SSS Awakening: Conquering Worlds with My Cupid System

Silas knocked lightly before opening the door. The VIP room was spacious, more like a luxury hotel suite than an infirmary. Large windows overlooked the academy grounds, sunlight pouring into the room. Medical equipment hummed quietly beside the bed, while a massive television mounted on the opposite wall replayed coverage of the Blue Rift Incident.

"...and according to official reports, the Rift Boss was personally defeated by Valecrest student Silas Ashard, whose awakening has been temporarily classified as S-Rank pending further investigation..."

"...the mysterious orc companion has also become the center of international discussion..."

Damien lay on the bed with one arm behind his head. Bandages wrapped around his forehead, neck, both forearms, and hands. His chest was covered by the hospital gown, but compared to the mangled state Silas had last seen him in, he looked much healthier. The moment the door clicked shut, Damien turned and came face-to-face with his worst enemy.

"..."

"..."

They stared at one another for a long time before Silas slowly lifted his hand.

"Yo."

"Get out."

"That’s rude." Silas blinked in disbelief and mock pain.

"I said get out."

"I brought emotional support."

"I’d rather die."

"You look better." Silas pulled over a chair and sat down anyway.

"I’d look even better if you disappeared."

"Doctors are amazing."

"They’re considering charging you for attempted murder."

"Fair, but I’m an S-Rank. I would even be excused for killing the President," Silas nodded thoughtfully.

"..." Damien’s eye twitched. "Why are you here?"

"Checking if you’re dead," Silas shrugged.

"Disappointed?"

"A little."

"..."

"You survived."

"..."

"You even have all your limbs."

"..."

"I was rooting for character development." The armrest beneath Damien’s hand splintered.

"You..."

"Oh," Silas looked genuinely impressed. "Your grip strength came back."

"I’M GOING TO BREAK YOUR NECK!"

"The neck you’re currently wearing a bandage for?"

"..." Damien inhaled deeply, exhaled, and repeated it. His heartbeat monitor began speeding up. A nurse passing outside peeked in, saw Silas sitting there, sighed knowingly, and kept walking. Apparently, someone had warned them.

"You cleared it," Damien said and looked away.

Silas nodded. "Yeah."

"The Blue Rift."

"Yeah."

"You killed the boss."

"Mhm."

"You became famous."

"Mhm."

"You awakened as an S-Rank."

"Mhm."

Damien slowly turned back toward him. "I hate you."

"I know," Silas smiled brightly.

"I’ve hated you since first year."

"I know."

"I hate you even more now."

"I noticed."

"You..." Damien pointed toward the television. "They won’t stop talking about you."

"That’s unfortunate."

"They called you humanity’s future."

"I heard."

"They called you the youngest S-Rank."

"They’re exaggerating, but it’s true. I’m a baby S-Rank."

"They’re making documentaries!"

"I haven’t watched them."

"They interviewed Principal Theodore!"

"I didn’t ask them to."

"They’re calling you the Hero of the Blue Rift!"

"I kinda like that one," Silas scratched his cheek.

Damien’s eye twitched violently, threatening to pop out.

"You know..." Silas stood up and reached for his cap. "...it’s getting warm."

He pulled it off, removed the silky beanie, and let his pink hair flow freely. Sunlight pouring through the window illuminated it, and Damien froze. His pupils dilated ever so slightly.

Silas had always been handsome, that wasn’t new, but this... This wasn’t handsome. It was... Beautiful. No, not beautiful. There wasn’t a proper word. Everything about him looked... perfect. His face, his skin, his proportions, his eyes, even the way light seemed to cling to him unnaturally. For a split second, Damien completely forgot why he hated him.

"Something wrong?" Silas tilted his head.

Damien immediately looked away. "What the hell happened to your face?"

Silas grinned. "Genetics."

"Liar."

"Skin care?"

"Liar."

"I drank water."

"LIAAAAAR!"

Silas burst into laughter.

"You know..." Silas leaned casually against the window. "I heard you awakened."

Damien folded his arms. "I awakened a long time ago. Don’t tell me you forgot?"

"What’d you get?"

"I’m not telling... You seriously forgot?"

"Scared I’ll copy it?"

"..."

"Fair enough."

"I’ll crush you!"

"I support your dreams."

"I’ll wipe that stupid grin off your face."

"You’ve been saying that since orientation."

"I’M SERIOUS!"

"So was I."

Damien slammed his fist into the bedside table. "You think because you awakened S-Rank, you’re better than me?"

"I mean... Objectively?"

The bedside table shattered, and medical equipment began beeping frantically. Outside, a nurse quietly closed the door again.

"Nope."

He wasn’t getting involved. Damien glared at him with enough hatred to melt steel.

"I’ll catch up."

"I hope so," Silas nodded.

"I’ll become stronger."

"I know."

"I’ll defeat every monster."

"Great."

"I’ll surpass every S-Rank."

"Fantastically stupid."

"I’ll beat your ass."

"I’ll be waiting," Silas smiled. There wasn’t even mockery in his voice, and that somehow annoyed Damien even more. Silas placed the cap back onto his head.

"Anyway. I should get going."

"Good."

"Try not to explode while I’m gone."

"Get lost."

"Recover well."

"Screw you."

"You too."

"I SAID SCREW YOU!"

Silas laughed all the way to the door, but before leaving, he glanced back one last time.

"Don’t die."

Damien frowned. "I won’t."

The door clicked shut, and the room fell silent.

"Annoying bastard..." Damien clicked his tongue and leaned back against the pillow.

"Still..." He slowly clenched his fist. "I’ll surpass you."

Outside the room, Silas stood quietly. His pink eyes glowed for the briefest moment, as a faint thread of rosy light emerged from the tip of his finger. It drifted silently through the crack under the door, shot up speedily, and passed through Damien’s cheek without resistance. The young man inside didn’t react as the pink light vanished into his head. A new notification appeared.

[Targeted Obsession Successfully Applied.]

[Target: Damien Crowhurst.]

[Condition: Hidden.]

Even the system remained silent for several seconds.

[Why?]

Silas just smiled as he adjusted his cap, and that smile was very unnerving. Maybe the thoughts of him being a demon were true.

’No reason.’

[That is the biggest lie you’ve ever told.]

’Maybe.’

[You know what it does, right?]

’Well, it depends.’

[On?]

’What Damien chooses to obsess over.’

[You’re terrifying.]

’You are one to talk... Scammer.’

[This and that aren’t the same.]

"Sure, bro..."

His phone vibrated. It was a message from Chloe.

[We’re at the Evaluation Center. They moved us forward. It starts in twenty minutes.]

Silas immediately changed direction. "Guess I’d better hurry."

He slipped both hands into his pockets and left the infirmary, his destination the Valecrest Evaluation Center, where two girls, one an evolved SS-Rank wielder of Absolute Zero, and the other, the first recorded intelligent orc ever to willingly stand beside humanity, were about to shock the entire country.

And shock they did. Andrew Garfield and his team couldn’t close their mouths after the evaluation. Chloe was recorded as an S-Rank, the third S-Rank of Valecrest Collegiate Grounds, with a dangerous ability, Absolute Zero. Gromda was also recorded as an S-Rank monster, with the ability of Weapon Manipulation. Somehow, they’d been able to discover the ability, and it was fairly dangerous. Whereas Chloe was freezing everything with a thought, Gromda could use anything she touched as a weapon, and it even became more dangerous if she got hold of an actual weapon.

And not forgetting Silas...

"I don’t know what to say..." Principal Theodore, who was also around, couldn’t help but say.