Genetic Ascension

Chapter 2229: Imperfect [Bonus]

[Bonus thanks to BobTheEngineer <3]

"You may only take this exam once?" Magnus asked Old Man Shah.

"Unless the guards open the door for you once more."

"Is there a standard for this?"

"Yes. A standard your grandson meets, but you have not. I fear that is because your Runic Age as compared to your actual Runic ability is too poor."

"And if I were to successfully become an E-tier Rune Creator?"

"This should probably fix your ratios, yes. I cannot see your real age, but I have a general sense based on the feedback the tower is giving me."

Magnus nodded. "I'll take the exam then," he said to Sylas. "It may be some fun."

The implication and confidence in Magnus' words threw Old Man Shah off. It felt like Magnus was implying he wouldn't need all that long to reach the E-tier Rune Creator stage. But… If his Runic Age was so poor now, what made him think he could do that?

Delusion?

Sylas only nodded, though. He didn't mind either way. He had trust in his grandfather, and even if Magnus had gotten too late of a start, that was fine.

He would be able to use Sylas' own credentials to enter if he wanted to.

The only reason Sylas asked his grandfather if he wanted to take the test anyway was because his grandfather was his own man and had his own pride as well.

Sylas understood people well. When he disrespected them or spoke blunt words, it wasn't because he didn't understand it would piss them off. It was just that he didn't care.

The only people worthy of such care and attention were his family. If his grandfather wanted him to protect his ego, Sylas would do that.

But Magnus was still his grandfather for a reason. Sylas was half convinced that Magnus had never used any of the resources that Sylas had provided in all this time anyway, he was simply having his own fun.

If not related to the potential revival of his wife, maybe Magnus wouldn't have used the tome Sylas gave him either.

Sylas nodded. "Okay."

"Great." Old Man Shah nodded, hiding his own skepticism. "Keep in mind when you enter the time, space, and reality are very warped within the tower. You may see some others taking tests, or maybe some others who are simply doing their own personal research.

"Whatever happens, so long as you remain on the road you've chosen, you won't become lost."

After saying this, Old Man Shah clapped his hands and in a flash, Magnus had disappeared.

The gears of the tower churned and ground into themselves.

Old Man Shah frowned. Sylas was still standing there, a light shimmering around him, but it was like the tower was still trying to gather more information from him.

The old man's eyes widened. "It really is you—."

Sylas vanished.

Old Man Shah was left in silence, his heart skipping a beat. What the hell did this mean?

A D-tier? With a Creation of Key?

Not only was he a D-tier, but how long had it been since the tower had decided not to save and conserve energy? It had actually spent extra wear and tear on Sylas' exam.

It seemed that Old Man Shah wasn't going to be able to keep this to himself.

He didn't even get to turn around before another two figures appeared around him. Both were wearing the same, deep, rich blue robes. However, one had mountain patterns of black-gold, and the other had cloud patterns of white-gold.

"We heard it. Did they appear."

Old Man Shah looked toward where Sylas had disappeared. "Yes. Unless there is a second, there are better than 90% odds that he is the one."

"Reverse it for us." The Hell Creator queried.

Mature Man Shah chuckled. "Now why would I do that?"

"What else is the Fathomless Path good for if not that?" The Heaven Creator scoffed.

"You wouldn't believe me even if I did do it. Then it would lead to an argument where you two would accuse me of trying to pull the wool over your eyes, and then you'd challenge me to a Rune Duel we'd be stuck in for the next three months. By then, the Creation of Key would already be gone and here you'd all be wasting my time."

The Hell and Heaven Creator looked at one another. The former was known as Old Man Tera, an Ancestor of the pre-eminent Hell Clan of the Demi-God Planes. The latter was called Old Man Oura, an Ancestor of the pre-eminent Heaven Clan of the Demi-God Planes.

Yet…

Neither one of them came from the Skai Heaven.

In fact, neither did Old Man Shah.

For them to hear that the Creation of Key had appeared here of all places was unsurprising and yet oh so very tempting.

The Skai Heaven should have been the root of all Rune Mastery. It was the Heaven that represented Will.

Despite all of this, Old Man Tera and Old Man Oura both seemed to agree that while Old Man Shah was probably telling the truth, half truths were also the best way to hide information.

"Oh come on…" Old Man Shah said in annoyance. "Can we not do this?"

"Reverse the flow."

"I've already told you what will happen."

"Then prove it."

They both tag teamed him, taking turns applying pressure until Old Man Shah rolled his eyes, stuck out a hand, dipped his fingers into space as though it was a running stream of river water, and then twisted.

The scenes began to rewind until there appeared Sylas and his grandfather.

Or, rather, there should have appeared him and his grandfather. But instead, there was just a fathomless blackhole.

To Old Man Shah's shock, he, too, was starting to forget just what it was Sylas' face looked like.

Without saying a word, Old Man Shah collapsed into a meditating position, slapping his palms together so hard it felt like the tower itself shook.

Slowly, the lines of space and time began to reform into the image that was Sylas.

The tower was too imperfect, now. It would never be able to stop him from getting what he wanted.