SSS Awakening: I Can Steal Attributes-Chapter 17: Dungeon Collapse

[ Dungeon Core Destroyed! ]

[ Your experience points have increased: +50% ]

[ You can now sense the Dungeon Exit Portal! ]

[ Time until Dungeon Collapse: 09:59 Minutes ]

[ Get out of the Dungeon as soon as possible! ] 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

This screen was different from the rest.

It was colored in red and black, especially ominous and threatening. As if it would be a bad omen if it was neglected and not followed.

Unlike other screens he previously saw, Desther also instinctively knew that this screen was made as an announcement to all Awakeners inside this dungeon.

Following these screens, Desther also saw the notification that he had been waiting for.

[ Mission Completed! ]

[ Mission reward: Skill- Magic Bullet ]

It was short and concise. As if merely announcing something trivial.

However, it was precisely this short and concise notification that allowed Desther to heave a sigh of relief.

He felt that the terrifying Sword of Damocles hanging over his head was finally retracted.

However, what he was afraid of the most was the fact that if this cursed title, {Chosen One}, gets activated again, the penalty would still be death.

’Still, it gives out a Skill as a reward, so I guess it’s pretty generous, to say the least. Sigh, with danger indeed comes great reward...’

After all, Skills were hard to come by.

One must note that an Awakened Professional can only normally get a Skill that was associated with their Talent, or when they successfully transitioned to their respective Class.

Sometimes, Skill Books can also be obtained inside a dungeon, but they are rare, so they are very expensive in the market.

Once a Skill Book is obtained, it usually requires some conditions, like a certain attribute reaching a certain amount, or it might be limited to a specific Class before it can be used.

’In any case, I’ll review this one later along with my Profile Status.’

He only has ten minutes to deal with everything here.

Dismissing the screens, Desther pulled the dagger out of the Giant Lizard Hatchling’s body, and as expected, there were indeed cracks on the blade’s surface.

’Fortunately, it’s not completely broken. Else, the school might ask for compensation...’

He picked up the revolver and stashed it inside his backpack as well. Fortunately, his backpack was not damaged since he mostly evaded and blocked his opponent’s attack.

But carrying a backpack was quite a hassle too. If he had not tightened it earlier, it would have surely gotten in the way during the battle.

’It’s a pity... but I can just leave this dungeon body here. I wonder how much money it would make after selling it. It should be enough for me to stay at home and just read novels for a few months, right?’

As the thought drifted, Desther had unknowingly arrived in front of Lexie.

Battered and injured, she was barely breathing and was obviously in immense pain.

’You’ve caused me a lot of trouble, haven’t you?’

Lexie opened her eyes.

His shadow loomed over her as he looked at her with passive eyes.

Their eyes met as silence pervaded the surroundings.

Seeing him appear over her, Lexie forced a smile.

"T-thank you..."

Desther did not answer.

However, the dagger in his hand was raised and slowly came toward Lexie.

RIIPPPPP!

...

"I-I’ll repay this favor next time..."

"Bullshit! There won’t be a next time!" Desther spat the moment he heard her words.

Who would like to mingle with someone like her? She was being assassinated today; who’s to say she won’t be assassinated tomorrow?

For characters like this, it’s best to distance oneself as soon as possible lest one attract unnecessary trouble.

"Just don’t forget our deal. I was not here. It was you who killed that warrior, the one who killed the dungeon boss and the one who destroyed the dungeon core. Got it?"

Regulated Dungeons are essentially private properties owned by those who manage them. In order to maintain a dungeon, sufficient funding and resources must be invested for it to be functional.

Of course, Desther would not admit that he was the one who destroyed the dungeon used by the school to awaken students. What if they ask for compensation?

At the same time, announcing it will also cause him unnecessary attention.

After all, what he wanted was just to stay home and live a peaceful life.

Making Lexie the scapegoat was just convenient.

At first, he actually planned to kill her to silence her, but he changed his mind after considering a lot of scenarios.

Being a target for assassination during her Awakening, she was definitely not simple.

If he killed her and it gets investigated later on, he would definitely be in trouble.

However, if she remained alive and could explain to others what has transpired here based on the story they made up, his name would stay clean, and he would stay out of the limelight.

It would be beneficial for her as well. She would probably receive some protection and at the same time receive the school’s resources in order to cultivate her further.

Anyway, this was also a gamble for Desther. It was a gamble whether she would expose him or not.

If she exposes him, then there would be nothing he could do about it, and he would just play it off for some time.

Although confused, Lexie nodded her head in understanding and confirmation.

She was immensely grateful for Desther’s help.

He even bandaged her wound, causing the pain in her ribs to ease a bit.

Although the hem of her clothes was ripped to use as the bandage, she didn’t care too much about it.

"You’re sure that he’s the only assassin sent to kill you, right?" Desther confirmed one more time.

"More or less," Lexie nodded in affirmation.

’More or less... What do you even mean by that?’

"It’s actually because-"

Her words were cut short as Desther interrupted.

"Stop! I don’t want to hear about it."

Desther was not about to sit here and wait for her to narrate her background story. He doesn’t have time for that.

"In any case. Teachers should be rushing toward here already. Just wait for them to arrive to rescue you."

After saying that, Desther did not bother to hear her response as he went to arrange the ’scene’ in the surroundings hurriedly.

After doing so, he did not linger in the area any longer and immediately ran at full speed toward the second nearest Dungeon Exit Portal.

After a few minutes, the portal finally became visible to Desther.

"QUICK! THE DUNGEON IS ABOUT TO COLLAPSE! ENTER THE EXIT PORTAL IMMEDIATELY!"

Desther’s vision went blank for a second before he felt his feet touching solid ground once more.

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A/N:

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