Chapter 180: SS-rank Passive: Helios’ Gaze!
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Ding!
[You have decided to use the GAP stat on your A-rank Class: Tempest Strider.]
[You have two GAP Points. How many points do you want to use?]
[Please note that while it is possible to evolve your class to SS-rank, currently only the Demon Core inside you is capable of evolving it to that level.]
[The host is advised to refine a Mana Core of at least A-rank for smooth evolution of the class. However, you can still evolve your skill with your current power.]
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’Just as I thought, it isn’t so easy.’
Soren frowned at the prompt he got before cancelling the evolution. He was just checking and wasn’t really going to increase his class rank right now.
Considering how he looked in the S-rank class, Artemis’s Radiance, he had to be very careful with this trump card of his.
Not to mention, only the SS-rank Demon Core was capable of unleashing this ability right now.
’But still, being able to evolve my skill two ranks higher is still a good trump card on its own.’
Soren thought and brought forth his panel, showcasing the skill evolution he had used until now.
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Class: Archer (A-rank) --> Artemis’s Radiance (S-rank)
King’s Grace (S) → King’s Will (SS)
Aether Shot (S-rank) → Voidrend (SS-rank)
Artemis Grace [S]--> Helios Piercer (SS)
Windwalker (A) → Spirit of Zephyr (S)
Keen Sight [A] → Artemis’s Sight (S)
Eagle Reflex (A-rank) → Killer Instinct (S-rank)
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Looking at his skill set, it seemed he could now have two SSS-rank skills in his arsenal.
Helios Piercer and Voidrend were perfectly suitable for evolving into SSS-rank.
’Two of them already. Damn... aren’t I stronger than the protagonist now?’
To be honest, he felt a bit bad for Evan. He wasn’t a bad guy after all.
And yet, not only did he lose the girls, but now he wasn’t even the sole student who had an SSS-rank skill in his arsenal.
’Poor guy... Maybe I should recruit him as a vice guild master once I make one?’
Soren gave a cheeky smile, considering the possibility. As a protagonist, maybe he could be a great help in getting rid of that Demon Lilith.
As someone who had played this game before, Soren knew that a single person alone could only do so much.
The moment Lilith found out that he got rid of that Demon Seed, even if she might not come herself, she would send her minions after him.
Just for that alone, Soren knew he had to make a force of his own in this world and fast.
’But first, I need to conquer the D-rank Dungeon, Howling Chasm.’
Soren suddenly thought.
Previously, he had promised Isolde that he would get Echo Stones from the Howling Chasm for her.
It was his way of recruiting her into his team. But since his level was already 49, he couldn’t waste too much time.
Another incident like that with Terrawolf, and he would cross level 50, wasting his D-rank clearance token.
’It seems I need to power level my teammates.’
Soren finally decided. After the incident today, there was a high chance that Elite Hunter Academy might cancel this practical class.
Before that, he should let his teammates level up enough.
’But first... System, use the two GAP points in my Passive Skill: Keen Sight.’
Soren suddenly gave an order, his eyes filled with anticipation.
Although he couldn’t evolve most of his skills inside the camp, there were a few he could sneakily.
Even if it would only reach SS-rank, he couldn’t wait to see what would change.
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Ding!
[You have used two points of GAP stat on your A-rank Passive Skill: Keen Sight.]
[Congratulations! Keen Sight (A-rank) has evolved into the Helios’ Gaze (SS-rank).]
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Sure enough, the moment Soren gave the order, his skill, Keen Sight, evolved abruptly.
Only...
"Fuck... Ugh..."
The change wasn’t as silent as he thought.
Rather, the moment the skill evolved into SS-rank, Helios’ Gaze, his eyes practically felt like they were being torn apart from the inside out, burning with unbearable pressure as if someone had poured molten lava directly into his vision.
For a moment, Soren was caught off guard and stumbled back from the unbearable pain.
He couldn’t help but clench his teeth as his hands shot up instinctively, trying to cover his eyes.
For a moment, he could only duck and let out a muffled cry, trying his best not to scream.
Fortunately, the pain was brief; it came as suddenly as it vanished.
*Swoosh!*
Simultaneously, his eyes flared with a faint golden aura, glowing softly in the dim light.
’This...’
And the moment it did so, Soren found his vision had abruptly changed.
He hadn’t even dropped his hand yet, nor had he opened his eyes, but he found that he could see everything.
Not metaphorically, but literally in an instant, his vision pierced beyond the tent he was inside, climbing higher and higher as if his sight itself had detached from his body and ascended into the sky, until...
...he could see the entire camp spread out beneath him like a map laid bare under a merciless sun.
’Damn...! What is this?’
For a moment, Soren was speechless as he looked at the entire camp beneath, crystal clear.
He could see how the darkness that once clung to the forest was now receding continuously.
He could see students moving through the camp, clashing with monsters in scattered skirmishes.
Heck, he could even zoom in and out and shift his focus anywhere at will. It was as if he had a Divine Sense that he had read about in cultivation novels in his last life.
"Hm?"
The feeling of omniscience was so surreal that, despite the strain he felt on his eyes, Soren began looking around everywhere, taking great interest in his new skill.
Only...he never thought he would notice Aria Luna in one corner of the camp, talking with a tall figure.
In fact, looking at her, she seemed to be arguing, as he saw her pointing her finger angrily.
’Who is this?’
For a moment, Soren frowned and zoomed in his vision, locking onto the figure in green robes.
"Hm?"
The moment he did so, he saw through the green robe, instantly uncovering the woman’s true appearance.
Only...
’An elf?’
The figure turned out to be an elf, just like Aria.
’Wait a minute... did she... finally decide to show up?’
The moment he realised, though, he abruptly recalled one figure that had been missing.
Well, not missing, but Soren was having a hard time finding her.
After all, from the beginning of the Club Recruitment, Soren was aiming to join an archer club secretly hosted by an Elf Elder. He was even ready to use Aria’s help.
But he searched high and wide and didn’t see her at all. So, he thought she would appear a bit late.
But now she had finally shown her figure here. Well, considering the abrupt appearance of the Demon Gate, it made sense.
’High Elf, Althea. You are finally here.’
While maintaining his vision on her, Soren was lost in thought when suddenly she looked up.
It was so sudden and out of the blue, but the moment the figure looked up, Soren felt his vision collide with hers in an instant.
"Stop!"
The moment their vision met, Soren immediately cancelled the skill.
In an instant, his vision snapped back into his body, leaving him back inside the cramped tent.
For a moment, Soren felt a bit disoriented due to the change.
’She didn’t see through my skill, right?’
Yet he just rubbed his eyelids while pondering what had happened just now.
He had no doubt that Althea had realised his snooping just now. After all, she was looking directly at him.
Just... he didn’t know how much she knew or whether she knew it was him who was using the skill.
’She shouldn’t have. She didn’t even notice my gaze until I saw through her robe.’
Soren shook his head.
Although Soren didn’t know how the skill worked, he could guess.
There was no doubt that Helios’ Gaze was more powerful than Artemis’ Sightas it was an SS-rank skill.
He bet that if he wasn’t curious and zoomed in too much on Althea, she would never know.
Unless, of course, she used a skill, ward, or some artifact.
’Sigh... still, I need to be careful while using this skill from now on. It is perfect for scouting a dungeon, though.’
Soren relaxed after feeling the pain in his eyes fade, then slowly stood up.
For now, he decided not to inspect any of his skills.
Instead, he chose to go and help his little elf, who seemed quite tense and angry.
He could also meet Althea this way.
