Genetic Ascension

Chapter 1569 Call

Sylas stood in silence for a full three seconds, a time span that might as well have been months to a normal humanʼs thinking speed. And then he asked the Pride Madness Key a question.

ʼIs Demonic Will a prerequisite of entering the Demon World?ʼ

[No. However, without Demonic Will, your strength will plummet and the Demon Worldʼs System will smite you on the spot.] -

In other words... yes.

Sylasʼ aura settled down. He shrugged his shoulder and let Cassarae stand on her feet.

”This is going to get dangerous. You should go back,” Sylas said.

Cassarae looked at him, and she reached toward her back. Her sword seemed to always follow her like it was an obedient little soldier to her status as a general. Its blade shimmered with red, a blue aura hanging around it. Together, it made it look as though it was oozing a malevolent aura.

Demonic Will.

Sylas had thought he felt it before, but it was incredibly subtle. It almost felt like Demonic Will couldnʼt quite manifest itself properly in the real world.

Whether it was Cassaraeʼs necklace or her path, they felt so eerily similar to that of a Madness Disciple. But she didnʼt seem to have the aura of a beast, nor did it precisely map onto Sylasʼ Madness Path one-to-one.

Whatever this Path of the Executioner was, it definitely had its own secrets, and those secrets were inextricably linked to the disciples of Madness, that Sylas was sure of.

Wings flared from Cassaraeʼs back, and Sylas could only leave the matter be. Without the Legendary Treasure Set, he definitely wouldnʼt let her go. But who asked him to be a busybody and get her something so exaggerated?

Sylas took a step down and fell from the hilt of the enormous sword.

BOOM.

Cassarae landed on the ground before he did despite jumping later, and far less gracefully at that.

”Get up,” Sylas said to Moose, who had been forced to his hands and knees because of the way Sylas was holding onto his neck. Then, Sylas looked toward the woman. ”You are coming as well.”

The womanʼs eyes flickered. She had no idea what Sylas was trying to do until he waved a hand and the Demon World Portal appeared again.

[Warning. Anomaly Detected]

[You have suffered a Demerit]

[You have suffered a Demerit]

[You have suffered a Demerit]

[You have suffered a Demerit]

Sylas ignored the screen and the notifications. So long as that crimson eye didnʼt appear, he would be all right. He had dealt with Demerits before; he could certainly do it again.

The woman suddenly grinned, rows of sharp teeth growing from her maw. Her lips split, and it looked like she was truly laughing for the first time in her entire life.

Blood seeped down her cheeks, and her head tilted back.

”A madman. A true madman.”

Sylas didnʼt respond, vanishing into the Demon World Portal.

”Hm?”

A hum that sounded like a rumble of thunder boomed across obsidian walls and sharp-edged chandeliers. A gloomy light hung in the throne room, the candles they came from flickering beneath the thrum of the voice.

A shadowy figure sat on a throne that had a backrest at least ten meters tall, reaching toward a somber skylight of red and violet above. And yet, this figureʼs back covered more than fifty percent of its height, completely drowning out its width.

Horns grew from its head, a snout billowing with steam hanging with its maw. By its side, a bronzed, double- headed battle axe stood tall, its polearm so thick that it balanced perfectly on its butt end.

The weaponʼs blade dripped with fresh blood that trickled down the wide steps beneath the throne, the brain matter of the poor servant who had just brought news of the Demon Portalʼs closure sprayed all over it as well.

But just now... he was certain he had sensed it opening up again.

Slowly, he stood.

[Minotaur King (???)]

[Level: 121]

When Sylasʼ vision cleared, he found himself standing on a mountain range that expanded as far as the eyes could see. However, right there, on the tallest mountain peak of them all, stood a castle of looming presence and shocking weight.

Somehow, it felt more majestic than even the mountains it sat on.

Around the castle were watchtowers that so seamlessly blended into the peaks that, without a keen eye, they could be easily missed.

Strong swaths of Demonic Aether rippled in the skies like cyclones formed into slow-moving clouds. Everything felt like it was painted in reds, violets, and blacks, but interestingly enough, when Sylas squinted and looked off toward the far horizon, he could see something else.

Clearer skies, a more beautiful world.

ʼThis isnʼt a planet.ʼ

If it was a planet, Sylas wouldnʼt be able to see so far out. This was a flat plane that felt like it extended into infinity.

BOOM.

Sylas felt the intent long before he heard the sound, felt the whistling wind, or saw the flying fist.

Moose had moved with all the strength he could muster, erupting with everything he had.

To his credit, it was probably smart to at least try. He was no longer suppressed in this world, whether by Sylasʼ Progenitor status or Real World Aether.

By comparison, Sylas didnʼt have Demonic Aether, and without his Progenitor status, it was likely that the contract with the woman would be broken and he would be heavily suppressed by the Demon World.

It all made perfect sense. Sylas was too arrogant and overextended himself-of course this would happen.

So why did Moose feel his wrist almost snap on impact-an impact that never even made it to Sylas but was instead entirely absorbed by his Morphic Silver Bearings? Sylas didnʼt even look at him more than out of the corner of his eyes.

Sylas raised a finger and pressed down.

BOOM.

Mooseʼs face was crushed into the ground, his nose breaking, his cheeks and jaw fracturing, and blood flying out

of all of his orifices at once.

”Call the Demons you control here,” Sylas said indifferently.