New Genetic Abilities

Valedd kicked off the ground powerfully and charged out of the crater. Meanwhile, Solis didn't just sit by and watch.

'It looks like we're starting already.'

Solis wielded his dagger as he followed suit at once. However, he only planned to provide support to Valedd and be on the safer side of things. He realized right away that this Gaius character was a higher-level opponent that was plainly out of his reach. But what was more frightening to him was that he couldn't ascertain the status of the horseman. Therefore, he knew that he couldn't get too cocky after having defeated that simple-minded fat ogre.

With the situation already clear to him, Solis jumped out of the cavity and was instantly greeted by the sounds of clashing weapons; Valedd and Gaius had already started their intense battle.

"Crisscross Slash!"

"Earthen Fortification!"

Valedd opened up the fight with his signature move, to which Gaius responded by erecting a huge and thick wall on the ground. As a result, Valedd's sword skill and momentum were directly blocked, and he could only grit his teeth as he shattered the newly made wall of rock.

"Halve the Sea!"

What greeted him immediately after was a spectacular show of wit and force by Gaius. Coming through the crumbling debris and dust from the smashed rock wall was a brawny horseman with a giant axe raised overhead. It was a surprise attack and a very powerful one at that.

"You're dead!"

Because Valedd just used a skill to smash the rock wall, he was momentarily rooted on the spot for a second. This was already the second time that this scenario transpired, and both times would likely end up just the same way. That's what Gaius thought at least…

"Dark Shackling!"

But the world had many unexpected surprises.

"Wha-! What is this?!"

Valedd was staring at him with dark, cold eyes that swirled inwards like the abyss. He was inadvertently caught up in that profound gaze and was swallowed in. Subsequently, he felt his body freeze, turn rigid, and unmoving. If he were to explain it—it was as if chilling darkness consumed his entire being, rendering him completely immobile.

"You… didn't possess this skill before…!"

"No, I didn't." Valedd coolly replied. "Because of death encroaching upon my life a moment ago, darkness was very clear to me in that instant. For that reason I've, fortunately, comprehended this skill during that critical time."

"Dammit! That's pure bulls**t!"

"Silence, traitorous scum! You deserve a thousand cuts for the atrocious thing you did. Now die!"

Valedd's pupils turned incredibly sharp as he prepared to do his signature sword skill. Lowering his center of gravity and leaning forward, he gripped his trusted sword tightly with the resolve to end this.

"Crisscross Slash!"

Sensing an acute danger to his life, Gaius instantly reacted by activating his only defensive skill—a potent earth shell aura to protect his entire body.

"Terraform!"

Shing – Shing – Shing – Shing!

Valedd flit past the earthen-yellow Gaius that was enveloped with aura, leaving behind multiple deep cuts on his body that were pouring out blood; however, his target still managed to survive.

Meanwhile, Solis who was watching all of this from a slight distance away was left in awe at the warrior's tenacity displayed by Gaius.

'Wow. As expected, that's a tough horseman to deal with.'

After having just barely been able to sustain and survive that attack, Gaius hurriedly jumped away from the enemy to create valuable distance between them.

Seeing him in such a precarious state, Solis wanted to quickly intervene right at that moment to finish him off. But unexpectedly, someone loudly shouted for him to stop.

"DON'T MOVE!"

Consequently, Solis paused in his tracks. Then, he stared at Valedd with wide, incredulous eyes that seemed to be saying: 'What's the problem?'.

"HE'S MINE, YOU HEAR!?" Valedd barked.

After saying so, he then took off in pursuit of his much-hated enemy while no longer sparing a glance at the one who saved his life.

'Damn. What an ungrateful bastard. Just because he gained a new skill, he suddenly thinks he's hot sh*t.' Solis thought to himself with a frown.

"Okay then. But if you lose your life a second time don't expect me to save your skin again."

There was no reply coming back from Valedd, as he was already initiating a mighty sword attack towards the badly injured Gaius. Seeing this, Solis could only let out a sigh and blankly watch the vigorous battle with crossed arms from the sidelines.

And just as he was watching, a sudden realization came to him.

'Hmm… Wait a minute. I think I forgot to check my Genetic Skill Tree. I leveled up two times, right? I'm now level three so I should have received some genetic skill points as a result.'

With that in mind, Valedd opened the Game Menu and went to the Character option to access the Genetic Skill Tree window.

***

(Genetic Skill Tree)

Ability: Speed of a Devil – Evolutionary Stage II

Type: Active

Cooldown: 12 mins.

Effect: Temporarily increases the user's agility and dexterity stat by 10+ points for ten minutes.

[Genetic Skill Points required to Unlock: 2]

Ability: Afterimage

Type: Active

Cooldown: 10 mins.

Effect: The user instantaneously dashes a fair distance forward and vanishes for a second. Meanwhile, an afterimage will be left behind which will disappear after 5 seconds, or if when it's been attacked.

[Genetic Skill Points required to Unlock: 2]

Ability: Mirror Split

Type: Active

Cooldown: 12 mins.

Effect: The user splits into 10 of themselves and can switch places with the clones. Afterward, the clones will then directly besiege the locked-on target, however, the clones cannot deal any damage whatsoever.

[Genetic Skill Points required to Unlock: 2]

Ability: Speedster – Evolutionary Stage I

Type: Passive

Cooldown: N/A

Effect: Permanently increases the user's agility stat by 5+ points.

[Genetic Skill Points required to Unlock: 1]

(Available Genetic Skill Point/s: 2)

***

Well, this was interesting. Upon looking over the Genetic Skill Tree window, Solis found out that there were two new additional abilities that he could learn and acquire. Apart from that, he could also choose to upgrade his Speed of a Devil skill to Evolutionary Stage II or learn the Speedster passive skill which only costs a single genetic skill point.

'I have four choices on which Genetic Ability I should acquire.'

Solis' eyes gleamed as he deliberated over his decision.