SSS Awakening: I Can Create Skills By Will-Chapter 94: A New Day, A New Flame

Without wasting time, Arthur headed out of the private training hall. His steps were slower now, his body finally claiming the price of everything he had pushed it through.

He soon passed through the corridors and approached the exit of the general training hall.

The receptionist from before was still there.

The man’s eyes locked onto Arthur immediately, sharp and unfriendly, as if he had been waiting just to glare at him. The hostility was obvious.

Arthur blinked, then gave a casual wave.

The man’s expression darkened even more.

Arthur almost laughed.

Some people really held grudges seriously.

But he did not stop. He simply walked past, hands behind his head, acting as if nothing had happened. The man’s anger was none of his business.

Right now, all he wanted was his bed.

The walk back to his dorm felt longer than usual.

His body was battered, his muscles sore, and each step reminded him of the spar with the commander and the intense training that followed. Still, there was a quiet satisfaction in the pain. It was proof he had grown stronger.

When he finally reached his room, he didn’t bother with anything else.

He stripped off his armor and clothing carelessly, letting them fall wherever they landed. Sweat clung to his skin and his hair was a mess, but he didn’t care.

The bed was all that mattered.

He dropped onto it face first.

The softness swallowed him.

Within minutes, sleep took him.

The long and chaotic day came to an end.

And the night passed quickly also.

With only a few hours of darkness left, dawn arrived as it always did after a long day, sudden and merciless.

Arthur groaned as light crept into the room.

He stretched lazily, his body protesting every movement, then forced his eyes open. For a while he simply lay there, staring at the ceiling, trying to gather the will to move.

"Five more minutes," he mumbled.

Five minutes became ten.

Eventually, he rolled off the bed with a heavy sigh.

His body still felt stiff, but the lingering soreness carried a strange excitement with it. Yesterday had not been a dream. The fire element. The training. The growth. It was real.

He dragged himself toward the wash area and began cleaning himself, washing away the sweat and dirt from the previous day’s training. The memory of everything returned as he scrubbed his skin.

The spar with the commander.

The burning pain of the fire seed and the thrill of mastering the flame.

A small smile appeared on his face.

"Why not try something," he said quietly.

He extended his hand toward the water.

Instead of heating it the normal way, he guided his mana carefully, letting a thin layer of fire essence flow through his mana. The air around his fingers shimmered faintly as heat gathered under precise control.

The water began to steam.

Not violently. Not wildly.

Just a steady rise in temperature, controlled and smooth.

Arthur adjusted the output instinctively, lowering the heat when it rose too quickly and increasing it when it cooled. The fire responded to his will like a living thing, gentle yet powerful.

Soon warm steam filled the space.

He nodded in satisfaction.

"Not bad."

The heated water felt far better against his body. The warmth eased his sore muscles and relaxed his mind. For a brief moment, he simply stood there, enjoying the comfort and the quiet pride that came from mastering something new.

The fire element was not just power.

It was control.

It was possibility.

It was growth.

But the peace did not last.

Arthur suddenly froze.

"I have to report for mission."

He rushed out immediately.

He dressed as quickly as possible, pulling on his armor while still half-drying his hair. His movements were rushed but practiced. He tightened every strap, checked every buckle, then picked up his dagger and sharpened its edge with swift, precise strokes.

"Late on my second mission would be embarrassing," he muttered.

Within minutes he was out the door.

The Explorer’s Guild soon came into view, its familiar structure already filled with movement. The past few days had made the place feel less overwhelming and more like part of his routine.

Before heading to the mission hall, Arthur turned toward a nearby shop.

He needed preparation.

He purchased two mana potions, each costing two yen. The small bottles glowed faintly with condensed energy, cool to the touch.

Now that he had the fire element, he understood the strain it placed on his mana.

He did not rely heavily on mana since his intent allowed him to produce great output with minimal consumption. Still, continuous combat would eventually drain him.

Running out of mana in battle was not an option.

Preparation meant survival.

He stored the potions carefully and headed toward the mission hall.

The moment he stepped inside, he noticed something was different.

The atmosphere was tense.

Explorers moved rapidly in every direction, gathering equipment, checking weapons, and exchanging hurried words. Boots struck the floor in quick rhythm, and voices overlapped in sharp commands.

Something was happening.

Arthur scanned the room and soon spotted Captain Ryn among the chaos. The man was issuing orders, directing squads, and checking reports all at once.

Arthur approached him.

"Captain," he called, walking beside him. "What’s going on?"

Ryn turned briefly, clearly in a hurry, yet relief flashed across his face when he saw Arthur.

"You’re here. Good," he said quickly.

He turned to the bronze squad nearby.

"Move out! Formation three!"

Then he looked back at Arthur.

"I’ll explain on the way. No time now."

Arthur nodded without complaint.

He had everything he needed.

Questions could wait.

He followed his squad as they moved out, joining other teams heading in the same direction. The large group advanced together toward the southern region of the stronghold.

The pace was quick.

The mood was serious.

Whatever awaited them was no ordinary mission.

A new day had begun.

And with it came another mission.