Genetic Ascension

Chapter 392: Backlash

Sylas’ gaze flashed. He knew that it was a risk to do this, but with what he knew about the later rounds, he also realized that he didn’t have much of a choice in the matter. That, and…

He was ready.

At that moment, several swirling tornados of icy blue wind appeared high above them. They formed a connected formation of sorts. As they spun faster, they influenced the wind in the surroundings, causing it to shoot up, growing sharper and fiercer.

During every team battle, the landscape would be decided by the stair challenge that preceded it. The first team battle had a point system related to the spirit wolves, but this time the landscape would be pervaded by the fierce winds they had fought against on the staircase.

It was clear that this time Vayu’s team had taken their time. On the one hand, this allowed Sylas to reach the waiting zone first and also trigger the Genes he needed for his Gene Talent. But on the other… because they had cleverly planned out their turns on the stairs, they were much fresher now.

The moment they appeared, they seemed to have already decided how to act.

Their support locked onto Lolaleen, ready to cast counter Skills against her the moment she triggered any Skills. This was obviously a rare area of effect countering Skill, one that Sylas had simply never seen before but had learned about through questioning Lolaleen.

Lolaleen was the superior support, but this young man, simply known as River, might have been inferior in support, but had an array of abilities that made him valuable to the team nonetheless. And this was one of them.

“Go.” Sylas spoke coldly.

Lolaleen did as she was told. She wanted to remind Sylas that she would be countered, but there was no room to refuse Sylas’ command nonetheless. Plus, she had to remind herself that she was just a slave, why should she try hard to kill her own people?

As expected, as the group was swiftly closing the gap, River’s gaze flashed as his counter Skill activated.

Lolaleen stumbled back, her Aether reversing its flow as she almost coughed up a mouthful of blood.

Vayu sneered. “Fire.”

There were no beasts to deal with this time. So long as they could withstand the harsh and sharp winds, they would survive.

When their Will hit rock bottom, the system would teleport them out. But until then, they could kill as they pleased.

Vayu was working as fast as possible because he didn’t want Sylas’ Will to give out first. If that happened, how could he kill him?

Icicles formed in the air in pairings.

Sylas’ eyes couldn’t help but flash. One of the icicles burst apart, forming a protective shield around the second that supported it against the strong wind.

Then, they rushed forward.

This was the first time Sylas had seen someone capable of manipulating the intent of Skills to suit the environment. Well… other than himself.

Lolaleen had been able to tell him about the Skills, but what she couldn’t do was give him every detail about how they might use it.

Still, he reacted quickly. He tossed out the idea of using the strong winds to his advantage, at least in part. Then, he dug deep, circulating his Aether into a familiar Domain.

.

The icicles in the sky rushed toward him from six different directions, piercing through his ever-expanding Domain with the viciousness of a reaper’s call to death.

Sylas activated the instant they were about to pierce through him and they froze in the air.

He stumbled forward, his body still not cooperating fully.

Another rain of icicles formed in the skies, more numerous than before, and seemingly fiercer.

“Again.” Sylas commanded.

Lolaleen’s head was still spinning from the first counter, but she was forced to obey again.

River frowned, but reacted again. It wasn’t the time to be kind-hearted.

Lolaleen coughed up a mouthful of blood and she fell to a knee, her small body shaking.

As the second rain of icicles fell, the group had finally crossed the last of the distance. Vayu’s gaze lit with a vicious light. He timed his stride perfectly. The second rain of icicles would pierce through Sylas first, then he would launch his attack right after. Even if Sylas had another defensive Skill prepared, it was impossible that he would be able to use it twice in such quick succession.

As expected, Sylas opened his mouth and roared once again, activating once again.

The sneer on Vayu’s expression deepened.

The second rain of icicles froze around Sylas and Vayu burst through the line of defense right afterward.

Right at that moment, Sylas’ body gave off a pulsing light. All the volatile energy within him stabilized at once and he stood to his full height.

“Again.” Sylas commanded calmly.

Lolaleen, kneeling to a single leg, couldn’t help but shudder. Unfortunately, her body acted on its own once again.

River’s eyes turned bloodshot, but he still prepared his counter Skill, activating it once again.

The team’s formation bore down on Sylas, Vayu taking the vanguard, River hanging the furthest back, and their remaining six members closing off his escape paths. In fact, two had shot right for Lolaleen with every intention of restraining her, confident that River would counter her again.

They could all feel the effects of Sylas’ Domain, but they felt that it was nothing more than a joke. This level of Ice-Poison… They were entirely immune to it!

Lolaleen’s eyes flashed, activating a Skill once again despite the pain she was under. But to everyone’s shock, it wasn’t a support Skill, but rather Lolaleen’s only attack Skill.

It was a much weaker version of the icicle Skill that had targeted Sylas twice now, and compared to the dozen the caster could form, Lolaleen was only able to form two, one for each of her attackers.

However, it was hopeless. River still acted first, his counter Skill drilling into Lolaleen’s body once again.

His eyes were practically pulsing with a crimson bed of snakes. This time, Lolaleen might really die from the backlash.