Genetic Ascension novel Chapter 35

Chapter 35 Scorned Wraps

[Name: Sylas Grimblade]

[Species: Human (F)]

[Affiliation: Grimblade Lineage]

[Level: 0]

[Titles: A Flexible Will; Skill Savant; A Patient Stalker; Big Madness Slayer (Dormant); Middle Madness Slayer (Dormant); Little Madness Slayer (Dormant)]

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[Physical: 42]

>[Strength: 50]

>[Constitution: 49]

>[Dexterity: 19]

>[Speed: 50]

[Mental: 14]

>[Intelligence: 10]

>[Wisdom: 10]

>[Charisma: 22]

[Will: 44]

[Luck: 1]

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[Skills: Maddened Meditation (F); Little Madness (F); Middle Madness (F); Big Madness (F)]

[Comprehensions: Madness (F)]

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[Gene State: Soft]

[Fragmented Genes: Grimblade Lineage (F); (8) Dexterity (F); (4) Constitution (F); (9) Strength (F)]

[Common Genes: (3) Speed (F); (2) Strength (F); (2) Constitution (F)]

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[Gene Talents: Blade Aura (Mutated - Weakened)(-); Sudden Burst (Dormant)(F)]

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Although he knew he couldn't put too much stock in these numbers, Sylas still felt a childish sort of satisfaction watching them go up. The fact he had to suffer so much through the assimilation of those Genes only made it more satisfying.

However, these stats were just a means to an end. Hadn't he defeated all of these BOSSes despite the fact his stats were lacking compared to theirs?

Granted, that was because of his Madness Comprehension, but a part of him still believed there were many factors this system couldn't take into account.

'Even so, I need to find a way to break these limiters. What if my Will caps at 50 as well? Wouldn't that make Madness useless against more powerful targets?'

He still hadn't forgotten that Big Madness managed to shrug off his influence somewhat, and that was after his Madness had reached Common Mastery. _{ƒreewebɳovel.com}

When Madness was activated now, his Will was over 100 thanks to the 150% boost. But a creature with a Will of just 22 managed to maintain some clarity. There was obviously a bottleneck somewhere here that he wasn't aware of.

'Or maybe I've misunderstood Madness?'

Every time he deepened his comprehension of Madness, at least the two times he had, it seemed to require a lot of self-reflection. If the point of Madness was to drive others crazy, wouldn't his comprehension path have to be more general?

Now that he thought about it, activating Madness also gave him a keen sense of self that was arguably stronger than the influence he had on other creatures. His stats didn't increase, but they seem to… mean more, in a weird way. As though he could maximize every inch of them.

Then there were those telekinetic abilities he had gained. That was also a process of his own Will taking form rather than his just playing with the mind of an enemy.

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[Slithering Madness Dungeon (F)]

[Level Maximum: 0]

[Recommended: 100 Physical]

[Description: Lurking in the depths, high in the trees and on the forest floors, they are natural predators, unfettered and unbothered. So Scorned by the skies, they've been restricted to a life of crawling on their bellies. But their day to fall again is not far off.]

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Sylas' memory was excellent, and it could be said to be doubly so when his attention was focused on every detail. He knew that in a world like this, even the slightest mistake could cost him his life, so he directly glossed over the fact the recommended Physical had doubled. That wasn't the problem.

'But their day to fall again is not far off… That definitely read "rise" before, not "fall"… And scorned is capitalized now? What does that change mean?'

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[Your Madness has been Rewarded]

[>Scorned Wraps (Treasure)]

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[Scorned Wraps (Treasure)]

[A cursed treasure Scorned by the skies themselves. In its presence, your body cannot be adorned by armor, and your hands cannot be graced by weapons. The Madness is relentless and its fury Scorns the world in return]

[Curse Status: Cannot be unequipped]

[+10% Constitution to fists]

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Right then, a pair of what looked like long, dirty cloths appeared in the skies, slithering down toward Sylas, almost like snakes themselves. It seemed like they had once been a pristine and shimmering white, but were worn by dirt and dried blood over countless years of hardship and toil.

Sylas couldn't avoid them even if he tried.