[Path Talent: Beast Totem Lv2; Insight Lv2]

[Beast Totem (Path Talent)]

[>Suppress <F-rank> Serpentes Beasts by <30%>]

[>Forms Hibernation Realm where recovery increases by <200%>]

[>Increase Fusion speed by <100%>]

[>Buff Contracts by <40%>]

Sylas took a breath, and just as the python was about to attack, it trembled.

To Sylas' back, a pair of slit eyes slowly took shape. They were large, each one being at least half the size of his body. They exuded a gorgeous golden color and seemed to contain the explosion of equally as golden stars within. Their pupils were the only darkness about them, looking like a long and narrow fissure of space in the depths of reality.

The moment the BOSS saw these eyes, it froze. Sylas could almost feel its spirit sinking and the fear pooling out from its eyes.

At this stage, his Beast Totem could only suppress, and it couldn't completely incapacitate. But it seemed that its sudden appearance was still enough to freeze the creature for just a moment.

Sylas capitalized.

He had already reprimanded himself once before for not ending a battle as quickly as he was capable; he wouldn't make that mistake again.

His kunai zipped out, appearing before the python BOSS before it could snap out of its fear-induced state. With its stats suppressed by 30%, its once 181 Constitution was now barely 120. It couldn't stand up to the 154 Physical of Sylas' telekinesis at all.

Its eyes were torn into and its brain was torn apart.

Sylas exhaled a breath. That should be the end of this Dungeon.

[The Flow of Battle (Silver) (Quest)]

[The Laws have sensed your Flow of Battle more than once. However, suppressed by a Comprehension much deeper and more profound, it has been unable to shine its way through.]

[The Pugilists, Warriors, and Berserkers of the past lament this tragedy and seek to give you an opportunity.]

[Find your Flow of Battle and conquer it.]

[Fragmented Reward Requirements]

[>Defeat an enemy 1 Level above you (Complete)]

[Common Reward Requirements]

[>Defeat an enemy 5 Levels above you (Complete)]

[Bronze Reward Requirements]

[>Defeat an enemy 10 Levels above you (Complete)]

[Silver Reward Requirements]

[>Defeat an enemy 15 Levels above you]

The notification that he had finished now three of four of his Quest objectives popped up, and Sylas nodded to himself. What he didn't expect was for another to pop up quickly afterward.

[Title Unlocked]

[Title: BOSS Slayer]

[Creatures that others fear, you crush. It is not you who should fear them, but rather they who should fear you.]

[+10% ALL stats when facing an opponent 10 Levels or more above you]

'Interesting this is the first time I've seen a Title like this. It has conditions, and it also doesn't seem to be an immediate boost.'

Sylas had been expecting pain the moment he saw the Title notification pop up, but it seemed that he had escaped this time around.

However, when he looked into his stat window again, he found that much like A Flexible Will, System Breaker, and Legendary Tamer, BOSS Slayer didn't have a grade by its side.

This made him curious. Was there more room to grow? Something else, maybe?

[You have slayed Red Crystal Python]

[Rewards]

[>Common Fire Crystal (Consumable)]

[>Brittle Gene Elixir (Consumable)]

[>Red Crystal Fragment (Resource)]

Sylas collected his rewards and looked at the last one curiously. Wasn't this the same crystal that covered the land he just walked through?

He looked between the two, and it really did feel identical. It just felt like a bit of a sham that there was a forest of this stuff behind him, but the reward was just a small piece.

[Red Crystal Fragment (Resource)]

[A staple in weapon forging and a treat for upgradeable items. Blacksmiths would pay a pretty penny for such an easy quality boost]

'Upgradeable items?'

Sylas' first thought was, of course, his kunai. They were able to evolve, even absorbing Genes to strengthen themselves. Did this fall under the same category?

He brought out a kunai and gave it a try.

[Flying Kunai(Bronze)]

[Level: 5]

[Ability: Pierce; Evolve; Flame Damage]

[Increase Strength Effectiveness by <1.5%> for every <0.1> Units of Aether]

[Level Up Requirement: <6 Common> Genes]

[Damage increased by 5%]

[Durability: 10/10]

He was only able to upgrade one of his kunai like this since there was just one fragment. And the boost was a bit lackluster. But when it was stacked with Pierce, it wasn't so bad.

Plus, he had to keep reminding himself that this was only an F+ Dungeon to begin with. It was unlikely that the items given out would be so great.

What he was more curious about was what it meant by "Damage." Was it a measure of all Physical stats? Did it just refer to Strength? Or was it something else?

There were too many variables in this world, and it annoyed him that he couldn't grasp them all.

Sylas walked toward the python's corpse and placed a hand on it. Once again, it provided a large amount of Constitution.

Just as he was about to put it away, he paused for a moment, his eyes narrowing.

He looked into the Hibernation Realm and spotted the Basilisk King. It was still heavily injured, but the flames had disappeared and its body was quickly healing.

[Path Talent: Beast Totem Lv2; Insight Lv2]

[Insight (Path Talent)]

[>Observe Gene Sequence of Contract]

[>Sense Evolution Triggers]

[>Comprehend Contract]

It seemed that he got to test out both of these Path Talents today because he could see a clear path for the Basilisk King's evolution right here.

Though it was injured, Sylas still brought the Basilisk King out. But this time, he used the Beast Totem to boost its stats by 40% and stabilize its situation. This way, it didn't burn to death immediately.

"Go on," Sylas nodded toward the corpse. "This is your chance."

The Basilisk King weakly looked at Sylas. Even so, this time, Sylas could see that there was a smoldering ember in its eyes. It might have been in pain, but its spirit was brighter for having survived.

Now, Sylas was giving it another chance.

The Basilisk King was large, and yet still much smaller than the Red Crystal Python. So, it didn't hesitate and dove right into the open wound in the latter's head.

Time ticked, and soon Sylas received another notification.

[Quest "Sorrow of the Basilisk King (Common)" Completed]

[Clearance Level: Common]

[Rewards]

[>Voice of a King (Passive)]