Genetic Ascension

1587 A Goddess

The space was expansive, so large that it shouldn't have been possible to see everyone without them curving out of the line of sight of a horizon. And yet, you could.

It was either this planet they were on was incredibly large, or it wasn't a planet at all, but rather some fabricated flat plane with a diameter beyond imagination.

Sylas looked around slowly.

Every Sanctum was separated into pies-slices of this expanse of silvery black. There weren't any obvious divisions, but it didn't take a genius Rune Master to feel out the barriers between them all, probably some sort of method of trying to keep them separate and clashes down.

With how much was at stake for these, it was pretty commonplace for some to try and kill targets.

In such a situation, probably the highest priority targets would be those who were still standing and yet weak, much like Sylas.

Sylas could feel several gazes land on him at once, every one of them thinking pretty much the same things. However, because of the design of the Sanctums' separations, the ones with the clearest line of sight to him were those of similar levels of weakness.

Sylas could see through these Sanctums with a glance. Even their D-tiers weren't much of a threat to him. It wasn't until their C-tiers started looking at him that he felt any sort of pressure at all.

The 073 Sanctum and other weak Sanctums were formed in a ring around the expansive space, while on an elevated surface and ring in the middle, there were stronger Sanctums. There seemed to be some sort of privacy barrier because Sylas couldn't see those above him clearly at all, let alone tell which of them were still standing.

At least he couldn't do so without unveiling more of his Runeweaver Eyes.

By now, Sylas knew that his Profession came from the Weaver Guild thanks to Sloth. However, he didn't know what kind of relation they had with the Emperor Sanctum or if they were even on the same level as the Emperor Sanctum or not.

He would have to ask his Pride Madness Key about that soon.

What he could tell right now, though, was that there was more than just a single level above them. Was this the consequence of being such a low-ranking Sanctum?

Interesting.

He'd see how long that lasted.

"Oh? That's a little interesting."

In a sky box not just two layers above Sylas, but three, looked down at him with a curious twinkle in their eye.

This box had exactly three people, each one dressed in golden beast robes. One of them wore a robe wrapped in golden-scaled lizards. The next wore a robe wrapped in golden doves. The last wore a robe wrapped in a golden scorpion.

The one who spoke wore the robe of golden doves, a representation of the Emperor Dove Lineage of the Emperor Sanctum.

For this gathering, it would be the Emperor Dove, Emperor Lizard, and Emperor Scorpion overseeing things. However, the Emperor Scorpion representation wasn't anyone that Sylas recognized... in part.

The features of the young man they had sent did carry some faint resemblance to the pair of father and son that Sylas had met before. But it was clear that this young man had no idea who Sylas was.

"Hm?"

"Look. That's the location of the 073 Sanctum, right? You should be a little interested in him, Bum. Hasn't your Scorpion Lineage been looking for a few new spatial affinity talents?"

"Bum" looked over toward the Emperor Dove with a sharp glint in his eyes.

"When you refer to me, refer to me by my real name. Otherwise, we can end this gathering here and fight it out."

The Emperor Dove chuckled, holding his hands up in mock surrender.

"Apologies, apologies, my esteemed Emperor Elbrum."

Elbrum looked away from the Emperor Dove and down toward the individuals below.

"What good is a spatial affinity that high if their foundation is too weak..." Elbrum's voice trailed off, and he frowned. Sylas was radiating a very familiar aura. It was incredibly faint, but the scent... It reminded him of his cousin. How was that possible?

"Hoho, it looks like you are a little interested. No need to thank me; I'm just trying to help the masses out."

The Emperor Lizard didn't engage in the conversation; he had never looked down a single time either. He seemed particularly stoic, his face forming a beard of scales that extended out with real thickness. It almost looked like a rock face forming along his jaw, lining it with greys, silvers, and blacks that made his expression particularly fierce.

Other than this, though, he looked quite human with the exception of his fiery amber eyes.

His gaze was focused on the highest platform-a platform reserved for the top three Sanctums, the ones closest to being worthy of the Emperor Sanctum.

In truth, these existences could very well have been born into the Emperor Sanctum. The reason they weren't part of the true Sanctum was twofold.

First, because the Emperor Sanctum was dominated by Spirit Beasts. The 001, 002, and 003 Sanctums were the hubs of other strong Races, but their place in Emperor Sanctum society would have been a bit odd.

The second reason was because the Emperor Sanctum also did need footholds in other Horizons and regions where they could expand their territory. As nice as it was having many subordinates, the likes of the 099 Sanctum weren't going to get them any resources worth having.

It could be said, though, that even if they lost every one of the other Sanctums combined, they wouldn't care. But a loss of any one of the 001, 002, or 003 Sanctums would be akin to losing a limb.

It was no wonder the Emperor Lizard was paying so much attention to them.

However, while this reasoning made sense, that wasn't the true reason.

Instead, his eyes were focused on a young woman with delicate skin and eyes so pure they reflected like glass.

Tiny gold, silver, and crimson serpents formed earrings for her, affectionately licking her from time to time before going back to seemingly being entirely inanimate.

The Emperor Lizard felt a deep thrumming in his heart when he saw her.

A true goddess amongst women and the number one E-tier of the 002 Sanctum.

What was her claim to fame?

Deducing the Emperor Serpent Armor all on her own.