SSS Awakening: I Can Create Skills By Will-Chapter 87: A Test of Truth II

Her voice carried excitement.

She was enjoying this.

Arthur noticed something important. She was not using any visible skill. No techniques. No enhanced abilities. This was simply her physical strength and raw presence.

And it was already overwhelming.

He knew the truth.

Even if he went all out, he might still not stand a chance.

But that was never his goal.

A grin appeared on Arthur’s face.

"Well... don’t blame me if you regret this."

He moved.

Intent Step.

His figure blurred forward in an instant, his body appearing within her range far faster than before. At the same time, he released Manifest Intent again, this time at a higher output. Not wild power, but precise control. Clean. Focused. Efficient.

The attack was sharp and purposeful.

Lyra shifted slightly.

Only slightly.

But she had moved.

A faint flicker of surprise passed through her eyes, though it vanished quickly. She adjusted her stance with minimal effort, redirecting the force away from her body.

Arthur saw it clearly.

Her reaction speed.

Her understanding.

It was as if she understood his ability the moment he used it. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

This was the level of a commander.

He did not press further. According to his calculation, this display was enough. He had no intention of upscaling the spar too much. What he needed was acknowledgment. If he wished to climb the ranks, then showing a glimpse of his true capability was necessary.

This was a chance.

A stepping stone.

He could not waste it.

Lyra continued circling him, her smile growing brighter.

Her expression during combat was completely different from before. The calm commander vanished, replaced by someone who truly enjoyed battle.

"Interesting," she said.

Her voice carried genuine praise.

"To control mana at this level... adjusting output with such precision."

She moved suddenly, closing distance with frightening speed. Arthur barely reacted in time, stepping back using Intent Step again.

She followed effortlessly.

"And that movement technique," she continued, "Heard so much about it."

Arthur’s eyes widened slightly.

She already knew.

"I received reports," she said calmly. "But seeing it myself is different."

Her gaze sharpened as she observed his stance, his breathing, the flow of energy around him. She seemed to analyze every detail in real time, breaking down his abilities with terrifying clarity.

Arthur laughed lightly.

"Commander, are you fighting me or studying me?"

"Both," she replied instantly.

She struck.

A simple punch.

No skill. No visible power.

Arthur crossed his arms to block, and the moment their bodies collided, a shock traveled through his bones. He was forced back several steps, his feet sliding across the floor.

His arms trembled slightly.

Just physical strength?

He grinned despite the pain.

"Now that’s unfair."

Lyra smirked.

"The world is unfair."

She advanced again.

Arthur responded with another burst of Manifest Intent, weaving it carefully with his movement, shifting positions, testing angles, probing for openings. Their movements became faster, smoother, almost rhythmic.

A clash of intent and experience.

Of raw potential and overwhelming mastery.

Lyra laughed softly.

"Good. Very good."

She continued analyzing him aloud, almost like a teacher.

"You regulate your output instead of wasting energy. You observe before committing. You calculate."

She tilted her head slightly.

"But you still hold back."

Arthur said nothing in response.

She was indeed right. And she knew it.

Her smile widened.

"This is fun."

Arthur wiped sweat from his brow, his eyes burning with focus.

He was enjoying it too.

Not because he could win.

But because this fight showed him the gap he needed to overcome.

The difference between where he stood and where he aimed to be.

Across from him, Commander Lyra stood relaxed yet ready, her aura pressing down like a storm waiting to be unleashed.

Arthur cracked his knuckles as they stood facing each other.

The training hall was quiet, yet heavy with pressure. Her presence filled the space like a storm waiting to fall. His own intent responded naturally, sharpening, rising, refusing to retreat.

A small grin tugged at his lips.

Since she wants to study me... I’ll let her see a glimpse of what I can become.

He knew the gap between them.

He could feel it in every exchange. The difference in experience, strength, and control was clear. But instead of discouraging him, it pushed him forward.

He moved first.

Intent Step.

His figure vanished from where he stood and reappeared behind her, Manifest Intent already gathering around his palm. This time he increased the output again, compressing the force tighter than before.

He struck.

The impact landed clean.

But it was the same result.

The energy dispersed against her body like waves crashing against an unshakable cliff. Her stance barely shifted, her mana flowing smoothly around her like a natural defense.

Arthur exhaled slowly.

So this is what mana does to the body...

It was not just strength. It was reinforcement. Control. Years of battle carved into instinct.

He could tell how much training she had endured to reach such a level at such a young age. The realization did not frustrate him.

It inspired him.

"Not bad," Lyra said calmly, turning toward him. "But still not enough."

Arthur smiled.

"Good. I’d be disappointed if it was."

He moved again.

This time he used his ability more creatively. His steps became less predictable, his Manifest Intent shifting in output, sometimes wide and suppressive, sometimes sharp and focused. His control grew clearer with each exchange.

Lyra watched everything.

Every adjustment.

Every shift.

Her eyes gleamed with interest.

But she was far from finished with him.

Her pressure rose suddenly.

Mana wrapped around her body more visibly now, flowing like a living current. Without warning she stepped forward and attacked at close range.

A punch.

A kick.

A palm strike.

Each movement carried overwhelming force.

Arthur was forced onto defense immediately. He slipped aside using Intent Step whenever the pressure became too much, retreating, repositioning, searching for space.

He understood something clearly.

He could not fight her head on.

She had exposed that weakness without mercy.

Yet instead of fear, something inside him awakened. His instincts sharpened, searching for solutions, adapting in real time.

Growth.

He always found away to grow even in battle.