E-Rank or SSS-Rank: I Awakened a Skill That Shouldn't Exist-Chapter 98: Friend or Foe

Chapter 98

Han had studied countless skills, their categories ranging from Combat to Support and Ranged abilities. Yet, despite all his forced cram sessions, he had never encountered a skill like this—one without a clear rank. Its description was baffling, hinting at both incredible fortune and dreadful misfortune.

"How strong is he?" Aiden asked eagerly, eyes sparkling with anticipation. He was already weighing whether to challenge the mysterious figure.

Han shook his head slowly. "It’s complicated."

The Almighty didn’t slow his pace, savoring the atmosphere as he strolled past them without a word.

After he disappeared from sight, Silver Wing lightly tapped Han on the back. Han turned to see him nodding toward the approaching figures. Squinting, Han spotted five people clad in green and white uniforms heading their way. The man in the center wore a confident grin—Han instantly recognized him as one of the infamous A6.

Every A6 Han had met so far was a certified wild card, so he braced himself for more eccentricity. Yet, when the man reached them, he surprised Han by bowing slightly and introducing himself with polite warmth.

"I’m Little One, Class A Rank 4," he said, smiling genuinely.

Han nodded in return. This one had manners.

Before Han could reply, a voice called out from the side, "It’s you!"

Han turned to see the four people behind Little One dropping to their knees in deep gratitude.

"Thank you for saving our lives!" they said in unison.

Han blinked in surprise. He couldn’t recall when he had done such a favor—and even if he had, he preferred to keep it under wraps. Too much attention wasn’t something he wanted.

Little One glanced at his second-in-command, a brown-haired man with a unique skill: the ability to absorb energy from the environment and transfer it to his allies. The man stood up, and after Han gave a slight nod, whispered something in Little One’s ear.

Little One’s eyes widened as he processed the information. He had just learned about a hero wielding extreme lightning powers who had saved his guildmates from certain death inside a deadly Yellow Portal.

Looking back at Han with newfound respect, a flicker of confusion remained buried deep inside him. If this man was the leader—the so-called Fire God—then his unmatched fire abilities should have defined him. But the fact that Han also commanded lightning? That defied everything Little One knew.

He didn’t press further. After a few more exchanged words, the group departed.

With no more visitors coming, Han and his companions finally breathed a collective sigh of relief. ƒreewebɳovel.com

The next hours were spent exploring Marinua City—visiting cinemas, browsing shops, and indulging in the city’s famed seafood delicacies. The taste was nothing short of divine, a true feast for the senses.

While most tournament participants holed up to train for the battles ahead, Han and his group chose to savor the day, letting themselves enjoy every moment.

Later, Han was soaking in the male-only spirit-refreshing bath—a hot spring named by its founder for its rejuvenating properties. He closed his eyes, lost in the calming warmth.

"You seem to be enjoying yourself," a smooth voice said beside him.

Han opened his eyes to see a man around his mid-twenties smiling brightly. But Han wasn’t looking at the smile—his attention was drawn to the man’s striking purple hair.

Could this be the purple-haired man?

Han knew he had to be careful. He couldn’t jump to conclusions or act rashly. There was no way to be certain if this was the same man responsible for the creation and distribution of the cursed Serum and the chaos it had brought.

"My name is Drake Voss," the man introduced himself calmly. Han’s eyes softened slightly at the name. The Voss family was renowned worldwide for their research on skills and portals. They were closely tied with the I-Tech corporations, collaborating on many groundbreaking projects.

"I’m Han—Han Trystan," Han said after a brief pause.

"A hero, then? You must be one," Drake said, a hint of curiosity in his voice.

Han nodded and shrugged. It wasn’t exactly a secret—being a hero was just part of his identity.

Drake smiled bitterly. "You see, I could never be a hero." He sighed and continued. "Our family’s survival has depended on our expertise in observation and research. Coupled with our wealth, we’ve been able to contribute to many of the world’s advancements. But none of us have ever awakened a truly powerful or combat-worthy skill. So, being a hero is out of the question."

Han listened carefully as Drake spoke at length, sharing his thoughts and ambitions. Even though there was a chance this purple-haired man wasn’t the one Han had been searching for, Han kept listening.

As Drake spoke about his vision for a better world—one that would never again suffer a disaster like the Sendok Calamity—Han felt the man’s sincerity. His suspicion, once at fifty percent, dropped to twenty. Someone who genuinely cared about humanity couldn’t be the leader of the cursed organization.

When Drake finished sharing his goals, he raised his wine cup with a quiet smile. Han mirrored the gesture, lifting his own cup.

"Cheers to the better future we both envision," Drake said.

They clinked glasses and continued talking well into the night. Eventually, Han excused himself and left.

Minutes after Han was gone, a man with long red hair entered the room, dressed impeccably. His presence was unmistakable—Striker, Drake’s right-hand man.

"Did you get anything from him?" Striker asked.

Drake sipped his wine with a knowing smile. "He’s a good boy. Seems we share a vision, though our plans contrast sharply."

Striker frowned. "So what now? The Tryst guild is becoming more and more of a problem."

"For my vision to succeed, Project Ultimate must prevail," Drake said, a cold smile curling his lips. "That means crushing anyone who stands in our way—including him and his guild."

After spending the day together, the group booked several rooms for the night. The tournament wouldn’t begin tomorrow—more important figures were arriving, giving them time to explore the city further.

Lying in his bed, Han reflected on everything he had experienced—the Class S hero, the A6, and the purple-haired man from the spirit-refreshing bath. Though the man had sounded genuine, Han wasn’t naive enough to dismiss him completely. He instructed Clara to investigate whether the man had any ties to the cursed organization; she was still working on it.

As for the A6, Han had met almost all except one: a mysterious Class A Rank One figure known only as Null. Attempts to gather information on Null had yielded nothing—not a name, not a skill, nothing. He was more enigmatic than anyone Han had encountered.

I’ll meet him if he shows up at the tournament, Han thought, drifting into sleep.

---

In the building next to Han’s, a shadowy figure cloaked in black stood silently. From an outsider’s perspective, he seemed both present and absent, as if he didn’t truly exist. His face was shrouded in eternal darkness.

He stared toward Han and spoke in an unexpectedly calm voice, "So that’s him—the Trystan boy."

"Hope he’s ready," the figure said, then vanished without a trace.

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To be continued...