I Died and Received an SSS-Rank Unique Ability-Chapter 52: A Moment of Rest

The group lingered in silence, their eyes fixed on a faint glimmer of light piercing through the heavy fog and pitch-black night.

"People?" Ayla asked, her voice laced with doubt, as if even the suggestion felt too far-fetched.

"Maybe..." Vale murmured, his voice low. His gaze remained locked on the distant light, unable—or unwilling—to look away.

A knot of unease tightened in his chest. The idea of finding people in the demon realm was more of a fantasy than a possibility. Its vast, treacherous landscape had swallowed many. Those who sought survival by searching for others were often the first to die.

"Only one way to find out," Dain said with a shrug.

The others exchanged quiet glances and nodded. With no clear goal and no known destination, chasing the light might be their only path forward. But which way should they go?

Vale scanned their surroundings. The narrow trail split in two—one veering sharply left, the other winding off to the right. A sheer drop loomed ahead, the only thing separating them from the distant mountain where the light flickered like a beacon.

Neither path offered any promise. Both vanished quickly into the choking fog.

"Taking the wrong path could be fatal," Vale thought grimly. Considering their circumstances, the stakes were high.

The group was on the brink of collapse—starved, sleep-deprived, and fighting against nature itself. Choosing the right path wasn’t just important—it was the difference between life and death.

Then, a sudden realisation struck him.

His mind turned toward his Relic—the Four-Eyed Raven.

He had avoided using it since the last time, when its power had nearly shattered his sanity. The memory of that moment still haunted him. But things were different now. He had ranked up. His core was stronger. His mind was far more resilient.

With his thoughts made up, he summoned the relic.

The air grew dense. Mana surged through his body, rushing toward his mind. Then, like a shadow peeling away from the night, the dark silhouette of a raven emerged into being above him.

The group stared wide-eyed at the raven—a detail Vale might’ve missed, had it not been for the sudden shift in his vision.

The world had expanded. His field of view stretched into a sweeping panorama, far beyond human limits. Sweat beaded on his forehead, trailing down his face. The toll of the Relic was steep—but this time, somehow bearable.

Wasting no time, he sent the raven soaring toward the path on the right. The narrow passage curled around the mountain’s edge. Ice golems—motionless and hidden within the crystalline walls—watched silently. Their crimson eyes flickered, as if scanning the surroundings. For a fleeting moment, Vale felt as if he could sense their thoughts—cold, murderous intents—but he shook the feeling away and focused.

The path ended abruptly at a cliff.

A dead end.

His jaw clenched. The strain on his essence grew heavier with each passing second. Half his mana was already gone—but the knowledge was worth it.

He dismissed the Relic.

The raven vanished into nothingness, and with it, the crushing weight on his mind lifted. Relief flooded him like a breath of clean air. The absence of vision, the sudden quiet in his head—it felt exhilarating. He gasped for breath, his heart pounding, as he tried to calm himself.

"What the hell was that?" Ayla asked, her voice low and uncertain. The others stared at him, eyes full of silent questions.

"A Relic," Vale replied between heavy breaths. "The path on the right ends in a dead end. We should head left."

Ayla narrowed her eyes, clearly unsettled. She looked at him like she wanted to say more, then gave a small shake of her head, dismissing whatever thoughts lingered.

Suddenly, laughter erupted from the largest of the students, snapping everyone’s attention toward him.

"You have a Relic too?" he said, grinning as his laughter trailed off.

"Too? You mean—" Vale began speaking, but Dain cut him off, a wide smirk already spreading across his face.

"Yeah. Here," Dain said, holding up the necklace around his neck.

Vale had always thought the student made the necklace himself, though the idea that Dain was spending time making jewellery now seemed almost laughable. It looked like a simple string, woven with a few animal teeth.

"I got it after the first trial. It grants me luck." The student added.

"Luck..." Vale muttered, eyeing the necklace with new understanding. The idea made sense, especially considering the student’s unique ability. A luck-based Relic would explain why he was still alive despite gambling his life with each battle.

But still—he has one too? Vale’s thoughts spiraled. What kind of first trial had Dain faced to earn a Relic?

There was still a lot he didn’t know about his allies, despite being in countless life and death situations together. Everyone had their secrets, even Dain, who seemed eager to share almost anything.

Dismissing the thought with a sigh, Vale faced the path to their left.

Soon enough, the group made their way down the only viable path forward.

It didn’t take long before ice golems burst from the frozen walls—but Vale was ready. Having scouted them earlier on the path to their right, he anticipated the ambush. The group dispatched the attackers with swift coordination, often using the narrow passage to their advantage, forcing the heavy creatures off balance and sending them plummeting to their deaths.

The mountain was cloaked in darkness. The fog thickened, and nightfall had descended rapidly. Despite the pristine white snow all around them, the gloom was suffocating.

It wasn’t until Klein activated a light artifact—something he had received during their last battle—that the group could safely navigate forward again. A soft glow bathed the jagged terrain ahead, pushing back the darkness just enough to continue their journey.

Hours passed in slow, cautious steps. Then, carved into the mountain wall, the group stumbled upon a massive crevice—far larger than the one they’d sheltered in when they first arrived at the mountain.

They moved inside, grateful for its cover. The rocky overhang shielded them from the biting wind and the freezing cold.

After a brief discussion, they arranged the watch order.

The moment their heads hit the cold, uneven ground, the students fell into a deep, exhausted slumber.