Starting With SSS-rank: I Get A New Skill Every Livestream

"Haah. It’s chaotic, isn’t it?" Hannah called out, breaking the silence that had settled over the cafeteria. She was speaking to the only other person there. "Even though there have barely been any reports of Rifts, everything still feels chaotic."

Layena didn’t answer. Her eyes remained fixed on her phone, as though she were willing it to ring.

"You know it won’t work, right?" Hannah continued. "Commander and Amanda probably didn’t bring their phones with them. And with everything happening near the temple, I doubt anyone is even thinking about live-streaming the situation."

Hannah had already heard that a massive storm had descended over the entire area. She was worried about the two foolish women waiting outside the temple for their man, but there was practically nothing she could do from here.

Layena finally spoke, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Did you know about Ethan and Kyle’s situation?"

Hannah hummed in surprise. She hadn’t expected Layena to suddenly break her silence, but the moment she heard that spark of curiosity in her voice, she was more than willing to fan it into a flame.

"Of course I did. I’ve spent enough time around that guy to understand how he thinks, and why he does the things he does."

The redhead sighed before continuing.

"Sadly, Clara always saw Ethan through a filter. She never really looked at him for who he was. That’s what ended up hurting her so badly."

She paused, her expression turning somewhat helpless.

"Though, it was a little unfair of Kyle to drag him into that haunted house. But what could you or I have done about it?"

Layena leaned back in her seat and muttered, "I once trusted Ethan and plotted against Kyle. I still regret that day."

Hannah’s brows rose.

"You really like him, don’t you?"

Layena’s eyes widened slightly. "Why would you say that?"

"Because I can see another Clara in you. You’re looking at the man you love through a filter, too."

Layena grumbled, "I’m not."

Hannah huffed. "The justice devotee Layena suddenly has compassion for someone who murdered his own father? Yeah, tell someone else that."

She leaned closer, a knowing smile spreading across her face.

"You love Kyle. You just haven’t accepted it yet."

Layena pursed her lips, then muttered, "No wonder Clara doesn’t hang out with you anymore."

Hannah raised both hands innocently.

"Hey, I’m nothing more than a mirror. I just help people face their feelings."

Layena shook her head and rolled her eyes.

So dramatic.

But then again, was Hannah really wrong about her feelings?

Layena closed her eyes and let out a quiet breath.

That doesn’t matter right now.

Her fingers tightened slightly around her phone.

All I want is for you to come back safely.

.....

The storm came without mercy.

By midnight, the medical tents beyond the barricade had been taken down. The Nightwalkers had long since withdrawn, leaving only a handful of guards behind to keep watch over the deserted camp.

Rain swept across the temple front, beating against the stone steps and turning the earth into mud.

Veronica and Amanda remained where they had been all day.

They sat side by side on the temple stairs, soaked through to the skin. Their clothes clung to them, their hair dripping onto their faces. Neither woman spoke. Amanda’s arms were wrapped around herself, her body trembling faintly from the cold. Veronica sat with her hands resting loosely in her lap, her gaze fixed on nothing in particular.

The Sentinels had not moved.

Neither had the gates.

Another gust of wind tore across the courtyard.

Amanda shivered.

Veronica glanced at her but said nothing.

There was little left to say.

They had waited three days.

Three days without food. Three days without seeing Kyle. Three days sitting before a door that refused to open.

And now, even the people who had come looking for them were gone.

Yet the two women remained.

Because somewhere beyond those gates was the man they had come this far to find.

And neither of them was willing to leave him behind.

Veronica glanced at Amanda once more, who was trembling from head to toe. Three days without food, surviving on nothing but Genesis, had clearly taken its toll on her. Veronica was cold herself, but she was still in far better condition.

"Why don’t you go back?" she suggested quietly. "I’m sure Kyle would understand."

Amanda managed a faint smirk.

"And leave you alone with Kyle so you can have all his attention?" Her voice trembled from the cold. "No, thank you. I’d rather freeze to death than let you stay with him alone when..."

She abruptly stopped herself, pressing her lips together as her face paled.

Veronica’s concern deepened.

"Come here."

She opened her arms.

"I’m drenched too, but at least this way, we might survive a little longer."

Amanda silently scooted closer.

Veronica wrapped her arms around her, pulling her close as the two women huddled together on the temple steps beneath the relentless rain.

The night had swallowed everything.

The medical tents were gone. The Nightwalkers had left. Even the distant campfires had vanished into the darkness.

There was no one left in sight.

Only the two women, the storm, and the sealed temple door looming behind them.

....

Veronica didn’t know how much time had passed.

She could no longer feel her arms. The cold had seeped so deeply into her body that even moving them had become difficult.

The rain continued to pour.

Then, as she shifted slightly, she realized something was wrong.

Amanda was no longer sitting upright.

"Amanda?"

Veronica shook her gently.

"Amanda!"

There was no response.

Her teeth were clenched, her eyes tightly shut.

She had fainted.

Panic surged through Veronica as she quickly rose to her feet, gathering Amanda into her arms. She was about to carry her toward the medics when suddenly...

Kreak.

The sound came from behind them.

Veronica froze.

She knew that sound.

But it wasn’t the Knights this time.

No...

Her eyes grew moist. The rain concealed the tears as they slipped down her cheeks, but the overwhelming relief in her expression was impossible to hide.

Slowly, she turned around.

And there he stood.

"Kyle..."

°°°°°°°

A/N:- This arc is so over. Haah~

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!