Genetic Ascension novel Chapter 13

Chapter 13 Find Out

A python, one extinct for ages, hung high in the trees. Its 12-meter-long body looped again and again, carrying such mass that it looked to be a miracle that the tree could hold it up at all.

Sylas had only just thought that he hadn't seen a single carnivore in the region, only to find one mere minutes from his original location.

Goosebumps erupted across his skin. Without the slightest hesitation, he decisively left. This was not a creature he wanted to get entangled with.

As a researcher, he mostly worked with venomous snakes, and rarely constrictors like this one. However, he had just as much healthy respect for them as the former. This was about the worst kind of extinct creature he could meet, other than maybe dinosaurs themselves.

The only good news was that pythons of that size were very slow. But the fact its Physical was that high despite what was likely low Speed and Dexterity meant that its Strength and Constitution must be off the charts.

This was in part due to the Aether, Sylas was sure. But its evolution wasn't even over yet.

Sylas made a note to himself that his scouting abilities weren't perfect. He was human and he could only use his eyes. He wasn't the only creature that could blend into the environment, and he was definitely the worst suited to doing so on top of that.

Soon, Sylas found another cascading waterfall of Aether.

[Red Fox (F)]

[Level: 0]

[Physical: 17]

[Mental: 0]

[Will: 1]

'Red foxes should be mostly nocturnal, but it's asleep. This is a plus for my theory about the Aether.'

The high Physical stat threw Sylas off, but at this point he had pretty much confirmed that this was the benefit of Aether. As the night went on, these creatures would only get stronger. By tomorrow, he would be surrounded by superhuman-level beasts and his odds of surviving would only plummet.

He moved slowly, making sure to carefully check around the region to ensure that there were no other lurking dangers like the titanoboa. Then he exploded into action.

He raised the femur spear up, activating Blade Aura and preparing to stab down. But then his heart skipped a beat.

Time seemed to slow.

The first thing he noticed were the twitching ears of the red fox. As Sylas' steely green eyes rushed through the night, they picked up on every detail, each one more of a flashbang to his senses than the last.

First it was its ears, then its tail swayed, and by the time Sylas loomed over it, it had hopped to its feet, spinning around with a sharp glint in its eyes.

'Another mistake.'

Sylas was being hard on himself, but that was how he always was. Even so, he didn't slow down or hesitate as he pierced downward.

The fox's body blurred, moving so fast that Sylas' eyes almost couldn't keep up in the darkness. But he still felt something connect.

A yelp came from the fox as a deep gash was torn into its front left shoulder.

Sylas felt its intention to run away immediately. Remembering its Will stat, Sylas put two and two together, realizing that this might be a method of telling the tendencies of these creatures as well.

This timidity only benefitted Sylas.

The red fox turned in an attempt to run, but its injured front leg threw its balance off and it stumbled.

Precisely what Sylas was waiting for.

He raised up the femur spear again and drove it down, this time right through the spine of the red fox.