SSS-Rank Talent: Super Upgrade System-Chapter 67: Tier Ascendant!

The Whispering Mire lived up to its name. As Daniel, Lia, and Ayra ventured deeper into its oppressive, fog-shrouded depths, the air itself seemed to murmur insidious secrets, trying to tug at their sanity.

The ground was a dangerous mix of sticky mud, slippery roots, and glowing moss that gave off a sickly light.

Leafless trees, draped in pale lichen, stretched toward the dull, unchanging sky.

"Charming place," Ayra grumbled, her voice a low growl that was quickly swallowed by the clinging fog.

She brushed away a large, glowing insect that flew too close to her bright red hair.

"Smells like a troll’s armpit after a marathon. If I see one more glowing mushroom, I’m using it for axe-throwing practice."

Lia, calm as ever despite the swamp’s eerie atmosphere, gave a small, reassuring smile.

Her B-Grade Verdant Lifespring Staff-Sword pulsed with a gentle emerald light, a comforting beacon in the gloom.

"Patience, Ayra. Daniel and Nyx believe there’s a defensible cave system nearby.

A moment’s respite will do us all good after... well, after everything."

Daniel, leading the way, relied heavily on his upgraded [Aura Sense+].

The cloying Yin energy of the Mire made perception difficult, like trying to see through murky water, but Nyx, now a surprisingly adept scout, periodically sent him reassuring mental images of a rocky outcrop half a kilometer ahead.

His own A-Grade [Shadow Glide] was kept ready, the thought of its silent, phasing speed a comfort in this treacherous terrain.

After what felt like endless trudging through mud and ignoring the Mire’s eerie whispers, Nyx burst from a cluster of skeletal reeds, yipping with excitement and pointing her dark nose at a narrow crack in a moss-covered tor.

"This should be it," Daniel said, pushing aside a curtain of dripping, luminous vines.

The entrance was small, easily defensible.

Inside, a dry, surprisingly spacious cave awaited them, free of the Mire’s clinging fog and oppressive whispers.

It wasn’t luxurious, but compared to the swamp outside, it felt like a five-star resort.

"Not bad, Vance," Ayra conceded, dropping her great-axe with a heavy thud that made the cave floor vibrate.

"Still smells a bit like old socks and forgotten nightmares, but at least it’s not actively trying to suck my boots off."

She immediately began inspecting the cave for anything remotely smashable, her berserker energy needing an outlet.

Lia sighed softly, leaning her staff against the cave wall. "It will suffice. We should establish a watch schedule."

"Agreed," Daniel nodded. "First, let’s get our strength back."

He rummaged in his inventory, the bottomless wonder provided by his Nexus Interface and pulled out one of the remaining Golden Sun-Kissed Fruits.

He had consumed two already: one that boosted his initial attributes after the cliff climb, and another after the Gloomfang Devourer fight which, combined with reaching Level 6, had felt like a significant power spike.

"Another one of these?" Ayra asked, eyeing the glowing fruit with a mixture of desire and apprehension.

The last one had sent her S-Grade [Primal Fury Berserker] talent into a delightful, mountain-punching overdrive.

"Can’t let them go to waste," Daniel said with a shrug, then popped the fruit into his mouth.

"Boom!"

The explosion of pure, untamed life energy was even more intense this time.

It wasn’t just a surge of power; it felt like his very cells were being rewritten, optimized, supercharged.

The S-Grade Solar Flare Fist Art within him blazed with a new, ferocious intensity, and the grounding power of his Earthquake Colossus Form felt like it could anchor the world.

His attributes, already monstrous, received another significant boost.

But something else was happening. Something deeper.

His SSS-Rank [Soul Assimilation] talent, the core of his impossible power, began to hum, to resonate with the overwhelming influx of pure solar and life essence from the golden fruit.

It felt like a lock clicking open, a barrier dissolving.

His Nexus Interface chimed, a clear, resonant tone that cut through the cave’s quiet.

[Golden Sun-Kissed Fruit (Third) Consumed!]

[Potent Life Force and Solar Essence fully integrated!]

[All Attributes temporarily boosted by +25!]

[Latent Solar Affinity further enhanced! Solar Flare Fist Art mastery deepened!]

[Warning: Sustained high-energy influx triggering Talent Evolution!]

[SSS-Rank Talent: Soul Assimilation is evolving to Tier 2!]

Daniel’s eyes widened. Tier 2! He hadn’t even known his talent could evolve.

What did that mean? The Nexus quickly supplied the answer.

[Soul Assimilation (SSS-Rank, Tier 2) - Effects Updated:]

Extraction Range: Can now extract essences from targets within a 10-meter radius.

