Genetic Ascension

Chapter 2036: Alive

Sylas returned to Earth, much to the surprise of Cassarae and Elara.

Honestly, both of them had half expected that it didn't really matter what they said to Sylas. He just ended up doing whatever he wanted anyway.

Cassarae had been figuring out how she would manage things in the Mortal Realm without Sylas, planning for a potential invasion, and trying to figure out if being his wife would allow her to use some Progenitor abilities. In fact, she even thought about leading Castle Main on a crusade to conquer the entirety of Earth, hoping that would give her some more flexibility in her movement.

She was pretty sure the answer to that was no. If she did that, she would just end up crippling the other powers of Earth and would be restrained to the entire world rather than just a small part of it.

But it wouldn't allow her to leave and go after Sylas.

Plus, there was the problem that she wasn't the Progenitor of Earth. So there were several theories she had on what might actually happen if she endeavored to do this, and not a single one of them was actually good.

The possibilities ranged all the way from her being locked out of even attempting it while suffering backlash, all the way to Sylas being the one who suffered from his world being conquered by someone else.

She didn't have enough information to tell, and she had been about to track down Szorn to go through the possibilities when Sylas returned.

And then there was Elara. She didn't know what she could do to make her brother feel better other than returning home as quickly as possible. Ironically enough, that would put her in even more danger than she was currently because she would be trying to rush things, but she didn't care so long as her brother could finally settle down.

Only then would everything be alright.

She really hadn't expected Sylas to ever find out that she left, so the fact that he had left her was really beating her up.

But before she could decide exactly what to do as well...

Sylas returned.

Neither woman expected such a thing, and they certainly didn't expect him to suddenly come back in far higher spirits than when he left, and definitely not with Alex of all people.

Cassarae's eyes narrowed as she felt an odd energy in the air.

"Are you trying to fuck my husband?"

Alex grinned ear to ear. "And so what about it? He's handsome, isn't he?"

"You're playing a dangerous game," Cassarae said with a grin that could have cut glass.

Alex put his hands up in mock surrender. "I come in peace, I come in peace."

Cassarae eventually took her eyes off Alex and looked toward Sylas.

"Are you alright?"

Sylas nodded. "I'm fine."

This time, Cassarae actually believed him. Sylas' expression was just the same, but it carried a completely different weight. Everything from his aura to his momentum just felt... different.

That pang in his heart was also gone.

Elara's clone came bounding out, and she leapt for Sylas, hugging him ironically exactly like Alex had just a few hours ago.

Elara took a few sniffs. "Who's been on my perch?" she asked accusatorily.

Alex's gaze darted around. He felt like he had inadvertently entered a war zone. 'Note to self, his people are very territorial...'

Sylas plucked Elara off him and held her by her shoulders, looking down at his sister with a serious expression.

This went on for a long while, so much so that even Elara began to shift uncomfortably.

"You wanted more freedom?" Sylas finally said.

"Yes," Elara replied without hesitation.

"Do you know what comes with that?"

"Yes."

"Do you?" There was something far harsher in Sylas' tone this time, and Elara winced.

But she still grit her teeth in the end. "Yes."

"Do you know the weight of the Grimblade name?" Sylas asked another question.

Elara wanted to instinctively reply yes again, if only to prove herself, but the words were caught in her throat. It was almost like she couldn't say it even though she wanted to. The weight was so heavy she couldn't seem to manifest it at all.

"That there. That is the weight. Not just anyone can say our name any longer, not just anyone can disrespect it, not just anyone can carry it. Do you understand?"

Elara took a deep breath and then slowly nodded.

"You are the first Grimblade to step onto the Demi-God Realm," Sylas said slowly.

Technically, she was. Now, was she the first Grimblade to step onto the God Realm? No. That would be Sylas.

Sylas' grip on his sister's shoulders tightened just a little bit more; it was to the point any little girl would have quaked beneath the pain, their bones creaking, even fracturing.

But Elara maintained her brother's gaze.

"Since you've gone off on your own, believing yourself to be ready, I expect results that show no less. Do you understand me?"

"I will not lose to anyone," Elara said coldly.

"No. Not just that."

"I will crush everyone."

"No. Not just that."

Elara's gaze flashed with a chilling light that practically perfectly reflected her brother's own.

"I will reap."

A bloody grin spread across Sylas' face, and Elara found herself grinning back.

"Good." Sylas nodded, his expression fading back to its normal indifference. "As for Mother, you're on your own."

Elara froze. Then her head slowly turned.

Her eyes widened, and then she bolted.

Alex felt a cold shiver run down his spine. 'What a scary family.'

Sylas looked toward Alex. "You believe the materials of Earth would be quite compatible with the Omnimous,

right?"

"I do," Alex nodded. "I also think there's a path that the Omnimous hasn't explored that I would like to as well."

"Meaning?"

"I want to understand what technology would look like from the Demon World, and I can do both from Earth."

There was a flicker in Sylas' eyes, and then he slowly nodded. He knew that Alex had been angling for this from the very beginning. And knowing Alex, it was because he had very specific thoughts about what he wanted to do.

Outside of Yamero, Alex might have been the only one with thought processes that intrigued Sylas. The difference was that Alex was very good at hiding what they were.

And the reason why was obvious. He didn't trust Sylas, and neither did Sylas trust him.

Until now.

So, for the first time... Alex explained one of his plans.

It was quite ironic. Their personalities might have been diametrically opposed, but neither one of them was much

of a fan of doing that.

But the thing about both Alex and Sylas was that when either of them produced a decision to trust someone... they also suddenly became far more open with their thoughts.

The Omnimous might find out very soon that Sylas' decision was the best one there was.

Finally, Sylas turned toward his wife and spoke slowly. It felt like the words he was speaking were weighted with something that went far beyond their echo, almost as though hinging everything on how she would respond to

them.

"Nosphaleen is alive."