E-Rank or SSS-Rank: I Awakened a Skill That Shouldn't Exist-Chapter 77: Unknown Killer

Chapter 77

One corner of the battlefield had been reduced to absolute devastation. A charred crater marked the spot where a Red Vanguard member once stood—there wasn’t even a speck of ash left.

Silver Wing’s heart pounded as his eyes locked onto the cause of the destruction—a monstrous being radiating dark energy, towering over everything. There was no mistaking it. That had to be the portal boss.

It was common knowledge that Red Portals could spawn S-rank bosses. And this one... this one felt like something worse.

He exhaled sharply. He knew he stood little chance alone, but retreat wasn’t in his nature. He tore off two of his silver wings, reshaping them into weapons as he shot into the air and charged.

The monster lashed out with a massive fist. Silver Wing swerved mid-flight—his much smaller form gave him the advantage in speed. He zipped around the beast and unleashed a Spinning Thrust, his silver-edged wings tearing through the air with deadly precision.

But the result was disheartening.

Only a few faint scratches appeared on the creature’s thick, armor-like skin.

"What kind of nightmarish body is this...?" he muttered, wide-eyed.

Before he could retreat, the monster snatched him mid-air and slammed him into the ground with a thunderous impact. The earth cracked, leaving a crater beneath his broken body. The beast didn’t stop. It began charging a second Dark Beam, energy pulsating ominously in its mouth.

Silver Wing coughed blood and prepared for the end—until something yanked him out of the crater just in time.

A beam of dark energy vaporized the spot he’d just been lying in, creating an even larger crater. He looked up to see one of his elite guards, panting heavily, having pulled him to safety.

"You’re going to need all the help you can get," the elite said, eyes fixed on the towering boss.

Silver Wing nodded, scanning the battlefield. Shae and Bron were still locked in combat with their own foes. Reinforcements would be slow. "I guess it’s just us for now."

Five energy arrows sliced past them, intercepting another incoming attack from the boss. Turning, they saw Shin, the eye-patched elite archer, nodding grimly.

Without wasting another second, Silver Wing summoned four more wings and fused them into a single, gleaming silver sword. The energy cost was massive—but he’d learned from his earlier attempt. Without this level of power, they stood no chance.

He charged forward.

The monster raised its hand to strike, but suddenly staggered. Raven had appeared, lashing a glowing whip around the creature’s leg and yanking with all his might. Off-balance, the beast howled as Silver Wing’s blade carved a deep gash across its massive head.

The creature retaliated, thrashing and knocking Raven to the ground. It lifted a foot to crush him—but before it could strike, a searing pain shot through its eye, followed by another deep slash to the neck.

Silver Wing dove in, grabbed Raven, and retreated to a safer distance.

"You okay?" he asked, breathing hard.

Raven winced, but stood. "I’ve had worse."

Silver Wing could tell the man was in pain, but he masked it well—not wanting to slow anyone down.

"If we don’t finish this soon," Silver Wing thought, "someone’s going to die."

He closed his eyes and focused. From his back, two massive silver feathers unfolded, shedding light and leaves, forming two identical clones beside him. This was his special move—Wing Clone, a technique that drained massive energy but multiplied his force exponentially.

"Shin!" he shouted.

Without hesitation, the archer let loose a barrage of glowing arrows.

As the arrows flew, Silver Wing and Raven surged forward, three Silver Wings now charging as one.

Their fight with the boss was far from over– they were ready to bring hell to the monster.

_ _ _ _

Elsewhere on the battlefield...

Shae was locked in a deadly duel. Her opponent—a Red Vanguard member—moved like a ghost, his body twisting and contorting unnaturally, dodging and countering every attack she threw at him. It was as if he had no bones, no limits, as he bent and weaved through the air with horrifying precision.

Her eyes flicked toward the chaos in the distance—Silver Wing and Raven battling the monstrous portal boss. They need help, she thought. But the moment I turn away, this freak will gut me.

That split-second distraction was all it took.

The Red Vanguard lunged in with a dagger. She blocked instinctively—but then his other arm shot out like a whip. The first arm recoiled, then stabbed again. It all happened in the blink of an eye, too fast for her to fully react.

Two blades came for her—one aimed at her heart, the other at her throat.

She had a choice to make—and less than a second to make it.

She deflected the blade aimed for her neck, twisting her body just enough. The other dagger pierced her chest. The pain was blinding, but she’d avoided a fatal strike—barely.

Staggering back, clutching her chest, she grit her teeth. Her breathing was ragged. If I don’t find a healer soon, I’m finished...

The Red Vanguard grinned wickedly, licking the blood from his dagger. He crouched down, as if preparing for another attack—

Then stopped moving.

Shae blinked, confused. What is he doing? she thought, cautiously lowering her guard.

He didn’t move.

Moments passed.

She stepped closer—and froze.

He was dead.

A small, clean wound sat in the center of his forehead—no larger than a coin. That was the only mark on him.

"What the hell just happened...?" she whispered, scanning the area. But no answers came.

---

Meanwhile, on Bron’s side of the battlefield...

Bron was being pushed to his limits. His opponent, a speedster, darted across the field like a streak of blur. Bron’s body was covered in cuts and bruises—he was fast running out of strength, and slower each time he moved to block.

If this keeps up, I won’t last another minute...

The speedster vanished again, a blur closing in—

But then, suddenly, he collapsed mid-dash.

Bron blinked, stunned.

He approached cautiously, being extremely cautious. There were no major wounds on the Red Vanguard—not one, aside from a small, faint slash across his forehead.

"A man can’t die from that," Bron muttered, still unsure of what he was seeing.

But the body was lifeless.

Something... or someone... was silently killing them without any one seeing a thing.

---

On another side of the battlefield...

Kael and his two friends were barely standing. Their Red Vanguard opponent was heavily wounded, but still on his feet—while they were completely drained.

The long-range caster fell to his knees, gasping. He had nothing left.

The second fighter collapsed right after him, body trembling from pure exhaustion. Both of them looked like they were hanging on by a thread.

The Red Vanguard chuckled, lifting his bloodstained knuckle-blades. "You B-rankers held out longer than I expected. I’ll give you that," he said. "But this is the end."

He charged forward.

Kael was the only one still standing, barely. He summoned the last vestiges of his blue energy, but there wasn’t enough—not even to form his signature Blue Drill.

Still... he clenched his fist.

He couldn’t back down. Not now.

Letting out a desperate roar, he dashed forward and drove his fist into the Red Vanguard’s face.

Kael closed his eyes, bracing for death.

But the pain never came.

Slowly, he opened his eyes—and saw his fist still pressed against the enemy’s cheek.

The Red Vanguard didn’t move. His eyes were vacant.

Kael stepped back, confused—and watched the man topple over, dead.

No wounds. No screams. Just a faint mark on his forehead.

---

Across the battlefield, the tide was shifting.

One by one, the Red Vanguard members were falling—without any visible attackers.

Someone—or something—was hunting them.

And none of the heroes had a clue who it was.

Or why.

To be continued.....