My SSS-Rank Innate skill: Infinite Adaptation core

The three hooded men exchanged uneasy glances with one another, the unsettling sound of their master’s frenzied laughter filling the shadowed room.

Coming back to the bustling central plaza of the city, Nova stood shoulder to shoulder with Asia and the rest of the assembled adventurers.

Every one of them had geared up in their finest armor and deadliest weapons, the metallic sheen catching the fading evening light as tension crackled through the air like invisible lightning.

The families of these brave souls had gathered to see them off, knowing full well this could be the very last time they laid eyes on their loved ones.

Heart-wrenching sobs filled the plaza — mothers clutching their children tightly, wives holding back tears as they embraced their husbands, fathers standing with clenched jaws, and sisters whispering desperate prayers. The collective grief hung heavy, thick enough to taste on the tongue.

Nova watched the emotional farewells in silence, his expression unreadable. A part of him wondered if he would seem evil for thinking their reactions overly dramatic in the face of such a dire crisis.

Yet how could anyone remain calm? If the defenders failed, the savage beast tide would trample every innocent civilian beneath its merciless claws and hooves, leaving nothing but ruin and blood in its wake.

Asia stood quietly beside him, her face hidden behind the black mask and hood. On the surface, she appeared perfectly composed, a picture of calm resolve. Inside, however, a storm raged — the raw pain in every cry and sob pierced her heart like icy needles.

Still, she understood the harsh truth: when the hour of need arrived, warriors had no choice but to fight. This was inevitable.

Suddenly, a beautiful, feminine voice called out from directly behind Nova, cutting through the heavy atmosphere and snapping their attention away from the sorrowful scene.

”Nova.”

Nova and Asia both turned around at the sound of the voice. Approaching them through the crowded plaza was Rieka.

Though only half a day had passed since he last saw her, she looked unbelievably beautiful in that moment, radiant and captivating, largely because of the warm, genuine smile lighting up her face like sunlight breaking through clouds.

Without hesitation or concern for the people around them, Rieka ran straight to Nova and threw her arms around him in a tight, heartfelt embrace.

She cared little for the watching humans — in her world, only Nova truly mattered. Nova didn’t pull away. Instead, he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close as he whispered softly,

”I missed you.”

Rieka pulled back just enough to gaze deeply into his eyes, her smile unwavering and full of affection. ”I missed you too.”

”Tch!...Being so shameless in front of everyone,” Asia muttered under her breath, irritation flaring hotly inside her as she watched the pair hug without a care for the world around them.

For some reason she couldn’t quite explain, the sight left a bitter taste in her mouth.

Rieka heard the comment clearly. She turned toward Asia, noticing the girl’s nice figure hidden beneath the mask and hood, with only her striking ice-blue eyes visible. The fact that another girl had been standing so close to her beloved Nova instantly shifted her expression from warm affection to icy cold.

She clutched Nova’s hand possessively and demanded in a sharp, frigid voice, ”Who is this bitch, Nova?”

”Whaa!! — what did you just call me?” Asia shot back, irritation exploding into anger. Being cursed at for the first time and by a girl she didn’t even know stung deeply.

Nova saw the situation spiraling dangerously out of control and quickly interjected, ”Oh, she’s just a friend. I met her while standing here for so long and thought I could talk to someone about the current situation.” He chose to lie smoothly, hoping to prevent things from getting worse.

Fortunately, Asia didn’t press the matter further. She simply turned away with a sharp ”Hmph!” of displeasure.

”Okay, if you say so... Anyway, ther—” Rieka began, but before she could finish, Guild Leader William’s loud, mana-amplified voice boomed across the entire plaza, cutting through the emotional tension like a blade.

”Adventurers! We are moving out now! The frontline has already assembled. Only Gold and Silver ranks will fight at the front. The rest of you will stay in the rear. Further commands will be given on the battlefield... NOW MOVE!”

Nova gently placed his hand on Rieka’s soft cheek, his touch tender and reassuring as he spoke in a warm, affectionate tone. ”We will talk about it later. Let’s go now.”

Rieka nodded, her eyes softening with trust, and fell into step beside him. Asia strode forward ahead of them without a word, her posture stiff with lingering irritation.

....

Twenty minutes later, Nova stood with the full fighting force of Frostholme at the city’s main exit, right before the towering defensive wall. The air was thick with tension, the ground vibrating faintly beneath their feet from the relentless assault beyond.

