I Became A Thief Who Steals Overpowered Skills

***

Danger.

Aniks’s intuition told him as much.

Kraush, who also saw Decarabia, thought the same.

The mother spider was struggling, but Decarabia was clearly killing her.

And each time he consumed the mother spider, Decarabia’s power grew.

That creature was increasing World Erosion by devouring other Erosion Species, just like those from the Demonic Realm.

‘That monkey bastard came from the Demonic Realm.’

Recognizing Decarabia’s origin, Kraush frowned.

Surely, it had devoured all the Erosion Species in the tomb apart from the mother spider.

Otherwise, it wouldn’t be so filled with the power of World Erosion.

If Kraush’s body were in its usual condition, it might be different, but in this state, he couldn’t possibly fight that creature.

“Kraush.”

At that moment, Haring grabbed Kraush’s collar again.

Her face hardened upon seeing Decarabia.

Her instincts were also signaling danger.

“We need to get out, now.”

She owed Kraush a debt.

She intended to repay it by ensuring his survival.

But Kraush knew her judgment was already too late.

Boom!

Decarabia, having nearly finished off the mother spider, turned its head towards Kraush.

Its eyes fixed on Kraush.

‘Greedy monkey.’

Kraush realized Decarabia had sensed his World Erosion and coveted it.

Decarabia had chosen him as its next target.

[Kraush.]

This time, Crimson Garden warned him that it was truly dangerous.

Kraush scanned the surroundings.

None of them, including Haring, had noticed that Decarabia had marked him as its target.

But one person was different.

The most skilled and perceptive among them.

Kraush’s eyes met Aniks’s.

Aniks had realized that Decarabia’s gaze had shifted towards Kraush.

So Aniks’s eyes were trembling.

The Twin Sprout had exhausted considerable strength fighting other Erosion Species.

Aniks knew well that fighting Decarabia in their current state would mean total annihilation.

Even though the special circumstances of the Demonic Realm had allowed a 6-star Erosion Species to be handled by the Balheim family, Decarabia was practically a 7-star.

Kraush had managed to deal with a 6-star Erosion Species due to the Demonic Realm and his normal physical condition.

Without Kraush, the Twin Sprout couldn’t handle Decarabia.

Realizing that Decarabia’s target was Kraush, Aniks faced a dilemma.

Would he, as the leader, choose to confront Decarabia and risk annihilation, or would he escape with Juio and leave Kraush as bait?

The answer was clear either way.

“Aniks.”

Kraush called out to Aniks.

“What will you do?”

Kraush looked at Aniks.

Faced with a sudden crisis, Kraush found himself in a situation reminiscent of the past.

A situation where life and death hung on Aniks’s decision.

Kraush clenched his fist quietly.

Kraush knew Aniks to be a rational person.

At least until he was broken by Charlotte, Aniks chose to save many by sacrificing a few.

But Kraush knew this repetitive rational choice had eventually led to Aniks being ousted from the Skyborne Generation.

The world is twisted.

Even seemingly rational choices can sometimes lead to worse outcomes.

Just as Kraush and Lilish had defeated Agares, not everything can be resolved through rational judgment alone.

Aniks’s rational choices were seen as evasive actions, leading to no substantial results.

‘This is why I say this world is messed up.’

It’s truly twisted, but the world requires people to abandon rationality and confront challenges, often sacrificing someone to make progress.

That’s the nature of this rotten world.

Aniks had made the most rational choices, but in the end, those choices led to his downfall.

Ousted from the Skyborne Generation, Aniks became increasingly obsessed, and eventually broke down after hearing about Charlotte’s marriage.

That was the future awaiting Aniks.

Thus, Kraush was sure of one thing.

Aniks’s future would be determined here.

‘Aniks will make the right choice. Sacrificing one to save many is the role of a commander.’

But it was that very role that broke Aniks.

Kraush stared at Aniks.

He could sense the hesitation deep within Aniks’s heart.

Inherent nature is hard to change.

Thus, Kraush decided not to blame him.

Perhaps in the future, Aniks’s rational choices would yield better results.

One shouldn’t judge everything based on regression.

“Haring, go with Aniks.”

Kraush decided to ease Aniks’s burden.

From Kraush’s perspective, this was more comfortable.

Moreover, Decarabia was clearly targeting him now.

Kraush understood the rational choice.

Aniks should escape, and Kraush should handle it alone.

However, Kraush would no longer have high expectations of Aniks.

He vaguely sensed that Aniks’s recovery would eventually fall to him.

“What do you mean?”

Haring, unaware that Decarabia had marked Kraush, shouted.

Ignoring her, Kraush drew Rain Thunder Prime and exhaled lightly.

“Borrowing your poison pouch.”

“Okay.”

Haring finally realized Kraush had taken her poison pouch.

As she awkwardly fumbled at her waist, Kraush approached the edge of the cliff.

“Kraush.”

Aniks stopped him.

Kraush turned, his eyes widening slightly.

“Do you have a way to defeat that Erosion Species?”

Aniks’s eyes showed the resolve to confront rather than rationally retreat.

“…”

Kraush was momentarily speechless.

He hadn’t expected Aniks to say that.

The question shook Kraush.

Aniks, who always made rational decisions, was now asking for Kraush’s opinion.

This was surprising in itself.

“…Yes, if you can make it so that it can’t sense me for three minutes.”

Three minutes against such a monster.

Not an easy task.

But Aniks looked at the Twin Sprout without hesitation.

“Can you hold out for three minutes?”

