SSS Awakening: Conquering Worlds with My Cupid System

The dust cloud expanded between the trees.

For several seconds, Silas couldn’t see the others, but he didn’t need to. His threads were already there. He could see everything.

The massive Black Mamba twisted through the dust, its enormous body smashing through trees as it tried to locate the humans who had dared to attack it.

CLANG!

Godfrey’s shield appeared through the dust, causing the snake’s fangs to slam into it. His boots dug several inches into the ground as he tried to stand his ground.

"NGH!"

The impact forced him backward, but he didn’t fall... yet.

"Someone..." He pushed against the monster. "...cut its tail!"

"On it!" Alicia answered immediately and charged toward the beast, her buster sword raised over her shoulder.

The Black Mamba noticed her and swung its tail, but she didn’t slow down. She jumped, causing the enormous tail to pass under her. She landed on it and sprinted along the monster’s body.

The snake twisted violently, and Alicia nearly lost her footing.

"Hold still!"

She reached the tail, and her sword came down.

SLAAAAASH!

The blade tore through the thick scales, causing black blood to spray. The monster screamed, the sound hitting them like an explosion. The adrenaline had made them less observant of the rank of the beast they were dealing with. It was a C-Rank monster, but a mutated one.

The monster’s tail whipped violently, and Alicia was launched through the air.

"Whoa!" She crashed through a bush. "I’m fine!"

Alpha appeared beside her.

"That looked painful."

"I’m fine."

"You flew thirty meters."

"I’m still fine."

"Sure"

The Black Mamba suddenly turned toward them. Alpha’s expression sharpened.

"Move!"

Both jumped apart, and the monster’s head slammed between them. The ground cracked from the impact. That attack was scary. Alpha landed and immediately drew one of his daggers.

He sprinted forward, his ability activating instinctively, causing his steps to become light and very silent, so that for a moment, the beast almost lost sight of him.

Alicia followed him, and the two attacked from opposite sides. Alpha’s greatsword struck the creature’s left eye, while Alicia’s buster sword struck its right side, causing the monster to scream again in pain.

Its head swung violently. Alpha ducked, while Alicia blocked the impact with her sword. The force sent her sliding backward.

"Strong!"

Alpha grinned.

"I noticed!"

The Black Mamba opened its mouth, and a dark green mist suddenly erupted from it.

"Poison!" Rihanna shouted.

Godfrey raised his shield, while Emma immediately retreated. Neil grabbed Alpha by the back of his armor and pulled him away.

"Don’t breathe it!"

"Annoying." Damien clicked his tongue. He raised his hand, and gravity surged, causing the poisonous mist to suddenly bend downward. The entire cloud was dragged toward the ground, and the surrounding vegetation withered instantly.

Damien’s eyes narrowed.

"Stay down."

The Black Mamba tried to raise its head, but gravity crushed it back into the soil. Its body trembled as he increased the pressure, causing the earth beneath the creature to collapse.

"Now!"

Everyone moved. Rihanna fired first, shooting an arrow that pierced the monster’s exposed eye. Emma fired immediately afterward, and a bullet struck the same wound.

The creature recoiled. Neil rushed forward, his gauntlets glowing from whatever ability he’d copied. He punched the monster directly beneath its jaw, causing its head to snap upward.

Godfrey followed. He charged behind his shield.

"FOR VALECREST!"

His shield smashed into the monster’s face, causing the creature to stagger. Alicia seized the opportunity. She jumped, both hands gripping her enormous sword, and brought it down with all her strength.

The blade buried itself into the Black Mamba’s skull, and the creature went still. Silence immediately engulfed the place, as everyone stood there, breathing slowly.

Alicia slowly pulled the sword free, and the monster’s massive body collapsed. Nobody moved. Emma lowered her revolvers.

"Did we just kill that thing?"

Neil looked at the corpse.

"Yes."

Rihanna lowered her bow.

"That was an A-Rank monster?"

Silas finally stood.

"No." Everyone looked at him. He just smiled, and they immediately regretted the answer they would hear. "That was a mutated C-Rank monster."

Damien’s expression darkened. "You’re joking."

"No." Silas walked toward them. "Black Mambas are usually C-Rank monsters. That one was just stronger than average."

Godfrey stared at the enormous corpse.

"If that’s C-Rank..." He looked deeper into the forest. "What exactly are we going to find?"

"Hopefully something interesting." Silas smiled.

"Why does that sound like you’re hoping for trouble?" Damien’s eyebrow twitched.

"Because I am."

"Of course. Do you think this is some field trip?"

"Isn’t it?"

"Tch! You will regret your inaction sooner or later."

"Would I have to remind you whose in charge here?"

"Whatever."

Silas crouched beside the monster, ignoring Damien for now. He didn’t want to accidentally kill the guy. Besides, he was a test subject for one of his skills.

He touched one of the monster’s scales, and the system immediately appeared.

[Black Mamba: C-Rank]

[Threat Level: Moderate]

[Core detected.]

[Usable materials detected.]

Silas stood.

"Take the core."

Neil looked at the corpse.

"Who gets it?"

Silas pointed toward Damien.

"Damien."

Damien looked surprised.

"Me?"

"Your Gravity ability consumed the most mana during that fight."

Damien frowned.

"I didn’t ask for it."

"Take it."

After a moment, Damien retrieved the monster core. It was dark green and roughly the size of a fist.

He stared at it. "How do we split the rewards?"

Silas shrugged.

"Later." He turned toward the forest. "We’ve wasted enough time."

Alpha looked around.

"We were ambushed."

"Exactly."

"So how is that our fault?"

"It’s not." Silas began walking. "We’re still wasting time."

Alpha sighed.

"That logic makes no sense."

"It makes perfect sense to me."

"That’s the problem."

Chloe followed Silas, and the others quickly gathered themselves and continued, but the mood had changed. They had just fought their first serious battle together.

Nobody had been seriously injured, and everyone had contributed... most of them. More importantly, they had fought as a team.

Silas could see it.

Neil was naturally suited for the frontline; Damien’s Gravity Manipulation was powerful enough to completely change the battlefield; Alicia’s physical strength was absurd even without using her ability; Alpha was surprisingly good at exploiting openings; Rihanna was an excellent ranged fighter; Emma’s accuracy was impressive; and Godfrey was a natural tank.

Silas smiled. They were starting to function as an actual team. His threads suddenly glowed brightly, causing him to freeze.

Chloe noticed immediately. "What is it?"

Silas didn’t answer. His perception expanded, while his threads moved through the forest. Then they found something: a group of humans. Another academy.

Silas’s eyes narrowed.

"Someone’s ahead."

Neil immediately became alert.

"Which academy?"

Silas smiled.

"Argent Heights."

Everyone became silent. The tournament had finally begun, and their first academy encounter was approaching. Silas looked toward the distant trees.

"They’re heading toward the same objective."

"So?" Damien gripped his hammer.

Silas’s smile widened.

"So..." He continued walking. "Let’s see what happens."

Far ahead, hidden among the trees, another group was moving toward the Central Blackridge Observatory, well close to it, and their side didn’t know it yet, but their paths were about to cross.

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