Genetic Ascension

Chapter 1294: Casteel and Wenrii (1)

Casteel and Wenrii hardly had the chance to register the carnage before them when Sylas’ slaughter began. However, their reactions were far less dull than Udone’s had been. There was no time for rage or anger. Only action.

BANG!

The two shot forward together.

Sylas’ gaze flickered for a moment, thinking of cancelling their Rune Armor summoning. But an instant after, the writhing of the shades of emerald in his eyes calmed. He was actually quite curious...

What level were the best F-tiers at?

Their speed of drawing their Rune Armors was far faster than Tiere’s had been. The latter could only manage to form the helmet quickly enough to be used in battle. But by the time Casteel and Wenrii had closed in the distance, the former pulling out his two-man saw blade, and the latter pulling out what looked like a blunt great sword carved of ancient stone, they had formed.

This was the second time Sylas had seen a full Warlord Beast Armor formed other than his own. The first time was during his battle with Aki for Earth’s fate, and the second was right here.

It glowed a resplendent greyish silver, a hint of darkness dulling the full brightness in a way that gave them a rugged appearance that wouldn’t otherwise be there.

The shingles formed over their massive bodies, a horn extending from their helms.

Their power skyrocketed in a single instant of time. But Sylas saw through their limits with a glance.

They were fast in drawing, that was true enough. But they had only formed the First Layer of their armors. Not just this, but they had only drawn it to Flesh Mastery.

If they could only draw the First Layer to Flesh Mastery, they were probably barely at Breath Mastery for the Second Layer, if that.

Sylas didn’t really understand the point of summoning such a weak armor. It wouldn’t even improve their physical strength by a single percentage point. The armor was far too weak in this state.

Even if the physical boosts given by the Rhino Armor were far different from the Scorpion Armor, it wouldn’t be significant enough that it would make a difference. Which meant...

’There are other Skills the armor allows them to use that makes summoning the First Layer like this worth it.’

Sylas deduced this even before they took their second step in their armor. He wasn’t even looking toward the others anymore, allowing his telekinesis to crush them. This battle here...

He’d fight with his own hands.

SHU.

Wenrii arrived first, Casteel lagging behind a half beat to weave around her back, slashing down from another side.

Sylas took a semi-swiping step back, a quarter circle dragging along the ground with a press of his toes as he curled out of the way of her swinging great sword.

’Interesting.’

His deductions were proven right instantly. He felt the Runes on the armor twitch with life and a suction force pulled him toward the blunt great sword as though to force him into the line of attack.

His Space Runes flickered and the blade cut down, missing his nose by a hair. His body had been pulled forward, but because he extended the space between himself and the blade, it looked like he hadn’t moved at all.

Casteel was already coming from his back, far stronger, far sharper. There was something even odder about him. It felt like he had drawn the Armor to the same Mastery as Wenrii, but there was something deeper.

’I see...’

Casteel’s Second Layer was half formed, lurking within the first as though waiting for the right time to snap together. This should be another technique method of the Sanctum.

Usually, you had to draw out all the Layers in a single go. But this method allowed you to slowly form them in battle so you didn’t have to commit all at once and also didn’t need to be as fast as Sylas.

This delay also made it harder to use his Runeweaver Profession. A fully formed Armor was a quintessence of Will, so targeting the individual Runes to Unravel would be far more difficult than stopping it ahead of time. But if the formation was hidden behind the layers, the effect was the same as well.

’I want that Skill.’ Sylas thought immediately.

His speed in drawing wasn’t something others could fathom. The problem was that if he wanted to push to his best potential, he needed time. Usually, his speed was the product of him purposely drawing sub-optimally.

If he had this method...

Casteel’s Second Layer suddenly snapped into place. A more resplendent light shook the air and Sylas could already see the tendrils of his Third Layer beginning to form, his attack not stopping a single time.

As though he was trying to chop down a tree, his saw blade descended from above, harsh and fast, jagged lines akin to a bloodied, toothy grin aiming right for him.

His power had skyrocketed again, increasing by a factor of ten. At the same time, a gravity pulsed around Sylas, cracking the earth beneath his feet.

Another Skill.

Casteel was definitely on another level compared to the few he had battled. Maybe he could make this a bit interesting.

The semi-circular arc of Sylas’ foot suddenly accelerated, becoming a roundhouse kick that slammed against Casteel’s chest. One action flowed smoothly into the next, the heft of Sylas’ kick sending him flying into the distance.

Wenrii had already recovered, slashing down again, but by this point, she was far too close and the suction was still active.

Sylas used his Space Runes to open up a connection between the suction of her blade and an opening in her chest. Using the momentum formed by her own Skill, he accelerated forward and into her guard, closing the portal and slamming a fist into her chest as well.

BANG!

All of a sudden, the top two F-tiers of the Rhino Lineage found themselves stumbling back, their positions being entirely reset.

Sylas rolled his wrists, his claws extending slightly as his blood began to run a bit hotter.

Exhaling a heated breath, sparks of lightning danced in his eyes. He felt a bit warmed up now.