SSS Awakening: I Can Class Change at will - Chapter 408 Fear of death

Alaric could have asked his father. The money would have been there within the hour. A single call, and Alaric’s accounts would have been replenished.

But he refused.

His ego wouldn’t allow it. Not after everything that had happened. He had set out to prove that he could reach the top without his father’s hand guiding him, and accepting his money now would undermine every step he had taken on his own.

Especially after what his father had done with Selene.

After their agreement for him to stay in the Second Sanctuary, Alaric was ready to take what he wanted, the Spirit Arts Manual.

But the conditions attached to it had been designed to test Alaric’s resolve, pushing him into a corner where Selene had nearly lost the manual entirely. His father had played him, using the manual as a chess piece in a game Alaric had unfortunately lost.

He had managed to navigate it in the end. Selene took the benefits of the manual. But the taste it left in his mouth hadn’t faded.

“I’ll recover on my own terms.” Alaric said quietly.

Emma watched him for a moment, the teasing gone from her expression. “I know you will.” She said softly, her fingers running gently through his hair.

A moment of silence passed between them. Then Alaric spoke.

“Any news about Selene?”

Emma shook her head. “No news. But don’t worry. You know Selene. She hates to lose.” A small smile tugged at her lips. “She’s most likely preparing for the upcoming tournament. Her evolution came late when you put the timeline in perspective. She’s probably trying to close the gap with other Evolvers before it starts.”

Alaric nodded slowly, but the sigh that followed carried more weight than he intended.

“I want her to get stronger. But she’s putting herself in danger by pushing this hard.” He stared at the ceiling. “I would have gotten her the Spirit Art Manual myself at some point, it’s still too early to worry about anyway. She didn’t need to risk everything for it.”

Emma tilted her head, her smile warming. “She’s eager to get it herself, Alaric. Just like you are with your father. You want to prove you don’t need his help. She wants to prove she doesn’t need yours or his.”

She poked his shoulder lightly.

“You’re both just as stubborn.”

Alaric didn’t reply, his eyes fixed on the ceiling above.

He knew she was right. That was what made it worse.

♢♢♢♢

Moon opened his eyes.

The second acupoint foundation was complete. He could feel the Thunderclap Raiju settling inside, the lightning threads locked into the structure with a stability that wouldn’t budge. The spiritual energy swirling around the wolf, amplifying the connection between the skill and his body.

Moon felt the surge of power upon completion. His Thunderclap Raiju would hit harder now, cast faster, and possibly carry a new subtle effect once the acupoint was fully filled.

Moon wanted to test it. The urge to release a single wolf and see the difference firsthand was strong.

But he didn’t.

It wasn’t the time or place to do so. Making noise was nothing short of foolish currently. The fight against the three First Star Evolvers had been loud. Explosions, lightning, fire. Even though it had happened hours ago and several kilometers away, the sound was too big to ignore.

The spirits would have heard it or at least saw the beasts that did. And they would come looking.

They were already searching for whoever had been killing their kin. Every spirit Moon had slain added another reason for the pavilion to widen its search. Another death, another beacon pointing in his direction.

Drawing more attention tonight would be reckless.

‘Tomorrow. I’ll test it.’

He leaned back against the wall and closed his eyes. Mirage shifted beside him, pressing his warm body closer. The cave was quiet and his team slept.

Moon let himself rest.

♢♢♢♢

When dawn broke across the floating island, the team rose from their slumber and prepared to move.

They ate light. Small portions, easy to digest. Nobody wanted a full stomach weighing them down during a fight. The mood was a mixture of excitement and anxiety. Yesterday’s battle had reminded them of something they had been trying to forget.

They weren’t invincible, they could die. For real.

The group set out toward the base. The walk was mostly silent, each person lost in their own thoughts, their own fears, their own reasons for being a part of this march.

Halfway through the distance, two Evolvers stopped walking.

The archer noticed a few moments later. He turned around, his brow furrowing.

“What are you guys doing? Why did you stop? Don’t loiter otherwise you might attract unwanted attention.”

The two stood side by side, their weapons lowered, their eyes fixed on the ground.

“W-We don’t want to go anymore.”

“You what?” The archer expressed his shock. “What does that mean?”

“We don’t want to fight.” One of them said, his voice barely above a whisper out of shame. “We’ve been thinking about everything since yesterday. About what happened. About Eleanore dying.” He swallowed. “We don’t have families to return to. There’s nobody waiting for us back on Earth. So what are we fighting for, if not for ourselves?”

The archer stared at them. “What about being controlled for months? You don’t care about that?”

“There’s no point risking our lives over it. It’s better to just move on. Live out whatever time we have left and forget about the past.”

“Forget about—” The archer’s fists clenched. “What about the boss? He saved you. He pulled that curse out of your body and gave you your mind back. He told you this was the final outcome in the end, and you agreed. Both of you looked him in the eye and said you’d fight. How dare you back out now.”

The two Evolvers flinched but didn’t move.

The argument grew louder. Others in the group began to stop and turn around, confusion spreading through the line. Murmurs rippled forward.

Moon, at the front, turned.

“What’s going on?”