My SSS-Rank Clone Talent: I Level Up Endlessly!-Chapter 90: Sword Will? Water Emperor arrives!?

In the desolate desert, where there was no water and the heat was enough to boil a person alive,

a lone youth stood beneath the blistering sun.

His long golden hair fluttered in the scorching wind, and his eyes were as deep and boundless as the ocean’s waves.

In his hand, he held a black haze in the shape of a sword, his gaze steady and unyielding.

With the searing air tearing around him, he swung the sword straight through the heat.

Each swing made the hot air flicker and rustle.

Sweat poured down his forehead. He quickly took off his shirt, letting the heat escape from his body, then resumed swinging: calm, steadfast.

It was just a simple swing.

But he did it countless times.

From ten... to hundreds... to thousands...

"One million."

His swing turned into a blur, and a terrifying gust of wind burst forth, knocking everything in its path away.

He wiped the cold sweat from his brow, ready to resume.

But just then, the sands suddenly parted, and from beneath them, a giant dragon emerged.

Cradled in one of its claws, a baby dragon giggled with joy.

The youth didn’t stop. Not a flinch crossed his face, even as the massive dragon landed with a thunderous bang.

"Human, you are quite interesting," the dragon rumbled.

"You’re more interesting than me," Eryke replied with a light chuckle.

That’s right, this youth was none other than Eryke himself.

"Haha! Not as interesting as you, I must say."

The dragon smirked, then gazed off into the distance, thoughtful and silent, as if contemplating something deep.

After a long pause, it finally spoke:

"Do you wish to learn the art of the Dragons, human?"

"The art of the Dragons?" Eryke raised a brow.

"If you’re the one teaching me, then I’ll learn it with all my heart."

"Haha, good! Very good. If you manage to learn it, then I will truly be impressed."

With that, the dragon wriggled in the air, as if shaking off a laugh.

"I will only show you once—so pay attention."

The dragon drew in a deep breath. His vertical pupils narrowed with intensity as he stared straight ahead. His voice, calm and steady, carried the weight of ancient wisdom:

"Gather the strength of the body. Use every ounce of it in a single point."

Slowly but surely, the dragon’s massive body began to glow. Then, all that light dimmed, converging, drawing inward, until it was gathered entirely in his stomach.

With a swift motion, the dragon opened his jaws.

A beam of concentrated energy erupted forth, tearing across the desert and vanishing into the horizon.

Moments later, a deafening boom echoed across the land, like the roar of a nuclear explosion.

"Did you understand it?" the dragon asked.

Eryke’s brow twitched. He silently sheathed his sword—then began swinging it again.

"Eh? You didn’t understand?"

"Lead the way," Eryke replied flatly, then glanced at the baby dragon. "Why is this little thing still here?"

"It seems he likes you... and wants to stay by your side."

"...But I don’t."

"Don’t be so cold. I’m giving you my precious gem," the dragon said with a grin.

He gently handed the baby dragon to Eryke, and the little creature slithered around him, eventually nestling behind his back.

Eryke didn’t react. Shirtless under the blazing sun, his well-defined muscles glistened in the heat, unmoving and resolute.

"Show me the way," he said.

"Are you going to swing that sword all the way there?" the dragon asked with mild amusement.

"Of course I am."

Eryke didn’t even blink. "Why wouldn’t I?"

"...I see."

With that, the dragon rose into the sky, wings slicing through the heat haze. Eryke followed on foot, his sword cutting through the air with each step.

The swings produced almost no visible result, barely a ripple in the air. But even a spoonful of water, given enough time, could help form an ocean.

So why couldn’t he do the same?

"I have the memories of Chun Ma as he attained his Body ’Will.’ With those as references and with the help of my countless skills, I should be able to do it." ƒrēenovelkiss.com

Gaining a Will was no simple feat. In the Martial World, very few achieved it through their own efforts.

Most relied on superior martial techniques, paths carved by others, which allowed them to bypass the grueling process entirely.

But Eryke wasn’t a prodigy like Chun Ma.

What he lacked in talent, he compensated for with his effort.

Every drop of sweat he shed was a result of his sheer will and dedication that brought him this far.

"Two million."

His swings were blindingly fast, each motion flawless in execution but his brows remained furrowed.

There was no sense of breakthrough. No change. No shift.

It felt aimless, like cutting air without purpose.

"How... how should I accomplish it?"

He was thoughtful while looking at the blur of his swords.

***

While Eryke was inside the dungeon, the outside world had descended into utter chaos.

It didn’t matter who spread the news, what mattered was what spread: a newly awakened SSS-Rank hunter was trapped inside an Anomaly Gate.

The information exploded like wildfire.

Reporters swarmed the scene, their cameras rolling, voices loud, broadcasting live updates to the world.

Police had rushed in to secure the area, but the crowd had already grown into the hundreds. Even they were struggling to maintain control.

And it wasn’t just the media, curious citizens had gathered as well, drawn in by the spectacle.

"This is bad..." the police chief muttered, his face pale with tension.

Suddenly, the rumble of engines filled the air as black jeeps and armored vehicles rolled onto the scene. Above, the chopping blades of helicopters thundered.

The police chief turned, his eyes widening in shock as he caught sight of the banners on the vehicles.

"All the major Awakeners Guilds... why have they gathered here?"

They came in droves, leaders and figureheads from all the major guilds.

Each took turns stepping forward, their expressions somber, voices heavy with grief, speaking as if mourning a national hero.

They offered condolences.

They vowed revenge.

They spoke of justice.

But, behind their solemn words... they were just fakes.

"So they just want publicity," the police chief muttered, a vein twitching on his forehead.

"They don’t even understand the weight of what an SSS-Rank hunter truly is... and now they dare to offer this fake pity?"

"Sir!" a young officer hurried over, holding out a phone, his face lit with excitement.

"What is it?" the chief asked with a frown.

"The Water Emperor’s flight just landed," the officer replied breathlessly. "I’ve just been informed, he’ll be arriving here soon."

"So what? What can a mere S-Rank Awakener even do?!"

The police chief shouted, his voice sharp with frustration, spit flying as he spoke.

"He’s probably just here for the publicity too! What we should be doing is tracking down whoever caused this mess in the first place!"

A calm, amused voice spoke behind his back.

"Oh? Were you talking about me?"

The chief paled, his body stiffened for a moment before he mechanically turned toward him with barely a smile:

"When did you arrive, Water Emperor?"