Genetic Ascension

Chapter 2482 What Have You Done? (1) Previous

Within the Cryst Heaven, the Tera Clan was already in the midst of celebration.

Several generations of its most talented descendants had gathered in the ancestral hall, and even those who would normally spend decades in seclusion had made an appearance. The news of Rheosʼ progress had spread quickly, and with every consecutive victory he accumulated, the atmosphere had only become more jubilant.

”Haha! I knew Rheos wouldnʼt disappoint us. To think that someone would dare to challenge our Tera Clan in Rune Creation of all things. Does that brat not know who our Ancestor is?”

”Forget challenging us, he even dared to provoke Ancestor Tera personally. If Rheos doesnʼt teach him a proper lesson, wouldnʼt that mean our Tera Clanʼs reputation has been tarnished?”

”From what I hear, Rheos has already won enough challenges to completely suppress his opponentʼs authority. At this point, thereʼs no longer any suspense about the outcome.”

The laughter continued, and several of the younger descendants began discussing what rewards Rheos might receive upon his return. The opportunities within the Creation Tower werenʼt something even the Tera Clan could casually dismiss, and a victory of this magnitude would undoubtedly strengthen their standing.

However, as time passed, one of the elders couldnʼt help but frown.

”Speaking of which, shouldnʼt Rheos have returned by now? He should have secured the victory quite some time ago.”

His words drew several curious gazes. They had all received notifications of Rheosʼ overwhelming advantage, but the longer they waited, the more unusual his absence became.

”Could something have happened?”

”What could possibly happen? The challenges are governed by the Creation Tower itself. Even if that brat wanted to cheat, what could he do?”

The elder nodded, finding the explanation reasonable, but he still looked toward the highest seat of the hall.

There, Old Man Tera sat with a cup of wine in hand, his expression carrying none of the concern beginning to appear among his descendants. If anything, he seemed quite pleased with himself, a faint smile resting on his lips as he listened to the younger generation praising Rheos.

”Ancestor, what do you think? Could there be some reason Rheos hasnʼt returned?”

Tera chuckled and took another sip of his wine.

”That child has always been a bit arrogant. Heʼs probably just having a little fun.”

His smile widened as he placed the cup down.

”After all, when youʼve spent your entire life being better than everyone around you, itʼs rare to find someone foolish enough to challenge you of their own accord. Let him enjoy himself a little. Thereʼs no need to rush him.”

The elder laughed, feeling that his worries had been unnecessary.

”Haha! As expected of Ancestor. I suppose Rheos must be taking his time humiliating that brat. It wouldnʼt be like him to let someone who offended our Tera Clan off so easily.”

Ancestor Tera smiled without responding, raising his cup once more as the hall erupted into another round of laughter.

**

The last crimson fractures disappeared from Sylasʼ body, and with them, the final traces of resistance that had accompanied his evolution faded away. His mind had become so expansive that the countless threads of thought moving through it no longer needed to compete for his attention, and even as Selfwrought Emperor continued uncovering the hidden portions of himself, Void Sovereign provided the room to accommodate them while Willborne Crown maintained absolute authority over it all.

Sylas turned his attention toward Earth, his senses following the connection he maintained with his world until the scene unfolding around Cassarae appeared within his mind.

He watched as a golden formation closed around her, Tomoe, Geraldene, and Paul. He saw Xarvenya standing just outside its reach, her True Blood still burning as she struggled against the restrictions of the world, and then he watched as his wife disappeared before her eyes.

Throughout it all, Sylas remained perfectly still, his expression carrying an almost deathly calm that seemed at odds with what he had just witnessed. There was no violent eruption of Will, no sudden surge of murderous intent, and not even the slightest fluctuation in his breathing.

Of course, the impulses were there. In fact, they had never been stronger. Countless methods of slaughtering everyone responsible passed through his mind, many of which were perfectly reasonable from a certain perspective, and several that he would have once considered too cruel even for his enemies.

But that was all they were. Thoughts. Possibilities. Desires that belonged to him, but no longer possessed the authority to dictate his actions.

Sylas had already made his decision, and he had no intention of allowing something as insignificant as rage to interfere with it.

His gaze shifted toward Rheos.

The Creator was still speaking, seemingly quite pleased with himself. He had won enough consecutive challenges that his confidence had long since transformed into complacency, and from his perspective, there was little reason for that to change.

Unfortunately for him, Sylas no longer had the patience to listen.

A new challenge began, and before Rheos could even finish the words that had been forming in his throat, the Rune structure between them collapsed beneath Sylasʼ Will.

—

[Challenge Complete]

[You Have Lost]

—

Rheos froze, his mouth still hanging open as he looked toward the notification floating before him. For several seconds, he didnʼt seem to understand what he was seeing, and when he finally reacted, his first instinct was to invoke the authority he had accumulated through his previous victories and contest the result.

However, the moment his Will reached outward, his expression changed.

Everything he had spent so long accumulating was gone. The advantages he had painstakingly built through his consecutive victories, the authority he had believed would eventually allow him to completely suppress Sylas, had disappeared with that single defeat.

”Impossible! You—”

Another challenge began.

Rheosʼ heart loosened when he saw the familiar Rune structure forming once again. At least Sylas was foolish enough to continue playing by the rules, and so long as the challenges continued, there would always be an opportunity to reclaim what he had lost.

He had simply grown too casual. That was all. He was a descendant of Tera, a genius who had spent countless years studying the mysteries of Rune Creation. How could someone like him possibly lose to a brat who had barely stepped onto this Path?

All he needed was to regain his composure, reclaim his authority, and then— —

[Challenge Complete]

[You Have Lost]

—