The Ability Steal System

“Get up, useless fool, not even strong enough to take a single punch.” A formidable figure loomed above a frail man, who writhed on the ground, clutching his gut in agony. His garments were stained with a mix of dirt and blood, telling a silent tale of suffering.

"Hehe, he pales in comparison to you, boss; he's just so weak." A red-haired man laughed in the background, his eyes fixed on the scene unfolding before him. He leaned towards the imposing figure, eager to curry favor, while the larger man observed with a sly grin. Meanwhile, the man on the ground writhed in agony, desperately attempting to rise despite the searing pain coursing through his body.

"Dare to call me weak once more, and this so-called weak man

will unleash on you a fury that will have you calling me daddy." The frail-looking man spoke with such intensity that the other man instinctively recoiled, his heart racing at the sight of the fierce, angry eyes staring directly at him.

"If your fists were as sharp as your words, you wouldn't find yourself in this situation." The enormous figure delivered a powerful blow to the frail man, his massive fists striking with force. A rain of blows followed. As each punch landed, the chilling sound of bones cracking echoed through the air.

The frail figure collapsed to the earth, agony etched across his face as droplets of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, a testament to the severity of his wounds. Yet, despite the searing pain coursing through him, he fought valiantly to rise, his unwavering spirit leaving even the towering brute in awe.

"Where’s the money, Felix? Hand it over, and you might just walk away with fewer broken bones.” The enormous figure cast a scornful glance at the frail figure before him, relishing the sight of his torment. Each wince and struggle fueled his own sense of superiority, a dark satisfaction swelling within him as he revelled in the helplessness of his victim.

"For once in your life, why don't you try to earn yours, you shameless fool?" Felix's voice erupted in fury as he was forcefully slammed to the ground once more by the colossal figure, who showed no signs of restraint.

"Did you hear that, Red? He just called me a shameless fool! Hahaha!" The enormous figure let out a booming laugh before seizing Felix and forcefully slamming him against the wall, delivering a flurry of punches with relentless fury. Once he had rendered him unconscious, the towering figure rifled through his belongings, discovering a stash of cores that he swiftly pocketed before departing with his companion.

Felix stirred awake; his mind and eyes clouded with confusion.

He surveyed his clothes and the unfamiliar surroundings, a look of surprise dawning on his face as he rose to his feet.

“Didn’t I die? How am I still here? Could this be heaven? Or have I been reincarnated?.. Arrg!” Felix screamed out in pain as a torrent of memories surged through his mind, belonging to the previous owner of this body.

“Yes, I did in fact, reincarnate. It appears this body once belonged to a Felix who met his end in a brutal beating. What a ‘wonderful’ way to die. In this world, Espers unlock abilities and slay monsters, using their cores to grow stronger. Yet, this body has unlocked a rather useless ability called Light Hand. What kind of a pathetic ability is this?" Felix said in disbelief as he lost himself in the swirling memories that enveloped him.

In a world where the powerful thrived and the weak were cast aside, he stood out, owning a bookshop amidst the chaos. How could one possess such a job at a time like this? Yet, it was hard to fault him; with nothing else to occupy his time, he found solace among the pages. Those burdened with meager abilities lived in the slums, while the gifted basked in the comforts of the city. The planet, known as Zenith, was a tapestry of continents—each with its own essence.

The ice continent, the fire continent, the wind continent, the earth continent, and the lightning continent, alongside realms of darkness, demons, elves, and monsters. What a strange name for such a divided world, each land held its secrets and stories waiting to be uncovered. Felix rose to his feet, brushing the dirt from his clothes, he began to limp toward his shop, a lingering doubt gnawing at him about the reality of it all.

"Even though this Felix was a pushover, that will not stop me from getting my revenge; I owe him at least that," Felix declared with a smile as he recalled his past life. Once the best special ops soldier in the army, he could disarm an opponent in a heartbeat then eliminate them in the next. He had the uncanny ability to incapacitate a superior foe in just three seconds, swiftly following with a lethal strike to end it. With a flawless record of successful missions across the globe, he earned the moniker "Shadow." Now, in this new world, he was determined to harness all the skills and experiences from his previous life to carve out his destiny, and he wouldn’t let anyone get in his way.

