E-Rank or SSS-Rank: I Awakened a Skill That Shouldn’t Exist

With that, he disappeared.

To the untrained eye, he became a blur of red and silver.

And then—

BOOM!

In an instant, Han appeared before one of the Red Giants and struck it squarely in the chest with a thunderous tiger punch. The impact was like a cannon blast, launching the giant skyward like a ragdoll.

Without stopping, Han blurred again, targeting the remaining three.

He struck each one with terrifying precision, sending them soaring high into the sky one after another.

The giants had been dominant on land, their massive size and fiery power making them almost unbeatable—but in the sky?

They were vulnerable.

That was the key difference between them and the truly elite Red Giants—the S-Rank ones who had evolved powerful wings to conquer their aerial weakness.

But this bunch?

They had made the mistake of stepping into Han's battlefield unprepared.

And now… he was about to show them why that was a mistake they would not survive.

Fire and lightning surged around Han in a devastating whirlwind of destruction. With every step, he vanished and reappeared, launching himself forward like a raging storm, delivering strike after strike onto the towering red giants. Each blow landed with deadly precision, empowered by the dual fury of fire and lightning, and each impact left a trail of scorched flesh and cracking armor.

The red giants, once proud and nearly indestructible beasts, growled in pain as their massive frames reeled from the assault. Their bones groaned audibly, black blood spraying across the battlefield in thick, steaming gouts. If anyone had been watching from afar, they would have been left speechless—stunned beyond belief.

All they would have seen was a blur, a streak of flame and lightning flashing between the suspended forms of the four red giants. Han moved like a vengeful ghost, his form almost untraceable to the naked eye, yet his power undeniable. The giants appeared helpless—monsters feared for their regenerative abilities and brute strength, reduced to punching bags in the wake of Han's relentless fury.

His fists, amplified by the Multiplier technique, struck with the weight of a dozen elite warriors. The addition of lightning coursing through his strikes shocked the red giants' nervous systems, causing spasms that disrupted even their instinctive defenses. Fire followed, searing their flesh and disorienting them further. Together, these enhancements overwhelmed their resistance and broke through their defenses—defenses previously thought impenetrable.

Han gritted his teeth, delivering a flurry of attacks without pause. His breath was short, his arms aching from the exertion, but he didn't stop. Each punch was a blow of vengeance—not just against the cursed beasts, but against everything they represented. Pain. Death. Oppression. And with each strike, a fragment of that rage found release.

A hundred punches. Two hundred. He didn't count anymore. It wasn't until the last of the red giants let out a guttural roar before crashing to the ground that he finally allowed himself a breath.

One by one, the monstrous bodies fell with thunderous thuds, their weight shaking the very earth beneath. Han, too, landed softly among the fallen, gasping for air as the elemental energy around him slowly faded. The battlefield stilled for a moment. The whirlwind was over.

But something felt… off.

Han clenched and unclenched his fists, looking at his hands as if searching for a hidden clue. Something is wrong, he thought. At first, he dismissed the ache in his limbs as a result of overexertion. After all, using the Multiplier skill alone pushed his body to its limits. But this wasn't just fatigue from combining that with both Fire Style and Lightning Style. It was something deeper—an unnatural weight dragging at his energy, sapping it in a way that felt foreign.

His brow furrowed. The red giants were dead. The battle should be tipping fully in their favor now. And yet... why do I feel so uneasy?

He raised his eyes, scanning the field. The heroes were still fighting valiantly, their spirits bolstered and momentum on their side. The elite warriors had begun to break through enemy ranks. But even so, Han's instincts screamed at him—warning him that something was off.

He turned his gaze toward the Red Vanguards, the enemy units that had yet to engage in the battle. They stood on the fringes like shadows biding their time. Could it be them? Han narrowed his eyes.

To confirm his growing suspicion, he activated Eagle Eye, heightening his perception beyond its limits. What he saw next sent a chill crawling down his spine.

Something was happening… subtly, quietly, but unmistakably. The movement of the heroes—their swings, their dodges, even their coordination—was starting to slow. Not in a way that would be immediately obvious to the untrained eye, but Han noticed it. Their speed and fluidity had dipped. Their strength seemed to waver.

The effect was spreading.

It wasn't just the frontline warriors—it was happening all around the battlefield. Little by little. Barely visible, but very real.

No... it's not fatigue, Han realized. It's something else. Something is leeching away at us. Some hidden force.

Even Clara and the top-tier elites, though performing better than the others, weren't entirely spared. Han could tell. His instincts were almost never wrong.

