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

Meanwhile, on the battlefield, the chaos had finally started to… well, calm down.

If you could call hundreds of monsters still running around "calm."

The endless waves of beasts seemed to have stopped pouring in, and for the first time in hours, the heroes could almost believe they were winning. It wasn't a swift victory—more like a slow, messy tug-of-war—but progress was progress.

The teams in the sleek,white and blue Tryst Suits were doing especially well. The combination of their enhanced physical abilities, sharp coordination, and the unnerving way they moved in perfect sync made them as frightening to watch as they were to fight beside.

Any hero who didn't die instantly from a blow could be hauled back to the standby medics, patched up, and thrown right back into the fray like a freshly sharpened sword.

For a brief moment, things were almost… dare they say it… manageable.

Unfortunately, fate doesn't like smug heroes.

High on a rocky cliff overlooking the battlefield, a new presence made itself known. Six figures stood there, their massive frames outlined against the harsh sunlight.

Their armor wasn't just dark—it was so black it seemed to drink in the light, polished enough to gleam even through the dust and smoke of war. Each of them had four arms, all thick with muscle and plated in jagged steel, like they'd been built for one purpose: to break everything they touched.

And their eyes—deep, glowing crimson—were locked on the heroes below with the kind of malice you couldn't train, only be born with.

These weren't beasts. They were monsters. Thinking, calculating monsters. The kind that didn't kill for food, or territory, or survival… no, these ones enjoyed it. They liked watching hope drain from their victim's face before delivering the final blow.

At the center of the group stood their leader, a towering figure with six clawed hands that flexed like it was already imagining how many spines it could snap before breakfast. Its presence radiated dread so thick, it felt like the air had gotten heavier.

Legends called creatures like these Dreadknights, and not because the name sounded cool on a recruitment poster.

The leader took one long look at the battle below, a cruel smirk curling its lip beneath it's helmet.

"Go," it said, its voice like grinding stone. "Kill them all."

The Dreadknights didn't hesitate. They scattered instantly, moving with terrifying speed, melting into the chaos below like wolves let loose in a crowded market.

On the frontlines, five heroes were locked in combat with a cluster of lesser beasts—ugly things with too many teeth and not enough manners. At the start of the day, fighting these monsters had seemed almost impossible, but after hours of struggle, the tide had begun to turn. One hero, a young man with a hybrid weapon that was part shield, part axe, had just decapitated a bird-like creature made entirely of thorny vines.

He allowed himself a quick, satisfied grin. Finally, the end was in sight. Just a few more beasts and they could all take a well-earned breather. Maybe even sit down.

That's when the universe decided to humble him.

Without warning, a shadow loomed over him. He spun around, barely managing to swing his shield-axe into place just in time to intercept a blow.

Bad news: the blow landed anyway.

Worse news: the blow landed hard.

The impact was like a warhammer made of pure spite. A deafening BOOM rang out, followed by a shockwave that rippled through the air, shaking nearby warriors off their feet.

His supposedly high-grade B-Rank shield held for exactly half a second before it exploded into glittering shards, leaving the young hero to absorb the full force of the attack.

The result? He was launched across the battlefield like a human cannonball, plowing into the dirt so hard he probably dug a new foxhole.

He tried to stand, but his body disagreed. His internal organs were currently filing a complaint with management.

Coughing up a thick mouthful of blood, the young hero struggled to push himself to his feet—but froze halfway. His expression stiffened, eyes going wide.

The reason was obvious.

The monster in dark, plated armor was charging toward him, the crimson glow from its visor burning like an unholy furnace. Even from a distance, the chill radiating off it was enough to crawl up his spine and settle in his bones.

Lucky for him, he was wearing the Tryst Armor—and more importantly, the Unity Resonance was active. That meant every hero linked to him now knew exactly how much trouble he was in.

Before the monster could get close enough to make him regret his life choices, three other heroes in matching Tryst suits streaked in front of him.

Without hesitation, they raised their hands, energy flaring in perfect sync. A shimmering blue dome expanded around them—the synchronized barrier.

Unfortunately, the monster didn't seem impressed. It didn't even slow down. Dark energy began swirling around one of its clawed fists, condensing into a dense wave of pure malice.

Then—WHAM!—its punch slammed into the barrier, the impact ringing out like a war drum.