Aniks asked, and the Twin Sprout members looked at each other.

Having been with Aniks since entering Rahelrn Academy, they were determined.

“Yes, we can.”

Elfin, facing Aniks, answered firmly first.

“I’ll do it too.”

“Three minutes is enough.”

Other members chimed in.

Their responses reflected Aniks’s leadership over the past year at Rahelrn Academy.

Aniks looked back at Kraush.

Kraush was dumbfounded.

“We’ll try.”

Aniks said.

Kraush couldn’t believe his ears.

Kraush was clearly exhausted.

It might seem like stubbornness.

But Aniks trusted him.

Kraush felt the image of Aniks he had in his mind shatter.

Through the cracks, the current Aniks emerged.

At Pendal’s death, Kraush had realized that regression alone couldn’t define everything.

This applied to others too, he knew.

Yet, seeing Aniks always reminded him of being left in a trap.

That was hard to forget.

But this moment made him realize.

Kraush needed to let go of the memories from his regression.

Aniks had changed.

Whatever the reason, Aniks now made different choices.

“Alright.”

Kraush didn’t say much more and turned away.

Realizing how much regression had twisted him.

“Haring.”

At this moment, Kraush sought help from someone new.

“I need to borrow your Invisible.”

Haring’s eyes widened, and she clenched her dagger tightly.

“Leave it to me.”

Kraush had intended to defeat Decarabia alone from the start.

Though difficult, it wasn’t impossible.

So he tested Aniks to see if he would follow the same path as in the future or choose differently.

Today, the result was different.

Perhaps that was the most important thing for Kraush today.

***

“Haring, I’ll focus for the next three minutes.”

Kraush informed Haring while opening the poison pouch.

Haring’s face hardened seeing the red packet Kraush took out.

“Kraush, that’s…”

“I know what it is.”

The Red Tiger Packet.

A poison that boosts physical condition to its peak for three minutes but exacts a severe toll.

A poison taken by those resolved to die.

Kraush intended to consume it.

Haring reached out to stop him.

But Kraush handed her the poison pouch instead.

“I said I’d handle it. We can’t let those guys die in vain.”

Haring bit her lip.

Even if she took the Red Tiger Packet, she couldn’t defeat Decarabia.

Kraush’s firepower was necessary.

“Shriek!”

Meanwhile, the dying cry of the mother spider echoed.

Thud!

Chunks of the mother spider’s body began to fall.

Seeing this, Kraush swallowed the Red Tiger Packet.

His heart pounded violently.

The effect of the Red Tiger was three minutes.

It boosted physical condition to its peak for three minutes.

He would have to bear the full brunt of the backlash after ten minutes.

Swoosh!

As evidence, black flames erupted from Kraush’s body as his condition forcibly improved.

Three minutes.

Enough time to crush that creature’s head.

‘Annihilation Asura is…’

Not an option.

He couldn’t touch madness and the Heavenly Slaughter Star today.

A little more and both would rampage.

That would worsen the situation.

Though regretful, Kraush didn’t dwell on it.

He would do his best with what he had.

Kraush drew Rain Thunder Prime and moved it to his waist.

At that moment, he felt a soft touch on his back.

Haring had embraced him from behind.

Their presence and forms began to vanish.

Still an impressive skill.

But Haring’s Invisible had a major flaw.

If the user used aura, Invisible would break.

Thus, Haring would have to reveal herself to attack.

There was no need for Invisible if the enemy could be defeated without aura.

So Kraush had no interest in stealing Haring’s Invisible.

Even if he did, it would be a hindrance without the full functionality.

Instead, Kraush intended to use Haring’s Invisible differently.

‘Invisible erases the form of both the user and the touched target, but the touched target can use aura without being revealed.’

In other words, only the user would be revealed when using aura.

Others could use aura without being exposed.

‘In a way.’

Haring’s Invisible was perfect for Kraush.

With preparation, he could strike deadly blows indefinitely as long as he endured.

When she was with the Skyborne Generation, Haring’s skill showed endless potential.

But that potential never came to fruition.

Her family, Lagrain, was blamed for starting the war.

As a result, Haring took responsibility during the peace negotiations and faced execution.

The Poison King destroyed the Hardenhartz family.

During that process, Bianca, turned White Ghost, killed the Poison King, ruining Lagrain.

Haring, who killed the White Ghost, was also executed for her connection to the war.

Empire and Starlon’s power struggle sacrificed both families.

Thus, Haring’s Invisible yielded potential but was unused.

During the war with World Erosion, her corpse was already rotting in the ground.

‘Not this time.’

Bianca won’t become the White Ghost.

Haring won’t need to avenge Bianca.

Kraush wouldn’t let it happen.

“It’s too hot to endure. Just touch me.”

Haring would get burned if exposed to the heat of Annihilation Erosion without using aura.

Kraush warned, and Haring shook her head.

“I might fall if a stray attack hits.”

“Stubborn.”

Seeing the sense in her words, Kraush said no more.

Instead, he focused the heat of Annihilation Erosion on Rain Thunder Prime.

‘There will be many more critical moments.’

Better to practice now.

There would be countless life-or-death situations ahead.

Thud!

At that moment, Decarabia, having finished its meal, began to move.

It scanned for Kraush with glowing blue eyes, sensing his vanished presence.

“Let’s start.”

“Okay.”

Kraush created a lightning scabbard with Lioner and breathed the heat of Annihilation Erosion into Rain Thunder Prime.

Three minutes.

That’s all the time to prepare a deadly strike.

End of Chapter

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