The Snake God with SSS Rank Evolution System

Chapter 380: Hoping for Tomorrow

Adam lay sprawled across the bedroll inside the small tent, his arms folded behind his head as he stared up at the canvas ceiling. The muffled sounds of Alice and Lilith’s bickering drifted through the fabric—still going, even after his intervention. He let out a long, slow sigh, his voice carrying a note of weary self-doubt.

"Was I too harsh on them...?"

He listened for a moment longer, catching fragments of their argument—something about "not touching my tail" and "your threads are cold." He shook his head slowly, a faint, resigned smile tugging at his lips.

"...No. I had to be firm. If I let them keep going, they’d tear each other apart or worse, tear the camp apart. This is the only way they’ll learn."

He paused, his gaze drifting to the tent flap, his voice softening just slightly.

"Alice is stubborn, yeah—but she’s not cruel. She just cares too much to let things go. And Lilith... she knows that. She’s pushing Alice’s buttons because she knows Alice will react, and she’s curious to see what happens next. It’s her way of testing people—poking until she finds a reaction she didn’t expect."

A soft, almost fond laugh escaped him.

"Her method is about as subtle as a brick to the face. She might as well announce ’I’m provoking you now’ before she does it. But Alice never catches on. She’s too busy feeling everything at once to see that she’s being led straight into a trap."

He shook his head, the smile fading into something more tired.

"Still... it’s exhausting being the one who has to keep everyone from ripping each other apart over the smallest things."

He let out another long, slow breath, his eyes closing for a moment.

"Alright. Enough dwelling on that. I’ve been putting this off for too long."

His eyes opened, and he brought up his system interface, the translucent blue screen flickering to life before him. His voice carried a note of focused determination.

"Let’s see what I can do with all these points I’ve been hoarding."

[System Interface: Skill Shop]

[Skill Points Available: 15]

Adam’s gaze swept over the list, his brow furrowing slightly. "Fifteen points... that’s more than I thought. I’ve been saving for a while, but I never really had a chance to use them."

He began scrolling through the available skills, his eyes scanning each entry with practiced efficiency.

[Echoing Roar – Cost: 8 SP]

[Effect: The user releases a concussive roar that damages and disorients enemies in a wide cone. Enemies affected have their movement speed reduced by 30% for 5 seconds. Cooldown: 20 seconds.]

[Aegis Ward – Cost: 9 SP]

[Effect: The user creates a stationary barrier of pure defensive energy that blocks all incoming attacks for 5 seconds. The barrier can be broken by overwhelming force. Cooldown: 45 seconds.]

[Venomous Edge – Cost: 6 SP]

[Effect: The user’s attacks are coated in a potent neurotoxin that slows enemies and deals damage over time. The poison stacks up to 3 times, with each stack increasing the slow effect by 10% and the damage over time by 15%. Duration: 6 seconds per stack.]

Adam scrolled through the list, his crimson eyes scanning each option with measured disinterest.

"Hmm... nothing that really stands out."

He was about to close the interface when a new skill caught his eye, near the bottom of the list.

[Abyssal Impact – Cost: 11 SP]

[Effect: The user passively absorbs kinetic energy from incoming physical attacks, storing it as a charge within their core. When the charge reaches maximum, the user can release it as a devastating shockwave or enhance their next strike. Charge builds faster against stronger attacks. Maximum charge: 3 stacks. Each stack adds 10% bonus physical damage to the next attack. Stacks decay after 10 seconds of no combat.]

Adam’s eyes scanned the skill description again, his brow lifting with genuine interest. A slow, thoughtful smile spread across his face.

"Hmm... interesting. Every time I take a hit, I store the kinetic energy and then release it as a counterattack. That’s... actually perfect for me." He tilted his head, considering. "It’s a skill that rewards getting hit. Most fighters would avoid that, but I can take hits. And if I can store enough power, I could surprise my enemies when they least expect it."

His gaze drifted to the skill’s cost, and his expression shifted to mild disbelief.

"Eleven points? That’s expensive. Did the prices go up?" He paused, then shrugged, a wry grin tugging at his lips. "But I can’t deny it’s worth it. This skill is exactly what I need. If I use it right, it could turn a losing fight into a winning one."

Without hesitation, he pressed the purchase button.

[Skill Purchased: Abyssal Impact (Lv. 1)]

[Cost: 11 SP]

[Remaining Skill Points: 15 → 4]

The knowledge settled into his mind, He could feel it now: the way his body would absorb the force of a blow, storing it like a coiled spring, waiting for the right moment to release.

He flexed his fingers, feeling the subtle shift in his core.

"Not bad."

He scrolled through the remaining skills, scanning for anything else that caught his interest. A few minor enhancements, a couple of utility skills but nothing that felt essential. He let out a slow breath, closing the interface.

"Nothing else I need right now. I’ll save the rest for later."

He settled back onto the bedroll, his arms folding behind his head. His gaze drifted to the tent flap, his voice carrying a note of quiet hope.

"Hopefully they’ll be able to get along by tomorrow..."

A faint, tired smile crossed his face as his eyes began to close.

"Or at least, maybe they’ll learn how to tolerate each other."

Sleep pulled him under, soft and quiet, the sounds of the camp fading into the gentle rhythm of his breathing. The distant murmur of Alice and Lilith’s bickering continued for a little while longer, but eventually, even that faded into silence.