The barrier shuddered violently. It lasted only a quarter of a second before fine cracks began to spiderweb across its surface.

The monster didn't wait for the cracks to spread—it struck again with its second fist. This time, the fractures widened into gaping splits. The dome was seconds from collapsing entirely.

And that wasn't even the bad news.

The real problem? The monster had four arms. Four. Arms. Which meant it still had two more ready to deliver a follow-up hit that could not only obliterate the barrier, but possibly pulp the defenders into unrecognizable hero-jam.

The trio made a split-second decision—waiting would be suicide. Instead of holding the barrier and hoping for a miracle, they dropped it and went on the offensive.

Energy flared around them as they summoned their strongest skills, ready to meet the incoming blow head-on.

The final two punches came faster than a tax deadline, tearing through the last traces of the barrier with a violent shockwave.

But the heroes were already countering—torrents of flame, acid-laced strikes, and blades of condensed energy lashed out toward the monster.

The two forces collided in an explosive clash… and the heroes instantly realized they'd miscalculated. Badly.

The monster's power overwhelmed them, swatting their combined assault aside like an angry landlord removing squatters. The trio was hurled skyward, spinning like ragdolls before gravity remembered to pull them back down.

The monster, clearly not done, gathered another dense mass of dark energy in one of its hands and flung it upward at the airborne heroes.

It would have hit—if a crackling streak of blue lightning hadn't flashed past, scooping the trio away barely a quarter-second before the attack exploded where they'd been.

The lightning streak landed, revealing a tall, beautiful woman with long azure hair, arcs of electricity dancing along her frame. Behind her stood the three battered heroes, looking equal parts relieved and dizzy.

"Go. Warn the others," she said, her eyes never leaving the monster. "This isn't something you can handle. Leave it for the elites."

They nodded quickly, retreating without hesitation.

Strangely enough, the monster didn't chase them. If Elexa's instincts were right, that thing was at least a high A-rank—and not the kind you brag about beating after a lucky shot. The oppressive pressure rolling off its body made her certain.

Still, she smirked faintly. It was strong, yes. Dangerous, definitely.

But she was confident she could put it down.

Lightning crackled violently around Elexa, dancing from her shoulders to her fingertips. Before the monster could even react, she vanished—reappearing right in front of it in a blinding flash. Her fist, condensed with dense, searing electricity, shot forward and slammed into the beast's chest.

The impact was so powerful that the armored monster was lifted clean off its feet and hurled skyward. But in the air was where Elexa truly thrived.

She became a blur of lightning, striking from every direction—left, right, above—each blow sending shockwaves through the air, making the very ground below tremble.

High above the battlefield, she gathered an even greater surge of energy. A spiraling sphere of compressed electricity formed in her hands, roaring with destructive power.

Without hesitation, she dove headfirst, crashing into the monster with cataclysmic force. The explosion of energy was like a thunderous tsunami, engulfing the beast and sending it spiraling down toward the earth.

It hit the ground with a deafening impact, creating a massive crater. Dust and debris rose in a suffocating cloud. Elexa landed softly, her expression neutral as she stared into the haze. "That took longer than I expected… but at least it's over," she murmured.

She turned to leave—only for her instincts to scream a warning. A tidal wave of dread hit her. She reacted instantly, releasing a furious surge of lightning around her just as a dark, armored fist tore through the dust cloud and slammed into her.

Pain exploded across her ribs as she was thrown back several meters, twisting midair before landing on her feet. The ache throbbed, but she forced herself to stand firm.

The source of her pain emerged—unchanged. The same damned monster. Its black armor bore a few shallow cracks, but otherwise, it looked nearly unscathed. Her furious assault had done little. The waves of electricity had barely affected it at all.

Its elemental resistance… was astronomical.

Not only was this creature strong and fast, but its defense was a nightmare. And if there were more of these things on the battlefield… casualties among the heroes would skyrocket.

Elexa's jaw tightened. She closed her eyes, drawing in a steady breath. When they snapped open, they burned with resolve.

Over the years, she had been called many things—freak, monster, too dangerous to face. And right now, she was about to show this beast exactly why those words were true.

The lightning around her flared violently, surging with renewed fury.

"Strong or not… I'm going to erase you from existence."

She launched forward again.

TO BE CONTINUED…....