Behind the shimmering mana barrier, an overwhelming horde of demonic beasts surged forward in a nightmarish frenzy.

Small, vicious goblins shrieked and clawed at the magical wall, hulking trolls roared as they smashed against it with crude clubs, stone golems pounded with earth-shaking fists, hobgoblins snarled with wicked intelligence, and brutish orcs charged with bloodthirsty fury.

The barrier, already riddled with cracks, looked as though it would shatter at any second.

Nova felt little fear toward the lesser beasts. He knew he could butcher them with ease. What truly drew his sharp focus were the three colossal figures standing motionless at the very back of the horde, waiting silently and patiently for the barrier to collapse so they could unleash slaughter upon the humans.

Without hesitation, he activated his Appraisal Eyes to their fullest, piercing through the distance to analyze the three powerful threats.

=======================

Name : Hydra

Rank : A

Level : 200

Discription :

A legendary multi-headed serpent feared for its immense strength, deadly venom, and monstrous regenerative abilities. Severed heads can quickly regrow, making the Hydra an extremely difficult beast to kill and a nightmare on any battlefield.

Stats:

Strength: 285

Agility: 286

Endurance: 284

Intelligence: 240

===========================

Name : Chimera

Rank : A

Level: 230

Discription:

A legendary magical beast born from the fusion of multiple creatures, possessing exceptional intelligence and mastery over various elemental spells. Capable of casting devastating magic while retaining the physical prowess of a predator, the Chimera is a terrifying foe that excels in both close combat and long-range destruction.

Stats:

Strength: 328

Agility: 330

Endurance: 327

Intelligence: 322

==============================

Name : Earth Dragon

Rank : A

Level: 290

Discription:

A massive draconic beast that commands the power of earth and stone. Though not a true dragon, its immense size, rocky scales, and overwhelming strength make it resemble one. Capable of manipulating the terrain, creating earthquakes, and raising stone barriers, the Earth Dragon is a living fortress feared for its unmatched defense and destructive power.

Strength: 413

Agility: 415

Endurance: 412

Intelligence: 406

=============================

Nova gulped down a thick mouthful of saliva, his throat suddenly dry as his Appraisal Eyes revealed the terrifying levels of the three colossal beasts looming in the distance. A Hydra, a Chimera, and a fucking Earth Dragon — the last one radiating an aura of insane, overwhelming power.

Even if he somehow managed to fight them, could the people around him truly stand against such nightmares?

Of course, Nova remained unaware of the true depths of Duke Theodore Frost’s power, nor did he fully grasp the new powerhouse additions among Frostholme’s warriors — particularly Maria Light, the woman he had known from his village and saw once during the awakening ceremony.

Because of this, his grim assessment that the defenders stood little chance might have been slightly off the mark.

Yet he wasn’t entirely wrong either. These three beasts were far more dangerous than they outwardly appeared.

Their exceptionally high intelligence made them cunning, strategic predators who could adapt, coordinate, and exploit weaknesses with terrifying precision, turning what seemed like brute-force monsters into calculated instruments of annihilation.

”Did you see that, Liya...?” Nova muttered internally, his heart racing with a dangerous mix of awe and excitement. ”This is fucking insane. Just think how much I would level up if I killed all three of them.”

{Host, I can give you a system quest here? And this one will be big. There’s a special reward included this time.}

Liya’s voice echoed softly in his mind, carrying a note of excitement that immediately caught Nova’s full attention. He focused inward, listening carefully while keeping his expression neutral on the outside. Rieka and Asia stood right beside him, so he asked the question internally, curiosity burning bright.

”How come you can control the quest now?”

{Well... of course because I have upgraded,} Liya replied smoothly, her tone warm yet resolute. {I won’t let you fall into such a dangerous situation again like last time. Though I feel that was necessary for your initial growth.}

”Hmm... is that so? Alright, show me that quest.” Nova spoke calmly. Liya didn’t waste a second before a familiar system notification appeared before him.

Ding!

[System Quest: The Fall of Frostholme]

Objective:

* Prevent the destruction of Frostholme City.

* Slay all three A-Rank Demonic Beasts.

[Hidden Quest: Destroy the Blood Moon Cult’s Conspiracy]

Rewards:

* 200,000 Evolution Points

* +5 Luck

* Class Level +1

[Hidden quest Reward: ???]

Thanks for reading....