Genetic Ascension

Chapter 1454: Champion (1)

Sylas barely flinched from the pain, his Will clamping down fiercely on his body, tearing apart the surge of unruly Aether threatening to break free within him. Authrione sensed the abrupt severance of the Skill link Sylas had been moments from unleashing.

The remnants of Sylas' shoes crumbled to dust, while his feet and Scorned Wraps slid smoothly backward atop the tumultuous waves. A sharp, calculating light burned deep within his eyes.

In a blink, a swarm of glowing Runes materialized midair, compressing fiercely before fracturing into shards of light.

BANG. BANG. BANG.

A deafening explosion engulfed Authrione, and Sylas slammed his foot onto the battered surface, his body coursing with compacted torrents of Aether. That single stomp sent shockwaves rippling—shockwaves as fierce as Authrione's own, yet rooted not in brute force but in Sylas’ mastery over the very fabric of his surroundings.

He bent reality to his Will, pushing back against Authrione's Comprehension and raw power to twist the battlefield in his favor. His Fathomless Depths threatened to pull the entire world beneath its abyssal grasp.

Though Authrione appeared a solitary force, to Sylas he was like an ancient tree— towering and deeply rooted in existence itself. Attacks didn't merely radiate through his form; the ocean rippling around him seemed imbued with his essence.

It was the most dynamic Comprehension Sylas had witnessed. Authrione's ability to wield it—forcing the world itself to act on his behalf rather than using it passively to bolster stats—spoke volumes.

This was a true Legendary Path Comprehension.

Sylas tore through the smoky veil of explosions, his body unflinching amid the Will assault embedded within the chaos.

Emerald sparks cascaded, infiltrating Authrione’s Will until the vast expanse of his Fathomless Depths contracted down into a singular image.

The outline of his own body.

Sylas materialized before him, strands of hair dancing wildly as if caressed by unseen gusts of wind.

Like a falling star, his fist descended, the Scorned Wraps snapping taut before impact. BANG.

Authrione recoiled one heavy step, the rippling motion of his scaled lower body churning the water into restless waves. His gaze was razor-sharp, watching Sylas' blow connect while a pulsing surge of intent pushed back against him.

Sylas perceived the incoming counterstrike before it landed—yet he held his ground.

His fist blazed with renewed vigor. In an instant, he triggered [Glassvolt Shift], his form dissolving into crackling filaments of lightning that erupted from within.

Energy condensed at his limbs tip as [Glassvolt Shift] faded, leaving Sylas solid again, delivering a crushing ax kick from above.

BOOM.

Energy surged through the leg of his Scorpion Warlord Armor, amplifying his power in that brutal clash. The strike slammed into the crown of Authrione’s head with such force the 018 Sanctum prodigy nearly toppled into the waters face-first.

Sylas landed on the turbulent surface as steady as on firm ground, waves unable to disturb his unyielding stance.

His eyes flashed, detecting the sharp thrust of Authrione's trident hurtling toward him once more.

Time seemed to slow. In that fleeting instant, Sylas absorbed every detail—the centaur lunging forward, using his momentum to propel the three-pronged blade at his throat; the swirling waters concealing barbed tendrils hunting for openings; the fading effects of Sylas' shattered Glassvolt Runes; the imminent recovery of Authrione's indomitable Will and the resurgence of his Fathomless Depths prowess.

And it all passed in less than the blink of an eye.

Within his gaze flickered a tesseract—a prism folding across dimensions.

SHUUU.

The trident wrenched past the side of his head, narrowly missing.

Sylas felt the brief slackening behind Authrione's eyes, followed by confusion as the centaur realized he'd missed—but it didn't deter his relentless assault. Using Authrione’s forward momentum, Sylas stepped in closer.

A roar erupted from him as his elbow crashed into Authrione’s nose. Sparks flew as his Scorpion Tail arced high, crackling with electric energy, then slammed downward toward a gap that had opened near the back of Authrione’s neck.

By now, Sylas understood the tactical edge granted by a steed’s lower half. It provided immense power and speed, almost always granting the advantage in leverage.

on the upper half's dexterity; and while the lower half was a fortress of resilience, the upper half was far more vulnerable.

Sylas sensed Authrione’s Constitution was unevenly distributed—astonishing, yet imbalanced.

That realization didn't stop Sylas from choking back blood as a sharp tendril sliced through his [Chaotic Menace]-enhanced hair, piercing into his back.

still, his face betrayed no surprise—it was a strike he had anticipated and was ready for. He bore the wound, driving his tail downward with all the relentless force he could muster.

A cruel sneer twisted Authrione's lips.

Chi.

The Scorpion Tail shattered the instant it met Authrione’s skin, replaced by a translucent sheen of reflective scales—almost illusory—iike miniature replicas of the hardened armor plating his lower body bore.

Quick as lightning, Authrione reacted. Though Sylas was too near to be cut by the trident's blades, the weapon's long shaft was more than enough for him to lash it like a whip across Sylas' exposed side.

The impact shattered half of Sylas' Warlord Armor, leaving that side vulnerable to the harsh elements.

Sylas skidded over the water's surface, gouging deep furrows as he vanished into the distance, coughing up blood with each painful breath.