Reincarnated with SSS-Rank Trait and Unique Ability

With the young prince gone, Ares and Nicholas didn't linger. They stood and quietly slipped away from the caravan, heading toward Ares' house.

The beginning of their walk was wrapped in silence. A crowd still buzzed in the distance, but neither of them seemed eager to speak. Only once they were far enough from the noise did Ares break the silence.

"So... what's an Enhancer?" he asked.

Ares had learned more than just the definition. He'd learned something even more surprising—the young prince's rank. He was already at the second stage of the Intermediate Rank. That alone was astonishing given his age. But when factoring in the use of an Enhancer, it all began to make sense.

Before long, they arrived at Ares' house and came to a slow halt.

"So... what will you do?" Ares asked, his eyes fixed on the familiar frame of his home.

Nicholas didn't answer right away. Silence lingered between them until he finally spoke.

"Do you believe I have a choice?"

Ares shook his head.

The young prince might've made it sound like Nicholas had a say in the matter, but Ares wasn't convinced. Even if Nicholas was allowed to stay for now, the King's summons would only keep coming. Ignoring them could become dangerous.

A heavy sigh escaped Ares' lips, drawing Nicholas' attention. He raised a brow.

"What's that Stealth ability he mentioned, anyway?"

"He was talking about my Soul Weapon's enchantment," Nicholas explained. "It lets me silence my footsteps, vanish from sight, and mask my mana signature."

Ares blinked, letting that sink in. Then he furrowed his brow.

"But... how does that help anyone else if you're the only one who turns invisible?"

Nicholas looked at him for a moment before asking, "Do you know the requirement to reach Master Rank?"

Ares scratched the back of his head, thinking. "Uh... gather a ton of mana?"

Nicholas gave a faint smirk. "To become a Master, you have to reach the second part of your Soul Weapon."

"Huh? The second part?"

"Activating your Enchantment is only the first step. The second is being able to extend your Enchantment beyond yourself and your weapon. We call it Soul Expansion."

"Soul Expansion?" Ares echoed, the term thudding in his mind like a dropped stone.

"It lets you create a zone around you where your Enchantment's effect spreads to everything inside. If your Enchantment healed you, for example, Soul Expansion would let you heal everyone within that radius."

Ares' eyes widened in disbelief.

None of the books he'd read, nor the lessons from his grandfather, had mentioned any of this. How could something so important be hidden? Then it hit him—hard.

"Wait... the second part? Does that mean there's more?"

Nicholas nodded.

"It's believed that to reach the Supreme Rank, you must master the third part of your Soul Weapon. But no one's ever done it, so it's all just speculations... for now."

"I see," Ares murmured.

Everything began to make sense.

Nicholas' Soul Weapon and its Enchantment.

The Enhancer.

The Soul Expansion.

Each piece clicked into the next forming a perfect puzzle.

On its own, Nicholas' enchantment wouldn't be of much use to the young prince's mission. But with the help of an Enhancer, his mentor could rise through the ranks faster. And if he mastered Soul Expansion, he wouldn't just vanish into thin air—he could cloak an entire task force with his Enchantment.

Ares blinked, the weight of realization settling over him like a heavy cloak.

This wasn't just some haphazard mission—it was a calculated, well-strategized operation.

But what truly shocked him wasn't the depth of the plan... It was the person behind it.

The image of the young prince flashed through Ares' mind—sharp eyes, composed demeanour, and a presence far beyond his years.

Before the thought could fully take root, movement from the corner of his eye pulled him back to reality. His mother had stepped out of the house, waving and calling his name with a bright smile.

Ares turned to say something to Nicholas—only to find his mentor already walking away.

"Don't slack off while I'm gone," Nicholas called out, glancing back with a smirk. "I'll be back to check on your progress."

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He gave a lazy wave before disappearing down the path.

Ares stood there a moment longer, watching him fade into the distance... then turned and made his way home.

Ares spent the rest of the day inside the house. His mother had him running around doing chores, and before he knew it, the sun had set and exhaustion settled deep in his bones.

He woke early the next morning—maybe because of the whistling wind outside, or maybe because he knew his mentor would be leaving soon. Either way, sleep no longer felt like an option.

The thought of Soul Expansion still echoed in his mind, only fuelling his already burning resolve. With renewed determination, he climbed out of bed and made his way to his usual training spot.

The day was windy. Trees swayed and grass bent beneath the overcast sky. The village was still and silent—everyone seemed to be asleep, even his mother, who was usually up before the sun. He used to wonder why anyone would rise so early... but now, being the only one awake, it felt strangely peaceful.

Before he could linger in that quiet satisfaction, he arrived at his destination.

The familiar open clearing stretched out before him. It was empty.

His mentor wasn't waiting for him like usual. Ares let out a long breath, then turned his thoughts toward his Soul Weapon.

Blue particles shimmered into view, swirling around his hand before collapsing into a sword.

"So that's your Soul Weapon," a voice said from behind.

Ares whipped around.

A boy stood there—young, dressed in neatly pressed black clothing trimmed with silver. His dark hair fluttered slightly in the wind.

The prince.

"Your Majesty?" Ares said, startled. "What—"

"I woke up unusually early," the prince said casually, stepping forward. "Thought I'd get some morning training in. I'll be on the road for a while, you see."

Before Ares could reply, shimmering blue light gathered around the prince's hand, coalescing into a straight double-edged blade—a Jian, elegant and precise.

The young prince raised his sword slightly, his expression calm, but his eyes unreadable.

"What do you say, Ares? How about a little sparring?"

He smiled—but it didn't quite reach his eyes.