SSS Rank Sword Mage: Awakening Starts with Weakest Mana Affinity

From the shadows and under the roots, something emerged from beneath the ground. Eight legs, armored black and gleaming, rose from the dirt. A spider?—no, a monstrosity, the size of three large vans stacked on top of each other. Its fangs dripped like steel daggers, but the most unsettling detail was that it had no eyes, not even a single one.

"KREEEEE—KRIK-KRIK-KRIK-KRIK-KRAAAAH!"

A powerful gust of air blew, so strong I almost lost my balance.

I exhaled, stunned.

"So… this is what they've been feeding the missing townspeople to? A spider? But how can a spider even be a Path Animal? They're supposed to have transformative traits—creatures capable of ascending into dragons…"

I glanced at Morad's fishbowl. "Then again, I do have a mana beast in a bowl. At this point, I guess anything is possible."

But enough! How the heck was I going to fight against something even high-level mages and bounty hunters were after? What makes this thing so important that everyone wanted it contained?

"That's… that's a beast," Anna repeated, her body trembled as she instinctively pulled me behind, attempting to shield me.

"What are you doing?" I asked, startled by her action. It felt weird—maybe because she did it without thinking, or maybe because she suddenly showed more selfless bravery than I had since arriving in this town. Yet again, someone was trying to protect me effortlessly, while I still only analyzed and thought.

Anna's eyes never left the monster. Her voice was thin, almost hollow. "You understand it now. That's the monstrosity that's doing all these horrible things. How do you beat that? Just stay behind me."

"Why does it matter if I stay behind you?" I shot back.I thought you were 'just a girl.' Let's just die then! Why do you need to put yourself in front even when you know you're next? Why all this? It won't matter!

You're right, I agree with you, but I just can't accept it."

She didn't yell nor snap back at me. She just sighed.

"Yes… I know I'm next," she said quietly. "But it's not completely confirmed. The beast came out earlier than it should have, so something must have tempted it. Something it couldn't resist."

She looked directly at me. "You."

"Then let it devour me," I said. "Why stand in its way? Why would someone powerless want to protect another powerless person? Why, huh?"

She replied, her expression confused. "I… I don't know," Anna said. "My body just moved on its own."

"Anna…"

For once, I had no clever thought, no calculation—just shock.

Then something clicked inside me.

"I think I understand now," I said quietly. "Being brave isn't always about making the smartest move. I thought analyzing everything would keep me alive… but what good is that if it leaves me frozen?"

Before she could respond, the spider roared.

A deep, vibrating shriek tore out of its unseen mouth—

"KREEEEE—KRIK-KRIK-KRAAAAH!"

Sound waves rippled visibly through the air, bending branches, shaking the soil beneath my feet. A chaotic storm of voices followed—children laughing, crying, pleading—all tangled together into a nightmare that stabbed at my eardrums.

Still, I stepped forward.

It was now or never. This was it. Damn, I'm terrified—but it's different this time. I actually want to back my words up. At least try.

"Astraga, get back here! Don't be ridiculous! You and your fish—what are you going to do, throw water at it?" Anna shouted.

"Something like that," Morad rumbled, his voice low and impossible to place.

"Who said that?" Anna spun around, panicked.

"Morad, enough waiting. You can come out now," I said.

The small body that had been cradling in his bowl suddenly swelled, expanding until he returned to his full, massive size of before.

"Finally, Brother!" Morad beamed.

Anna stared, stunned. "Did that fish just grow—and talk?!"

"Is that a Mana Beast?!" she gasped, utterly flabbergasted.

"Yes. Your eyes must be amazed. You're welcome," Morad gloated, his massive body hovering at my side, fins rippling as he swam through the air.

For once, I felt my golden koi thinking exactly what I was thinking. Let's begin.

"Okay, Morad, listen up. Mostly, it will be you and that monster going head-to-head. I'll act as support. We're going in blind—we have no idea what it can do or what abilities it has. And look, it has no eyes, meaning it relies entirely on its spider senses. That means it won't be distracted by your speed, like when we fought Astraya. We have to pace ourselves—don't overuse our moves. Stay cautious."

"Bond sense, Brother?" Morad asked, his tone serious, ready for action.

"Of course—but not yet. I'll let you handle the attacks while I study the monster's moves and protect Anna."

