SSS-Rank Talent: Super Upgrade System-Chapter 72: The True Test Of Power!

The air in the ravaged clearing hung thick and still, the faint scent of blood and ozone mingling with the oppressive gloom of the Dark Forest.

Daniel stood calmly, his A-Grade [Voidwalk] making him a mere distortion in the shadows, as the essences of the fallen flowed towards him, drawn by the irresistible vortex of his Tier 2 [Soul Assimilation].

First, the beasts. The Silver-Horned Rhino, despite its D-Grade potential and being only Level 12, had clearly been a powerhouse of vitality.

Its essence surged into Daniel, a wave of raw, grounding strength.

[Soul Assimilation successful on Creature: Silver-Horned Rhino (Level 12).]

[Gain: Strength +105, Vitality +178, Adaptability +32.]

[Combat EXP Gained: 600!]

[Level 6 : 1196/2800 EXP]

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

Next, the Silver-Green Sand Beast, Level 11, its essence carrying a surprising nimbleness despite its burrowing nature.

[Soul Assimilation successful on Creature: Silver-Green Sand Beast (Level 11).]

[Gain: Strength +95, Agility +145, Adaptability +41.]

[Combat EXP Gained: 550!]

[Level 6: 1746/2800 EXP]

[Assimilation Charge Consumed (28/30 Remaining).]

The infusion of attributes was significant, his already monstrous stats climbing even higher.

But the EXP gain was the real surprise.

His Tier 2 [Soul Assimilation] was now consistently yielding substantial combat experience from creature corpses, nearly as much as if he’d killed them himself.

This was a game-changer for his leveling speed.

He could effectively gain double EXP for his own kills, and still profit immensely from the unfortunate demise of others.

The path to Level 7, which previously seemed a distant goal, now felt significantly closer.

Then, he turned his talent towards the five fallen Awakened.

Their essences were weaker, tinged with fear and desperation, but even scraps could be valuable.

He absorbed them one by one, the 10-meter radius making the process swift and efficient.

[Soul Assimilation successful on Fallen Awakened (x5)...]

[Total Attribute Gain: Strength +0.9, Vitality +0.7, Agility +1.1, Spirit +0.4.]

[Skill Fragment Acquired: ’Lethal Poison Application’ (D-Grade Concept) from Awakened Corpse 1.]

[Skill Fragment Acquired: ’Desperate Speed Burst’ (D-Grade Concept) from Awakened Corpse 3.]

[Assimilation Charges Consumed (23/30 Remaining).]

The attribute gains were fractional, almost negligible compared to the beasts, but every bit helped.

The skill fragments, however, were more interesting.

His SSS-Talent immediately went to work, sifting through the new concepts, seeking synergies with his existing abilities.

A familiar chime resonated from his Nexus Interface.

[Detected compatible skill resonance: Existing C+-Grade [Malevolent Toxin Blade] and new D-Grade ’Lethal Poison Application’ concept.]

[Attempting Skill Fusion...]

[Fusion Successful! Skill Upgraded: [Malevolent Toxin Blade] (C+-Grade) has evolved into VIRULENT BLIGHT EDGE (B-Grade)!]

Daniel grinned. B-Grade!

He checked the description:

[Skill: Virulent Blight Edge (B-Grade): Imbue weapon with an exceptionally potent and multi-faceted toxin. Inflicts severe corrosive and necrotic damage over time, drains vitality rapidly, has a high chance to inflict stacking paralysis on nerve clusters, and can bypass minor poison resistances. Mana Cost: 40. Cooldown: 35 seconds.]

His primary poison skill was now significantly deadlier, capable of crippling even resistant foes.

This was a fantastic upgrade!

Another chime followed.

[Detected compatible skill resonance: Existing A-Grade [Shadow Glide] and new D-Grade ’Desperate Speed Burst’ concept.]

[Attempting Skill Fusion...]

[Fusion Successful! Skill Enhanced: [Shadow Glide] (A-Grade) has been refined to SHADOW GLIDE+ (A+-Grade)!]

[New Effect: Duration increased to 20 seconds. Phasing chance through minor obstacles/energy attacks slightly increased.

User can now perform a single, short-range ’Shadow Jaunt’, once during the skill’s active duration. Mana Cost: 50. Cooldown: 45 seconds.]

His A-Grade movement skill got even better! Longer duration, improved phasing, and now a tactical blink teleport?

He felt like he could dance through hell itself without singeing a metaphorical eyelash.

The wind wouldn’t just shriek trying to keep up; it would probably just give up and go home.

With the clearing thoroughly... recycled... Daniel continued his sweep.

He moved like a silent predator through the Dark Forest, his [Voidwalk] making him a true phantom.

He didn’t encounter any living Awakened teams directly, his path guided by Nyx’s distant scouting and his own enhanced senses, allowing him to avoid unwanted attention while maximizing his... scavenging efficiency.

Around noon, as he was about to assimilate the essence of a particularly unfortunate gloom-boar that had clearly lost an argument with a falling obsidian tree, a frantic mental yelp resonated through his familiar bond with Nyx.

It wasn’t a cry of pain, but one of urgent alarm.

The image that flashed into his mind was clear: Ayra, her crimson berserker aura blazing, locked in a desperate, brutal struggle with a creature that made the Gloomfang Devourer look like a cuddly housecat.

It was a massive feline beast, wreathed in shadows so deep they seemed to swallow the dim forest light.

Its fur was like polished obsidian, its eyes burned with an intelligent, malevolent S-Grade green light, and its claws, long and curved, crackled with dark energy.

It moved with a terrifying, predatory grace, easily matching Ayra’s berserker-enhanced speed.

Lia was nearby, her emerald healing light flickering desperately as she tried to mend the grievous wounds Ayra was sustaining.

[Dark Cloud Leopard – Apex Predator]

Level: 17

Potential: S-Grade

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

Abilities: [Shadow Maul], [Void Pounce (Short Teleport)], [Nightmare Roar (Fear/Confusion)], [Claws of Eternal Twilight (Ignore portion of Armor, inflict stacking Shadowblight DoT)]

"S-Grade, Level 17," Daniel breathed, the information from Nyx’s panicked scan chilling him despite his own power.

This wasn’t a random encounter; this was an apex predator of the Yin region, far stronger than anything they’d faced before.

Ayra, even with her S-Grade talent and Lia’s A-Grade healing, was clearly outmatched.

Her usual "Boom! Crash! Smash!" approach wasn’t working against a foe this fast, this deadly, and this intelligent.

"Hang on, team," Daniel muttered, already moving.

He activated his newly enhanced [Shadow Glide+].

The world around him dissolved into a silent, flickering blur as he surged through the Dark Forest at a speed that defied physics.

The wind didn’t even have time to shriek; it was simply left behind, utterly bewildered. He had to get there as fast as possible.

Ayra’s furious roars and the crackle of Lia’s desperate healing spells were already growing fainter in his mind as Nyx relayed the escalating desperation of the fight.

This was going to be a true test of his newfound power.