"I may have to sell the shop," Felix remarked as he opened the doors to his bookshop. His words carried a weight of indifference; the world of books held little interest for him. There were far more pressing matters demanding his attention. As he surveyed the vast expanse of books surrounding him, he stepped inside to tend his wounds. Lost in thought about his next move, he remained unaware that his internal injuries had already begun to mend; otherwise, he would have recognized his newfound ability to move.

"If I had at least gotten a decent F grade ability, then I would have been better off," Felix muttered, his fingers deftly wrapping the bandages around his wounds, a grimace crossing his face as he recalled the harsh reality of his situation.

He discovered that his ability was not suited for offense or defense, nor could it truly be classified as a support ability. Yet, with his combat skills, he could navigate the challenges ahead while exploring the potential applications of his unique power. As he meticulously bandaged his wounds, a sudden ring from the counter bell pierced the silence, startling him to his core.

"I’ll be right there, feel free to look around," Felix said, a hint of surprise in his voice. It had been a long time since he last had a customer, and he certainly hadn't expected one at this hour.

“Apologies for the delay; I experienced a small problem today” Felix offered a smile, his voice laced with an apology as he stepped forward to greet the man whose presence had taken him by surprise. The figure was draped in a pitch-black cloak that concealed every detail, his head bowed low. What struck Felix most was the absence of any discernible aura surrounding the man. This could only imply that he was an ordinary individual, or perhaps, he possessed an overwhelming strength. Logic made him inch towards the first, yet, deep down, Felix sensed that his initial assumption might be misguided.

“What would you like to buy?” With a friendly smile, Felix inquired of the man.

"I am not here to make a purchase; I have come to present you with this prodigious book." The voice of the black-cloaked man echoed in his mind as he brought down a massive book onto the counter, the impact sending tremors across the surface.

He realized that he had chosen wrongly; it was indeed the second option. In a moment of clarity, Felix understood the gravity of his mistake. The memories of the body’s previous occupant flooded back, revealing that only powerful Espers could wield such extraordinary abilities.

"Um, I don't have money to buy the book." Felix looked at the man, his expression a mix of disbelief and curiosity. Who, after all, would go around delivering prodigious books to people for free? It all seemed rather shady, casting a shadow of doubt over the stranger's intentions.

“Payment isn’t necessary, simply view it as a present” The man spoke briefly before making his way to the door, his silence lingering in the air. Felix frowned, puzzled by the abrupt departure. He had left the book behind, but what was the man's true intention? What was his catch?

"I'm sorry but what makes the book so remarkable?" With a spark of curiosity, Felix inquired of the man who had already approached the door, his skepticism growing stronger about whether this man was indeed here to fulfill his claims.

"Hmp, this book holds unimaginable power; you have no idea how fortunate you are to possess it." The man in the black cloak responded with a mocking tone, his words dripping with disdain.

"You really think I haven't heard that one before? Half of the books here were supposed to ‘contain unimaginable power’. I suggest you find another person to give your book of unimaginable power to because I already have enough problems," Felix addressed the black-cloaked man, his tone laced with sarcasm, yet the man's reply disrupted the thoughts coalescing in his mind.

"No one has ever spoken to me in such a manner, if you knew my true identity, you would find yourself on your knees, pleading for my forgiveness." The black-cloaked man spoke, unleashing a chilling pressure that forced Felix to the ground, trembling in fear.

“Who are you? I'm sorry, please, it was a slip of the tongue," Felix replied through clenched teeth while struggling to rise. The weight of the pressure bore down on him, constricting his breath, and a wave of genuine fear washed over him as he faced the man before him.

Who was this mysterious figure?

What was it that he desired?

What could someone so powerful want from him?

In an instant, thousands of questions swirled through Felix's mind as he fought against the overwhelming pressure bearing down on him.

“Hmm, it seems like I underestimated you. You're one of the few I've met who has ever tried to resist my aura," The black cloaked man remarked. In the next moment, the suffocating pressure that had rendered Felix breathless vanished into thin air.

"Thank you for having mercy on me," Felix said with joy, his heart swelling with gratitude. He thanked the man happily, but when he raised his head, the man had vanished, leaving only the book behind.

"Wow, he was far stronger than I expected. I can't wait to find out what makes this book so special." Felix sighed as he attempted to lift the book, only to discover it was surprisingly heavy. He exerted all his strength, yet the cover remained stubbornly shut. Just as he was on the verge of giving up, the sharp edge of the tome grazed his finger, drawing a small bead of blood.

