Transcendent Gene-Chapter 269: Connection [5]

Dragons didn’t exist on Earth. The Forthcoming didn’t make mythical beasts, after all. It merely evolved existing animals into greater and more powerful beings.

A true dragon could not be born from a single wave of such changes. In regards to Earth’s native species, the closest one could get to a dragon was a wyrm or a wyvern.

Monsters were different. There were monster species that looked and behaved like the dragons from mythology. They were much more dangerous than their earthly variants and could truly represent the legends of their race.

The wyrms and wyverns of the human world were imitations and were only called as such because humans had good imaginations.

The monsters were real.

Dragons who used a special language to cast what could only be called "magic" were some of the most difficult enemies humanity ever had to face, and at the same time, they were the ones who inspired human "Magicians."

’Those people are insane. Filling Gene Slots with elemental energy is an insane task.’

It wasn’t as easy as touching a flame. One had to bathe in the element to harness enough of its energy to turn it into power. The process was complicated to the extent that Gio barely knew how it worked.

’But Magicians worship materials like these. According to them, Dragon Hearts of any kind, including Wyvern and Wyrm Hearts, are energy boosters.’

Magicians called their energy "Arcana" while calling the energy Sequencers used "Prima." Neither term was widely accepted, but Arcana was supposedly something similar to "Mana" from fantasy novels.

’The concept is derived from Aether, but how does it really work? It’s still true that humans don’t have a reliable way to absorb Aether until Aether Cores. I never heard anyone focus on how Magicians went about absorbing energy and manifesting it.’

Most people just called Magicians crazy and moved past them, but Gio was always curious about how they operated.

’They also have methods to get stronger that most people aren’t aware of. The barrier to entry is a huge risk of death, so it makes sense why the art was never studied in detail.’

Gio shook his head and refocused on the task at hand.

The Wyrm Heart was filled with energy that was reacting to the Aether in his body. All he had to do was draw out the energy. It happily responded to his touch and flowed into his body, merging into his systems.

The energy in the heart was warm and fierce. It practically roared as it tried to establish dominance amongst the energies inside Gio. However, it had no right to take such a throne.

Gio had Aether, Hekat, and virtual energy sharing space with each other. They weren’t willing to allow a fourth to override their balance.

The wyrm’s energy was quelled and rid of its ferocity. The newly calmed stream had no choice but to go along with Gio’s will and merge into his body.

The wyrm heart couldn’t touch his bloodline. The Equinox Grade was too great for it to mess with. However, the energy sunk into his bones and organs, fortifying his body while also descending into his Gene Housing, where its properties melded into everything present within.

"Draconic" could be considered a status. If there was such thing as a "character screen" for living beings, it would be present as something like a "modifier" that could be earned in several ways.

When the wyrm heart’s energy made its way into his genes, it applied that "modifier" to Gio’s body.

Though it was to the smallest possible extent, Gio gained a hint of draconic aura. Dragons were known for their energy and their incredible abilities. He wasn’t going to inherit any of those, but the existence of a draconic trait in his body meant his own Sequences would morph based on his will.

’If I can create a strong enough draconic trait inside my genealogy, it’ll give me almost complete control over my gene energy.’

The benefits of such free control could be imagined.

The heart set him up for the future, and after absorbing it, Gio returned his focus to the present.

He spent the next several days using the various resources in front of him. Most of what they found was effective for growing the body over energy or abilities, but there was nothing to complain about.

Every time his body got stronger, Gio gained access to more energy. The more energy he had, the more power his Sequences could exhibit.

He felt refreshed every time his capacity increased, allowing him to concentrate further on translating the books in his library. After getting through the first one, he specifically translated titles and chose the two that looked most important.

They only had a week of downtime before they had to get back on the road.

’Riverene is definitely the next destination. It’s mentioned several times in this book as the place where these humans were captured, and according to Leonidas, they weren’t taken for no reason.’

The group who lived in the catacombs was not put together randomly. Each and every person had been hand-selected and kidnapped for a purpose.

As for the identity of that purpose...

’He doesn’t say it outright. I don’t know if he was afraid of revealing something or unwilling to take responsibility, but the most he says is that it has to do with research they were doing in Riverene.’

The city was straight west from where New Renis was situated on the world map.

’We can’t say that the scenario has the cities where they’re supposed to be, but they’ll be in relatively similar places. Even if it isn’t exactly where it’s supposed to be, Riverene should be to the west.’

For one week, they stayed in the cave and trained. Gio left his cubby the least, spending the majority of the time translating. He grew, but he didn’t actively train much, as it wasn’t immediately a priority.

Shiro and Serene grew the most. The two of them had some time to themselves that they used to quietly cope with what happened underground.

They didn’t have time to see themselves as murderers. Before such a thing could happen, they almost died trying to defend themselves.

In Shiro’s mind, it was clear. This was the kind of world they lived in. It was their fate to fight such battles as Sequences. Seeing Gio’s calmness and Neriah’s ruthlessness, he felt more comfortable in his responsibilities.

Serene had a bit of a more pacifistic view, however, she eventually reached the same conclusion. They would do what had to be done.

And to make sure that they’d never end up on the losing side of those encounters, they trained hard.

She, Shiro, and Neriah all actively left their cubbies every day to help each other and spar. They rejoiced in their improving strength and grew a sense of anticipation for what else they’d find.

They’d been following a path of their own, chasing mysteries that were revealed to them. However, the Scenario Quest didn’t just exist for them.

Every single person in the Godspark Mountain Range was participating in the same quest. All of them were trying to reach the main secrets that were mentioned in the Quest Window.

These smaller secrets and mysteries would all eventually converge there, and whoever was the first to reach the convergence point...

That group would reap the greatest rewards in the realm.

Scenario Quests were races. A break that wasted an entire week might’ve seemed like backtracking in a race, but that was only the case if they didn’t gain anything.

Gio left his cubby for no more than four or five hours over the course of the entire week. The first time he spent any considerable time outside was when their break was already over.

He stood with a satisfied smile on his face and waited for his party members to ask him what he was so happy about.

Not only did he find Riverene...

’...but I also know exactly where we need to go when we get there.’

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