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

Chapter 268: Vow

Not so long ago, when Kyle visited Veronica in the hospital, he asked, "What comes after Ghouls?"

"Hmm? What’s with the sudden enthusiasm?" Veronica asked, tilting her head.

"Just wondering. I mean, Ghouls can’t be the endgame. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be a rank called Special-grade."

Veronica nodded. "Right. If Ghouls were the strongest, this world would be far more peaceful."

She let out a quiet sigh before continuing, "There are creatures far stronger than Ghouls. They possess superior control over magic and wield far greater authority over Knull. Unlike Ghouls, though, they usually attack alone. Maybe it’s pride, or maybe something else."

"We classify them as Special-grades."

Kyle let out a thoughtful hum. "Monsters being given such a respectful title... interesting. What else makes them superior to Ghouls?"

Veronica shrugged. "Well, they can use Spark, the true manifestation of magic. Their command over magic is on an entirely different level from any other creature. While they are nowhere as strong as Sentinels, they can’t be underestimated either only because there isn’t any fixed strength to determine special-grade. They can frankly be a little stronger than a ghoul or strong enough to manhandle a horde of them."

She paused, her gaze lifting to meet his.

"And..."

"Special-grades can talk."

.....

"Vaeloris thae ven karûm."

The first sign was right before him.

It was speaking.

With its hands clasped together, it calmly uttered words in a language he had never heard before.

"I can’t understand it, Veronica," Kyle called out, finally finding his voice.

Instead of answering, Veronica lunged at the creature.

Swish

A powerful gust swept past Kyle as Veronica’s fist shot toward the creature.

It effortlessly leaped backward, avoiding the blow by the narrowest of margins.

"Seyrath el noxir vael."

The creature recited another incomprehensible phrase.

A low growl escaped Veronica’s throat as she rushed forward again, unleashing a relentless barrage of strikes at a speed Kyle would never have been able to follow without God’s Eye.

Her fists rained toward every part of its body.

She wasn’t trying to injure it.

She was trying to stop it from speaking.

Yet the resident of Knull evaded every attack with uncanny precision. It bent, twisted, and shifted its body with effortless grace, as though it could read Veronica’s intentions before she even moved, always keeping just enough distance between itself and her blows.

Its constant defense served only one purpose.

To keep the recitation going.

"Morakai thûn esh va’dren."

And it was succeeding.

"Kyle! Stop him! He’s taking a Barter!" Veronica shouted as another flurry of attacks failed to reach him.

Kyle had no idea what a Barter was, but he didn’t hesitate.

Acting on instinct, he split his armament into two and rushed forward.

"Move!" he shouted.

Veronica barely reacted in time.

Her hair fluttered as one of the blades whistled past her shoulder, hurtling toward the creature. It shifted its body at the last instant, but not enough.

The blade buried itself deep into its shoulder.

Genesis immediately ignited, searing its flesh with blazing light.

"Agh..."

The resident of Knull groaned, its face twisting in pain.

For a brief moment, Veronica thought they had succeeded.

That the vow had been broken.

But then...

"Aeth’kor... Zal Vireth."

The words echoed through the air.

Like a stone dropped into a perfectly still pond.

A ripple of energy erupted from the creature.

Then, without warning...

"Ahh!"

Veronica was blasted away, her body hurtling through the air like a ragdoll.

"Veronica!"

Panic gripped Kyle as he rushed after her.

Thunk

He slammed into something solid.

An invisible wall.

He pushed against it with all his strength, but it refused to budge.

His eyes dropped to the ground.

A circle of ancient symbols had formed around them, glowing faintly beneath their feet. It enclosed not only him, but the monster as well.

Kyle slowly turned back toward the creature.

It spoke again.

This time, in a language he understood.

"Neither shall leave this cage until one reaches their end."

Its voice was deep and masculine, carrying an unsettling weight.

Now he understood Veronica’s panic.

She had known all along that Special-grades could speak the human tongue.

Yet the very first thing this one had done after appearing was recite a spell.

"Why are you so obsessed with me?" Kyle asked with a mocking smile. "Scared of her, I guess?"

The creature’s expression remained unchanged.

"That crown upon your head offends me. So I bartered away my ability to use magic in exchange for this cage."

Kyle frowned.

It had traded away its magical abilities...

So that was what a Barter truly was.

A vow that demanded sacrifice in return for something extraordinary.

Or was it lying to lower his guard?

"Why would you go to such lengths?"

The creature folded its arms.

"Didn’t I tell you? That crown on your head annoys me."

Kyle bit his lower lip.

It could see the crown.

Even Veronica and everyone else had been unable to perceive it.

"What does it mean to you? What do you know about it?" Kyle asked. This was the first real conversation he had ever had with a resident of Knull, and he intended to make the most of it.

The creature fell silent for a moment.

"Hmm... to my eyes, it is a recognition. One my people have never received."

Its tone remained eerily calm, almost as though it were incapable of lying.

"A recognition we have sought for a very long time."

"Recognition from whom?" Kyle pressed.

The creature’s crimson eyes narrowed.

It slowly raised a claw and pointed at him.

"The b-zzzzt..."

Its body suddenly convulsed.

The word was cut off before it could leave its mouth.

Kyle blinked in confusion.

"Hmm? What was that?"

The creature stared at him for a long second.

Then, a smile spread across its face.

"You truly are special, aren’t you?"

Its entire demeanor changed in an instant.

Razor-sharp claws slid from its fingertips.

An overwhelming pressure flooded the surroundings, making the air itself feel heavy enough to suffocate.

Kyle yanked the spearhead free from the creature’s shoulder.

Despite Genesis having burned into its flesh, not a single lasting wound remained.

Golden threads shot out, reconnecting both halves of the weapon into a single spear.

Kyle lowered his stance.

The creature did the same.

Their gazes collided.

And in the very next moment...

Kyle witnessed the true difference between a Special-grade human...

...and a demon.

.....

"It’s an emergency! All of them need to be evacuated at once!" Veronica ordered over the phone.

"Understood, ma’am. I’ve already dispatched the A-Team to your location. Reinforcements are on their way."

The call ended.

Veronica slowly pushed herself to her feet, gritting her teeth against the lingering pain.

That damned creature...

It hadn’t thrown her away to eliminate a threat.

It had done so because it wanted Kyle all to itself.

She knew how terrifying a Barter Vow was.

Breaking one was nearly impossible.

Even so, she couldn’t leave Kyle to face a Special-grade alone.

If the other Nightwalkers arrived in time, they might be able to suppress the overwhelming Absence the creature was radiating.

But reinforcements were still at least fifteen minutes away.

Veronica clenched her fists.

"Please... survive until then, Kyle."