SSS-Rank Talent: Super Upgrade System-Chapter 83: Hit & Run!

"Alright, Vance," Ayra grumbled, wincing as Lia sealed a particularly nasty gash on her arm.

"What’s this brilliant new plan of yours? More ’spirited discussions’ that end with us getting used as oversized pinballs?

Daniel, who had been quietly observing the distant, silver-backed sentinels on the plateau above, turned with a grin that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

"Not exactly, Ayra. Think of it more as... aggressive bartering. Or perhaps, non-consensual shearing. We need an edge against those walking, blue-furred mountains. And I think the edge lies in their speed."

He explained his theory. The Apes were incredibly fast, their [Sentinel’s Leap] and coordinated movements making them a nightmare in a direct confrontation, especially for a team trying to protect a healer. But if he could match, or even surpass, their speed, the fight would become much more manageable. His S-Grade [Twilight Phantom Step] was already incredibly fast, but it was a burst skill, good for quick repositioning or escapes, not sustained high-speed combat against multiple agile foes. He needed something more.

"Their fur," Daniel continued, his gaze drifting back towards the plateau. "Nyx noticed that the silver-white fur on their backs seems to pulse with a unique energy, probably linked to their agility. My Tier 2 [Soul Assimilation] can extract ’Genetic Essence’ from samples. If I can get a few tufts of that fur, I might be able to assimilate their speed trait, or even manifest a new skill related to it."

Lia paused her healing, her calm grey eyes thoughtful. "A fascinating theory, Daniel. If your talent can indeed extract and integrate specific traits, it would explain your rapid adaptation to various threats. But acquiring those samples... that will be exceedingly dangerous. They won’t just stand there and let you pluck their prized silver manes."

"Exactly," Daniel said, his grin widening. "Which is where Ayra’s talent for... attracting attention... comes in."

Ayra, who had been listening with a mixture of skepticism and grudging interest, sat up straighter. "Bait? You want me to be ape-bait? Again? Vance, do you have some kind of weird fetish for seeing me get pummeled by oversized primates?"

"Think of it as a tactical distraction, Ayra," Daniel corrected smoothly. "You create a ruckus, draw a few of them away from the main pack. Lia keeps you alive with her A-Grade healing. While they’re focused on your glorious, axe-swinging rampage, I use my stealth," he mentally patted his A-Grade [Voidwalk] skill, "to get in close, snag a few ’souvenirs,’ and get out. Minimal risk, maximum reward."

"Minimal risk for you, maybe!" Ayra retorted, but there was a predatory gleam in her eyes. The thought of another brawl, even a controlled one, was undeniably appealing. "Fine. But if I end up with a concussion shaped like a giant blue fist, I’m blaming you".

"Deal," Daniel agreed easily. "Lia, you up for keeping our favorite berserker from becoming ape-chow?"

Lia sighed, a small, resigned smile on her face. "It seems my role in this team is to be the designated ’Ayra-patcher.’ Very well. But Daniel, be quick. Even my A-Grade healing has its limits against a sustained assault from those creatures."

The plan was set. Ayra, after a quick top-up heal from Lia, let out a defiant roar that resonated up the cliff face, deliberately antagonizing the distant Silverback sentinels.

"Hey, you overgrown blue baboons!" she bellowed, waving her great-axe menacingly. "Remember me? I’m back for round two! And this time, I brought snacks!"

She punctuated her taunt by hurling a rock towards the plateau. It fell comically short, but the message was clear.

As expected, the Apes reacted instantly. Three of the younger, more impulsive ones, their silver backs gleaming, let out enraged howls and bounded down the rocky slope with astonishing speed, heading straight for Ayra. The wind shrieked around them as they descended.

"Showtime," Daniel murmured, activating his [Voidwalk] and melting into the shadows at the base of the cliff. Lia positioned herself slightly behind Ayra, her A-Grade Staff of the World Ash already glowing with protective emerald light.

Ayra met the charge of the three Apes with a furious roar of her own. "[Primal Fury Berserker: Stage One – Battle Trance]!"

"BOOM!" Crimson energy exploded around her as she slammed her great-axe into the first Ape’s shoulder. Sparks flew, and the Ape howled in pain, but its A-Grade resilience allowed it to absorb much of the blow. The other two immediately tried to flank her, their massive fists aiming to crush.

While Ayra and Lia engaged the three Apes in a brutal, earth-shaking brawl, Daniel, completely invisible and silent, moved like a ghost. He used his S-Grade [Twilight Phantom Step] in short, almost imperceptible bursts, flowing around the chaotic melee. He needed to get close, to pluck the fur without alerting the enraged beasts or getting caught in the crossfire of Ayra’s wild axe swings. The ground trembled with each impact, and the wind shrieked around the combatants.

