I Died and Received an SSS-Rank Unique Ability-Chapter 43: Wanderer’s Will

Consumed by darkness, Vale felt his consciousness drift in a sea of nothingness.

It was a sensation he knew all too well—like the moment just before a trial, when the body teeters on the edge between life and death. He couldn’t see, couldn’t feel, yet his mind, though shrouded in fog—clung to awareness.

Before the confusion could fully settle in, something shifted. His existence stretched, then snapped back into a different kind of void—one that felt strangely familiar.

Muffled sounds brushed against his ears. Voices—distant and distorted—began to take shape. As the haze lifted, his eyes fluttered open.

A face came into focus. Ayla, just inches away, her expression etched with worry.

"Vale!" she gasped, the tension breaking into a relieved smile.

Groggily, Vale pushed himself upright. His thoughts were still a stormcloud, thick and heavy. He glanced around, his disoriented mind scanning the surroundings.

He was still in the grand hall—the place where the battle with the Tower Keeper had taken place.

"Tower Keeper!" The memory hit him like a jolt of lightning.

He scanned the room, taking in the shattered remains of the black armour strewn across the marble floor.

"We’ve won!" Dain’s voice rang out, sharp and clear, snapping Vale out of his thoughts.

His gaze shifted toward the massive student. Most of Dain’s upper body was wrapped in makeshift bandages, though they barely concealed the scars and fresh wounds carved across his skin.

Vale’s eyes drifted lower—to Dain’s arm, or rather, where the arm should have been. Severed by the Tower Keeper, the student’s elbow was now wrapped in thick cloth, but even so, crimson blood seeped through in heavy patches.

"It’s not as bad as it looks," Dain said, catching Vale’s stare and flashing a wide grin. "I was overdue for some left-arm training anyway."

Vale exhaled slowly and closed his eyes, trying to steady the pounding in his chest. He was glad to see that Dain hadn’t lost his spirit, even after losing an arm.

If they could find the Tree of Life and escape the Demon Realm, their bodies would heal. Just like Vale had recovered after losing both legs during the First Trial, Dain would regain his arm—if they survived.

"What the hell was that?" Ayla asked, her voice tight with concern.

Vale opened his eyes and turned toward her, exhaustion dragging at him.

"I ran out of mana," he said.

"Not that," she pressed. "I meant the battle."

Vale lingered for a moment.

All three of his companions were staring at him now, their expressions tense, searching for answers.

"My... Unique Ability evolved," he said, rising to his feet with a quiet groan.

He hesitated. Part of him wasn’t ready to share the details—too new, too uncertain—but if he was going to trust the group with his life, then keeping secrets would only get in the way.

"Evolved?" Klein echoed, eyes narrowing in thought.

They all looked confused, watching as Vale stood and casually stretched, as if that single word explained everything.

"How long was I out?" he asked, brushing the dust from his clothes.

"About an hour," Ayla said, stepping closer to his side.

Not as bad as he thought. He had expected a day or two to pass, just like last time, but for some reason, his recovery had been quicker.

"Is it because I ranked up my core?" he wondered, glancing around the grand hall.

Many of the columns were cracked or broken. The spiraling staircase, though battered and with damaged support beams, still stood—unfazed by the chaos that had unfolded.

"Did you manage to explore the upper floors?" he asked, his gaze tracing the endless stairs winding higher into the tower.

"No," Ayla replied. "We’ve been busy recovering... and patching wounds."

He nodded.

In just an hour, they had probably managed to stop Dain’s bleeding and stabilise the worst injuries—hardly enough time to explore the depths—or rather, the height—of the tower.

Now that they had completed all their Quests, only one task remained—find a Tree of Life.

It wouldn’t be easy, but Vale hoped they could at least find a clue—or use the tower’s height to scan the surrounding lands.

The Quests...

Vale’s eyes widened as a memory surfaced.

Unlike the others, his Quest came with a Reward—and now, with the Tower Keeper defeated, it was finally within his reach.

Without wasting another second, he summoned his status window.

*****

Name: Vale

Core: Dormant

Core Rank: [ D, 32/500 ]

Artifacts: [ Ordinary Katana, Titan’s Ring, Flask of Salvation, Ironhide Armour, Hellfire ]

Relics: [ Four-Eyed Raven ]

Abilities: [ ]

Unique Ability: [ Ravenous Flame ]

Quest: [ Completed ]

Reward Available: [ Wanderer’s Will ]

*****

He lingered for a while, studying his status window. His attention was first drawn toward his Abilities—or rather, the lack of them. A memory of his ability getting damaged and then consumed by the Spark reemerged. The ability he relied on ever since he entered the second trial was gone.

He sighed deeply. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Trying to stay positive, he forced his attention toward his Core Rank.

"32/500"

The target for the next core rank increase, but so did his strength—in comparison, he wasn’t sure whether it would be harder or easier to reach the next rank.

Finally, his attention shifted to his Quest—which was now complete. There, just beneath it, a new line of text emerged.

His Reward was Available.

Just as his attention shifted to the reward, the Status window vanish and a new—smaller rectangle with text appeared.

*****

Reward Available: [ Wanderer’s Will ]

Accept the reward?

[ Yes ] [ No ]

*****

"Who would even say no?" he pondered as his eyes shifted toward the yes.

Something shifted, and the air around him grew thick. Particles of mana swirled all around him, and just as the air couldn’t grow any thicker, the sparks of mana disintegrated, the atmosphere becoming normal once more.

[ You have received an Ability: Spirit Bond. ]

"Spirit Bond?"

Vale summoned the Status window, his attention narrowed to the new ability.

"Spirit Bond Ability Description: [ You may form a Bond with a Spirit you defeated. The Spirit must be willing. ]