His breathing calmed, but his heart pounded harder. This wasn't over. Not by a long shot.

Something was draining them. If left unchecked, it would snowball—and by the time it became visible to everyone else, it might already be too late.

A disaster was looming beneath the surface. And Han knew one thing with certainty:

He needed to act. Fast.

He looked and looked around but saw nothing unusual. Yet, the uneasy feeling in his gut refused to go away.

Getting an idea, Han acted immediately. His right eye glowed with a faint silver hue as he activated Analyzer Eye—a high-grade sensory skill capable of detecting unseen threats, illusions, energy traps, and even changes in environmental energy signatures. The air around him rippled slightly as the lens of reality shifted, letting him perceive deeper layers of his surroundings.

At first, he saw nothing—just the same chaotic battlefield filled with blazing powers, energy surges, and monstrous roars. But then… something caught his eye.

A faint, almost imperceptible cloud of light grey particles was drifting through the air. So fine that they were nearly invisible, they seemed to fall slowly from above, weaving between wind currents and subtly merging with the air everyone breathed.

His brows furrowed as Analyzer Eye continued to feed him information.

> [ALERT: Foreign substance detected]

[Elemental Signature: Unknown Compound – Not naturally occurring]

[Effect: Slow degradation of stamina and energy manipulation in affected targets]

[Transmission: Airborne – absorption through respiration and skin]

[Danger Rating: High]

Han's eyes widened.

"So that's the cause..." he muttered, watching as the invisible mist seeped into the bodies of nearby heroes. It was subtle, but efficient—weakening their defenses bit by bit without their notice. That explained the slight sluggishness he felt earlier, even after boosting his power.

But the real question was—where was it coming from?

He looked up.

Far above the battlefield—several kilometers into the sky, hidden amidst the thick storm clouds—floated a colossal creature. At first glance, it resembled a black beetle, but on closer inspection, it was far more grotesque. Its massive obsidian body was covered in countless tiny orifices, each of them releasing trails of the gray particles that shimmered like toxic dust as they floated downward.

Its wings were unmoving, yet it hovered ominously in place, its eyes shut as if in meditation. But its presence was undeniable—a biological weapon perfectly designed for long-range suppression.

Han's expression darkened.

"If this thing isn't dealt with fast… the entire hero force could fall," he thought grimly. "The longer they breathe this poison, the weaker they'll become."

Without hesitation, Han's energy surged around him like a lightning storm. His aura ignited in dazzling white-blue arcs. Most of his energy had recovered, and he wasn't about to waste another second. With a single explosive step, he launched upward—rocketing toward the sky like a divine spear aimed at purging corruption.

---

Meanwhile, at the far edge of the battlefield…

The leader of the Red Vanguards stood atop a small elevation, watching Han disappear into the clouds with a smile etched across his pale face.

"He took the bait," he muttered to himself.

His voice was soft, but carried a sinister undertone. As the red glow of his allies reflected in his deep-black irises, he drew his weapon—a blade so thin it looked like a glinting needle, faintly humming with power. It gave off no overwhelming pressure, no tremble in the air. Yet, those who recognized it knew it had ended more lives than any weapon on the battlefield today.

Raising it slightly, he gave a low whistle, signaling his unit.

Around him, the Red Vanguard responded. Clad in jagged, blood-red armor, each soldier raised a weapon that pulsed with a unique aura—weapons forged not just for war, but for annihilation. These were not ordinary combatants. They were elite executioners—trained to assassinate even high-tier heroes.

The leader's voice remained calm, but his words were laced with death.

"Let's take care of this bunch…" he said, referring to the distracted, slowly weakening heroes on the battlefield.

Then, more coldly:

"Kill them all—before the troublesome one comes back."

His smile widened as he added in a chilling whisper:

"That is… if he ever comes back."

Without another word, the Red Vanguard surged forward like a tide of crimson death, charging directly into the heart of the battlefield with one clear goal:

> Slaughter as many heroes as possible.

As the corrupted sky dimmed further and the battlefield descended into chaos, the true nightmare was only just beginning.

---

TO BE CONTINUED...

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Author's Note:

Happy New Month, dear readers!

A brand new month is here, and I just want to take a moment to say thank you for being part of this journey. Whether you've been here from the beginning or just joined recently, your support means the world to me.

Let's step into this month with hope, strength, and good energy. I'll keep bringing you thrilling chapters, and I hope they continue to make your day just a little brighter.

Here's to growth, success, and great stories ahead!

Stay safe, stay inspired, and never stop chasing your dreams.

With gratitude,

– Ultra.