SSS Awakening: Creating Primordial Beasts To Be My Summons-Chapter 23: Calm Conversation Whilst on Break

Stein pushed his physical strength to its limit, veins bulging as he tried to force Cohen down.

If he used a skill here, people would notice, giving him a bad reputation.

Cohen didn’t have that problem though. His skills worked discreetly.

I Am Null’s radius didn’t extend far enough to reach Brawn or most of the officials.

Null Aura also handled Stein’s tight grip, as Cohen was hell-bent on not being crushed by it.

The air between them warped under invisible pressure.

"Hey, Stein. It seems you underwent some change too. I’m interested in your story."

Cohen tilted his head slightly, his yellow gaze locked with Stein’s piercing red eyes.

Stein was proud enough to use his mana to enhance his body and still not show any reaction to the immense pressure he was feeling.

"Are you sure you’re not just scared I’ll steal your thunder at last? I always knew you were a pathetic attention seeker."

"You’re finally ready to speak your mind, huh?" Cohen replied.

The two had both worked together at the facility, joining at the same time. They had their history.

"I’m still here, you know."

Brawn stepped forward, his expression darkening as a crushing wave of pressure rolled outward.

For a second, his pressure clashed with the pressure surrounding Cohen and Stein.

"Let’s all return to our training."

Cohen instantly let go and bowed forward.

"I’m sorry. We interrupted everyone’s training. We were just old time friends catching up."

Stein was forced to tilt his head down a bit. "Sorry."

With a hiss, he departed from Cohen and returned to the center under everyone’s gaze.

Brawn stopped where he was, surveying the area. He quietly turned back and returned to where he sat.

Cohen turned to his party members.

Maya and Dax held their ground, but the others struggled—knees bent, breaths uneven under the lingering pressure.

’I got carried away. I didn’t realize I hated that guy this much. Did the energy within him also vex me?’

Cohen ruffled his hair with a dry chuckle.

"I’m so sorry about that. We worked in the same facility before we came here and we don’t have the best relationship."

"It’s okay," Dana shrugged it off and said, "I guess that confirms what Dax and Abraham said."

"What?" Cohen curiously asked.

Abraham, pissed by Stein’s interruption, glared at him as he replied,

"There’s something wrong with that guy. Assassin’s instincts."

Dax added, "More than wrong. He makes the hair on my skin crawl. He’s dangerous."

The situation seemed so intentional that Maya spoke up. "Be careful."

Bobby and Hide were also glaring at Stein, their anger and killing intent funneled into Cohen’s connection to them.

Cohen reached an understanding.

’Is this a reaction to the weird energy?

’Aside from the guild war, do I have to be on guard against people with that weird energy too? They all seem to have a screw loose.’

"Alright then," Dax called back everyone’s attention. "We can’t allow some guy to affect our progress. Back to training."

Everyone agreed.

The party proceeded with their practice on how to deal with humanoid monsters and rogue awakeneds.

- - - - -

It was closing in on 1 p.m., five hours into the session.

The officials had left the training grounds, leaving the Outliers to do whatever they wanted.

Something Cohen felt was intentional. After all, Brawn had completely ignored the underlying tension that was turning obvious.

Dax, Maya, and Scot had gone to the vending machine in the hall, while Dana and Abraham were still having some after-training discussion.

Cohen wasn’t really tired. He sat on the floor, his back resting against the glass walls.

Hide lay low on the floor beside him, with Bobby positioned on its back.

The three were focusing on the side where the majority of the Outliers were gathering.

A bottle of water entered his view, interrupting his focus.

"At the very least, take some water," Dax said.

Cohen looked up, then at the water. "Thanks."

Dax smiled and sat beside him, also looking at the others.

"Can you hear what they’re saying?"

"Barely."

"You already know what’s going on, don’t you? In fact, I know you have a strong idea."

’How do you know?’ Cohen gave Dax a smile that hinted at his internal question.

Dax chuckled at his reaction.

"I can hear their discussion almost clearly now. It’s less of a whisper like it was before."

’You can hear them very well. Dana also mentioned he was part of the people that judged Stein dangerous.

’Can he sense intent too? Perception of Gray excels in visual awareness... but Dax’s ability feels broader.’

"Impressive perception you got there, I like it," Cohen said earnestly.

"It’s part of my Talent effect."

Dax explained:

"I have an interesting Talent that’s related to Beasts. So my senses and instincts are closer to a beast’s.

"Oh, and it’s also responsible for cutting my fat and making me grow taller. I’m turning to a beast.

"My Talent is what’s carrying me right now. My Class, on the other hand, isn’t exactly unique. The Guild saw the name and discovered that a few others outside have awakened it."

Cohen finally spoke, "Is there a reason you’re telling me these?"

Dax faced Cohen with a smile.

"It’s simple. I heard it’s a way Awakened build trust.

"Aside from the fact that trust is needed among Outliers right now, people here think I’m such a devious, untrustworthy bastard who wants to use people like tools."

’Some people can also think you’re acting like this to throw them off from your "devious side".’

Despite his thoughts, Cohen had a good impression of Dax.

"I’m not returning the favor, though," he said.

"Haha! I wasn’t looking for a trade."

They both laughed.

"Why do you think the situation is like this? What kept you on guard?" Dax asked, changing the topic.

Cohen thought of his reply, confirming it won’t be a secret revealing reply.

"Back where I worked, there were people with connections with various awakened. There was a rumor about a guild war there. I also heard someone yell Vanguard, a foreign guild’s name, yesterday.

"Lastly, the Heavenly Spire guild are using us as tools in this war... and I don’t want my family and I to be victims of another accident."

Dax listened attentively, his expression turning serious.

"Heavenly Spire is using us as tools... that explains a lot. I couldn’t believe they were incapable of catching those spying on us."

’You had an idea, but your trust in Heavenly Spire and your naivety to believe they are all good is what clouded your thinking,’ Cohen thought.

That silence lingered heavier than any pressure.

After a moment of reflecting on what Cohen said, Dax continued.

"The reason why I’m on guard is more of instinct than logic. There are suspicious people observing us during our monster hunts, and some of the Outliers are switching sides and are now hating the guild."

Dax left out a hollow laugh.

"Honestly, I did feel something was wrong with the guild when they took credit for protecting us from the explosion they caused."

"They didn’t?" Cohen asked in genuine shock.

"Maya knew so I kinda believed you knew too. Most of us passed out before we realized anything.

"Only Maya was awake long enough to see the yellow shield that the Higher Being used to protect all the victims."

’Primodial was the one that saved us? That makes more sense than it being the guild.’

Dax sighed. "That was the first time Maya warned us to be careful of the guild. The second time was earlier today."

’That girl keeps getting interesting.’

Cohen patted Dax on the shoulder and said,

"Awakened, especially for stronger people and people who have strong potential, have to deal with more than just monsters. Realizing the dark side—"

But Cohen’s advice was interrupted as the Outliers seemed to have gotten into a heated discussion that had spiraled out of control.

Voices rose. Auras flared.

And just like that–everything was about to break.