SSS Ranked Awakening: All My Skills Are at Level 100-Chapter 401: A New Element—2

After their loving time, Seraphine expressed with slight frustration how she wanted to train much longer with all the new skills and techniques he’d given her before finally going outside to see the surprises he’d mentioned preparing.

Leon reassured her gently, running his fingers through her purple hair. "Don’t worry. Take all the time you need. There’s no rush whatsoever."

Before leaving, he transferred a massive quantity of cores and skill scrolls from his inventory to her storage ring.

I’ve already extracted the skills I’m personally interested in learning. The rest can benefit her and the others.

Seraphine’s amethyst eyes widened in surprise—again—because this time the sheer quantity was exponentially greater than previous gifts.

The weight of the storage ring felt heavier than usual in her hand, as if the power inside pressed against her skin, pulsing with latent potential.

Leon had given her all the cores below Sage rank that he’d harvested. He kept only the Sage rank and above for his personal use.

Those higher-tier cores are the least numerous but most valuable. I need them for my own advancement.

However, he did include a couple of Sage rank cores specifically for her, making a point to mention: "These special ones are especially for you. Don’t share them."

He also gave her careful instructions: "Share the remaining cores with the people living inside this space. And make sure to be lenient with distribution to those on the older side of their lifespan."

Leon was acutely aware that awakened individuals had significantly higher life expectancy than normal humans. But even with enhanced longevity, age remained one of the critical factors in this community.

There’s no way to increase their levels before they’ve collected cores from dungeons on their own after the initial awakening day.

People could still die of old age eventually, even as awakened. Fortunately, nothing tragic had occurred yet—it was simply part of natural life cycles.

But being an awakened myself, I want them to grow strong and useful. Not waste away from age-related decline when they could be contributing.

Their quality of life here was undeniably better compared to before entering this space, but there remained fundamental limitations.

I seriously need to do something about the inability to level up here. It would be ideal if dungeon-like structures existed in this space, like in the real world. Without that, this place can never function as a truly complete realm.

He had to find a solution—some way to create leveling opportunities without requiring constant external intervention.

After the festival ends, I will find a way; there has to be something in the cosmic shop, and then I won’t have to worry as much about the people here. Everything will take its natural course, and my direct involvement won’t be constantly needed.

Just then, Leon felt Ira’s message brush against his consciousness like a gentle touch in his ear.

It’s time to return. They’re ready to begin announcements.

Before departing, Leon had already decided on his next major expenditure from the cosmic shop.

I need to find something that solves the leveling problem. That takes priority.

He was still collecting causality toward eventually purchasing the Cradle of Elemental Seed, but after buying the mythical Dragonblood Vanguard Armor, his accumulated total was significantly reduced.

I have around one hundred seventy million causality right now, counting what I’ve earned these past two days, which itself amounts to fifty million.

After the festival concluded, he’d search the cosmic shop’s treasure catalog specifically for items that could solve the dungeon deficiency.

This is my first priority. The Cradle will have to wait longer. Collecting enough causality for a divine-tier item would take enormous time anyway, so it’s better to invest in the future development of my dimensional world first.

Leon said his goodbye to Seraphine with a lingering kiss, then withdrew his consciousness from the dimensional space.

FWOOSH!

His awareness snapped back to his physical body seated on the ice throne in the arena.

His skin tingled as spatial layers slid past his consciousness, the cold bite of the arena’s wind replacing the warm scent of Seraphine’s skin.

His clone remained in the time dimension, still steadily improving its mastery over the darkness affinity, increasing both versions’ proficiency simultaneously.

Once fully present, Leon listened as announcements were made and contribution tallies calculated. He formally contributed the five percent as Archon Vyrra had requested.

ROAR! CHEER! WHOOOP!

He received enthusiastic cheers from every single Pyrrhan present—warriors, support staff, beast handlers, everyone. They seemed incredibly energized and appreciative.

Not unexpected. I basically saved their lives in the previous battle. And now I’m contributing to their collective growth, even when I am not obliged to.

Instead of immediately returning to meditation in his time dimension as he’d done previously, Leon decided to remain present in the physical world while they prepared the victory feast.

Ira noticed him with his eyes open, not meditating like usual, so she asked with curious surprise, "Why aren’t you meditating like before?"

Leon smiled at her. "I’m interested in watching the feast preparation. Maybe even taking part in helping cook if that’s allowed."

GASP!

Ira’s reaction was immediate and explosive—her crimson eyes lighting up with genuine excitement, her entire face brightening.

"Really?! You want to help?!"

Before he could fully respond, she grabbed his hand enthusiastically and practically dragged him down from the elevated seating area toward the ground level, where groups of people were already beginning preparation work.

She felt genuinely thrilled. It had been so incredibly long since she’d personally taken part in feast preparation—she used to do this during every festival celebration when her sister was still here.

My sister...

A flash of sadness touched her heart, but it vanished in the next instant.

I’ve already promised myself I’ll find her one day. For now, I have to live in the moment. I’ve already processed that grief and moved forward.

Leon and Ira both joined the cooking crews, working alongside other Pyrrhans in the communal preparation space. The faint humming of drums and other traditional Pyrrhan instruments created a pleasant background ambiance, building anticipation for the coming celebration.

Leon was particularly interested in observing how they cooked monster meat. Normally, from everything he’d learned, monster flesh was completely inedible—toxic to consume, filled with corrupted mana that would poison anyone who tried eating it.

But these Pyrrhans not only make it edible, they actually enhance it. The prepared meat increases mana reserves slightly when consumed. It absolutely does work—I’ve verified that effect.

Their unique fire was certainly different—a special property he didn’t naturally possess.

But I want to see if I can replicate what they’re doing with my own flames. I have Rank 7 fire affinity now. That’s not just any normal fire element mastery.

He watched carefully, analyzing every technique, every temperature adjustment, every method they used to purify and transform the corrupted monster essence into something nutritious and beneficial.

A rich, spicy aroma filled the air—tinged with something smoky and alien, like burning stardust.