Chapter 29: Theoretical Potential
[Middle Madness]
[Gene Detected]
[Fragmented Gene: (9) Dexterity (F)]
[Common Gene: (2) Speed (F)]
[Attempt Assimilation?]
[Yes] [No]
Sylas' eyes narrowed. Considering what had happened before, could he even succeed? This wasn't just one Common Gene, but two. According to his original limit, he could only absorb nine Fragmented Genes. How much had the Grimblade Lineage increased his limit?
Well, there was only one way to find out.
[Gene Assimilation Starting...]
[Gene Assimilation Triggered]
[Genes Successfully Assimilated]
[Fragmented Gene: (6) Dexterity (F)]
[Common Gene: (2) Speed (F)]
[Genes Failed Assimilation]
[Fragmented Gene: (3) Dexterity (F)]
Sylas' entire body seized. He only barely felt his Patient Stalker Title activate before he was overwhelmed by everything else. It was so much more violent than the first time that he fell to the ground, a cold sweat pooling around his body. Some of the sweat even seemed to carry slight hints of a red as though blood was being pulled right out of his pores.
The process took several minutes, and yet for all his efforts, he was forced to look at a highly disappointing screen.
[Speed Stat has reached 50 and cannot increase further. Species limit has been reached. Please evolve Species, increase Level, or change Class to progress further]
[Name: Sylas Grimblade]
[Species: Human (F)]
[Affiliation: Grimblade Lineage]
[Level: 0]
[Titles: A Flexible Will; Skill Savant; A Patient Stalker; Middle Madness Slayer (Dormant); Little Madness Slayer (Dormant)]
[Physical: 21]
>[Strength: 5]
>[Constitution: 9]
>[Dexterity: 19]
>[Speed: 50]
[Mental: 11]
>[Intelligence: 10]
>[Wisdom: 10]
>[Charisma: 12]
[Will: 36]
[Luck: 1]
[Skills: Maddened Meditation (F); Little Madness (F); Middle Madness (F)]
[Comprehensions: Madness (F)]
[Gene State: Soft]
[Fragmented Genes: Grimblade Lineage (F); (8) Dexterity (F); (4) Constitution (F)]
[Common Genes: (3) Speed (F)]
[Gene Talents: Blade Aura (Mutated - Weakened)(-); Sudden Burst (Dormant)(F)]
'This is... a huge problem.'
If there was one thing Sylas was good at, it was analyzing a situation and making the best possible decision in the shortest amount of time. At the very least, he tried his best to do so with the information he had on hand, though he was ultimately a human at the end of the day.
However, this stat cap was even worse than the previous Gene cap. This issue went back to the first and most important point: his stats were adjusted based on the dominant species of Earth. Because humans were the "rulers" of Earth, all stats in this seventh attempt would be adjusted to them.
This essentially meant that, just because 50 was a high number, didn't mean that it was worth anything. It didn't even represent that he was five times faster than the fastest human either.
'The stats are based on a distribution curve where 10 stat points represented the 99th percentile of current humans. But even then, a single percent of the population is still hundreds of millions of people. The weight of that stat isn't as heavy as it seems.
'If anything, this 50 number is far more meaningful than a 10. If it's referring to a limit of my Genes, or the theoretical and physical limit of the human body, that should mean that 50 Speed should represent around 50 miles per hour if the science is right. The fact they're the same number should be purely coincidental.
'Unless the Grimblade Lineage increased that limit for me? In which case, it's something higher than 50 miles per hour.
'Either way, Middle Madness was definitely faster than that. My eyes could hardly track it. But that shouldn't be its normal Speed, it definitely had Middle Madness activated.
'I also have to take into account the fact the dungeons are weighted and adjusted to match the current population as well. If this was still the era of the dinosaurs, it would have still been a 50 Physical entry recommendation, but that number would mean something far different to them...'
Sylas' mind ran faster and faster, but the ultimate conclusion could be summed up in a few words.
The human race had an uphill battle to fight, and an especially steep one at that.
'I need to find a way to increase this limit. It says levelling is a solution, but I should disregard that for as long as possible.
'Levelling should provide linear growth, but if my starting place is too low, each one of my levels will mean less and less.
'That leaves finding a Class, changing my Species, or...'
There seemed to be another option that the system didn't mention. But when Sylas thought about it, it seemed to fall in line with "evolving" his Species.
The Grimblade Lineage. It had helped increase his Gene capacity. Wouldn't another Gene of a similar kind also increase his stat limit?
'Comprehensions as well...'
That wasn't the only option available to Sylas. Comprehensions seemed to be a great equalizer, Skills as well.
His stats said 50 was his limit, but Middle Madness could still increase that by 200% when it was activated. Clearly, Aether was a huge factor in one's strength, and it could be maximized with the use of Skills and Comprehensions.
If there was one advantage humans had over the creatures of old, it was their intelligence—not the stat, but rather in the traditional sense.
However, it wasn't enough.
In the end, those monstrous beasts, some standing at almost 20 meters tall, still lost in the end.
'If we want a chance to survive, some of us will need to go further than what these limits portray...'
Sylas took a breath and calmed himself. With his high Will, and his usual self-discipline, the ease with which he did so was only becoming greater.
'Next Floor.'