Genetic Essence Extraction: Can now extract specific skills, traits, or raw attribute potential from minute biological samples containing significant ’gene fragments’ or unique energy signatures. Success and yield depend on sample potency and user’s Spirit/Adaptability.

Matter Enhancement Protocol Omega: Assimilating non-sentient matter to enhance its base properties or imbue it with new characteristics is now significantly more efficient.

Can push equipment to higher grades with fewer charges, and potentially unlock unique or hidden properties within items. Potential for imbuing conceptual effects slightly increased.

Soul Fragmentation & Recombination : Hints at the future potential to break down assimilated souls/skills into core fragments and recombine them in novel ways. (Currently Locked - Requires higher Tier or specific catalysts).

Daniel let out a low whistle. This was huge! A 10-meter extraction radius?

That was a game-changer for harvesting multiple corpses after a battle without having to touch each one individually.

Genetic Essence Extraction opened up a whole new avenue for acquiring skills and power from even traces of powerful beings.

And the enhanced item upgrade ability? He could probably push Lia’s B-Grade staff-sword to A-Grade with far less effort now, or even attempt to upgrade his own A-Grade gear further, though S-Grade seemed like it might require something more than just charges.

Lia, noticing the intense energy radiating from Daniel and the profound shift in his aura, asked, "Daniel? Are you alright?

That was... a rather significant energy spike, even for you."

Ayra, who had been trying to teach Nyx how to properly headbutt a rock (meanwhile Nyx was more interested in trying to eat the rock), looked over, her brow furrowed.

"You didn’t just level up again, did you, Vance? Because if you did, I’m officially going to start believing you’re cheating reality itself."

Daniel chuckled, the new power settling within him. "Not a level up. Just... a talent upgrade.

My [Soul Assimilation] seems to have hit a new tier. More efficient, more versatile."

He decided to test the "Genetic Essence Extraction" immediately. He still had a few trophies from their recent battles.

He pulled out a large, wickedly sharp fang he’d kept from the Level 13 Gloomfang Devourer Alpha, the beast Ayra and Lia had heroically defeated.

It still pulsed faintly with shadowy Yin energy and the creature’s primal might. "This should be potent enough," he mused.

He focused his intent on the fang, activating his newly Tier 2 [Soul Assimilation].

He didn’t need to touch it directly; he just extended his will towards it, feeling his talent reach out across the short distance.

<Assimilate Gene Fragment?> Yes.

A faint, dark shimmer enveloped the fang. Instead of the fang crumbling or its energy being fully drained, Daniel felt a specific, concentrated thread of power and information being drawn from it, a focused extraction of its core predatory essence.

It was different from assimilating a whole corpse; this felt more refined, more targeted.

His Nexus chimed again.

[Genetic Essence Extraction successful on Gloomfang Devourer Alpha Fang (B-Grade Potential Sample)!]

[Unique Trait Essence Acquired: Apex Predator’s Scent (Partial)]

[New Skill Acquired: PREDATOR’S MARK (A-Grade)!]

[Assimilation Charge Consumed (29/30 Remaining).]

An A-Grade skill! From a single fang! Daniel’s eyes widened in pleasant surprise. He quickly checked the skill description.

[Skill: Predator’s Mark (A-Grade): Active Skill.

Mark a single target within 50 meters with a lingering predatory scent detectable only by the user and their bonded familiars.

Marked targets suffer minor reductions to stealth capabilities and are more susceptible to critical hits from the user.

Mark lasts for 10 minutes. Moderate mana cost. Cooldown: 1 minute.]

This was incredible! A debuff and a personal crit chance booster, all in one A-Grade package.

It synergized perfectly with his Hunter class and his high-damage potential.

Nyx yipped excitedly, her nose twitching, as if she could already smell the invisible mark.

She then looked at Daniel, then at the fang, then back at Daniel, a clear "Can I eat the pointy chew toy now?" expression on her furry face.

Daniel laughed, handing the now slightly less potent fang to Nyx, who began to gnaw on it happily.

The Tier 2 [Soul Assimilation] was already proving to be ridiculously powerful.

The ability to pull A-Grade skills from mere fragments of powerful beasts? The possibilities were staggering.

He glanced at his own A-Grade Kinetic Void Gauntlets and Phantom Edge Striking Wraps.

Could he push them to S-Grade now with the enhanced Matter Enhancement Protocol?

That was a tantalizing thought for later.

For now, they needed rest. But the future of his power progression had just taken another exponential leap.

The Whispering Mire suddenly felt a little less threatening, and a lot more like a potential treasure trove of "gene fragments."