SSS Awakening: I Can Create Skills By Will

Chapter 166: Thirty Seconds

Ryn had been moving.

Step by step.

Slowly and quietly.

He had circled the battlefield while the arrows flew.

And now he stood right beside Torren.

The tanker finally noticed.

"...When did you—"

"Now."

Ryn moved.

His foot kicked the ground.

BAM!

He slid under the edge of the shield and struck upward.

Not at Torren.

At the core.

THUD!

The glowing sphere popped out of the tanker’s hand.

Torren’s eyes widened.

"The core!"

It flew into the air.

Ryn twisted mid-step and caught it smoothly.

He grinned.

"Thanks for holding it for me."

Torren roared.

But he couldn’t attack as he lost his balance.

The battlefield froze for a second.

Arthur glanced at Ryn and laughed.

"Nice timing."

Ryn lifted the core casually.

"Your distraction worked."

Across the hall Nox jumped up and down.

"WAIT... DOES THAT MEAN WE’RE WINNING?!"

Arthur grinned.

"Oh yeah."

The match had just entered its final stage

The glowing core had left Torren’s hand and now it sat firmly in Ryn’s grip.

Even the air felt still.

Torren blinked once regaining his footing.

Then his expression hardened.

"You little.."

He moved instantly.

THUD!

The massive tanker lunged forward, shield coming down like a battering ram. Ryn was caught off guard with his sudden attack.

Torren knew that.

He intended to crush the moment before Ryn could react.

At the same time, Selene’s bowstring snapped again.

TWANG!

Her arrow cut through the air toward Ryn.

The timing was perfect.

One strike from the front. One from the distance.

If Ryn lost balance now, the core would fall again.

Ryn saw both attacks coming.

"Ah... damn."

He shifted his stance but he knew it wasn’t enough.

Then a voice rang out across the hall.

"Here!"

Arthur.

Ryn didn’t even turn to look.

A smirk spread across his face.

"Say less."

Without hesitation he tossed the glowing core upward.

WHOOSH

The sphere spun high into the air.

The moment it left his hand Ryn’s body relaxed.

Now he was free.

Torren’s shield crashed down where he had stood.

BANG!

The impact shook the wooden floor.

But Ryn had already slipped to the side, his body twisting away from the strike.

Selene’s arrow arrived next.

WHIZZ!

It grazed past his shoulder.

"Close," Ryn muttered as he ducked and rolled.

He wasn’t completely untouched though.

Torren’s follow up swing clipped his side as he moved.

THUD

"Ghh—"

Ryn slid backward a few steps, coughing lightly.

But the hit wasn’t enough to stop him.

He stood straight again and cracked his neck.

"Still hurts though."

Above them, the core continued to spin slowly in the air.

Across the hall, Althea saw it happen.

And she understood immediately.

Her eyes widened.

"...Those two."

Arthur and Ryn had moved almost like they planned it beforehand.

The core in the air.

Arthur waiting.

She clicked her tongue.

"Not happening."

Mana surged around her hands as she lifted her arm.

A thin chain of glowing symbols spread across the floor toward Arthur.

Binding magic.

Rare. Difficult. Dangerous when used wrong.

But if it landed, Arthur would be trapped long enough for Selene or Torren to recover the core.

"Bind."

The symbols burst forward.

Arthur saw it instantly.

He glanced down at the glowing spell rushing toward him.

Then he looked up at Althea.

A grin slowly appeared.

"Smart."

But he was already moving.

STEP

His body vanished from the spot.

The binding spell snapped shut on empty ground.

Arthur reappeared in the air just beneath the falling core.

WHOOSH

His hand closed around it cleanly.

For a split second he floated there.

Selene reacted immediately.

Her eyes sharpened.

TWANG!

Another arrow fired.

Then another.

TWANG! TWANG!

Both aimed at Arthur’s chest.

She knew Arthur’s deflection required movement.

And right now he was mid air.

That made him vulnerable.

Arthur noticed it too.

"Good call."

The arrows were fast.

Too fast to casually knock aside.

So he didn’t try.

STEP

His body vanished again.

The arrows sliced through the empty air where he had been.

WHIZZ! WHIZZ!

Arthur appeared several meters away, landing lightly on the ground.

Then he stepped again.

STEP

And again.

STEP

Two Intent Steps back to back.

Even he felt slightly impressed.

Across the hall Althea lowered her hand slowly.

"...He escaped it."

Binding spells were meant to lock someone down instantly.

But Arthur had sensed it early enough to move before it fully formed.

That alone told her something.

His awareness was sharp.

Still, she couldn’t help muttering,

"That was close."

Arthur glanced in her direction briefly.

She’s good.

He hadn’t expected her to pull out a debuff skill so quickly.

Those kinds of abilities were rare and often risky to use.

One mistake and the backlash could hurt the caster.

But she used it anyway.

That meant confidence.

And potential.

Arthur gave a small nod toward her.

The commander picked well.

Arthur hadn’t attacked once since grabbing the core.

He was only moving.

Dodging.

Escaping.

That was because of the rules.

The person holding the core couldn’t attack.

But they could use skills.

Arthur’s grin widened slightly.

Which meant he could still be effective, his skills were hard to deal with if he meant to escape.

An arrow shot toward him again.

TWANG!

Arthur flicked his fingers.

A thin wave of force spread outward.

Intent Weave.

The arrow slowed just slightly.

Not stopped.

Just enough.

Arthur leaned sideways and it passed him harmlessly.

"Nice shot though," he called.

Selene’s eye twitched.

"Stand still."

"Can’t do that."

Another arrow flew.

Arthur stepped away again.

STEP

Meanwhile Ryn had already moved.

While Arthur held the core, Ryn rushed toward Althea.

"Hey there," he said.

The enchanter sighed.

"I was hoping you’d stay away."

"Not my style."

Their clash began instantly.

CLANG

Ryn’s blade met the barrier she formed around herself.

Not to break it.

Just to keep her busy.

Across the hall Nox clutched her own core tightly.

She peeked around a wooden crate.

"Uh..."

Her voice trembled slightly.

"Guys?"

Arthur glanced over.

"Yeah?"

"...I think the timer’s almost there."

Arthur laughed.

"Then just keep breathing."

Selene fired another arrow.

Arthur slowed it again with his weave and stepped aside.

The arrows kept coming