SSS-Rank Talent: Super Upgrade System-Chapter 66: Savage Might!

The sheer, unadulterated power that surged through Daniel from his second Golden Sun-Kissed Fruit was like a miniature star igniting within his very core.

His already over-the-top attributes soared even higher after reaching Level 6 and absorbing the raw power of the Gloomfang Devourer, making him even more like a walking natural disaster.

His bond with the S-Grade Solar Flare Fist Art grew stronger, the inner sun burning brighter and more focused, its power now more controlled and easier to use.

He cast a glance towards his teammates, Lia and Ayra.

They too were visibly experiencing the potent, transformative effects of the legendary fruits.

Lia, usually calm and composed, had a faint blush on her cheeks, and her grey eyes now glowed with a soft emerald light, matching the gentle glow of her B-Grade Verdant Lifespring Staff-Sword.

He could almost feel the heightened flow of life energy around her.

"My [Lifeweave Affinity]," she murmured, her voice filled with a quiet awe, "it feels... amplified. Sharpened. Daniel, words can’t fully capture how I feel right now.

I can perceive the subtle currents of vital energies in our surroundings with a clarity I’ve never known before."

Her A-Grade healing talent, already formidable, had undoubtedly received a significant and profound boost, making her an even more invaluable asset to their team.

Ayra, in stark contrast to Lia’s quiet transformation, was practically a beacon of barely contained explosive energy.

"BOOM!"

A small, yet palpable shockwave of crimson, berserker energy pulsed outwards from her as she clenched her fists, her knuckles cracking like small gunshots.

"Yes! Oh, yes! More! More power!" she exulted, a wild, ecstatic grin splitting her face.

"I feel like I could punch a hole through a mountain! And then maybe use the mountain’s core as a stress ball!"

Her S-Grade [Primal Fury Berserker] talent was clearly reveling in the sudden, massive influx of raw, untamed vitality, eager to be unleashed.

Daniel allowed himself a small, satisfied grin, then turned his focus inward, cataloging and assessing his newly acquired and enhanced skills.

First on the list was the B-Grade [Savage Might]. He mentally ran through its parameters: a controlled, focused battle rage, capable of doubling his already immense physical Strength and boosting his considerable Vitality by a staggering fifty percent for a full, precious minute of combat.

It was a straightforward physical power-up, less flashy than his Solar Flare Fist Art’s blazing fury, but far more versatile, perfect for long fights or breaking tough defenses without using his overwhelming, supernova-level attacks.

The slight drop in focus while using the skill was a small price for such a powerful and controllable boost in physical strength.

This was the kind of skill that turned a tough fight into a manageable one, and a manageable one into a foregone conclusion.

Then, his thoughts turned to the A-Grade [Shadow Glide], and a thrill coursed through him.

He could already feel the profound difference in his physical being just from assimilating the concept.

His body felt lighter, his movements more fluid, more effortless, almost ethereal.

The skill quadrupled his already high Agility for 15 seconds, made his movements completely silent, and gave him a good chance to phase through non-magical obstacles or minor energy attacks.

This wasn’t just an upgrade to his previous [Phantom Blink]; it was a complete paradigm shift in his mobility and evasiveness.

He pictured using it in battle: a quiet "boom" at launch, wind struggling to keep up as he became a nearly invisible blur of motion.

He could attack from surprise angles, dodge the impossible, and disappear before his stunned enemy knew what happened.

With the power boost from his Phantom Edge Wraps and Kinetic Void Gauntlets, he was quickly becoming a fearsome close-range fighter, a silent, deadly whirlwind.

And when the situation called for ranged engagement, his enhanced elusiveness would make him an even more dangerous and unpredictable archer.

He checked his stats again. After eating a second golden fruit, reaching Level 6, and absorbing power from the Gloomfang Devourer and several thugs, his attributes were reaching legendary levels for a recruit.

His Strength attribute was now comfortably pushing past the 200-point mark, a level of physical power that could likely shatter stone with a casual blow.

His Vitality wasn’t lagging far behind, granting him incredible resilience and stamina.

And his Agility, even before factoring in the insane multiplier from [Shadow Glide], felt like it could effortlessly break the sound barrier, making him a blur to most opponents.

His Spirit and Adaptability had also climbed significantly, enhancing his mana reserves, skill potency, and resistance to the myriad environmental hazards of the Verge.

He was no longer just a talented recruit; he was rapidly becoming an all-rounded warrior, a true powerhouse capable of facing threats far beyond his nominal level.

"Alright team," Daniel announced, the new power settling comfortably within him, a reassuring thrum beneath his skin.

He gestured around the clearing, now unfortunately littered with the mangled remains of the Gloomfang Devourer and the various less-impressive thugs.

