SSS Awakening: I Can Steal Attributes-Chapter 8: The Talent

[ Ultimate Thief

Grade: SSS

Description: You can steal the attributes from other entities. ]

The description was clear and concise, only involving one sentence. Straight to its essence, and even a child would be able to understand it immediately.

Each Talent naturally has their own set of effects. Depending on the grade, the more powerful the talent as well. Higher Grade Talent also means that the awakener has the potential to reach higher levels in the future.

Most Talents provide passive benefits, and some even have multiple of them at the same time.

For example, the F-Grade Talent, Fire Affinity, gives its holder a 5% boost to power when using fire-related skills. The upgraded version, E-Grade Fire Affinity, on the other hand, not only gives its user a 20% power boost, but it also allows the user to easily improve the proficiency of fire-related skills.

The rule was not absolute, but it was generally believed that the higher the grade of the talent, the more skills and powerful effects they have.

Although rare, Talent could provide active skills as well.

As an SSS-Grade Talent, of course, Desther naturally expects that the effect and skills it came with were something out of the ordinary as well.

Knowing that information, he inspected the skills it came along with.

’Damn it, there’s only two of them? Am I this unlucky?’ Desther thought in dismay as he saw that there were only two skills that came with the talent.

[ Skills: Theft Mark, Attribute Theft ]

’Well, let’s see what their effects are.’

[ Theft Mark ]

[ Grade: SSS ]

[ Effect: This mark cannot be detected by any entity and can only be dispersed by the talent holder. This mark will not dissipate unless the marked target dies or is eliminated.

Available Mark: 5/5 ]

[ Attribute Theft ]

[ Grade: SSS ]

[ Effect: Cast a {Theft Mark-Attribute Theft} on a designated target and steal 50% of the marked target’s Primary Attribute with the highest value and make it your own. This effect can last for thirty minutes.

If the target marked with the skill is eliminated, 50% of the stolen attribute will be converted to permanent Free Points. ]

Desther read the effects of each skill thoroughly, not daring to miss out on a single detail. A moment later, he gained a preliminary understanding of the skills, as well as how to utilize them.

’Although it doesn’t provide me with tangible benefits, its potential in the long run is truly terrifying. The two skills the talent gives are also not to be underestimated.’

’So in essence, it’s a buff and debuff kind of skill?’

’The Skill, Attribute Theft can also be compared to a gun, while the Theft Mark acts as a bullet.’

He was a bit disappointed at the fact that this SSS-Grade Talent only provides this kind of skill and effect.

’I guess I expected too much,’ Desther grumbled.

Anyway, all in all, Desther thought that he understood the function and the effects of the talent very well.

He did not dwell on the disappointment for too long either, as the two effects were already quite good in his opinion.

The only thing left to consider was to utilize it properly to not waste its potential.

Although he understood the effects of the Talent, there was still a lot left to uncover about it as well.

Fortunately, since it was recognized by the World System, Desther also gained some knowledge on how to use the skill that came with the Talent.

After inspecting the talent, Desther made some revisions to his plans as he began to move toward the center of the dungeon.

Time was running out, and any minute now, Tier 2 Experts could pour in and clear the dungeon immediately.

He inserted the .357 Silver Revolver into a hidden compartment underneath his backpack. Sandwiched between his back and the backpack, it was well-hidden and could be easily pulled out if necessary.

The remaining six bullets, on the other hand, were stashed in his pocket.

Since there exist all kinds of skills, he made sure to always take note of these bullets, just in case they explode on their own without warning. Although dangerous, he still kept them close for easier access.

Since he already made his preparation, the only thing left was to clear the dungeon and complete the mission.

While he was running with full vigilance, Desther decided to check out his status as well while he was at it.

Along the way, Desther experienced another earthquake, this time, even more intense than the last.

This only heightened his unease and made him haste even more toward the boss area.

Fortunately, he did not encounter any monsters along the way.

Since he unstrapped the ankle weights, his speed had noticeably increased compared to earlier.

Those were five kilograms for each ankle after all.

It took him just ten minutes to reach the core area, according to the map provided by the school.

Looking around, though, Desther could not help but frown.

The sight was not exactly as he had imagined it to be.

According to the information, there should be a huge boulder in this area.

Atop the huge boulder should be the sleeping lizard-like creature, which was also the boss of the area.

As for the dungeon core, according to the information, it should be in the form of a ball that was on top of the lizard’s head.

Not to mention the lizard, even the boulder was nowhere in sight.

Desther took out the map and checked if he had made a wrong turn earlier.

However, it seemed that he was correct with the direction he had taken.

Since he had been running frequently as well, he had a good measure of distances, so that could not be the error either.

’Damn it, did the dungeon already start expanding its area?’

To his horror, he seemed to be correct with that guess.

’I need to hurry!’ He stated as he sprinted forward once more.

Since the dungeon size had increased, he just continued with the same direction he was going earlier, hoping that he would encounter that huge boulder along the way.

Luckily, he won his bet, as he saw the boulder after two minutes of sprinting.

The boulder was significantly larger compared to what he expected.

According to the information, the boulder should only be around two meters high. The one in front of him, though, was at least four meters.

To his dismay, the lizard-like creature seemed to be missing above the boulder as well.

A foreboding sensation assaulted his mind once more.

And just then, an explosion ensued not far away from the boulder’s location.

’Shit! Did they beat me to it?’

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A/N:

Thank you for Power Stones. Keep it coming guys! Also, if you have any questions regarding the story so far, you leave a comment a behind and I’ll try to answer without spoiling anything.