He saw his chance. One of the Apes, momentarily distracted by Ayra’s furious onslaught, had its silver-mantled back turned towards him. Daniel used his D-Grade skill, [Emptyhanded], the one he’d almost forgotten about, the skill that allowed him to pluck items from unaware targets. It was a low-grade skill, almost a joke, but combined with his SSS-Talent’s ability to enhance even minor abilities and his current stealth, it might just work.

He focused his intent, his hand, clad in A-Grade Phantom Edge Striking Wraps, darting out like a striking cobra. With a speed that was almost too fast to follow even for his own eyes, he plucked a surprisingly large tuft of shimmering silver-white fur from the Ape’s back. The Ape flinched, letting out a surprised grunt, but in the heat of battle with Ayra, it seemed to dismiss it as a stray impact or a snagged branch.

Daniel retreated instantly, still invisible, a triumphant grin on his face. He had his first sample!

He repeated the process twice more, using the chaos of Ayra’s fight as cover. Each time, he managed to snag a tuft of the precious silver fur with his surprisingly effective [Emptyhanded] skill, the Apes too focused on the furious redhead and Lia’s constant, frustrating healing to notice the phantom plucking at their backsides. The wind seemed to carry away any scent or sound he might have accidentally made.

"Alright, team! Tactical withdrawal!" Daniel called out via their Nexus comms, having already put a safe distance between himself and the brawl. "Got what I needed! Fall back to the rendezvous point!"

Ayra, who was starting to tire despite Lia’s healing, didn’t need to be told twice. With a final, defiant roar and a sweeping axe blow that sent one of the Apes stumbling, she disengaged, Lia covering their retreat with a blinding flash of emerald light from her staff that momentarily disoriented their simian assailants.

They regrouped a safe distance away, panting and bruised, but successful. Daniel held up the three tufts of shimmering silver fur. "Phase one complete," he said, already focusing his Tier 2 [Soul Assimilation] talent.

He assimilated the first tuft. A wave of cool, agile energy flowed into him.

[Genetic Essence Extraction successful on Silverback Blue Ape Fur (A-Grade Potential Sample)!]

[Unique Trait Essence Acquired: ’Simian Agility’ (Minor)]

[New Item Acquired: Sonic Shard x1 (Grants +0.1 to Agility when consumed. Can be fused.)]

"Sonic Shards?" Daniel murmured, examining the small, almost invisible crystalline fragment that appeared in his palm. Consumable agility boosts, and they could be fused? Interesting.

He quickly assimilated the other two tufts, gaining two more Sonic Shards. His base Agility increased by a respectable +0.3. But the real prize was the potential for fusion. He focused on his S-Grade [Twilight Phantom Step]. Could these shards enhance it further?

His Nexus Interface chimed.

[Detected compatible essence: Sonic Shards (x3) and existing S-Grade skill [Twilight Phantom Step].]

[Attempting Skill Enhancement/Fusion...]

[Fusion Successful! [Twilight Phantom Step] (S-Grade) has absorbed the Sonic Essence, evolving into SONIC GHOST STRIKE (S-Grade)!]

Daniel felt a profound shift in his agility, a new lightness, a sense of speed that bordered on instantaneous.

[Skill: Sonic Ghost Strike (S-Grade): Passive/Active Skill. Passively, user exists in a state of perpetual sonic displacement, all movements are utterly silent and generate miniature sonic booms that can disorient nearby foes (toggleable). Aura cloaked. Actively, for 35 seconds, user can move at speeds far exceeding thought (effectively double previous S-Grade speed), phase through most non-magical and moderate magical barriers, perform up to five short-range ’Sonic Blinks’ (instantaneous teleports up to 25 meters with a disorienting sonic echo). User appears as an almost undetectable, flickering phantom of shadow and distorted sound. Significant initial mana cost, moderate upkeep. Cooldown: 35 seconds.]

His speed had effectively doubled again.

The passive sonic booms, even if toggleable, sounded incredibly useful for disrupting enemy formations or just generally being a high-speed menace.

The improved blinks were a fantastic bonus.

Ayra and Lia watched, wide-eyed, as Daniel seemed to vibrate slightly, the air around him crackling with suppressed speed.

"Vance," Ayra said slowly. "You didn’t just get faster again, did you? Because if you did, I’m going to need a stronger word than ’ridiculous’."

Daniel just grinned, a predatory light in his eyes.

"Let’s just say, Ayra, that those overgrown blue baboons are about to experience a whole new definition of ’hit and run’."

He looked back towards the plateau. "Round two is going to be a lot more fun. For me, anyway."

He still had plenty of Assimilation charges, and a strong desire to collect a lot more Sonic Shards.

This was going to be a very productive night of "aggressive bartering."