"We’ve acquired our golden appetizers, we’ve received some rather significant combat upgrades, and we’ve made a bit of a... well, a mess.

A very satisfying mess, but a mess nonetheless."

Lia nodded in agreement, her serene expression unwavering.

"A more secure location to rest and integrate these newfound abilities would be prudent.

The potent aroma of those fruits, even now, is likely to attract further unwanted attention.

You mentioned the Whispering Mire earlier, Daniel? Nyx also seemed to indicate it might be a less... frequented... locale for the region’s more aggressive fauna."

Ayra, still visibly buzzing from her golden fruit power-up and her recent, albeit brief, taste of combat, cracked her knuckles with a sound like small trees snapping.

"Fine by me. As long as there’s even a remote possibility that something big, ugly, and preferably bitey lives there that needs a good, thorough thrashing.

All this incredible new power, and nothing to properly test it on yet!

It’s like having a brand-new axe and only being allowed to chop salad!"

Daniel couldn’t help but chuckle at Ayra’s characteristic enthusiasm.

"Patience, Ayra. I have a distinct feeling the Taiji Basin has an abundance of ’testing opportunities’ in store for us.

Some of which might even be capable of fighting back for more than five seconds.

For now, let’s focus on reaching this Mire and securing a defensible position."

He gave Nyx, his Shadow Wolf Pup familiar, a mental nudge.

The little creature, who had been happily engrossed in chewing on a large, suspiciously glowing mushroom, yipped in understanding and then darted ahead, a flickering shadow of surprising speed, leading them deeper into the oppressive, shadow-drenched Yin region.

They traveled for another tense hour as the Dark Forest grew denser, the air heavier, and the silence deeper, broken only by eerie whispers from the trees and distant growls from hidden predators.

Daniel kept his [Shadow Glide] skill ready, used his boosted [Aura Sense+] to scan the area, and relied on [Energy Siphon] to keep his mana full by absorbing the Yin energy in the air.

Lia walked beside him, her B-Grade Verdant Lifespring Staff-Sword glowing with a soft, reassuring emerald light, a beacon of calm composure in the encroaching gloom.

As expected, Ayra grumbled about having nothing to punch, venting her frustration on nearby vines with hard swats that made the ground shake with each loud "Boom!"

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of navigating treacherous terrain and resisting the insidious whispers of the forest, Nyx led them to the edge of a vast, fog-shrouded swamp.

The trees here were skeletal and ancient, their gnarled branches draped with luminous, ghostly moss that dripped with a strange, phosphorescent liquid.

A soft, eerie whispering floated from the Mire, like a siren song luring them off the faint path and into the fog. This was clearly the infamous Whispering Mire.

"Charming," Ayra commented dryly, wrinkling her nose in distaste.

"Smells like a wet Gravehound’s backside mixed with a liberal dose of poor life choices."

"Nyx indicates there’s a small, relatively dry cave system nestled within a rocky outcrop approximately half a kilometer further into the Mire," Daniel relayed, his voice low and cautious.

The energy here felt different, strange, almost sentient. "It should provide a defensible enough location for us to rest, allow our various... energies... to regenerate, and for me to, shall we say, process some of our recent acquisitions more thoroughly."

He was particularly eager to use some of his now thirty Assimilation Charges to upgrade his C-Grade Reinforced Shard-Tip Bow and perhaps his D-Grade Deflector Vest, now that his core combat skills and essential handwear had reached the formidable A-Grade or even S-Grade tiers.

With Daniel taking the lead, cautiously testing the treacherous ground with a sturdy branch he’d repurposed as a makeshift staff, they began to pick their way carefully into the oppressive depths of the Whispering Mire.

Lia followed closely, her senses alert for any sudden energy fluctuations or illusory traps, while Ayra brought up the rear, muttering darkly about her intense dislike for swamps, mud, and anything that whispered in a vaguely threatening manner.

The wind here was strangely still, the clinging fog muffling all sound, creating an eerie, almost claustrophobic silence, broken only by the insidious, melodic whispering that seemed to grow louder, more persuasive, trying to lure them from the precarious path and into the grasping, shadowy depths.

Daniel’s high Spirit attribute, augmented by Lia’s calming, protective aura, helped them resist its strange, unsettling call.

This place was undeniably treacherous, brimming with unseen dangers and subtle deceptions.

They needed to find their sanctuary, rest, and prepare for whatever new challenges the Taiji Basin, and their ongoing Vanguard assessment, would throw at them next. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com

The cave they had used before, the one near the cliff of the golden fruits, seemed like the safest bet, a known quantity in this land of deadly unknowns.