SSS Awakening: I Can Class Change at will

Chapter 556: Rules Can Be Bent On Ocassions.

Moon stood still, his face completely emotionless in the face of their mockery. They had clearly done their homework, insulting him on things that would have certainly made him lose his cool a few months back.

But now, he was a different man. He knew how important it was to keep his cool in the face of his enemies.

His eyes moved from one face to the next. The five kept insulting him as they circled slowly, trying to get under his skin with every word.

’For scum like them, the rules can be bent.’

His lightning grew restless.

"Why don’t you close that filthy mouth, and obey forever."

Lightning exploded from Moon’s hand.

The bolt caught the first fighter square in the shoulder, punching through his guard before he could raise it. He staggered, a scream tearing loose as the current crawled into his chest and hollowed something out.

"Wow!" An earth wall shot up from the floor, cutting the follow-up bolt short.

The wall’s caster smirked from behind his cover.

"Why don’t you relax a little? There is no need to be so agitated. Okay?"

The other four moved together.

A swordsman came in from Moon’s left with a downward slash aimed at his neck. A polearm user came in from the right, thrusting toward his ribs. The earth mage held his wall as a firing point, unleashing spikes from the floor, interrupting Moon’s footing. The last fighter, a heavy warrior with twin axes, came in rushing at Moon’s chest like a bull.

Moon’s sword came free of its scabbard.

~Cling~

The blade caught the polearm on the flat and redirected it downward into the rubble. His body twisted with the motion.

Then Moon’s left arm came around and lightning burst from his palm, catching the swordsman across the jaw. The man’s head snapped sideways, dropping to his knee, crying out from the soul-devouring pain, his sword clattering out of his grip.

The heavy warrior’s axe came down at last.

Moon stepped inside the swing. The blade passed over his shoulder. His sword rose to meet the second axe, deflecting the crosswise cut into open air.

His free hand pressed against the warrior’s chest and lightning released at point-blank range.

~ZAP~

The warrior’s eyes rolled back, the irises no longer visible. A high-pitched scream came out of his body.

Moon kept feeding him the current for an extra second before kicking him away. The axe man was thrown back into the rubble, twitching.

The polearm user recovered before activating his skill.

His polearm began to spin at an incredible speed, the movement creating a whirling circle in the air.

Moon did not engage, leaping away and casting a lightning bolt. The bolt hit the polearm but dissipated moments later.

"Oh? Well, if one doesn’t do the job, ten will."

Moon’s purple lightning grew hungry, unleashing its power on the polearm user.

’Shit... I can’t stop those.’

He immediately abandoned his advancement and cancelled his skill. Unfortunately for him, Moon was already in motion toward him, having anticipated this outcome.

Just a meter away, Moon’s palm came up and a bolt struck the shocked man in the chest.

The earth mage’s stone spikes continued to annoy Moon. Moon leapt, Air Step catching him mid-motion. He came down beside the earth wall, his sword catching a follow-up strike from the swordsman who had regained his footing.

Steel clashed against steel as Moon’s blade held the sword in place. At the same time, his free hand grabbed the mage’s head before he could escape.

The mage’s scream was the loudest yet. Lightning spread from his head to his entire body. He collapsed against his own wall, sliding down its face, his eyes rolling back as the current tore his soul.

The swordsman disengaged, panting hard, blood streaming from his ear.

"What are you doing to us?! Just what is this lightning?"

Moon’s answer was his sword.

The swordsman swung wide to stop his advancement.

~Cling~

Moon’s sword parried once, twice, then redirected the third strike into the ground. His off hand came up. Another bolt caught the swordsman in the chest.

The man went down screaming.

Five bodies were scattered around Moon now. All five were alive yet unable to stand. Their souls and will were weaker than ever.

Moon sheathed his sword calmly.

’They’re ready.’

His eyes closed for a fraction of a second to focus.

’Curse.’

The Epic-rank mind-control skill he had copied from The Witch of Charm back on the floating island took advantage of the soul damage his lightning had already dealt.

The weakened minds of his targets slowly gave way to his control.

To sustain the load, Moon severed the leashes on his two Second Sanctuary beasts. The connections he held with the Four-Headed Hydra and the Fire Hound both went dark in the back of his mind, the cursed threads dissolving.

But that didn’t worry him. He would find them again later. They were still on the floating island.

Five new threads took hold.

Five minds squirmed against him for less than a heartbeat, then went still. Their souls had already been broken open by the lightning.

Moon opened his eyes.

Five sets of eyes across the rubble looked back at him in reverence, waiting for his orders.

He smiled. Five Four-Star elite puppets. Unlike beasts, they were human, able to think, follow orders, execute techniques, communicate.

Moon cast minor mend on each of them, healing a portion of the physical damage they took from him.

Then his head turned toward Kael.

The redhead was two engagements over, sword raised against two enemy mages who were pressuring him from both sides. His fire was answering them well enough, but he was losing ground.

Another minute and he’d be in deep trouble.

Moon’s eyes moved across his new puppets. He picked the heavy warrior with the twin axes. With his ability to attack from close range and his high durability, he would be the perfect body shield between Kael and the two mages.