Genetic Ascension

Chapter 676: Win (1)

Sylas looked down at the Basilisk Skin Armor and shook his head. He had to admit, that ever since they were young, Cassarae had always been good at this sort of thing. Teasing him, that is. Even if she couldnʼt win a battle of words-which was certainly not a given considering her sharp tongue-she had plenty of other ways to win.

Looking away from it finally, he found Cassaraeʼs triumphant gaze. It really didnʼt matter what he said at this point, the winner of this round was quite obvious.

If she could just keep doing this, maybe he would never win at all.

But then again, Sylas wasnʼt one to keep taking losses.

He directly sent over another 500 million F-Coins.

”Just a little tip for the show.”

Cassarae was so stunned her eyes opened wide. It looked for a moment like her tongue might fall out of her mouth.

”You cheeky little... SYLAS BROWN! Do you think Iʼm some stripper?!”

Sylas blinked in confusion as though he was completely innocent.

”Arenʼt you? Something something wheelchairs and baby arms?”

Cassarae froze as she vaguely remembered saying something like that when her parents were around. She didnʼt remember half of that rant because she had just been spewing any bullshit she could think of that would piss Sylas off, but then he ended up saying that line about killing anyone who stood in his way and she didnʼt even know how to reply to that.

”You son of a bitch, you know that-!” Cassarae stopped talking as she realized she had just fallen into a trap.

”I know what, now?” Sylas asked.

Cassarae grit her teeth. She looked like she wanted to peel a layer of skin off Sylasʼ face. This bastard was really starting to get on her last nerve.

”I didnʼt get paid to do any of that,” she said through grinding teeth. ”I did it of my own free will. A girl has needs.”

She was too angry to sound very convincing at all. And how could she feel any other way? It felt like she was stuck between a rock and a hard place. It was completely infuriating.

”In that case, my apologies. Just take it as a token of appreciation, then. I can see that youʼre not used to this. Could it be that they didnʼt know your worth?”

Cassarae was gritting her teeth so hard the grinding practically echoed.

”Keep talking like that and Iʼll snip your balls off.”

Sylas only smiled and didnʼt reply. That was enough teasing for today.

”Protect yourself. How is your affinity with ice?”

Cassarae snarled in reply, but Sylas understood that that meant that it wasnʼt very good, so he dismissed the idea of giving her the Frostbane Armor that Nosphaleen was currently wearing.

It should be fine. It was impossible to buy an armor of this caliber even with a billion F-Coins, but the amount he had given her should be more than enough for her to protect herself.

Sylas was about to turn to leave when Cassaraeʼs hand suddenly shot forward and caught the Madness Key around his neck.

She was quite fast, strong too. Sylas was pretty sure that she was still Level o, but unlike his stats that were more skewed toward his Mental abilities, hers were heavily placed into Physical. Without the Basilisk King, her Strength stat superseded his own by quite a margin. Sylas, her actions were well within Sylasʼ capabilities to react to, and with how fast his Fusion with the Basilisk King was, he could easily complete it before her hand even landed.

But...

Cassarae tugged him forward forcefully, planting her lips on his own.

Sylas was caught halfway between amused and stunned, but before he could process things, Cassarae had already pulled away.

Her hand was still on his Madness key, her breathing a bit heavy as though she was trying to process her own actions as well. But none of that stopped her from glaring at Sylas like he still owed her more money.

Even pulled apart, their noses were still practically touching.

”Donʼt ask.” She said with an oddly calm voice. ”Like I said, I do as I please, whenever I please.”

”Some would call that sexual assault.” Sylas replied.

”And what are you going to do about it?”

Sylasʼ hand rose and it looked like he was about to grab Cassaraeʼs waist. She glared back at him, clearly not planning on backing down in the slightest.

A part of her mind already knew that she had fallen over the cliffʼs edge. This was precisely what she was worried about. She was far too attracted to this man in ways she wasnʼt able to explain.

He was able to deal with all of her bullshit, and he was so effortlessly confident. Ironically, it was because they had been separated for so long that she knew the world didnʼt have a second Sylas Brown.

It was only a matter of time before she lost control of herself exactly like this one.

She sighed inwardly. She really didnʼt know if she could resist anymore today, not because Sylas was too strong... but she simply couldnʼt find it in her to do so.

However, the hand that she was expecting to wrap around her caught her wrist instead, carefully peeling her fingers off of the Madness Key.

Cassarae was stunned once again, not quite knowing what to do or say.

”Iʼm not sure why youʼre so apprehensive around me. It feels like youʼre trying too hard,”

Sylas said calmly. ”But you figure that out first. Iʼll be going now.”

Sylas turned and left, leaving Cassarae in silence. She didnʼt say or even think anything for a long while before the sound of her gritting teeth began to echo once again.

Maybe what made this the most annoying was that Sylas hadnʼt done that to ”win” a petty war between them, he actually felt that way. And that left her unable to shrug it off like she usually would.