"Let’s turn up the heat!"
The bird was furious that Leon had killed its brethren—and it could do nothing about it. Now, it wanted blood. His blood.
It couldn’t command its minions to help. The death match rule between Leon and itself was absolute.
But what if those minions weren’t related to it? What if... they were of another species?
That wasn’t forbidden.
It only needed help killing the boy. And Leon, at that moment, had no idea what was about to come.
But something told him—deep in his bones—that things were about to change. He could feel it. The kind of tension that tightens your chest and makes your spine tingle. Something... dark... was approaching.
The bird made a strange sound.
Leon froze, watching it carefully. That wasn’t a cry for help. It wasn’t an attack. But it meant something. He didn’t know what, but his instincts flared.
’Was that the "more" the crystal warned me about? If so... then I need to end this quickly!’
Without wasting another second, Leon bolted forward, his mana blazing beneath his feet. He spun into a kick, his leg crashing into the beast’s neck—the weak point he had noticed earlier.
The bones shattered. The beast’s body reeled back violently.
Even with its Berserk Skill—which doubled its stats at the cost of its intelligence—the beast could barely take the blow.
Leon’s eyes widened. "Tch... what the—?"
It had consumed the life force of its fallen comrades.
A hidden technique... a backup plan.
The stored life force increased its HP massively and extended the duration of its Berserk form. Now it was faster. Stronger. Wilder.
But Leon didn’t panic. He had already seen too much in this dungeon to be shaken by surprises. If anything, it only fueled his resolve.
’If it’s war you want, then it’s war you’ll get!’
He charged, fists igniting in blue Mana flame, his eyes glowing with intensity. The battlefield trembled under the weight of their clash. Leon struck with a barrage of enhanced punches and dodged with inhuman reflexes, keeping up the pressure, pouring his rage into every blow.
But he could feel it.
His stamina. His body. It was getting heavier. Slower.
Not because of an injury—but fatigue. Invisible, creeping exhaustion.
The only way to fix that—
He kept going. Punch after punch. Kick after kick. Until finally—
[Host has accumulated enough EXP]
Host Current Level: LVL 5
Five stats points have been added to each of the Host’s Stats!
A rush of new power surged into him. His body was refreshed, his mind sharpened.
[Supreme Thief System]
─────⋅☾ Host’s Details ☽⋅─────
[Name: Leonel Grimveil]
[Title: Supreme Thief]
[Fame: 56 (in this world)]
[Physique: Supreme Thief physique]
─────⋅☾ Stats ☽⋅─────
[Perception (Hunter’s Instinct): 30]
(Available points to distribute: 0)
"Level 5 at last..." Leon muttered, wiping beast blood off his face. His arms ached, but his grip remained firm. His breath was steady. His spirit was far from broken.
The beast before him had become unrecognizable—broken limbs, dried blood, weakened aura.
Unrecognizable too. Soaked in blood, his eyes holding no pity. Only determination.
He looked at the timer.
He turned toward the final boss—this one, different from the others. Younger. Stronger. Sharper.
It stared at him with rage. And Leon—he smiled.
He punched with brutal force, his mana-loaded fist colliding with its already wounded neck. The impact echoed like thunder, and the beast crumbled like a tree struck by lightning.
It twitched. Then stilled.
Its eyes held regret... hatred... but Leon didn’t blink.
That’s how long it took him to end it.
And then chaos broke.
The once-cackling army of chickens turned and fled in every direction, abandoning all pride. They didn’t care for battle. Not anymore. Not after what they had just witnessed.
But Leon wasn’t going to let them go.
Reabsorbing his external mana, he refueled his body and dashed after them like a phantom in red mist. His legs moved like wind, enhanced by pure mana.
He hunted every last one of them down.
Twenty minutes passed.
A sound like a hurricane formed from flapping feathers filled the air.
His eyes widened as he looked up—
"...What did that damn beast call?"