Return To The Dungeon.

Michael was above all clout of doubt.

No, he was definitely just dreaming. Probably having hallucinations from the excessive amount of alcohol he took.

In reality, his lips weren't directly placed on Lena's as he kissed her. At least he hoped. But it wasn't anything close to an hallucination.

He remembered walking all the way down here while embracing the opportunity life had given him. His dare still existed, and as he walked into the pavilion and kissed Lena, he knew he had carried it out.

[QUEST: KISS LENA SAETELL]

[STATUS: COMPLETED]

And that also applied for the mission too.

On seeing the screen, Michael wanted to draw back from the kiss, but Lena held his head and pulled him back into it.

Now this was an unexpected twist.

Her lips crashed harder against his, and he could feel her lipstick grease around them passionately. It was so passionate that Michael had to open his mouth, giving her room for more. He threw himself into her kiss, hypnotized by the way she took charge.

Why? Why was she doing this? Where was the mindless aggression?

His felt warmth rush over him as the taste of her lipstick smeathered his tongue. His hands wrapped around her waist, his desires arising twice the former. And at that moment, he forgot about where he was, why he was there...

... Or even who he was.

This went on for a while, until they parted lips and stared at each other in the eye. Questions ran past Michael's mind like a heavy storm blast, but panic surged through his body such that he couldn't find an answer to any.

What he realized was that Asher, alongside a few others had trailed him all the way here, eyes widened in shock at the sudden scenery. A few of them still had unfazed smirks on their faces, but Michael was trying so hard not to look in Reyy's way.

"Let's go." Lena grabbed Michael's hand, and once again he was foolishly dragged out of the room.

Ren had on a sinister smile as he walked towards Reyy, who had just been standing in one place, petrified.

"What you gonna do now Reyy?" The Ace asked with folded arms.

"Get me Steven." The king demanded.

* * *

Silence paraded the atmosphere between the two parties. Somehow, Michael had managed to end up in Lena's car, her chauffeur driving him home.

How had he ended up here? He wanted to do a recap, but his brain was still fuzzy from the scenes. The mission from the system. The similar dare. The kiss...

It all seemed too unreal.

"Where is your place?" Lena suddenly demanded.

"Um... 7th street On Fyrup hill." Michael managed, remembering he hadn't told her his address before.

The silence reigned again. But Michael did not want this awkwardness, she was the same person who had kissed him back, why was she keeping quiet now?

"About that kiss..."

"What about it?" Lena asked as she looked out the car's window, as if deliberately trying not to meet his eyes.

"I'm sorry it happened, I was asked to a dare." Michael explained, unsure of what words to pick.

"That was quite the dare." She simply replied. "It's fine."

"But—"

"If you're gonna ask why I kissed you back, then don't." Lena warned. "It was only a thing of the moment so I hope you don't misunderstand it."

A thing of the moment? More like someone was so sexually pressed. But either of these weren't true, she was probably just using him as an excuse to escape from Reyy.

"I understand." Michael sighed in realization. "I was only going to say you look so gorgeous in that black dress."

Lena's head craned towards him, a questioning look displaying on her expression. "I don't think we're close enough for you to say that kind of thing to me."

I mean... We kissed?

"I'm sorry." Michael reaccessed himself. This conversation wasn't working, she was obviously the reserved kind of person, with a cold attitude and an admirable looking face to deny all those mentioned personalities.

"I'm sure you also realize the implications of your actions."

Michael thought it over now that it was mentioned. The rumors were going to spread around the school that he was dating Wisteria's Queen. Oppressed students were going to come looking for him and finally and most satisfying, Reyy was finally going to dedicate every hateful breath to him.

It wasn't an implication, it was an advantage.

"Yeah, I do." Michael replied with a dark smile.

The car stopped at the 7th street on Fyrup hill, and Michael alighted off.

"I'm not sure if you'd survive what's coming for you," Lena finally said. "But I'm rooting for you."

And with that the car sped off from his sight.

[TIME UNTIL DAILY TRAINING PROGRAM, 00:10:19]

Alright, he only had just ten minutes to prepare.

"Check rewards."

The reward bar opened, and at the top was the Assassin's Buildup skill yet to be claimed.

[REWARD EARNED: ASSASSIN'S BUILDUP SKILL]

[RANK A]

[SKILL CAN BE LEVELED UP OVERTIME]

[CLAIM REWARD?]

[CLAIM/DISCARD]

"Claim."

Immediately, Michael observed a shimmer of purple light around him as his mana became evidently stronger. Gradually, he felt his body became lighter, his skin pressing against flesh just like he felt when he used Steven's Physical Cast talent.

It wasn't long before Michael realized that this newfound skill was definitely worth the kiss. His stats seemingly increased as the skill reconfigured his body arrangement, impacting his joint locations.

Michael felt his appearance change as this happened.

[YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY LEARNT SKILL: ASSASSIN'S BUILDUP]

[EXP POINTS OBTAINED: 15]

"Now all that remains is a stronger weapon." He said. "Inventory."

The inventory opened again, re-revealing a section of weapons. As he scrolled through them, one was able to grasp his attention, a double dagger named "WIND NEEDLES."

[WIND NEEDLES. DELIVERS 50-60% OF DAMAGE.]

[SPECIAL DAMAGE: BLADE ARCS]

[SIDE EFFECT ON USER: PESSIMISM]

[DO NOT USE FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR]

[PURCHASE FOR 20,000 GOLD]

"20, 000?! Why is this system so expensive?" He grumbled. "Purchase."

The weapon appeared in his hands, two silver blade daggers with a black hilt with even spaces to put fingers in. By the looks of it, it was worth the money spent.

"But how well would it do?"

There was only one way to find out.

Ding! [System Notification. DAILY TRAINING PROGRAM HAS ARRIVED]

He stretched his daggers towards the sky, the moonlight refracting through them.

"Let's do this."

He was sucked into the void, used to it now that he had already seen it coming. The dungeon procreated around him, and his feet felt the familiar grime of the floor. The dungeon crystals glowed more brightly now, as if trying to cheer him on for his win.

He heard a whish of noise, and out of the darkness, Griffith emerged again, his sword seemingly a lot longer and brighter in the reflection of light.

[GRIFFITH. RANK A]

[TASK: CONQUER THE BOSS, DEFEAT THE DUNGEON]

[ALTERNATIVE TASK: SURVIVE UNTIL TIMER, 2:00:00]

[PENALTY FOR FAILURE IS DEATH]

"Hey, old friend." Michael greeted with a smirk, baring his daggers at the samurai. "Let's do this dance."