SSS Awakening: I Can Create Skills By Will-Chapter 79: The Cost of Survival
Commander Lyra finally spoke.
"You returned," she said. ๐ณ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐.๐ฐ๐ ๐ฆ
Arthur nodded. "Yes, Commander."
She studied him for a moment longer before turning away, her voice returning to its usual commanding tone as she addressed the gathered silver and gold squads members.
"Prepare for the next operation. The dungeon will be cleared again."
Her decision was final.
Arthur and the rest of the explorers stood outside the dungeon and watched quietly as the silver squad and the few gold squad members prepared for their mission.
No one spoke loudly, yet their thoughts were clear on their faces.
Envy.
The difference between them was obvious.
The silver squad moved with practiced ease, their armor polished and fitted perfectly to their bodies. Their gear looked refined, crafted not just for use but for efficiency. Their weapons carried a faint glow, runes etched neatly along the surface. Even the way they held themselves felt different.
Confident.
Sharp.
Experienced.
The bronze squad could not help but stare.
Some of the new explorers whispered among themselves.
"Look at that sword..."
"That armor alone could feed my family for years."
"They donโt even look nervous."
Arthur also watched, though his gaze held curiosity more than envy. Strength was strength. Equipment helped, but what mattered was how it was used.
Still, he admitted one thing to himself.
They looked cool.
The silver squad gathered around their captain for a final briefing. Their voices were low, their movements precise. There were no unnecessary gestures, no wasted words. Each instruction was received with a nod, each position understood without question.
Then their captain turned toward Commander Lyra.
She gave a single nod.
That was all.
The silver squad stepped forward and entered the dungeon without hesitation, followed by the few gold squad members assigned to the mission. Their figures disappeared into the darkness, and the air outside the gate grew quieter.
The bronze squad remained behind.
After the silver squad vanished from sight, Commander Lyra finally turned her full attention to them, especially the new explorers.
Her presence alone straightened their backs.
"This," she began, her voice calm but firm, "is your welcome to the life of an explorer."
No one moved.
No one dared interrupt.
"You have now seen the reality of the field. The danger, the uncertainty, and the cost of hesitation."
Her eyes moved across them slowly.
"The increase in dungeon mutations is real. The cause is not yet known, and certain matters remain beyond your clearance."
One of the new explorers raised a hand slightly, as if wanting to ask more. Her gaze shifted to him, and the pressure in her eyes alone made him lower it immediately.
She continued.
"You do not need to know everything. You need to survive."
Her tone softened slightly, though her authority never faded.
"And survival requires strength."
She gestured toward Ryn.
"From this day forward, the new explorers will operate under Captain Ryn. You will train, fight, and complete missions alongside the experienced bronze squad."
A quiet murmur passed through the group.
Some relief.
Some worry.
"You will learn from them," she continued. "And when your growth proves sufficient, you may be assigned joint missions with higher divisions."
Her next words carried weight.
"There is no room for uselessness in my division."
The sentence landed heavily, yet there was no cruelty in her tone. It was simply truth.
"Even the most flawed skill can become useful with effort. If you work hard, your abilities will be refined. If you show potential, you will be rewarded."
As she spoke, her gaze paused briefly on Arthur.
Only for a moment.
Then she looked away as if nothing had happened.
Arthur noticed. He did not react outwardly, but a small thought crossed his mind.
So sheโs watching me too.
Commander Lyra gave her final instruction.
"Rest and recover. Await further orders while the dungeon operation continues."
She dismissed them with a wave of her hand, yet the authority in that simple gesture carried the weight of absolute command.
Despite her strict words, there was something beneath them.
Care.
Responsibility.
She wanted them alive.
The bronze squad remained outside the dungeon, waiting for the squads inside to complete their mission. With the tension slowly fading, the atmosphere relaxed.
Voices rose.
Laughter returned.
The explorers gathered in small groups, discussing what they had gained and what they had experienced inside the dungeon.
"I thought I was dead when those goblins surrounded us."
"My skill finally worked properly this time."
"I got three cores."
"I only got one..."
Excitement mixed with exhaustion.
But not all attention stayed within the groups.
Some glances kept drifting toward Arthur.
He had separated himself slightly from the others, standing quietly at a distance.
The murmurs began.
"I didnโt even notice when he left the formation."
"Same here."
"Do you think he was the one who cleared that goblin camp?"
"That doesnโt make sense..."
"But the camp was wiped out before we got there."
"And most of the loot was gone."
Their eyes moved over Arthur again.
"He doesnโt even carry a pouch."
"Maybe he has a storage device."
"Thatโs impossible. Do you know how expensive those are?"
"Not for someone hiding his strength."
Speculation continued, growing louder in whispers.
Kael remained silent among them.
His eyes stayed on Arthur, studying him carefully. He remembered the goblin camps they had encountered. The speed of the clearing. The precision of the kills. The strange absence of chaos.
That level of efficiency was not normal.
Not for a new explorer.
If he really did it alone...
Kael did not finish the thought.
Arthur, meanwhile, heard the whispers but ignored them completely.
He knew they were talking about him. He knew they were guessing what had happened inside the dungeon.
But he did not care.
It was already done.
Besides, he had more important things on his mind that made him excited.
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