Narrow Escape!

While extracting debt from the Earth Dragon, Lucien got multiple skills, stats, and attributes. 

But the important thing was that he even got Earth and Fire affinities, and most importantly, mana.

Finally, he was no longer mana-less. He didn't need to wait for the class awakening to use his skills now. 

It was worth celebrating, right?

Only, his luck seemed to have run out as he never got the chance to celebrate.

'Fuck... what should I do?'

Lucien looked at the crumbling crystalline armor on his body and smiled bitterly.

Still, he didn't forget to take another defensive amulet from his mana ring, crushing it forcefully and covering himself in a shimmering barrier for now.

'I only have enough mana to use D-rank skill two times. Can I kill him and take the antidote?'

Unfortunately for him, even if he did sit like a turtle behind a defensive magic, he would still die.

After all, his passive, Venom Insight, had already warned him that he was poisoned, and the normal antidotes didn't work.

'I can't even go out. What did he do to stop the dungeon from interfering?'

Lucien was truly at his wits' end. If he wasn't poisoned and injured, at least he could struggle. 

Now, he was just a sitting duck waiting for his death.

"You are surprisingly strong. How can you still stand after getting poisoned? You also survived the Soul Poison that time, too."

However, seeing Lucien still able to use a defensive shield while standing strong, Glen misunderstood. 

He thought Lucien had some way to nullify his poison. His suspicion grew stronger as he saw no drastic effect on him even after this long time. 

After all, the poison he used could immediately paralyze a target within 5 minutes.

But here Lucien was, still looking at him cautiously.

"Soul Poison?"

Lucien heard a new word and mumbled unconsciously. 

'So, he did poison me before, no wonder.'

He finally understood what happened to the previous body and why he transmigrated into it.

However, that wouldn't help him in this situation.

Unlike what Glen thought, Lucien wasn't immune to the poison at all.

'My increased Endurance stat at least lets me suppress the poison... but I can't last long.'

He could feel it, his body breaking down, his limbs growing heavier, stiffer by the second. The process was just a little slower than it should've been. 

But there was no need to tell Glen that, was there?

So Lucien said nothing.

Instead, he just looked at him with a cold gaze, waiting to see if there was any chance left to turn this situation around.

"Heh... did you think hiding behind your defensive skill would save you?"

Seeing the tough look on Lucien, Glen was annoyed. He never took this dandy seriously before, and here he was having a tough time killing him.

"Bless your luck. I'm going to use the Container to kill you. Compared to others, you're damn lucky."

After saying that, Glen finally placed his hand at his waist. He had had enough. 

'Container?'

Lucien frowned in confusion as Glen pulled out a colorful cube with seven distinct grooves from his waist.

'What is that?'

At first glance, it looked like nothing more than a toy, something straight out of his previous life.

But that thought vanished the moment Glen pressed his palm against it and a surge of mana poured into the cube, making it hum with a strange, unseen power.

"Swoosh!"

The moment Glen did that, a circular, multicolored wave burst forth, slamming into Lucien with no warning.

It was so swift, so sudden, that the impact struck him before he could even blink.

'That's it?'

However, after the wave struck, Lucien didn't feel anything odd on his body. It just hit and disappeared right after.

He couldn't help but feel confused when suddenly, to his surprise, the shimmering mana shield covering him began to disintegrate.

"What is happening?"

Not only that, Lucien suddenly realized he could no longer sense the mana inside his body. It was as if they suddenly vanished.

It meant he couldn't use the D-rank skills he had acquired earlier either.

'What the fuck?'

"The Container can trap even the seeds of sin. Your mere mana is nothing. Heh… you can't use your skills anymore."

Seeing Lucien finally getting panicked and confused, Glen mumbled in satisfaction.

Then, without a moment's pause, he gripped the blade just like before and rushed toward Lucien.

He moved like a shadow.

Before Lucien could even react, he was already there, his scythe-like blade grazing Lucien's neck with terrifying precision.

"Swoosh!"

This time, there would be no mistake. There was no way Lucien could dodge it and save himself since he could no longer use any skill he had.

From the time he activated the cube to the time he arrived near Lucien, only a few breaths had passed, yet everything had already changed drastically.

"Shit…"

Lucien could only raise his arm reflexively, trying to block the blade, but it barely slowed.

The edge tore through his forearm, splitting skin and flesh, and continued its deadly path toward his already wounded neck.

This time, Lucien was certain.

He was dead.

100% dead.

His eyes locked onto the approaching silver light, so beautiful and cold, like the glow of death's door itself.

He could even see a satisfied smile on Glen's face, as if taking Lucien's life filled him with joy.

'Am I… really going to die here?'

Lucien couldn't help but think bitterly.

He didn't even have the chance to properly enjoy this world of magic and wonder before being dragged to the edge of death.

And he didn't even know the reason. 

Honestly, rather than fear, he was... disappointed.

"Squeak…"

But just as the blade kissed the skin on his neck, spreading coldness, a sound suddenly echoed out, sharp and quite familiar.

'Little guy?'

"Swish!"

Before Lucien could register what it was, a blur of shadow streaked between him and Glen, deflecting the blade with a sudden force.

The deadly arc was thrown off course, leaving only a shallow gash across Lucien's neck.

"Shit… what is this?"