SSS-Rank Talent: Super Upgrade System-Chapter 74: The Partner of Revenge!

The silence in the ravaged clearing was heavy, broken only by Ayra’s ragged breathing and Lia’s soft, concerned murmurs as she tended to the berserker’s superficial wounds with her A-Grade Staff.

The S-Grade Dark Cloud Leopard lay still far in the distance, a testament to Daniel’s devastating, and frankly terrifying, unseen attack.

Ayra, still trying to process how a monster that had nearly killed her had simply vanished in an explosion of force, finally looked at Daniel with wide, disbelieving eyes.

The crimson fury of her [Primal Fury Berserker] state had completely drained away, replaced by a mixture of awe and a healthy dose of something that looked suspiciously like fear.

"Vance," she managed, her voice hoarse.

"That... that [Voidwalk] thing you mentioned. It’s not just ’hard to see,’ is it? It’s like... like you’re not even there. Absolute invisibility?"

She’d heard legends of such high-tier stealth abilities, mostly whispered by instructors trying to scare recruits into checking their corners.

She never thought she’d see it in action, let alone from the guy she’d been sharing cramped cave space with.

Daniel offered a slight, almost sheepish grin.

"A-Grade [Voidwalk] does have its perks for surprising introductions," he admitted.

"Makes sneaking up on giant, angry shadow-cats a bit more manageable."

He decided not to mention that its recent upgrade to A+ Grade [Shadow Glide+] also allowed him to phase through minor obstacles and came with a free "Shadow Jaunt" blink.

No need to overwhelm her further.

Ayra swallowed hard. She felt a strange mix of relief that this powerhouse was on her side and profound frustration at the ever-widening chasm between their abilities.

"Lucky for us you’re an ally, Vance," she muttered, more to herself than to him.

Lia, having finished patching up Ayra’s more immediate injuries, looked at Daniel with her usual calm, analytical gaze, though there was a new depth of respect in her grey eyes.

"Your control over your abilities is... remarkable, Daniel. To dispatch an S-Grade predator so decisively while remaining completely undetected..."

Before Daniel could offer a modest deflection, his enhanced [Aura Sense+], still sweeping the oppressive gloom of the Dark Forest, screamed a fresh warning.

His head snapped up. "Incoming!" he barked, his casual demeanor vanishing instantly.

"Another one! Powerful signature, moving fast, and it feels... angry. Very, very angry."

The wind, which had begun to sigh mournfully through the shattered trees, suddenly shrieked with renewed violence!

"Boom!"

The ground trembled as something massive landed just beyond the edge of the clearing, hidden by the dense, shadow-slick foliage.

A wave of seething hostility swept over them, colder, more vicious, and more menacing than even the Dark Cloud Leopard had ever exuded.

"Not another S-Grade!" Ayra groaned, scrambling to her feet, her great-axe finding its way back into her hands with practiced ease.

Her earlier exhaustion seemed to vanish, replaced by a grim determination.

She might be outclassed by Daniel, but she was still an S-Grade Berserker, and she wouldn’t go down without a fight.

A guttural roar, filled with pain and unimaginable rage, resonated through the forest, so powerful it made the obsidian trees shed their remaining dark leaves.

Then, the new threat emerged!

It was another feline beast, sleeker and slightly smaller than the Dark Cloud Leopard, but radiating an even more volatile energy.

Its fur mirrored the hue of a stormy twilight sky, streaked with crackling veins that resembled solidified smoke.

Its eyes burned with an unnatural, S-Grade violet light, and its claws, longer and thinner than the Leopard’s.

It padded forward with a silent, deadly grace, its gaze fixed on the distant, broken form of the Dark Cloud Leopard, then swiveling to lock onto Daniel, Lia, and Ayra with pure, unadulterated hatred.

Daniel quickly scanned the new arrival.

[Umbral Lynx – Vengeful Mate]

Level: 18

Potential: S-Grade

Stats: Moderate Strength, Moderate Vitality, Extreme Agility, Very High Spirit.

Abilities: [Shadowstep Ambush], [Corrosive Claws (Armor Sundering, Ichor DoT)], [Smoke Shroud (Concealment/Choking Cloud)], [Vengeful Howl (Ally Buff/Enemy Debuff)], [Deathly Pounce (High Crit/Execute)]

"Level 18 S-Grade Umbral Lynx," Daniel announced grimly.

"Exceptional agility, remarkably high spirit. As for its abilities, Corrosive Claws that rend armor and apply a vicious damage-over-time effect, Smoke Shroud for stealth, and a skill ominously named Vengeful Howl."

Oh, and the kicker? It’s the Dark Cloud Leopard’s mate. It’s here for revenge."

"Great," Ayra snarled, spitting on the ground.

"First, we get dinner, then its angry spouse shows up for dessert. This forest has terrible customer service."

The Umbral Lynx let out another enraged howl, and the air around it shimmered.

It didn’t charge Daniel, the one who had actually delivered the killing blow. Instead, with a speed that defied comprehension, it used [Shadowstep Ambush], vanishing from sight and reappearing in a blur of smoky violet directly beside Lia!

Lia, despite her A-Grade Staff of the World Ash and enhanced senses, barely had time to register the threat before its [Corrosive Claws] lashed out, aimed at her throat.

"Lia!" Ayra roared, her earlier exhaustion forgotten, replaced by a surge of protective fury.

She moved with berserker speed, throwing herself between Lia and the attacking Lynx.

"Boom! KRA-SHINK-SCREEECH!"

The Lynx’s claws, instead of finding Lia’s vulnerable neck, tore across Ayra’s outstretched arm and shoulder.

Her Vanguard uniform shredded like wet paper, and the corrosive ichor sizzled as it bit into her flesh, bypassing a significant portion of her natural berserker resilience.

Ayra screamed, a sound of pure agony and defiance, as the ichor burned deep.

The ground where she intercepted trembled violently from the force. But she had saved Lia.

"Ayra! No!"

Lia cried, her face pale with horror. She immediately channeled her [Lifeweave Affinity], her A-Grade staff glowing with a desperate emerald light.

"[Greater Mend]! [Purifying Aura]!"

Ribbons of life energy enveloped Ayra, fighting against the corrosive ichor and knitting the terrible wounds.

The healing was potent, but the Shadowblight-like ichor resisted, slowing the process.

Ayra was heavily injured, her left arm hanging uselessly, smoke rising from the corrosive burns.

The Umbral Lynx, momentarily surprised by Ayra’s intervention, hissed in annoyance, then gathered itself for another [Deathly Pounce], its violet eyes fixed on the injured Ayra.

It was clearly intelligent, focusing on the biggest threat first.

"We can’t outrun this thing," Daniel stated, his mind racing.

Its Extreme Agility matched, if not exceeded, his own current [Shadow Glide+] boosted speed, especially in this dense, cluttered forest.

And its [Shadowstep Ambush] made it terrifyingly unpredictable.

"Lia, keep healing Ayra! Focus on neutralizing that corrosion! Ayra, fall back towards Lia! Defensive formation!

I’ll draw its aggro. We fight it here, together."

This was no longer a test of his solo capabilities. This was a fight for their survival