Genetic Ascension
chapter-195

[One-time bonus thanks to RolaySalt <3 2/3]

Sylas couldn't believe it, not because of what was being said, but because the notification came not from the system alone, but rather a joint announcement made with the Madness Key in conjunction with the system. In fact, it seemed that the only reason this was possible was because of the Madness Key.

This wasn't all either.

There was a list of warnings and potential rewards. The rewards themselves weren't very clear except for one line:

[Madness Key Gluttony will go into dormancy for <14> days. Hunger will be reduced by 100% permanently.]

However, if he accepted and he failed to snatch Joel's Destiny:

[Madness Key Gluttony will double. Timer for Hunger will reduce by 100% for <28> days.]

Sylas couldn't help but frown when he saw this. That was because the punishment was too great. This meant that if he failed, not only would the time for every increase in Hunger go from seven days to barely over three, but the penalty every time it did would be double.

For it to last 28 days meant that the Madness Key would be able to increase its Hunger exactly eight times.

By the end of such a time, Sylas would probably be dealing with Gold Genes. If he couldn't feed the Madness Key, what would happen to him? He really didn't want to find out.

Although the rewards were good, the risks were actually so high.

He also wasn't so free to just take on Quests, and he had no way of knowing what the Quest even was.

Just as Sylas was thinking this, the Madness Key actually showed him what this Destiny of Joel's was:

[Path of the Mancer (Fragmented) (Quest)]

[You have displayed a tenacious Will and a sharp intent for battle, but you are missing the final piece to your power. Following the Path of another is easy, following your own is much more difficult.]

[The word Mancer has a storied history, deeper than you know. There are many complex definitions but it can be boiled down to a single word: Control.]

[Open up the Path of the Mancer or die trying.]

[Fragmented Reward Requirements]

[>Kill a Level 10 creature with the Path of the Mancer]

A flood of information came to Sylas. It wasn't just the first leg of the Quest, but he could also see how far Joel had gotten.

It seemed that Joel had already cleared the first Quest and he had chosen a creature with control over Darkness Aether. As a result, he gained a Class related to it as a reward.

That was right, it seemed that the reward for clearing the Fragmented Quest was a Fragmented Class.

But if that was true, then it should mean that you could continue to improve this Class every step you cleared.

However, Sylas still hesitated.

What if this "Chain Quest" only went as far as Common or Bronze? He was unwilling to settle for such a low Grade Class, especially when he knew that there were many levels above it.

Sylas knew that he couldn't just stick to competing with the humans around him. If he wanted to protect himself and his family, he had to aim for whatever theoretical limits he could.

If not for this, he could have started Leveling long ago.

To Sylas' surprise, even this answer came to him:

[Fragmented -> Common -> Bronze -> Silver -> Gold -> Legendary]

Although he couldn't see the details, the system clearly told him exactly how far the Chain Quest would go.

In fact, Sylas had a feeling that it would give him the details if not for the fact the Quest would change depending on the path he picked.

If he was correct, the reason "Path of the Mancer" was so vague was because you could pick whichever path you wanted. Joel just so happened to be Dark Aether, but that didn't mean that Sylas had to.

That should mean that the only reason the other Quests weren't loading was because they hadn't been set yet. Sylas would be the one to decide.

'The Madness Key is usually never this detailed. In fact, the system alone is never usually this detailed either. It seems that it's because they're working together that they're being so clear and concise about everything…'

'The Madness Key is usually never this detailed. In fact, the system alone is never usually this detailed either. It seems that Sylas felt that he had just stumbled into something very important, but it was only a feeling.

Quickly, he asked as many questions as he could and he learned a great deal quickly.

First, there was a time limit. He had exactly nine months. In fact, he even learned why there was this timer. It seemed that Joel had originally had a year, but he had already used up three months.

Second, the Madness Key would only give a reward or punish after this nine month period. Despite the fact Joel had only completed the Fragmented level of the Quest, the Madness Key felt that the entire Chain Quest was his Destiny, not just a small piece of it.

Third was related to his Vipermancer Profession.

He already had a Mancer title, technically speaking. Though it wasn't a Class, Sylas wanted to know how it would clash, or if there would be synergy, or if he would suddenly instantly clear all the Quests because of its existence.

Sylas was quite used to just suddenly jumping to the Legendary Grade. This happened every time he mastered a Skill related to his Madness Comprehension.

But this time, it wasn't the same. In fact, the clear answers even became a bit vague this time.

It did make it clear that Classes and Professions weren't the same thing, but it left the door open for a potential synergistic effect. But it would depend on the path he chose to take.

After knowing all of this, Sylas chose to bite the bullet and accept Joel's Destiny.

It was a huge risk, he knew it. Too much could happen in nine months, or he could end up stalling like everyone else.

Plus, the Hunger of the Madness Key would be worlds apart from what it was right now by the time those days came around. At that point, the penalty would hit many times harder.

However, this was the path he chose to take.

[Destiny has been Swallowed]

[Your Hunger Increases]

[Gluttony Seed Formed]