Genetic Ascension

The room seemed to freeze over for everyone but the two parties involved. Even the likes of Zayreus didn’t expect this sort of answer.

The elders were in shock, Megean still hadn’t recovered from the fact Sylas was actually alive and not dead like she thought he was, while Old Brama couldn’t believe his ears.

Everyone but the two men seemed to have reacted.

“Oh? Please explain,” the Thryskai said with the same gentle smile.

“I’m not sure what Grade you are, but it’s surely far above myself. Isn’t it cowardly to use me as a shield to get what you want?

“I’m not sure how powerful the power you come from is, but I know that you came here all on your own without the slightest fear of the Golden Grove. Isn’t it cowardly to oppress them with that might when you can’t otherwise do anything else?

“I’m not sure how your Thryskai Race found its way to my Summoned World, but I know that you almost ruined our chances of clearing it. Almost. Isn’t it cowardly to target a world that hasn’t even grown into its own yet?”

The Thryskai’s smile didn’t fade.

“Interesting words. Well, naive more than anything else. But interesting nonetheless.”

“No. They aren’t naive. I’m well aware of how the world works and you don’t owe it to anyone to not use power you have in the palm of your hands to better your life. I just don’t know why you don’t find it boring.” Sylas’ gaze became placid, losing almost all their light as though he was looking right through the Thryskai. “I can’t imagine what would be so fun about bullying those so much weaker than yourself.”

Sylas was a man who couldn’t be bothered to make more of himself than a professor because he felt the world was too easy. And even then, he didn’t have nearly as much power in his dynamic with Earth as the Thryskai did in this situation.

He truly couldn’t understand people like this at all. For what? Just for more power?

If you were constantly punching down while trying to step up, you’d be pulling your body in two separate directions. Both figuratively and literally.

At these words, there was finally just the slightest shift in the Thryskai’s expression.

“… Mm… interesting, indeed. I can see why Gralith would want you as a disciple. Unfortunately, that arrogance will likely get you killed one day.”

Sylas didn’t reply, and the Thryskai’s gentle smile didn’t fade.

“Are you curious to know what I want from these people?”

“I am.”

“Honest. I like that. You’re a very curious sort of arrogant, it might help you live a little bit longer than I thought. But the ending will inevitably be the same.”

The Thryskai looked away from Sylas, his eyes jumping from Yaoyao to Niafon, and back.

“It seems this boy has the intention of protecting you all. Isn’t that interesting? How does that make you feel?”

The two clenched their jaws, but said nothing. There really was no place for them to say anything.

As though unbothered by it all, the Thryskai only laughed gently.

“It’s alright. I’m very patient. I wonder, though. Will you survive after he’s finished wringing you all dry of everything you’re worth? It seems you won’t have much of a choice but to raise a cub for another tiger den.”

The laughter of the Thryskai echoed as he vanished into nothingness.

When his aura vanished, Sylas almost collapsed again, but he managed to remain on his feet. So tired… so hungry…

He just wanted to eat everything in sight, but he also wanted to close his eyes and sleep for an eternity.

“A few things…” Sylas said slowly, trying to control his breathing and stop his vision from going black. “We can sign the contract, but I’m sure you all know that the terms have changed now. For a period of ten years, the Golden Grove will be under the umbrella of my wife’s city and do everything in its power to help it progress.

“Second, I want unlimited access to the UniForm in this period.

“Third, I want Old Brama.”

Megean’s pupils trembled violently. “Wait! My grandfather made a mistake, but—!”

Sylas looked over.

Before, Megean had already felt like just being around Sylas came with a heaviness and oppression that didn’t make sense. She really couldn’t understand how an F-Grade could make her feel like this.

But now, it was like a tsunami was falling from overhead. She could only watch as the dark, cold waters swallowed her up.

“He will be contracted to me and tied to my Will. Do what you should, and I’ll never touch your granddaughter. Do as you want, and not only will I survive whatever scheme you concoct again, but next time I return I won’t be nearly so nice.”

Old Brama stood there in silence.

Truthfully, he couldn’t decide whether to be enraged or impressed. The situation here wasn’t something that he expected, but somehow Sylas had gone from someone who was brought in as a prisoner, to a potential genius they would have to slowly work up trust with, to the disciple of a powerhouse none of them would dare to offend, to suddenly becoming their defacto leader?

And all of that happened because he threaded the line of the situation so expertly that he didn’t let the slightest opportunity slip away.

Yet, he wasn’t done.

“I swear that should the Golden Grove follow my lead for these ten years, I will never make you do something against your Will once this time has concluded.”

A powerful surge of might descended from above. They had seen System Oaths before, but they had surely never seen such momentum from an Oath sworn by a mere F-Grade. It felt as though the entire planet was shaking.

…

From a far off distance, the Thryskai turned back, a familiar gentle smile still on his face.

“How interesting. I’m certain… he has the scent of that Rat on him… It just might be more interesting to let him take it and bait out some bigger fish…”

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