SSS Awakening: I Can Create Skills By Will

Chapter 163: First Impressions II

The next person hesitated before stepping forward.

Arthur noticed her immediately.

She looked younger than the others.

Smaller too.

Her dark hair was tied in a messy ponytail and a pair of light daggers hung from her belt.

At first she looked nervous.

Her fingers fidgeted slightly.

But the moment she spoke, her eyes lit up.

"I’m Nox!"

Her voice had energy in it.

She quickly bowed a little toward Arthur.

"E rank scout from the Fifth Division bronze squad."

She straightened again and scratched her cheek.

"Captain Ryn recruited me."

Her smile returned quickly.

"My skill is mostly for tracking... especially sensitive to tainted mana."

Arthur raised an eyebrow slightly.

For a squad that investigated abyss activity, she was a useful recruit.

Before the silence could grow awkward, Nox added quickly,

"I’m looking forward to working with you!"

Arthur couldn’t help smiling as he responded back genuinely.

"I also look forward to working with you."

A few of the others glanced at them but said nothing. As Arthur made another mental note.

Scout. Energetic. The team’s eyes.

The next introduction came from another woman.

She stepped forward with quiet confidence.

Her silver hair was tied neatly behind her head and her robe carried faint glowing lines stitched into the fabric.

Arthur noticed the small charm hanging from her wrist.

"Althea."

Her voice was smooth and controlled.

"D rank enchanter. Fourth Division. Silver squad."

She folded her hands calmly.

"I specialize in support and control."

Arthur tilted his head slightly.

Most enchanters stayed far from frontline combat. They focused on preparing tools, strengthening allies, weakening enemies.

But something about her presence felt... sharper than usual.

Like there was more behind her abilities.

Arthur nodded.

"Good to know we have support."

Althea gave a small polite smile but didn’t say anything else.

Then the last person stepped forward.

Arthur already knew who it was.

Ryn walked forward with his usual relaxed posture.

He rubbed the back of his neck and grinned.

"Guess it’s my turn."

He looked at Arthur.

"I remain Ryn."

Arthur chuckled slightly at the familiar phrase.

"E rank close combatant."

Ryn shrugged.

"Former captain of the Sixth Division bronze squad."

Then he stepped closer and stretched out his hand.

"I’m looking forward to what we’ll achieve together."

Arthur accepted the handshake without hesitation.

"Same here."

Their grip was firm.

Simple.

But it carried understanding.

Ryn had fought beside him before.

He knew Arthur’s ability better than anyone else in the room.

Once the introductions finished, Commander Lyra stepped forward again.

She looked around the group.

"As I said earlier, this was only an introduction."

Her tone was calm but firm.

"You will truly understand each other through training."

She paused slightly.

"Only when I believe you are ready will we begin missions."

Arthur noticed the small change in the group when she said that.

Eyes sharpened.

Postures straightened.

The idea of missions clearly excited them.

But Lyra raised a hand slightly.

"Until then, you will train together."

She turned toward the center of the hall.

"Starting now."

Arthur felt a small spark of anticipation.

Training with the squad would reveal a lot about them.

And about how they viewed him.

Lyra continued speaking.

"The exercise is simple."

She raised her hand.

Three small glowing spheres appeared in the air across the hall.

Floating cores.

They drifted slowly above the ground like quiet stars.

"I placed the three cores around the training hall."

Her eyes moved across the squad.

"You will split into two teams."

She pointed toward Torren, Selene, and Althea.

"Team one."

Then her gaze shifted.

"Arthur. Ryn. Nox."

Nox bounced slightly on her feet.

"Yes!"

Lyra ignored the excitement.

"Your objective is to capture and hold two out of the three cores."

She explained the rules clearly.

"Each core must be held for thirty seconds to score a point."

Arthur studied the floating spheres as he listened to her continue.

"Anyone holding a core cannot attack, but is still free to use skills."

She paused allowing the group take in the rules before she continued again.

"Teammates must defend the person holding it."

Arthur crossed his arms slightly.

Capture the core. Protect the holder. Simple enough.

Lyra didn’t add anything else as she simply stepped back.

Then she looked directly at Arthur.

And then at Ryn.

It was a brief glance.

But the message behind it was clear.

Arthur understood instantly.

They would only cooperate with him if they accepted him.

And the easiest way to make that happen...

Was winning.

Arthur smirked slightly.

Ryn caught the look and nodded once.

They both understood.

The teams moved apart and took their positions.

Torren lifted his massive shield and planted it against the ground.

Selene moved toward the back of their side of the hall, already scanning the space like she was measuring angles.

Althea stood between them calmly, her fingers already glowing faintly with mana.

On Arthur’s side, Nox stretched her arms excitedly.

"This is going to be fun."

Ryn cracked his knuckles.

Arthur looked around the hall once more.

The positions of the three floating cores.

And then at the Lyra as her voice rang out clearly.

"Begin."

The moment Commander Lyra gave the signal, the hall went quiet.

Not the kind of silence that meant nothing was happening. This one carried weight. Six people stood across the training floor but none of them rushed forward immediately.

Everyone was thinking.

His eyes also moved slowly around the hall, taking in everything again.

The place looked simple when he first walked in, but now that he paid attention he could see the effort behind it.

Several wooden platforms had been raised across the hall. Some were only a few steps higher than the ground while others stood almost twice a person’s height. Between them were racks of training weapons, thick wooden posts, and stacks of weighted crates that could easily act as cover.

It wasn’t a complicated battlefield.

But it didn’t need to be.

Arthur could already see different ways someone could use the space.

He smiled slightly as he acknowledged.

The commander planned this well.