Starting With SSS-rank: I Get A New Skill Every Livestream

Chapter 267: One-sided

Veronica trusted Kyle’s skills, not his luck.

And that was exactly why she was currently on her way to the gas station where she had sent him.

Her concern wasn’t born solely from the countless times a simple, straightforward mission involving Kyle had somehow spiraled into complete chaos. It also stemmed from the fact that a rift had appeared at the very location she had randomly assigned him.

Yes, she knew the gas station was a hotspot for rift activity. But there was usually a gap of nearly a week before another one emerged.

Just two days ago, a Second-grade rift had been cleared in that area. Yet only minutes after she had sent Kyle the coordinates, a report arrived describing unusual Absence readings originating from the same location.

What did that mean?

Another anomalous incident.

According to the reports, it was a First-grade rift, exactly what Kyle had been hoping for.

Naturally, a response team had already been dispatched. Layena was likely among them, accompanied by several senior officers from the Central Authority.

Even so, it would take them at least an hour to reach the site.

As the commander, Veronica could monitor their movements and warn Kyle if the situation took a dangerous turn. Until then, however, she intended to let him enjoy himself.

"I just hope the ghoul hasn’t shown up yet," she muttered under her breath as she took the diversion off the highway and drove toward the gas station.

Veronica knew Kyle was strong and experienced enough to fight a ghoul.

But ghouls varied greatly in strength, and even the strongest hunter could be overwhelmed if forced to fight alone.

That was why she had come.

Screech

She brought the car to a stop near the gas station, carefully parking beyond the reach of the surveillance cameras.

The moment she stepped out, she sensed the disturbance in the air.

The rift had opened just outside the cameras’ coverage. If Kyle had already engaged the monsters, and she was almost certain he had, none of it would have been recorded.

Without wasting another second, Veronica burst into a sprint, racing toward the source of the overwhelming Absence pollution.

’Please be safe... please be safe...’

The silent prayer repeated itself over and over in her mind.

Then, the moment she reached the shallow depression where the rift had manifested, the words died in her throat.

The pit had once served as an underground oil storage site, leaving behind a vast open space. It was more than large enough for a human and three ghouls to battle without restraint.

Yes.

Three ghouls.

Yet Veronica remained frozen at the edge instead of rushing in to help.

Because, at that moment...

She wasn’t sure who actually needed saving.

....

Thunk

"Ehe~"

Kyle grinned behind his mask as the spear suddenly extended, its tip shooting forward and piercing the charging ghoul through the chest.

Genesis surged through the weapon like a deadly toxin. The creature staggered backward as cracks rapidly spread across the center of its chest.

Kyle gave it no chance to recover.

He lunged forward, his movements far steadier than before. The overwhelming speed that had once been difficult to control now flowed naturally with each step.

"Graaah!"

The wolf-headed ghoul swiped its claws at him, but Kyle lightly sprang over the attack. His eyes never left his target.

With a smooth spin, he twirled the spear above his head before bringing it up in a powerful rising slash that carved upward like a streak of lightning.

Swish

The ghoul desperately tried to retreat, but at the last instant, the spear shot forward once more.

Slash

Its face split cleanly down the middle.

"Graaaagh!"

The creature let out a bloodcurdling howl as the two halves of its face peeled apart. Black tendrils erupted from the wound, writhing violently as they tried to stitch the flesh back together. Yet every attempt failed under the relentless corruption of Genesis.

Kyle grinned.

Then he sensed something rushing toward him from behind.

He pivoted just as a razor-sharp claw swept past his face, missing him by mere inches.

Under the combined effects of Moon and God’s Eye, the attack unfolded in agonizing slow motion.

He saw the black mass coursing beneath the ghoul’s skin.

He saw the fury burning within its eyes.

He saw the bloodlust consuming every one of its movements.

Kyle let out an amused snicker and simply raised his spear.

Squelch

Thump

The blade flashed once.

The ghoul’s arm separated cleanly from its shoulder before crashing onto the ground.

Momentum carried the creature forward, its remaining claw clawing at empty air while the severed limb, meant to kill him, lay several meters away.

