GENETIC ASCENSION

“The Scorpion Warlord Tail does as you describe it, but its main purpose is deeper. It is the duty of every Scorpion Warlord to add to the legacy of poison. You are not just taking poisons that already exist and using them—though you would be quite powerful in doing this alone.

“Rather, you are taking those poisons as inspiration, as foundations, and pieces to the puzzle to create your own. The ultimate goal is to forge a poison that manifests from you and you alone, is unique to you, and that others cannot fathom.”

Gralith paused as though allowing this to slowly sink in before he began to speak again.

“The Scorpion Warlord Carapace isn’t just a method of defense. It’s also a method of sacrifice. While it is true that it can disperse attacks, it can also sacrifice entire shingles or even limbs in order to ensure that the other parts of the body are not so much as touched or harmed.

“But even that is only in part. The Scorpion Warlord Carapace and the formation of the second layer is where the pincers of the armor become more than ornaments. The second layer allows the creation of the Scorpion’s limbs. While there is a strong poison character to the Armor, there is also a strong earth character as well.

“This allows the use of an ability known as [Earth Escape]. You can phase into the ground and vanish from an opponent’s sight.”

Gralith paused once more. This time, he did so for an even longer period than the last.

“Finally, there is the Sacrificial Rune. I should be surprised that you know of its name, but I am not. I sensed that you had already grasped it before even truly understanding the first and second layers. You must have triggered it in part by accident.

“The Sacrificial Rune Armor can be considered another name for the Scorpion Warlord Armor. Your explanation for it is the closest to the truth. What it is missing is a contextualization based on the first and second layers.

“Depending on the direction you take your unique poison, the Sacrificial Rune can change. The same goes for your methods of using the second layer.”

Gralith paused for the third time. The silence was so long it seemed that he was finished with his lesson entirely, but all he did was sit there and stare at Sylas as though he was waiting for something.

And then he finally spoke once again.

“What are your thoughts?”

“… The second layer makes no sense.”

Gralith’s eyes changed, practically blazing like sparking lightning and cyclones of fire. Normally, he would suppress such a thing immediately, but he didn’t. The change was so abrupt and powerful that it almost shattered Sylas’ Will entirely. Had he not reached Forging, that would be exactly what happened.

“And why is that?” Gralith asked, almost growling out his words.

Despite the description of his voice, his expression was almost eerily calm. It was more like his throat had constricted all on its own, a secondary personality crawling its way up.

Sylas’ eyes narrowed, not quite understanding what he had stepped into.

But then he thought of the Madness Disciples and how Arcane Madness had said that every single one of the paths was represented by a creature that he would have “no fond feelings for…”

The scorpion certainly fit the bill as a scorned creature…

No, that was impossible. Arcane Madness had listed them all, and the scorpion wasn’t amongst them. The Path of Madness that seemed to make the most sense for it—Greed—was already taken up by the Rat as well.

Sylas’ thoughts spun out of control, and for the first time, Gralith showed impatience.

“Answer.”

Sylas didn’t reply immediately, his eyes somewhat struggling to meet Gralith’s before his lips finally parted.

“… Why does a Legacy built on Sacrifice have an escape method?”

Gralith’s aura reached a peak. It felt like a meteor was crashing down from above, and any moment now, Sylas’ Will would blink out of existence.

While Sylas had only sent a part of his Will in here, something told him that unlike the other times he could recover his Will with some ease, this time if he lost it, it would be gone forever.

But then the aura suddenly vanished.

Gralith sat there as though nothing at all had happened, his demeanor back to normal.

“Never ask that question again.”

Sylas didn’t reply, but Gralith didn’t seem to be waiting for one this time.

“Now, draw the layers again.”

All Gralith had done was explain to him the general abilities of the first, second, and third layers. But now he was expecting much to change?

It seemed justified to be skeptical, and yet Sylas had already moved the moment those words fell.

Instantly, there was a change. He completed the first layer in nothing more than a blink…

Vitality Mastery.

Sylas didn’t even pause to wait or care, immediately beginning on the second layer.

Soul Mastery.

In another blink, it felt completed. The drawings on the scroll became so lifelike that it felt like the warrior inside might hop out and go to battle for Sylas any moment now.

But Sylas, once again, didn’t pause, his arm moving fluidly, his wrist straight and rigid. Every shift and stroke was under his masterful control.

Flesh Mastery.

A beam of black violet light shot into the skies, a Rune spontaneously forming in the skies all on its own.

Staring at it, Sylas almost felt the subconscious need to reach out.

“Don’t.” Gralith said calmly. “Only when you feel you’ve reached the absolute limit of what you can accomplish with the F-Grade Armor should you integrate that Rune. Otherwise, don’t even consider it.”

Sylas slowly lowered his hand and the Rune dissipated all on its own.

“You no longer need my help. I will not be appearing here again. If you want the E-Grade Legacy, you will have to come to the Beast Warlord Sanctum yourself.

“Good luck.”

After saying this, Gralith vanished.

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