Ex-Rank Awakening: My Attacks Make Me Stronger-Chapter 102: EX . Weakness

Nikko’s gaze didn’t waver from the demoness.

Not for a second.

As she held Leon’s unconscious form across her shoulders, her thoughts churned with swift, clinical precision.

’She’s hiding something... that concealment ability, it’s not a simple skill. It has to be an affinity. And a high-tier one at that.’

Her eyes narrowed.

The demoness stood still, draped in shadows, her long black hair whispering over the ground, her markings pulsing faintly with dark energy.

Nikko shifted her attention briefly to Leon, still breathing, but only just. His aura was drained, his wounds raw, and his body bruised.

But despite all that,

He held on long enough...

That was all she needed.

If he hadn’t lasted just a few more seconds, I wouldn’t have traced the concealment field’s anchor. He drew out the A-rank. Forced it to fight. And once it engaged, the field collapsed for a moment.

’Perfect concealment doesn’t allow interaction. The moment that demon struck, it exposed its anchor.’

She looked back at the demoness.

"And you’re the anchor."

Suddenly, the demoness stiffened.

A faint ripple passed across her expression, a flicker of unease. Her head tilted upward, sensing two immense auras approaching rapidly from the distance.

Nikko noticed the shift immediately.

And smiled.

"What are you going to do now?"

The demoness’s jaw clenched. A low, guttural hiss escaped her throat as the ground quaked slightly beneath her feet.

Then she growled,

"Be prepared to face the consequences of your actions."

Just as the words left her lips,

BOOM!

A bolt of lightning, jagged, white-hot, and roaring with divine force, struck down like the wrath of the heavens.

But by the time it hit the ground, the demoness had vanished. Not a trace remained.

Just charred rock, scorched black where she once stood.

The air split again as Rebecca Sky and Raven Stone appeared beside Nikko. Their auras flared, unmistakably powerful, the kind only S-rank elites carried with ease.

Rebecca’s eyes darted around sharply before she clicked her tongue in frustration.

"Damn it. It got away."

Raven’s gaze lingered in the shadows as she crossed her arms.

"Rebecca... have you been slacking? How the hell did an S-rank get into your sector?"

Rebecca’s lips curled as if ready to snap back, but she paused. There was nothing to say, because she didn’t know.

Before their bickering could begin, Nikko turned away, ignoring them both.

Her voice was calm, sharp, and absolute.

"We need to return to base. Now."

Rebecca raised an eyebrow.

"What’s going on?"

Nikko didn’t stop.

"Something big is coming. And we need to be ready for it."

With a surge of aura, she took to the skies, Leon held tightly in her grasp, his bloodied figure tucked safely against her.

Rebecca and Raven looked at each other.

Raven’s eyes narrowed.

"You felt it too, didn’t you?"

Rebecca nodded, the joking tone gone from her voice.

"Yeah. Something’s stirring."

Without another word, the two of them shot into the air, streaks of power following in their wake.

On the way back, they met up with Adrian, Eden, and Eleanor, who were still recovering but moving quickly. They hadn’t been left behind, not truly. Nikko had made sure of that.

Together, injured, bruised, but alive, Unit 01 returned to Base 01.

But none of them knew...

The encounter they just survived was only the beginning.

****

The medical room was silent, dimly lit by soft blue lights embedded in the ceiling, casting a gentle glow over the sterile walls. In the center of the room was a sleek white bed surrounded by monitoring screens and glowing medical instruments. A single figure lay in that bed, still and peaceful.

Leon.

His chest rose and fell slowly, every trace of the brutal injuries he’d sustained completely gone. The Federation’s advanced medical capabilities had worked their miracle, repairing torn muscle, sealing shattered bones, even cleansing his overexerted aura channels. For all intents and purposes, he looked untouched by battle. Untouched by death.

Until,

His eyes snapped open.

With a sharp inhale, Leon sat up instantly, his body taut and ready to fight. The motion was so fluid, so fast, that the bedsheets barely had time to crumple beneath him. His sharp eyes darted around the room, scanning for threats, danger, anything that would explain the tension buzzing through his muscles.

But there was nothing.

Just silence.

He slowly relaxed.

"Tch... This is embarrassing. I can’t believe I passed out..." frёewebnoѵēl.com

A voice responded before the thought could settle.

"Well, if you didn’t... I’m not sure you’d still be classified as human."

Leon reacted immediately, pushing himself off the bed and landing smoothly on the opposite side, his eyes locked onto the source of the voice.

Nikko.

She was seated on a chair beside the bed, legs crossed, arms folded, her long dark coat draped like a shadow around her. Her expression was calm, but there was something in her gaze, a silent worry that hadn’t faded.

Leon exhaled with a hint of relief.

"I guess I have to thank you again... for the help."

Nikko showed a genuine and soft smile, as she stood from her seat. With quiet steps, she walked around the bed and stopped in front of him.

Before Leon could say another word,

She hugged him.

It was Warm, firm and real.

Leon blinked, surprised. His arms hovered for a moment, unsure... before slowly lowering as he relaxed into the embrace.

"Just... be careful next time, alright?"

Her voice was gentle. There was no scolding, just raw concern.

Leon could feel the sincerity in her words, the unspoken weight behind them.

"I’ll try," he said quietly.

She pulled back from the hug, smiling up at him, her golden eyes still sharp but softened.

"Good. Because we have a lot to talk about."

Leon’s gaze grew serious in an instant. He knew it wasn’t just about the mission anymore. Whatever Nikko had seen, whatever she knew, it was serious.

So he nodded, dropping every trace of casualness.

"I’m listening."

****

In another section of the base’s medical wing, smaller, less luxurious, and without the glow of personalized amenities, Leon’s squadmates rested. Unlike their captain, the three of them shared a single recovery room. It was practical, efficient... and a clear reminder of the preferential treatment Leon received.

Not that they could complain, someone powerful had clearly paid the credits to place Leon in a private suite. But right now, none of that mattered. The room was quiet, the light dimmed low, and the air heavy with the aftershock of survival.

On one of the beds, Eden stirred restlessly.

His eyes were shut, but his eyelids twitched.

His breathing was uneven.

He was dreaming.