Thud

Behind him, the first ghoul finally collapsed.

Unable to regenerate under the effects of Genesis, its body gradually dissolved into wisps of black smoke before disappearing entirely.

Kyle lifted his gaze.

The bat-like ghoul was still circling overhead, observing instead of attacking.

The wolf-headed one remained motionless as well, its back still facing him.

Kyle narrowed his eyes.

It was about to get serious.

Without warning, the wolf turned around.

Its jaw tore apart, splitting far beyond what any living creature should have been capable of. Rows upon rows of razor-sharp fangs unfolded from within the grotesque maw.

For a brief moment, even Kyle was caught off guard.

That single lapse was enough.

The bat suddenly ripped open its own sealed mouth, tearing it apart until it matched the wolf’s horrifying grin.

The next instant, both monsters screamed.

AWOOOOOO!

KRRRRIIIII!

Two devastating sonic vortexes converged upon a single target.

Kyle.

The earth beneath his feet cratered under the pressure.

His grip tightened around the spear as he lowered his head and gritted his teeth, every muscle in his body straining against the overwhelming force.

Ghouls rarely hunted in groups.

Whether it was because of their pride or some instinct unknown to humanity, they almost always fought alone.

Yet this time, not only had multiple ghouls appeared together, they were coordinating their attacks with frightening precision.

Veronica’s expression tensed as she instinctively took a step forward.

This was too much.

Even a Special Grade hunter like her would have struggled against the combined assault of those two ghouls.

Her hand tightened, ready to rush in.

Then she noticed something that made her stop.

Kyle...

He was smiling.

He looked like he was genuinely enjoying himself.

"...How?"

Her brows furrowed in disbelief.

"Shouldn’t he be struggling?"

The answer became clear almost immediately.

He wasn’t.

Shlink

The spear split apart at its center.

Then Kyle vanished.

The wolf-headed ghoul froze, caught off guard by his sudden disappearance.

Before it could turn its head or react to its companion’s warning cry, something flashed across its vision.

A blade.

Empowered by Genesis, it sliced cleanly through the creature’s neck.

Thump

Its severed head struck the ground.

Silence returned to the battlefield.

Kyle stood several steps beyond the corpse, one half of the split spear resting casually over his shoulder while the other remained firmly gripped in his right hand. Black blood dripped from the blade, sizzling as Genesis devoured it.

Veronica could only stare.

Her eyes were wide with disbelief.

High above, the bat-like ghoul was equally stunned.

It hesitated for only a heartbeat before instinct took over, rapidly gaining altitude in an attempt to escape the battlefield.

Kyle let out a quiet snicker and turned on his heel.

Resting the spear across his shoulder, he drew his arm back.

More than forty units of strength.

Years of relentless training that had honed his aim to near perfection.

And the growing irritation he felt toward the fleeing ghoul.

Everything converged into a single throw.

The creature never even realized it was in danger.

Squelch

The blade pierced straight through the center of the bat-like ghoul’s head.

For a brief moment, it remained suspended in the air.

Then its wings went limp.

The creature dropped from the sky like a stone, crashing into the ground below.

Kyle let out a quiet sigh and raised a hand.

The embedded half of the spear trembled before shooting back toward him.

He caught it effortlessly.

As the two halves met, delicate golden threads emerged between them, weaving together until the weapon became whole once again.

Only then did Kyle turn toward Veronica.

"Sorry for ignoring you."

A faint smile appeared on Veronica’s face.

"It’s nothing," she replied. "It’s not like you were fooling around."

Even as the words left her mouth, she couldn’t help but think otherwise.

The ease with which Kyle had dismantled the three ghouls...

It genuinely looked as though he had been playing with them the entire time.

Kyle chuckled and was about to help her climb down when suddenly, both of them paused.

A chill ran down their spines before Kyle hurriedly turned.

Something...stood there.

Silently, watching them.

It wasn’t human, not with those savage features. But the intelligence in its eyes was unsettling.

And as if to fuel the flames of wariness, Veronica’s first reaction was, "RUN!!"

°°°°°°°

A/n:- Sorry, kind of stuck somewhere so can’t write two Chapters.