The live feed, momentarily stunned by Kenji's explosive breakthrough, replayed the final moments of his battle with the A-rank viper across every screen imaginable. The image of him, radiating pure, golden light, freezing the monstrous demon with a gaze before effortlessly cleaving its head, became instantly iconic.
The world didn't just go crazy over him clearing ten dungeons solo in 90 minutes; it erupted in a frenzy over his Ultra SS-rank breakthrough. Cheers, screams, and celebratory roars echoed from every corner of the globe. This wasn't just Kenji's victory; it was a victory for humanity. He had proven that the legendary rank, once thought unattainable, was within reach. Hope, raw and undeniable, surged through the Awakened community.
"An Ultra SS-rank! He actually did it!"
"The legend of Kenji Tanaka isn't just happening in real time, it's rewriting history!"
"This changes everything! If he can do it, maybe we can too! This gives us a new goal, a new height to reach!"
"He's paved the way! Training just got a whole lot more intense!"
In the S-Rank Global Council chamber, the initial shock gave way to an explosion of approval. Each S-rank, a titan in their own right, began to cheer individually. Grandmaster Hiroto, Number One, let out a booming laugh, a look of profound satisfaction on his ancient face.
Kaito "The Sunflare" Kazama, Number Three, leaned forward, a wide, challenging grin splitting his face. "Well then," he muttered, a glint of pure competitive fire in his eyes. He cracked his knuckles, the sound amplified by the quiet chamber. Then, without a word, he pulled out an Essence Breakthrough Pill of his own, popped it into his mouth, and stood up. With a final, determined glance at the glowing screen showing Kenji, Kaito strode towards an untouched A-rank dungeon portal, ready to dive in and push his own limits. The race to Ultra SS-rank was truly on.
Back in the now-cleared A-rank dungeon, the golden light around Kenji slowly receded, leaving him utterly spent. He stood for a moment, the sheer force of the breakthrough having taken every last ounce of energy. His body felt heavy, unstable, as if it might simply dissolve. He had used his last little energy left just to walk, to remain upright after that final, world-shattering blow.
He stumbled out of the portal, collapsing onto the ground just as the hovercraft arrived. His team, who had been watching the live feed with bated breath, immediately rushed to him.
"Kenji!" Akari cried out, her eyes wide with concern.
"He's completely drained!" Saki exclaimed, immediately beginning to channel healing spiritual energy into him. Renji and Hiroki carefully helped him up, supporting his unstable body. Goro quickly found a clean blanket and carefully laid him down in the back of the hovercraft.
"Easy, boss," Hiroki murmured, wiping sweat from Kenji's brow. "You did it. You really did it."
Kenji could barely nod, his vision blurring at the edges.
As he lay there, drifting in and out of consciousness, the familiar blue System overlay shimmered before his eyes, its congratulations loud and clear even in his exhausted state.
[CONGRATULATIONS, HOST! MISSION COMPLETE: SOLO CHALLENGE - ELITE.]
[YOU HAVE ACHIEVED ULTRA SS-RANK!]
[REWARD: NEW SKILL ACQUIRED, SKILL POINTS +5.]
[REWARD: ULTRA SS-RANK BONUS - PERMANENT INCREASE TO ALL STATS, NEW AURA MANIFESTATION.]
Another new skill. Kenji, despite his exhaustion, focused, a slight smile touching his lips. He saw the list.
* Spirit Synchronization: Allows the user to temporarily synchronize their spiritual energy with allies, boosting their combined power.
* Dimensional Shift: Grants the user the ability to briefly phase through solid objects or create short-range teleportation.
* Soul Sight: Allows the user to perceive the true nature of spiritual entities, revealing hidden forms and weaknesses.
Kenji thought about the invisible demons, the hidden S-rank. He thought about the coming Archbishop. He chose Soul Sight. Knowing his enemies, truly knowing them, would be invaluable.
As he confirmed his choice and distributed the 5 skill points (2 to Spiritual Energy, 1 to Control, 1 to Strength, 1 to Agility), another prompt appeared, glowing with an unprecedented intensity.
[SYSTEM UPDATE AVAILABLE. INITIATE?]
Kenji, barely conscious, forced his eyes open further. "Update… what does that mean?" he whispered, his voice hoarse.
The System's voice resonated in his mind, clearer and more direct than ever before. [HOST, INITIATING THIS UPDATE WILL ALTER YOUR PHYSICAL APPEARANCE. IT WILL ALSO UNLOCK NEW TIERS OF SPIRITUAL POWER, ALLOWING YOU TO REACH NEW HEIGHTS BEYOND ULTRA SS-RANK, SUCH AS ULTRA SSS-RANK AND BEYOND. THIS IS THE FINAL PRIMARY SYSTEM UPDATE.]
Kenji's eyes widened. Beyond Ultra SS-rank? Ultra SSS-rank? He was in shock. He had thought Ultra SS-rank was the absolute pinnacle. The sheer scale of what lay beyond was mind-boggling.
"Yes," Kenji whispered, exhaustion finally winning. "Update the System."
[INITIATING SYSTEM UPDATE. PLEASE REMAIN STILL. ETA: 2 HOURS.]
Before the System could finish its notification, Kenji's eyes fluttered closed. The battle, the breakthrough, the overwhelming exhaustion—it all took its toll. He fell into a deep, dreamless sleep, his body beginning to subtly hum with the unseen process of transformation.