SSS Awakening: I Can Create Skills By Will

Chapter 137: Reading the Battlefield

Arthur only spared the interface a short glance.

The battlefield was still roaring around him, but the words floating before his eyes were clear enough.

He read through them once and nodded to himself.

This... was useful.

Very useful.

In a situation like this, something like that could change everything.

The window hovered quietly before him.

✦══════════════════════════════════════✦

❂ SOVEREIGN INTENT SYSTEM ❂

✦══════════════════════════════════════✦

⟦ Combat Adaptation Detected ⟧

✦ Base Skill: Intent Weave

⟬ Observed Behavior ⟭

→ Force Redirection

⟬ System Processing ⟭

• Analyzing Intent Application...

• Reconstructing Combat Pattern...

• Deriving Adaptive Response...

━━━ NEW SKILL GENERATED ━━━

✦ Name: Vector Deflection

✦ Type: Defensive / Trajectory Control

✦ Rank: C

✦ Status: ACTIVE

⟬ Skill Description ⟭

Intent manipulation allows the user to alter the vector of incoming projectiles and high-speed physical attacks.

Rather than resisting force directly, the trajectory is redirected, minimizing strain and optimizing defensive efficiency.

━━━ EFFECTS ━━━

• Redirects incoming attack vectors instead of blocking

• Greatly reduces mana cost compared to direct resistance

• Minimizes physical and structural strain during defense

• Effective against projectiles and high-velocity strikes

• Deflection efficiency scales with reaction speed, perception, and intent precision

⟬ Integration Status ⟭

✦ Skill Successfully Integrated ✦

✦══════════════════════════════════════✦

Arthur exhaled softly.

"So that’s what you call it," he murmured.

Vector Deflection.

A small smile appeared on his face.

Before, he had to weave threads and shape the field himself. It worked, but it took effort and focus. Now the system had turned that idea into a proper skill.

Cleaner.

Faster.

More efficient.

"Good," he said quietly.

The window vanished as he closed the interface.

Arthur didn’t linger.

He pushed off the ground and moved forward, joining the others as the battle continued ahead of him.

The fight had already shifted.

The moment the stones exploded among the ogres’ position, the explorers surged forward like a wave.

Adrenaline ran through them.

The captain was the first to move.

"Push forward!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos.

Weapons rose.

Shields slammed forward.

The explorers charged with renewed confidence, using the opening Arthur had created.

Arthur slowed his pace as he approached, watching the battlefield with calm eyes.

The two ogres were still standing.

But the balance had changed.

The long range ogre was no longer comfortably sitting behind its stone launcher. The structure had been damaged by the returning stones, forcing it to fight more directly.

Explorers surrounded it quickly.

Blades struck.

Spears stabbed.

Spells flashed across its thick hide.

Yet the creature refused to fall.

One warrior slammed his axe against its ribs.

CLANG!

The sound rang out like metal striking stone.

"What the hell—"

Its skin was unbelievably tough.

Even tougher than normal ogres.

The long range ogre growled as it swung a massive arm, forcing three explorers back at once. The ground shook when its fist landed.

At the same time, the lean ogre returned to the fight.

This one was far more aggressive.

It moved fast for a creature its size, long limbs striking with brutal precision.

CLANG!

Ryn blocked one of its swings with his shield, but the force still pushed him back several steps.

"Damn thing hits harder now!" he shouted.

The captain jumped in immediately.

Steel flashed.

He struck the ogre’s arm with a sharp diagonal slash that forced the creature to recoil.

"Hold it in place!" he barked.

Several explorers moved with him, forming a loose circle around the lean ogre.

The battlefield turned chaotic again.

Steel clashed.

Magic burst through the air.

Dust rose with every step.

Arthur watched everything quietly.

From the outside, it might have looked like he had slowed down.

But in truth, his mind was moving faster than ever.

He saw the pattern.

The long range ogre was being contained. The explorers kept it busy so it couldn’t prepare another large attack.

At the same time, most of the pressure was falling on the lean ogre.

That one was dangerous.

Its strength had clearly increased.

Arthur narrowed his eyes slightly.

It wasn’t just strength.

There was a rhythm to it.

He glanced toward the elevated part of the dungeon.

The boss monster still sat on its crude stone throne near the dungeon seal.

It hadn’t moved.

Not once.

Most of the explorers had stopped worrying about it after the battle began. Since it didn’t charge or interfere directly, they focused on the immediate threats instead.

But Arthur never stopped watching it.

The boss looked calm.

Too calm.

Its massive body remained still, yet its empty looking eyes moved slowly across the battlefield.

Observing.

Calculating.

Just like him.

Arthur’s gaze met the creature’s for a moment.

The boss stared back.

There was no rage in its eyes.

No panic.

Only quiet attention.

Arthur smirked.

"So you’re watching too."

The creature didn’t react.

But Arthur noticed something else.

The lean ogre suddenly struck harder again.

BOOM!

One of the warriors barely blocked a downward smash, his knees bending under the weight.

"That buff again!" someone shouted.

Arthur’s eyes sharpened.

There it was.

The boss raised one hand slightly from its throne.

A faint pulse of dark energy spread across the battlefield.

And the ogres grew stronger.

Arthur had been watching that timing for a while now.

The buff wasn’t constant.

It came in waves.

Strength surged.

Then it faded.

Then it returned again.

Most people wouldn’t notice it during the chaos.

But Arthur had been counting.

Three seconds.

Two.

One..

His eyes suddenly flashed.

"Now!" Arthur shouted.

The sudden command caught everyone off guard.

"Attack the long range one! Neck!"

The explorers didn’t hesitate.

At this point, they trusted his instincts more than their own.

The moment Arthur shouted, they moved.

The buff faded.

Just for a second.

Arthur stepped forward.

His intent spread outward.

Intent Weave activated. The flow of force around the ogre shifted slightly, pulling its balance off for half a second.

That was all they needed.

The explorers struck together.

Spears.

Blades.

Magic.

Every attack landed at the same time.

The long range ogre roared in pain.

Its skin, which had felt like iron before, suddenly gave way.

The captain had been waiting for that exact moment.

His body moved like a released arrow.

"Finally," he muttered.

His axe flashed.

SHRING!

A clean strike cut across the ogre’s neck.