E-Rank or SSS-Rank: I Awakened a Skill That Shouldn't Exist-Chapter 94: Departure

Chapter 94

Atop the towering structure of the Tryst Guild’s central building, a breathtaking sight greeted the gathered crowd—an airship unlike any the city of Serenya had ever seen.

Sleek, streamlined, and clearly built for both speed and style, the ship hovered with a faint hum of energy. Its elongated hull was a brilliant white, trimmed with shimmering lines of cobalt blue that pulsed faintly like veins of lightning. The aerodynamic design gave it the look of a silver falcon, poised to strike through the sky at any moment. Along its sides were elegantly engraved runes and a glowing insignia—the crest of the Tryst Guild: a bold, ivory "T" tightly bound by ethereal blue chains. Its wide, crystal-glass wings shimmered as energy-conductors buzzed quietly beneath them, ready to launch the ship at unimaginable speeds.

The name etched proudly across its side: ZOM.

Dozens of people were already gathered on the platform. Some were chatting animatedly, others checking their gear. Among them stood Han, flanked by Clara, Aiden, Ronan, Silver Wing, and several more core members of the guild. There were also a few who had joined purely for the thrill of it—Laura, Xin, Rin, Kira, Chip, and a handful of others, all eager for the grand journey ahead. In total, around thirty guild members were set to head for Marinua City, the chosen venue for the upcoming World Tournament of Power, which was now just a day away.

Han made his way toward Ron, who stood slightly off to the side, arms crossed, a smile masking the deeper emotion in his eyes.

"You sure you’ll be fine without us?" Han asked, grinning as he clapped a hand on Ron’s shoulder.

Ron scoffed lightly, though his throat tightened. "You’re asking that like you’re not sending all the muscle away."

Han chuckled. "That’s why I’m leaving the city in your hands. You, Shae, Bron, Shin, Jim—Serenya will be safe with you."

Ron’s smirk faltered for a second, and he looked away, blinking rapidly. "You’re making it sound like you’re not coming back."

"It’s a tournament, not a war," Han said. "Well... hopefully."

Truth be told, Ron had been through too many adventures with this crew not to feel a strange tug of emptiness. He wouldn’t say it out loud, but the idea of missing out on chaos—that was what really stung.

Han moved on, greeting Nathan, who remained behind to oversee the armor project. Nathan reported with pride that the prototype suits were nearly finished, and that Han’s custom armor—dubbed Phase Nova—was close to completion. Han simply nodded in approval. He trusted Nathan’s genius.

He then stopped before the old elder, who looked him over with a scrutinizing gaze before letting out a short breath.

"You’ve grown," the old man said, his voice rough but full of quiet pride.

Han raised an eyebrow. "You say that every week."

"I mean it this time," the elder replied, his mouth twitching. "You’ve done what most can’t in a lifetime—changed a city, started a guild, and now you’re stepping into the same tournament I once dreamed of conquering."

Han gave a rare smile, but said nothing. The elder had once been a revered martial artist, and though he never made it past the top ten in the tournament during his prime, Han’s chances felt different. Real.

Next, Han stopped before Dr. Matzo. The man said nothing at first, just nodded once. His eyes, however, were grave.

Han understood. His aunt had one week left to live—maybe less.

"I’ll return," Han said, voice low. "With the Evol Shard."

"Good luck, Young Master," Matzo replied, placing a hand briefly on Han’s shoulder.

Finally, Han turned toward the ship. Clara stood by the entrance, arms crossed proudly. She had been the mind behind the ZOM’s design, pouring sleepless nights and obsessive energy into its creation.

"You coming or what?" she called.

With a final wave to those staying behind, Han boarded the ZOM. The doors hissed shut behind him—and with a sudden burst of raw energy, the ship ignited and surged into the sky, a comet of blue and white streaking above Serenya.

Inside, the atmosphere buzzed with excitement.

