I carefully weighed my options.
Both skills were burst-damage attacks one focused on internal damage, while the other stored force for a single, devastating finishing move.
But there was something else to consider :Essence.
I had been planning to create an attack skill using [Essence Manipulation], but with these skills, I wouldn't have to start from scratch.
I could take one of them and try applying Essence to it instead.
Between the two, Seismic Fist seemed like the better choice.
It was simpler in concept and gave me more room to experiment with Essence.
Internal Burst felt too specialized, I wasn't sure how well it would integrate with my plans.
Decision made, I mentally selected Seismic Fist.
[Skill Acquired]
[Seismic Fist – Level 1]
And I felt information gather inside my head about the skill. I remained silent for few seconds going over the skill and its usage.
Next, I focused on the skill, eager to read its description.
[ Seismic Fist ] - A technique that focuses and compresses raw power into a single devastating strike. By channeling and concentrating strength into one punch, the force is stored within the muscles for an instant before being unleashed on impact.
I grinned.
That looked solid.
A skill I could work with. More importantly, a skill I could experiment with using Essence. Ideas were already bouncing around in my head, different ways to push it beyond its limits.
June's voice pulled me back.
"It seems like you've made your choice. Now, let's move on. Let your friends select their skills."
I nodded and stepped aside as Steve moved forward. We waited a couple of minutes before he was done.
Then it was North's turn.
She pressed her hand against the tablet, and I couldn't help but wonder what kind of skill would she pick? I was sure she'd go for an attack skill, but would she focus on strength or speed? That was the real question.
A few minutes later, she stepped back, her choice made.
June nodded, tapped a few things on the tablet, and placed it back in the box.
"All right, you three are done. Now I just have to wait for the rest of the unit. There are about twenty more around the volcano, so they should be arriving soon."
I stepped forward and asked the question that had been on my mind.
"Vice Commander, how do I compare to Unit 01 in terms of strength and level? I'm sure you've seen my fights."
Steve and North perked up, clearly interested in the answer.
June smiled slightly.
"Well, Billion, since I'm also part of Unit 02, I'll be honest with you. As of today, across all the Elite Units, you rank in the top three.
The other two are from the royal family, so they're naturally expected to grow stronger. But you… you've definitely surprised both me and the Commander."
I furrowed my brow.
Top three? That wasn't good enough. Considering the advantage my Talent gave me, I expected to be ahead of everyone. It seemed like I needed to push harder.
I nodded.
"Understood. I'll get to the top."
North crossed her arms.
"It won't be that easy, Billion. Once people start selecting their classes, some will progress faster than others."
I smirked.
"You should have more confidence in me, North. I don't lose. In fact, I've never tasted defeat in my life. Right, Steve?"
Steve shook his head and responded.
"No, you've been defeated. Multiple times."
I facepalmed.
I thought he'd back me up as my brother-in-arms, but I clearly expected too much.
June chuckled.
"All right, it was nice meeting you all. I'll be heading out now. See you later."
With that, she walked away.
I stretched and glanced at the crates that had been dropped earlier.
"Let's grab our food supply and eat something."
We moved toward one of the crates lying near a crater. I picked it up and carried it back to our resting area.
We decided that from now until the end of the month, we'd be using this spot as our camp.
Steve pried the box open. It was bigger than I expected, about three feet by three feet. Inside, we found an assortment of food, bottled water, and beverages.
I clapped my hands.
"Wow, beautiful."
North nodded approvingly.
"Excellent. Let's not waste time and dig in."
We each grabbed some food, sat down, and started eating. Half an hour later, we leaned back, satisfied.
I looked at Steve.
"So, what skill did you get?"
"Burst Flash," he said. "It's a movement skill that lets me chain burst movements while fighting. Fits my style pretty well."
I nodded, then turned to North.
"What about you?"
She took a sip of water before answering.
"Explosive Shot. It adds extra force behind my arrows."
I nodded again.
"Not sure if you guys care, but I picked Seismic Fist. It's basically an explosive finisher."
North chuckled.
"Sounds like you."
We sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes, each lost in our own thoughts.
Finally, Steve stood up and stretched.
"All right, I'm gonna go practice my skill. See you at dinner."
As Steve walked off, the silence settled between North and me.
I glanced at her, half expecting her to get up and follow him, but she stayed put, calmly nibbling on a piece of dried fruit.
That's when it hit me. Ever since North joined our group, we had somehow always avoided being alone together.
Steve had always been there whether during training, traveling, or even just eating. But now, it was just the two of us, and for some reason, that fact made me more aware of everything.
The quiet stretched, and I started overthinking.
How did I come across to her? What kind of impression did I leave?
I had never really considered it before, but now that I did, I realized something.
I was always walking around barefoot. No shirt. Just a pair of torn, dirt-stained pants. My body was constantly on display, muscular and rough from training and battle.
Did she think I was some kind of wild animal? Some brute who barely remembered how to act civilized?
I resisted the urge to glance at myself and see if I looked worse than usual.
North suddenly shifted, tucking her legs under her as she leaned back on the tree.
Her gaze flickered toward me for a brief second before she looked away, staring at the sky. I caught something in her expression.
'Was that hesitation?'
I cleared my throat, trying to break the tension.
"So… you think the food supply will last?"
She blinked, clearly surprised by the question.
"If we ration properly, yeah."
I chuckled.
"Good point."
Another pause. More silence.
I wasn't used to this.
Fighting, training, strategizing—I could handle all of that. But sitting here, being aware of every tiny shift in the air, every subtle glance, every unspoken word? It was unfamiliar territory.
I decided to just say it.
"You know, we've never really been alone together before."
North stilled.
Her fingers played with a loose thread on her sleeve. Then she gave a small, lopsided smile.
"Yeah. I noticed."
I tilted my head.
"You did?"
She shrugged.
"Of course. You and Steve are always together. And when I joined, it just... never happened. Not until now."
That meant she had thought about it too.
I didn't know why, but that realization made my heart beat a little harder.
I looked away, staring at the sky.
"Guess it's kind of weird, huh?"
She hummed in agreement.
"A little."
Another silence settled between us.
Not uncomfortable, but... charged. I felt like I should say something, but my brain refused to cooperate.
I cleared my throat, feeling an unfamiliar heat crawl up my neck.
"So... uh. What do you think of everything so far?"
North blinked, as if pulled from her own thoughts.
"Huh?"
"This whole survival thing," I clarified. "Enjoying it?"
She laughed softly.
"It's not bad," she admitted after a pause. "Better than I expected, actually."
I nodded and hummed in response.
Then North spoke, her voice quieter than before.
"Billion?"
"Yeah?"
She hesitated, then shook her head.
"Never mind."
That shouldn't have made my heart beat faster.
But it did.
I shifted slightly, trying to appear casual.
"North?" I called.
"Yeah?" she replied, but she didn't look up. She was still playing with the loose thread on her sleeve, twisting it between her fingers.
I hesitated, then called her name again.
"North."
This time, she looked up.
I stared into her eyes and for some reason, I couldn't look away.
Her brown eyes met mine, curiosity flickering in them.
I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.
North tilted her head.
"What?"
"…Nothing." I rubbed the back of my neck.
She smiled.
"You're acting weird."
"Yeah I can see that," I muttered.