Genetic Ascension

449  Compelling Gaze

Sylas calmly watched Nosphaleen's reaction.

Normally, it would be foolish for him to do something like this. However, he had his reasons.

First, he hadn't given up on Nosphaleen. It was just that he would need a far stronger Taboo Bond Talent in order to truly turn her into a Serpentes.

Second, she might not be aware of the full situation just yet. Although she was certainly smart enough to realize that Sylas didn't lord over her any longer, there were several reasons she couldn't.

She had been unconscious when the contract was formed, and then she spent the rest of the time in hibernation, so she had no personal experience with the contracted state.

In addition, she still had Mesmeryx Genes within her. As such, Sylas' Beast Totem was still effective against her in part. So, even if she did rebel, he didn't fear her. And more importantly than that, she would feel a subconscious closeness and subservience to him that she might mistake as a true contract due to her lack of familiarity with it.

Then, third, and the ribbon to tie all of this nicely…

She wouldn't be able to improve without him.

It had to be remembered that the Clypsians, and the Dogons for that matter, had both failed the Summoning and had been replaced by other creatures as the overlords of Earth.

As such, as talented as they were, humans were the lords of Earth right now and had the precedent. Humans could level up easily by killing beasts and absorbing their Gene Cores. But, much like Sylas struggled with helping the Basilisk King improve, the trouble was just as great for Nosphaleen. 

Right now, he could easily defeat her.

As time progressed, the gap would only become wider.

Without the help of his One Kind For Me Path to illuminate a path for her, she would be unlikely to ever progress in her life.

And something told Sylas that that was the last thing she wanted.

"Here." Sylas pulled out the Ice-Poison armor he had received as a reward and directly handed it to her.

Nosphaleen's eyes widened, not expecting such a thing.

The only treasures she had on her were her four circular blades. But they were only the most simple of common items. In fact, Sylas could probably easily break them if he was given the perfect opportunity.

—

[Frostbane Armor (Bronze) (Treasure)] [Level: 1] [+100 Constitution] [Ability: Frostbane Zone] [Absorb Frostbane Aether to repair armor] [Exude Area of Effect in <1> meter radius that deals <1> Ice-Poison Damage per second when activated at the cost of 1 Durability per minute] [Durability: 10/10] —

This was the best treasure she had ever seen.

Unsurprisingly, she had grown up in captivity. So other than being leveled up to be used as a sparring partner, she had held such valuable things in her hands.

Her saving grace was that she had still learned quite a bit from the seniors of her Race. But they obviously didn't have the ability to give her what she wanted.

"Also, can you use this Skill?" Sylas asked, handing her the Elemental Race Locked Skill.

"I can…" Nosphaleen nodded. "… But…"

She hesitated.

"You have a better Skill?" Sylas questioned, though his tone didn't seem very confused. It was more like a statement.

He had already seen all of her Skills, another reason he was confident in dealing with her. Of them, there was <Projected Shift> and <Glide>. With the combination of the two, it was safe to say that her movement ability was far beyond his own.

"Mm…" Nosphaleen nodded, a bit embarrassed as though she was scared to offend Sylas.

However, would Sylas be perturbed by such a thing?

"Understood." He put the Skill away. He'd have to find another way to use it, then. "Put the armor on. You have the ability to control this woman, right?"

Nosphaleen hesitated, but nodded. She didn't really hear the second part of Sylas' words, focused entirely on the first part. But she pressed down whatever discomfort there might have been.

However, as she was building up her courage and pulled her top off, she realized that Sylas wasn't even looking at her. He was already lost in thought as though analyzing his next steps.

By the time he remembered Nosphaleen was with him, she was already dressed. She still wore the same seal-skin skirt, but now her arms, legs, and torso, even up to her neck, were covered in a lace-like ice pattern. It melded with her grey-blue skin well and almost looked like an extension of her body.

It suited her well.

Her Physical stats were definitely among her weaknesses, being about half of Sylas' now. But this would help bolster her a great deal, especially after they started feeding it Genes.

Sylas nodded. "Good. Now put her under your control. We need information."

It finally seemed to click for Nosphaleen what Sylas' earlier words were, and she blushed with slight embarrassment as she rushed to complete her orders.

Nosphaleen had several charm Skills. In fact, it could be said that 90% of her Skills were Charisma-related. And considering her Charisma stat was 1666, this was only natural… especially since her Mesmeryx Totem Comprehension gave it an even more exaggerated boost.

In fact, she didn't just have Skills. She was born with not one, but two Gene Talents. Compelling Gaze and Siren's Call, both of which scaled with Charisma.

She had almost too many options to exert influence on Sunniva, who was already starting to feel nervous.

Unfortunately, her nervousness wouldn't help.

Compelling Gaze.

For a moment, even Sylas froze and he had to force himself to shake his head. In that instant of time, she became almost too beautiful, so much so that it didn't make sense for a living being… almost to the point that he would have given up everything for her.

Sunniva froze for a moment as well, and Sylas could sense her counter Skill activate subconsciously.

Unfortunately for her, Compelling Gaze wasn't just any other Skill.

Sunniva shivered awake… or so it seemed.

Suddenly, she picked up her heavily injured body, ignoring her broken bones and internal bleeding, and crawled to Nosphaleen and began kissing her feet.