"Okay, Brother! Sounds like a plan!" Morad beamed, excitement briefly overpowering the looming threat of the massive spider.

"Wait—you have a Mana Beast and mana?" Anna asked, genuinely shocked.

The Spider seemed to sense Morad's intention. Its eyeless head pulled back as it charged up.

Crap. It's about to fire…

The Spider roared—a deafening, ear-splitting scream that sent visible shockwaves rippling through the forest. Branches snapped, soil heaved, and the voices of children merged into a chaotic cacophony: laughter, crying, and screams that clawed at my skull like a psychic blade.

The first wave struck Morad. He twisted mid-air, fins whipping violently against the gusts. The second followed faster, forcing him to spin again. The third hit immediately, driving him into a frantic, weaving dance. Each dodge was precise, instinctive—but it wasn't enough.

The Spider didn't move a single leg. It didn't shift its massive body. It rooted itself like a blackened monument of nightmare, firing blast after blast with surgical precision.

I gritted my teeth, heart pounding in my chest. This is insane. But we have to survive. We will survive.

Shockwaves tore through the air like jagged blades, each one faster than Morad could anticipate. His massive body twisted and lunged, dodging where possible, but the attacks were relentless.

"Brother! It's too fast!" Morad growled, bracing as a wave slammed into the ground, splintering tree trunks and sending dirt and debris spraying in all directions.

My heart raced. Panic clawed at my chest. I activated the bond sense fully, feeling a surge of speed course through my veins. My vision sharpened, my reflexes heightened. Yet even with the boost, the Spider's sonic assault was relentless.

"Morad!" I yelled, keeping my voice steady despite the chaos. "Charge up your Piercing Shot! Aim for its legs or the lower abdomen! It's stationary—look, the bottom of its abdomen is partially buried in the ground!"

Morad froze, spotting the gleaming armored shell half-submerged in the soil. This was our chance. "Understood, Brother! Charging now!"

"Stop! Don't target its abdomen!" Anna yelled behind us, panic slicing through her voice. "It could be pregnant!"

Too late. Morad unleashed the Piercing Shot. "PISSSSSHHHHHHH!"

The Spider blasted multiple sonic booms at the shot, deflecting the main trajectory, but the attack still managed to sever one of its armored legs. Phew, we missed its abdomen! A pregnant Spider would indeed spell chaos

The monster instantly shifted its focus. Its large, eyeless head moved away from Morad and angled toward me. It appears I'm figured out.

It began to screech—a sound so piercing, so loud, I jammed my hands over my ears, convinced my eardrums would be non-existent if this continued.

Then, a massive force slammed into the back of my head. I felt a sharp, sickening impact.

"Anna, what the hell…!"

A chorus of sweet, echoing voices washed over me: "Come play with us please…" I was pinned down completely by Anna, who repeated the phrase, her eyes wide and blank, now clearly under the Spider's control.

Through the haze of pain, I saw the massive Spider winding up its deadly sonic blast, aiming directly at us. This wasn't an ordinary attack—it kept charging, growing more intense by the second.

"Morad!" I yelled, but the great fish remained frozen, as if trapped in some invisible trance.

Shit. This was it. Every scenario I'd analyzed over and over flashed through my mind—but now I had to act. Think, Astraga, think!

I couldn't just shove Anna off; she was heavier than me, and any sudden move could seriously hurt her. My chest tightened. I was cornered, pinned, and terrified.

And then it clicked. I freaking have mana.

I focused desperately. "O flowing winds, circle and conceal—Gale Shroud!"

The neighboring air rushed around Anna's body. The formation was weak, incomplete, but it was enough. The dispersing winds pushed her off me, sending her skidding back a few feet.

"Morad!" I yelled. He still seemed frozen in place, locked in that trance. I gripped my thumb, activating our bond sens.

"Huh… Brother, what's—"morad said realization setting

The Spider fired again—a deafening sonic boom that rattled the forest. I slammed my eyes shut, bracing for impact, instinctively shielding both Anna and myself.

Morad was right in front of me, unleashing a Piercing Shot. The attack struck true, but the residual sonic waves still slammed into us. I was flung backward, hitting my head hard. Pain seared through me.

But then… something changed. Morad's massive body began to grow, shimmering scales now tinged with red. He'd evolved—instantly, right before my eyes.