Rin, Xin, Kira, Chip, and five other young kids that joined the group had been given their own section aboard the ship. A dedicated guild member had been assigned to watch over them—not that they’d need it.

Han walked toward the command chamber and stepped in.

Clara, Aiden, Ronan, and Silver Wing were already seated around the sleek control console, their eyes tracking flight pattern and communication relays.

"Everyone ready?" Han asked.

They nodded in response.

With the ZOM tearing through the skies at incredible speed, it would still take about two hours to reach Marinua City. That gave the team just enough time to go over their plans one final time.

Inside the command room, a quiet hum filled the air as the engines sustained their steady flight. Han sat down beside Clara, who took charge immediately—her demeanor calm, focused, and razor-sharp.

"As a reminder," Clara began, activating a holographic display that projected a map of Marinua City and the tournament grounds, "this tournament isn’t just about glory. We suspect it’s a trap—well-designed bait."

"For who?" Aiden asked, leaning forward with mild confusion.

Clara’s eyes narrowed. "The Cursed Organization."

Han, Ronan, Silver Wing, and Clara all said it in unison, their voices cutting through the air like blades.

Aiden blinked, momentarily stunned. "Oh. Right. To, uh, catch them... and prevent another serum outbreak." He nodded, trying to look wise and thoughtful.

The others just shook their heads. He clearly hadn’t read the latest reports—or maybe he just got distracted again watching that his favourite show.

Clara continued without missing a beat. "The Evol Shard being offered as a prize makes no logical sense. It’s too rare, too powerful, and too dangerous. No one gives away something like that—unless they want to draw out people who are desperate enough to come for it."

The room grew heavy with silence. Even the subtle hum of the engines felt distant now.

"There are a few things we need to be prepared for," Clara said, swiping her hand to change the display to emergency protocols. "First, there’s the possibility of a direct confrontation between the Cursed Organization and S-Class Heroes."

Aiden frowned. "Wait, wouldn’t that put civilians in danger? There’s going to be thousands of people in the city for the tournament..."

Clara shook her head. "S-Class Heroes are sworn protectors of humanity. They’ll avoid collateral damage at all costs. But if things go sideways—and they might—it’ll be our job to step in and neutralize the threat."

At the mere mention of the Cursed Organization, the atmosphere in the room turned icy.

Everyone had their reasons to hate them.

Han’s fists clenched. His aunt—his last true family—was on the verge of death, thanks to the cursed serum. His hometown has suffered grave attack from them.

Clara’s expression turned grim. Her mother had died screaming, her body twisted by the serum’s effects before her mind faded into madness.

Ronan’s jaw tightened. He had made a promise to Sam—to burn every last trace of the organization from the world.

Silver Wing, normally silent and aloof, lowered his gaze. His entire guild... gone. Wiped out in one day.

And then there was Aiden—whose grudge was less tragic and more personal. "They tried to copy me," he had once said bitterly. "I’m the one who can turn into monsters, not them." His hatred may not have been entirely rational, but after the recent attack on Serenya, even that reason was enough.

They continued refining their plan. Clara had adjusted their tournament badges to mask their true strength. Han and Silver Wing were to be listed as A-rank. Ronan and the rest would appear as B-ranks. Just enough to fly under the radar.

One key restriction: Han would be limited to using only his flame abilities. Thanks to Kael and the viral attention his powers had drawn, he was now known as the Fire God. Using more than that could expose his identity too soon.

But Han wasn’t really paying attention anymore.

His thoughts drifted.

So... he’s going to be there.

That purple-haired man.

The one who started all of this. The one who released the serum, who led the Cursed Organization into the shadows, destroying lives without a second thought.

I’ll find him, Han thought, eyes narrowing. And I’ll make him pay for everything.

The sky outside rumbled faintly with distant thunder, but inside the ZOM, another kind of storm was brewing.

And an event that would shake the very foundations of the world was drawing near.

To be continued...