Death Match!

To learn this skill, not only did Leon need high intelligence and perception, but he also needed to possess considerable base strength. Trying to learn it now was like trying to bite off more than he could chew.

"You should leave this one… It's beyond what you can handle right now. Go and practice everything you've already learned in your upcoming fights."

Leon sighed deeply before making a move.

But just as he was about to step out of the illusion formation, the familiar voice of the System echoed in his mind—and what it said next shook him.

[Apart from the boss of this dungeon, all the other beasts are waiting. The moment you step out of this formation, you'll be attacked by an army of birds!]

Leon froze.

At first, he was confused—but then everything started clicking into place. His eyes widened in shock.

He didn't even know how he had survived the last tight corner in this dungeon. But this one… this was going to be tougher, and he could feel it in his bones.

He started to wonder if the Crystal was intentionally trying to get him killed.

"This can't still be training…" he muttered under his breath.

Cracking his knuckles, Leon sighed again and stepped forward. Compared to the version of himself that had come into this dungeon to steal the pill, this current Leon was a different beast—more energetic, flexible, sharper, and far stronger. Each life-and-death experience had honed his senses even more.

As he walked out of the formation, from the outside it would seem like he emerged directly from a solid stone.

Only then would one realize the truth—that the stone was an illusion all along.

It looked real. It felt real. One touch and you'd be convinced. That alone told Leon something—the Crystal didn't just possess illusion affinity, it was hiding other elements from him as well.

Not that Leon cared.

That was its business.

His only concern was survival.

But instead of being swarmed by birds as expected, something stranger happened.

The beasts… parted.

They made space.

Surrounding him in a wide circle, they created an open arena, their bloodshot eyes watching like a crowd awaiting a duel.

And then—the three boss chickens stepped out.

At the same time, a notification blinked into view.

┏━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┓

[Boss Beast 1, 2, and 3 are challenging you to a death match]

[Accept]   [Decline]

┗━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┛

"Hmm… looks like they've thought things through. Be careful," the Crystal warned.

"Hmph! Be careful? Of chickens?" Leon scoffed coldly. "Ridiculous! With your training, I'll finish them off in no time!"

"There are more."

Leon frowned.

"More?"

Of course he knew there was more, but the Crystal was hiding something. He hated this part the most—mysteries, riddles, answers wrapped in fog. He hated when the System refused to speak clearly.

Still… despite his recklessness, he knew better than anyone not to ignore the System's words.

"What do you mean more? Wait… more chickens? Or more… birds?"

Whatever the case, he didn't care.

He had made a decision.

'I plan to finish this dungeon in two days, since two days in here is 2 hours outside. I've already used up eight hours of the 48 hours. Used six for training, and two for my first battle. The faster I get this over with the better'

He clenched his fist.

Then—

┏━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┓

New Mission Triggered

Follow the Budget:

Ascend to the higher dungeon after killing all the beasts within 2 hours.

Time Left: 2:00:00

┗━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┛

Leon didn't waste a second.

He hit [Accept].

He had no time to waste.

But first, he had to distribute his remaining stat points.

"System, add 5 stat points to each of my stats except Perception."

┏━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┓

[Supreme Thief System]

─────⋅☾ Host's Details ☽⋅─────•

[Name: Leon Grimveil]

[Title: Supreme Thief]

[Fame: 56 (in this world)

[Physique: Supreme Thief Physique]

[Level: 4]

[HP: 2000]

[MP: 2500]

─────⋅☾ Stats ☽⋅─────•

[Strength: 30]

[Stamina: 30]

[Agility: 30]

[Defense: 25]

[Intelligence: 30]

[Perception (Hunter's Instinct): 25]

[Luck: 5]

(Available points to distribute: 0)

─────⋅☾ Skills ☽⋅─────•

[Skills: None]

─────⋅☾ Dungeon ☽⋅─────•

Dungeon (You are inside)

[Tap, say, or will it to enter]

─────⋅☾ Shop ☽⋅─────•

Locked. (Reach Level 15 to unlock)

─────⋅☾ Mission Hall ☽⋅─────•

[Daily Mission:]

[• Get the Alchemy Pill for your mother tonight.]

 (Reward: Supreme Thief Skill + 10 Stats)

[First Mission:]

[• Use your legs and hands as weapons.]

 (Reward: Exp x2, Gold Coins +2, 10 Stats)

 (Punishment: Exp ÷2, No Coins, No Stats)

[Time Mission:]

[• Ascend within 2 hours]

 (Time Left: 2:00:49)

┗━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┛

Leon smirked.

He was ready.

He started circulating Mana inside his body. The familiar surge of power, the refreshing energy, flowed through his limbs.

He looked at the three boss chickens—his lips curling into a devilish grin. His stats had increased, and his aura was far more terrifying now.

The chickens stopped cackling.

They could sense something was wrong.

Their instincts screamed it.

They were mutated beasts, not ordinary ones—and their intelligence far surpassed that of average humans. Naturally, they could tell… this boy had changed.

Leon had been itching to test his current attack power. Time wasn't on his side, so he didn't hold back.

He gathered Mana and redirected it—to his toes and fists.

He compressed it.

Then, using internal pressure, he forced the Mana outward.

In three seconds, blue energy erupted from his fists and feet, glowing like raw lightning.

He looked like the god of death himself.

That grin…

That aura…

The beasts shivered.

The weaker birds wanted to flee. If not for the skill [I Am Your Boss!] locking them in place, they would've flown for the hills, leaving only feathers behind.

They couldn't flee.

To break the skill meant death.

So they stayed. And prayed.

Leon noticed it too.

Most beasts were between Level 2 and 4—and there were two Level 5 generals among them, acting as commanders.

"So I was right… they've been hiding their army's true strength. Even controlling beasts of equal levels? That's an amazing skill. I wonder if I can steal it…"

The boss beasts were afraid.

But they had confidence—in numbers.

They believed they could win, if only everyone fought together.

That's why they still chose to issue the death match request.

Now, though?

They were regretting it.

Badly.

If only Leon had declined… they would've had the support of their minions.

Too late.

[Death Match Accepted]

Without hesitation, Leon vanished—propelled forward by Mana-boosted toes.

He rushed toward the nearest boss chicken.

He punched—his fist crackling with blue mana.

And what he saw made his eyes bulge—

To be continued…