SSS-Rank Talent: Super Upgrade System-Chapter 70: Gifts of Shadow and Soulfire!

Nyx, after her spirited but ultimately one-sided sparring match with Daniel, seemed to have a newfound respect, and perhaps a healthy dose of fear, for her master’s "playful" side.

She still resented having another tuft of her precious chest fur plucked, but Daniel’s immense strength, even when holding back, was a powerful deterrent against any prolonged pouting.

She quickly transformed back to her normal, smaller pup-size, the glow from the golden fruit fragment fading, and went to sulk near Lia, who offered comforting head scratches.

Ayra watched all this with a thoughtful frown, her earlier bravado somewhat tempered.

"Vance," she said, finally breaking the silence.

"That... [Savage Might] thing. That wasn’t one of your flashy S-Grade mega-punches, was it? That was just... raw strength."

Daniel nodded. "B-Grade skill, actually. Just a little boost to what’s already there."

He decided not to mention that "what’s already there" was a Strength attribute rapidly approaching the stratosphere thanks to his SSS-Talent.

Ayra shook her head, a look of grim determination settling on her face. "I need to train harder. Much harder.

If a B-Grade skill from you feels like getting hit by a rogue moon, then my S-Grade Berserker talent still has a long way to go."

She began a series of intense, ground-shaking warm-up exercises in the confined space of the cave, making the stalactites tremble nervously.

Lia smiled faintly, then turned to Daniel. "Your familiar is quite remarkable, Daniel.

Even that temporary surge of power was impressive. What do you hope to gain from her fur?"

"Knowledge, Lia. Always knowledge," Daniel replied cryptically.

He found a quiet corner, sat down, and focused on the small tuft of Nyx’s fur resting in his palm.

It still pulsed faintly with her unique blend of shadow energy and nascent Soulfire.

He activated his Tier 2 [Soul Assimilation].

<Assimilate Gene Fragment?> Yes.

The energy that flowed into him was subtle, complex, a whisper of cold fire and elusive shadows. It felt like secrets an ancient night might tell.

[Genetic Essence Extraction successful on Empowered Shadow Wolf Pup Fur (B-Grade Potential Familiar Sample - Temporarily Enhanced)!]

[Unique Trait Essences Acquired: ’Whisper of the Void’ (Minor Shadow Attunement), ’Heart of the Embers’ (Latent Soulfire Spark)]

[Attempting Skill Manifestation/Fusion based on acquired essences and user’s existing affinities...]

Daniel waited, intrigued. His fire manipulation was tied to his S-Grade [Solar Flare Fist Art].

Nyx’s essence was Shadow and Soulfire. What would his SSS-Talent concoct from this?

His Nexus Interface chimed.

[New Skill Acquired: SOULFIRE SHROUD (B-Grade)!]

[Skill Enhanced: Existing B-Grade [Traceless Passage] has synergized with ’Whisper of the Void’ essence, evolving into A-Grade VOIDWALK! ]

Two major upgrades from one tuft of puppy fur! Daniel felt a thrill of satisfaction. He eagerly checked the details.

[Skill: Soulfire Shroud (B-Grade):] Active Skill. Wreathe the user’s fists or a chosen weapon in chilling Soulfire for 1 minute.

Soulfire deals moderate cold-fire damage that bypasses a portion of physical armor and is particularly effective against spiritual or ethereal beings.

Attacks have a chance to inflict ’Soulchill’.

Moderate mana cost. Cooldown: 2 minutes.

This was perfect! A new elemental imbue for his attacks, different from his Solar Flare’s pure heat.

Soulfire, cold and potent, capable of harming spirits and bypassing armor. It would be an excellent complement to his existing arsenal, especially against foes resistant to physical or pure energy damage.

And the second upgrade was even more impressive.

[Skill: Voidwalk (A-Grade):] Passive/Active Skill.

Passively, user’s aura is profoundly dampened, rendering them nearly invisible to magical/psionic senses.

All movement sounds including footsteps, breathing, gear rustle are completely nullified.

Actively, can enter a ’Void Slipped’ state for up to 10 minutes, becoming a true shadow.

In this state, user is exceptionally difficult to see even with mundane senses, can pass through minor physical obstructions, and scent is suppressed.

Highly effective against all but the most advanced detection methods. Significant initial mana cost, low upkeep for active state.

His stealth capabilities had just jumped to a legendary tier. [Traceless Passage] was good, but [Voidwalk] was almost supernatural.

He could become a true phantom, an undetectable assassin or scout.

The wind wouldn’t just shriek trying to keep up; it probably wouldn’t even notice he was there.

He opened his eyes, a slow grin spreading across his face.

"Well, Nyx," he said, looking at the pup who was now curiously sniffing his A-Grade Kinetic Void Gauntlets.

"You are officially the gift that keeps on giving."

He made a mental note to give her the rest of that golden fruit later.

The "gene fragments" from a fully empowered, S-Grade potential familiar would be incredible.

He was pleased. The Soulfire skill was a fantastic new offensive tool. The Voidwalk was a game-changing stealth upgrade.

He hadn’t gotten direct S-Grade skill fusions from this particular extraction, but these were arguably more valuable in rounding out his diverse skillset.

While Daniel had been deep in his assimilation and skill review, Lia and Ayra had finished their own period of rest and quiet cultivation, integrating the power from the Golden Sun-Kissed Fruits they’d consumed earlier.

Lia stood up, a soft, emerald aura now constantly surrounding her, a visible manifestation of her enhanced [Lifeweave Affinity].

"Daniel," she said, her voice calm but filled with a newfound resonance.

"The fruit... it was transformative. I feel my connection to life energies has deepened immeasurably.

My healing is more potent, and my perception of vital essences... it’s like a veil has been lifted."

He could see it in her eyes; she had likely gained at least one, if not two, effective levels in power from the fruit alone, her A-Grade talent reaching new heights.

Ayra, after a round of increasingly intense shadow-boxing that made the cave walls tremble, finally stopped panting slightly, a fierce, almost manic grin on her face.

The crimson aura of her [Primal Fury Berserker] talent was practically crackling around her.

"Boom!"

She slammed a fist into the cave wall, not with her full S-Grade berserker strength, but with enough force to make a shower of dust and small pebbles rain down.

The ground trembled. "Vance! Lia! You feel that?

That fruit was like pure rocket fuel for my Fury!

I feel... I feel like I could punch that ’Boss Jaeger’ guy all the way back to whatever sewer he crawled out of, even if I was blindfolded and hopping on one leg!"

She flexed, her muscles looking even denser, more powerful than before.

"My talent... it feels like it’s broken through a barrier. That ’Tyrant’s Mantle’ Second Stage feels stronger, more stable.

And that ’Titan’s Wrath’ Third Stage... I think I can actually control it now, for a short while at least! My combat strength... it’s definitely doubled, maybe even tripled!"

Daniel nodded, genuinely impressed. Lia’s healing and sensory abilities amplified, Ayra’s berserker power reaching a new, more controllable peak.

Their entire team had just received a terrifying power-up. The Whispering Mire, and indeed the rest of the Taiji Basin, suddenly seemed a lot less daunting.

"Good," Daniel said, standing up and stretching, the A-Grade power of [Voidwalk] making his movements seem almost liquid.

"Because I have a feeling we’re going to need every bit of that new strength.

The team, now significantly more powerful and their abilities refined, were now ready to face dangers of the Mire with renewed, and terrifying, confidence.