill to get this Title?

And why was it that he could only get one Chosen Rune? If he did this with several Runes, could he get each one of them?

That seemed unlikely.

"You’re no fun." The girl pouted. "If you do all of them, you’d inch closer to Middle Gold."

"But not quite out of Inferior Gold?"

"Mm."

"And all of the Rune Master Titles?"

"You know, Contested Titles can’t be part of your Foundation, nor the Ungraded ones. Normally."

"’Normally’ is right."

The little girl pouted. "You were supposed to pay me an exorbitant amount of Genes for that information."

"No need," Sylas said calmly.

He had already felt it the moment he saw these Genes. Because his Spark Seed was now perfect, any changes these Titles caused to his Rune Mastery would directly impact it.

Which meant... any changes would directly benefit his Foundation once he absorbed his Spark Seed.

Including a Contested Title.

"If you could manage to get all of them, including the ungraded and the Contested Title, then you should be able to form a Superior Gold Foundation."

"And if I became a C-tier Race?"

"Inferior Legendary."

"Good."

Sylas’ eyes bloomed with a violent light. But the little girl scoffed.

"Do you think that Contested Title is on a silver platter for you?"

"Yes."

Sylas replied calmly.

--

[Primus Luminaria (Contested Title)]

The light at the end of the tunnel, the spark in the essence of life. A Rune Master of this Title is not just one who comprehends the most, or understands the most, but one who sets out the path for the future. You have pushed the envelope and stand at the peak of Spark Mastery.

[+50% Success in drawing ALL Runes]

[Draw Runes one Grade above your Will]

--

[Progress][Spark a new Path]