Genetic Ascension

The bits and pieces of the cube crumbled between Sylas' fingers. It was as though he didn't sense Lucius falling to his knees before him at all as he focused his senses onto it.

In a pathetic attempt to keep himself alive, Lucius grabbed onto Sylas' beast skin skirt, but the grip he could manage wasn't very strong and his blood made his fingers slick.

Unable to manage it, he fell forward, his face bumping into Sylas' thigh before he crumbled to the ground.

Blood pooled, fusing into the disrupted snow and painting it crimson. But all the while, Sylas didn't give him another glance.

With a squeeze of his fist, the last of the cube crumbled, the metal casing it was formed of having become particularly brittle.

When Lucius activated this thing, he felt something touch his Will. It was incredibly subtle, to the point that it had felt not too dissimilar from a mosquito bite.

With the rolling changes taking place in his Will, especially right now, Sylas almost missed it. Had Lucius not made what he was doing clear and obvious, he wouldn't have noticed at all.

What Sylas was trying to understand was if this was by design, or if this thing was truly so weak.

If it was the former, then he had reason to be wary. Just because it felt so subtle and it ultimately failed, didn't mean that it wasn't close to succeeding.

But if it was the latter... then as Lucius said, maybe he was just too monstrous for it to have meant much of anything.

However, in the end, Sylas didn't understand what was in his hand. There were no Runes to study, and it looked like a "normal" piece of technology.

'Technology, huh...'

This all but confirmed that it could only come from one person.

[What is this?]

[A destroyed device created by Nathan Grimblade, named "Modelling Agent 3.0". It is designed to attach to a person's Will and detail their quirks and fighting habits, as well as pointing out their weaknesses and flaws. When overlaid onto a user's Will, it can optimize one's personal combat capabilities to counter an enemy.]

'Is that so...'

Sylas flicked his fingers and the last of the cube was thrown away by him.

It was an interesting device to be sure. But clearly... entirely useless on him.

Sylas couldn't help but wonder. Was he immune to its effects because his Will was truly so strong? Or was it because of his Mixed Martial Arts Comprehension?

Turning toward the family compound, Sylas walked forward, his steps still slow and steady.

...

"Are you sure that you want to do this, Magnus?"

A calm voice echoed through the night. It came from a man who seemed as wizened as Sylas' grandfather. He too had regained some of his youth through the Summoning, but it was clear that both were nearing their twilight years.

Unless they gained an opportunity to break into the E-Grade, maybe they would only extend their lives by a few decades at most before going to meet their father.

This man was Philman Grimblade... Magnus' elder brother and Lucius' father.

Until now, the man hadn't made a single appearance. But tonight, he did. As for his reasoning, it was all too obvious.

Magnus didn't reply, looking up toward the stars.

"Why did you bring me out here, Philman?"

"Can an elder brother not want to speak with his little brother?"

"How many times have you wanted to do that in the last five-odd decades?"

"Times change."

"Is that so? And it's not just that you want to make sure I'm out of the house while you target my son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter?"

Philman's expression didn't change in the slightest. "If this is the road you want to go down, Magnus. There's only one path, and it leads to a dead end."

"If I've already chosen the road, of course there's only one path. You've never been as smart as you think you sound."

There was a hint of darkness that flashed in Philman's gaze, but it faded away as he too looked up at the stars.

"It should be about done, then." He said lightly.

"Indeed. It should be about done." Magnus nodded.

But whether the two of them were speaking about the same thing... that was entirely up to interpretation.

The crunch of snow echoed beneath the cool night air and they both turned to see a figure slowly walking toward them.

Covered in blood from head to toe, Sylas' glowing green eyes seemed to be the only part of him that wasn't compromised.

Philman's pupils constricted, not expecting to see such a thing. This was certainly not the outcome he expected.

Only Magnus smiled slightly, feeling that the decision he made all those years ago was the right one. The only mistake he had made was ever leaving his wife in the first place. But back then... he had thought that he was protecting his family.

There was no better way to grow strong than being a member of the Grimblades, and he forewent the formative years of his son because of that.

But with his grandson...

He didn't make the same mistake a second time.

"Your tactic was clever," Magnus said lightly. "Even if I knew what you were doing, I have no choice but to come. After all, there's no one in my family capable of dealing with you aside

From myself.

"But you underestimated my grandson a little bit too much. My son might be a useless sack of

Bones, but luckily this apple fell closer to my tree."

Magnus beamed like any proud grandfather would.

Sylas didn't react very much aside from a slight softening of his gaze. The glow in his eyes

Dimmed and the murderous air around him receded.

He gave his grand uncle a glance and spoke a simple line. "This blood isn't my own."

Then, he walked past them and toward their family home.

He had grown tired of this place.