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

"Did you see that?" Hannah asked, watching as Amanda delivered the finishing blow to the ghoul, using its own hammer to crush its skull.

"What just happened? Why is she suddenly so strong?" Clara asked, staring in a daze.

She still could not believe that Amanda, who was supposed to be a second-grade Nightwalker just like her, had been allowed to deal with a ghoul on her own.

Even then, Clara had expected Amanda to eventually need assistance from Layena, who had remained nearby the entire time, ready to step in if necessary.

However, not only had Amanda never needed any kind of support or warning, she had actually dominated the battlefield as though the difference in strength between the two sides were simply too great to overcome. She never once appeared to be on the defensive.

Instead, she continuously outsmarted and overpowered the ghouls as though she were fighting a Majin rather than creatures that should have posed a genuine threat to her.

And in the end, she delivered the final blow without even appearing particularly exhausted.

"Just what kind of training has she been doing recently that we somehow know nothing about?" Clara asked, still dazed, a faint trace of envy creeping into her voice.

"Not just her," Hannah said before nudging Clara with her shoulder. "Look over there. He’s back."

Clara followed her gaze and spotted a familiar blond boy approaching them.

All the gloom vanished from her face as Clara immediately rose to her feet. "Hello, Ethan. You’re back already?"

Ethan nodded at her before asking, "Did you and the team get hurt during the operation?" His voice remained calm as he spoke, a tone Clara was slowly becoming accustomed to.

"Well, our entire team was dispatched, except for you. We also had some support, so we managed things pretty well," Hannah added before asking, "What about your side? You went to handle a first-grade rift with only three officers, and yet you’re already here instead of lying in the infirmary."

She briefly looked him over, barely able to find even a mark left by the battle. It was surprising, considering how frequently Ghouls had been pouring out of rifts these days and how dangerous even a supposedly routine operation could become.

"It wasn’t much of a hassle," Ethan replied normally. "We coordinated well and handled things efficiently. The seniors were quite the help."

Hannah gave him a wry smile. Hearing Ethan dismiss the whole matter so casually was strange. He did not even boast about how he had nearly died several times, which was something she had almost come to expect from him. Especially, when Layena was around.

Seriously, Ethan had changed a lot these days, and she had absolutely no idea why.

Not long after, Amanda returned, and the damage control teams began their work, collecting everything they could from the battlefield and barricading the area so repairs could begin.

Layena also approached them and said, "Good work, everyone. Amanda, congratulations on your first ghoul hunt."

Amanda gave her a faint smile. "Thanks."

Who could have imagined that in just two weeks, she would grow so exponentially that taking on a ghoul by herself would become possible?

Hannah was the next to speak. "There’s another rift three blocks to the east. A rift has appeared there, and the evacuation has already begun. If we’re not too injured, should we check that one out as well?"

Layena hummed thoughtfully. "I’ll ask the Commander about it..."

"Ah." Amanda suddenly raised her voice. "Actually, I’m a little tired. I think I’d like to rest."

Clara hummed in surprise. "But you looked so active and eager for more just now."

Hannah nodded in agreement. "If it turns out to be a rift like the one we just fought, we’d need you there, Amanda."

Amanda inwardly groaned.

She wanted to leave, freshen up, and meet Kyle as soon as possible. She had already made him wait for half an hour, and she really could not bear to keep him waiting any longer.

She was already trying to come up with some sort of excuse when, suddenly, Ethan spoke.

"I think it’s fine for her to leave," he said, nodding toward Amanda. "If something happens, we can call for backup. The officers who accompanied me are pretty much unscathed, so if things go south, we can call them in."

Hannah was surprised to hear that, but not because Ethan was supporting Amanda’s decision. What caught her off guard was the fact that his previous team members had apparently come through the operation completely uninjured.

Didn’t he say it was teamwork that allowed them to close the rift?

Layena did not dwell on it for long before making her decision. "Since the captain thinks it’s alright, you may return to the base and get yourself checked, Amanda."

Amanda’s face immediately brightened.

Seriously, this Ethan is a thousand times better than that shit bastard.

She gave Ethan a grateful nod before turning away and making her way from the battlefield, barely managing to restrain herself from jumping for joy.

She was going to meet Kyle.

So happy.

....

"You didn’t have to, you know," Kyle said, shaking his head.

Veronica offered him a faint smile. "I wanted to. So please, let’s go inside."

Kyle exhaled softly as he and Veronica drew closer to the small apartment building where he had once lived after separating from his family.

After Ava began hunting him down, he had moved into another apartment owned by Blake. Naturally, that place was no longer an option.

So, here he was.

Pushing open the door, Kyle released a slow breath.

The entire layout of the apartment remained unchanged.

The bed was still positioned in the same place. His old PC sat where it always had, the cupboard stood against the same wall, and even the smallest details seemed to have been left untouched, as though time itself had been reluctant to disturb the memories held within these walls.

Kyle hadn’t expected to feel this relieved.

Yet, standing there once again, surrounded by everything that had once been familiar to him, he felt something settle quietly within his chest.

For the first time in a long while, he felt at home again.

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