Chapter 97: Close

Sylas eyes opened. 'I wonder if I can use this on <Basic Scouting> as well?'",

After his Comprehension session, Sylas had come to understand that all things that relied on stats related to Charisma and Will could be enhanced with his Madness Comprehension. <Basic Scouting> fell right into that wheelhouse. So, the first thing he used it on was <Maddened Enlightenment>.

[Maddened Enlightenment (FF+)]

[You are deeply in tune with the Madness of your Ancestors. It helps you to focus, relax and form a oneness with the world. Understanding yourself is a form of peace, but understanding your place in the world makes you Enlightened]

'Interesting, there's no change...'

Sylas didn't believe that this was because it didn't work, but rather because he was trying to find out something through the use of <Basic Scouting> that it wasn't designed to do. Either that, or there was really nothing else to see.

'Then what about Blade Aura?'

Sylas had never been able to see even a description for Blade Aura. He wondered if that was just natural, but he could see one for Tail Whip and Sudden Burst if he wanted, so that shouldn't be it.

To his surprise, it worked.

[Blade Aura (Gene Talent)]

[A Gene Talent capable of adding the effects of Pierce and Rigid to any blade]

[Ability: Pierce (Mutated)]

[Makes applied Strength 25% more Effective]

[Ability: Rigid (Mutated)]

[Increases applied Constitution by 25%, increasing rigidity of opposite force and forcing the enemy to withstand the brunt]

Sylas was intrigued. So that was why he had been able to pummel the spitting cobra so easily. His Strength was the 25% more Effective, so though it wasn't exactly the same, it was almost like he had 63 Strength instead of 50.

At the same time, Rigid was extremely interesting.

Every Force had an equal and opposite force. So, the harder Sylas punched, the stronger the rebound he experienced was. Rigid was able to not only increase his Constitution by 25%, but it was also able to lessen the rebound he experienced, transferring it over to his enemy. This was effectively yet another Strength increase.

Essentially, it was like his enemy was getting his with a nigh immovable force every time he punched or kicked them. Or at the very least, it was something close.

In Sylas' opinion, Rigid was actually far better applied to his pugilist path than it was to a blade. It seemed like something more effective when used for blunt impact. It was just that there were probably very few who could accept Blade Aura into their bodies without boiling themselves up from the inside out.

'It's time to go.'

Sylas opened up the Dungeon Map again. There was a perfect replica of the maze on it. He could easily see the perfect path to take through it.

There were nine BOSSes in the Dungeon, but if you chose the optimal path, you only had to face off against three of them. Then, when you stepped out of the maze, you would have to battle one more.

In addition to the BOSSes, there were several minion-type beasts scattered, and Sylas could actually watch their movements just like he could on a video game map.

The question was whether he should go for the optimum path or not.

Any animals in this Dungeon would definitely have excellent Genes to take advantage of, and it would be a controlled environment, unlike the outside world.

'Well, let's check out the strength of these animals before I make such a decision.'

Sylas chose to optimal route. After locking onto the location of the creature in question, he peeked around the corner. He fused his Madness with Basic Scouting and peeked around the corner.

Now that he had learned to rein in his Madness, he didn't need to worry about being discovered and used it more freely.

[Basilisk Minor (F)]

[Level: 3]

[Physical: 52]

>[Strength: 72]

>[Constitution: 74]

>[Dexterity: 31]

>[Speed: 31]

[Mental: 49]

>[Intelligence: 74]

>[Wisdom: 8]

>[Charisma: 65]

[Will: 38]

Sylas' brows raised. He could see the actual stat breakdown now. This was more than what he expected, and also far more useful. Rather than having to deduce the advantages of a creature, he could see them as plain as day and approach with that thought in mind. He could skip the probing.

Sylas pulled out the Dungeon map again and waited patiently. There was no need to get into a battle he didn't have to, he just had to wait for the perfect chance.

'Its Constitution is 74. If I activate Madness and use the Pierce Dagger, I'll have an effective Strength of 160. Piercing it will be easy... Now.'

Sylas acted the instant the Basilisk Minor turned its back.

It was a beautiful snake, Sylas had to admit. It was covered in black scales and had veins of gold on its head, forming a crown. It didn't have the hood of a cobra, but its spine, jaw and tail were covered in bony, golden spikes that reflected like polished brass.

It would be a dangerous creature to fight head-on, especially if it had half the Skills of the Spitting Cobra creature outside. But...

He didn't have to.

A dagger flashed and buried itself into the back of the creature's skull, slipping right between its bone spikes, severing its spinal cord and slicing its brain apart in an instant.

The creature froze, and then slowly fell to the ground, unable to fight back.

Sylas checked the map to double check the coast was clear. Then he rushed forward, placing a hand on the creature.

[Basilisk Minor]

[Gene Detected]

[Common Gene: (3) Intelligence (F)]

[Attempt Assimilation?]

[Yes][No]

Sylas was disappointed again. He had met the requirements for unlocking the Common version of Basic Aetherflow long ago, but there was no way he was going to waste such a rare item like that when he was so close.

There were just five Charisma Genes left. If this Dungeon panned out, he would be able to gather the last Genes he needed to unlock his first Bronze Gene.