"Ouch, my finger, huh?" It lacked a name, a curious detail Felix just noticed that only added to its allure. Felix's gaze fell upon his thumb, crimson droplets staining the cover, and in that moment of distraction, he noticed the book had grown lighter in his hands. Instinctively, he tried to open it once more, and to his astonishment, this time, it yielded to him.

As he opened the book, a brilliant light erupted, momentarily blinding him and sending a wave of dizziness through his body. Before he could comprehend the unfolding chaos, he collapsed, succumbing to unconsciousness. After several hours, his eyes fluttered open, revealing the cold, hard ground beneath him.

"Ding"

[Initiating the ability steal system]

[Wake up you little shit and let's go steal some abilities]

“Who is that?” Felix surveyed his surroundings, rubbing his aching head, yet found no one in sight. Doubt crept in, and he began to question whether he was experiencing a hallucination.

[I said wake up you little shit and let's go steal some abilities]

[I am in your head stupid]

"You’re inside my mind? How are you in my head? This must be because of that book.” Felix quickly sprang to his feet, scanning the area for the mysterious tome, but somehow, it had vanished without a trace.

[It seems that I picked wrong, I’m the one and only legendary ability steal system]

"A system, a real system," Felix exclaimed, his voice laced with disbelief. He then chuckled shaking his head, the term echoing within his mind from the cultivation web novels he had read back on Earth. The moment he grasped the concept, he knew that where there was reincarnation, there would undoubtedly be gold fingers waiting to be discovered.

[Is that your reaction? Most people would be left in shock.]

"I can hardly wrap my mind around the fact that I have a system. Yet, I guess it feels fitting; after all, those who have reincarnated in web novels all come with a cheat. Perhaps this is mine." He let out a soft chuckle at the system's words, which were tinged with disappointment.

[Have you finished your sad speech? If so, get up and stop that thief who is stealing your books. Honestly, what is wrong with people these days?]

"Which guy... hey, what are you doing?" Felix rose to his feet, his gaze landing on a masked figure lurking in the shadows of the shop, stealthily stuffing a selection of books into a bag.

"Wait, what are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be closed?" The masked man struggled to conceal the surprise in his voice, attempting to hide the stolen books, but Felix had already caught sight of them.

"Actually, I should be asking you the same question, seeing as this is my shop." Felix regarded the masked man with a steady gaze, his mind racing. A figure draped in a cloak, stealing books—was this some peculiar obsession in Zenith, or something else entirely?

"You were never meant to be part of this scheme, hmp, but no worries, it's just a little technicality. I’ll take care of you myself." The masked man dropped the sack filled with books, his gaze fixed on Felix, who instinctively tensed at the sight. A primal instinct surged within him, warning of impending danger; the man's movements were those of a seasoned expert, calculated and deliberate. With a steady gaze fixed on the man before him, his hands moved stealthily toward the knife concealed beneath the counter.

whoosh

The masked man darted forward, his hand clutching a pouch that he raised to his lips. With a swift motion, he puffed a cloud of reddish powder at Felix, who remained vigilant throughout the encounter, and was thus able to evade the oncoming powder by stepping back. Yet, in his haste, he miscalculated and stumbled, crashing to the ground.

When he stood up, Felix was shocked by what he saw. The powder had disintegrated everything it touched. Witnessing this made Felix feel a chill of fear wash over him, but he swiftly regained his composure. His instincts kicked in as he began to devise a strategy.

‘Damn, an assassin,’ Felix thought, his mind racing with possibilities. He would most likely be at the F rank. Suddenly, a spark ignited within him as he recalled his ability, and a smile bloomed across his face.

"Your reaction is swift, unlike what was described. Yet, that won't alter your fate; you will still meet your end for having laid eyes on me. But first, tell me, where is the book?" The masked man inquired with a menacing tone, drawing forth a dagger that gleamed with an icy brilliance.

"Who are you, and which book are you talking about?" Felix inquired of the man, all the while covertly scanning the ground for the knife that had slipped from his grasp during the fall.

"Still playing the fool, you brought this on yourself. I had planned to take a few books from the shop to make it look like a real robbery, but unexpectedly, you chose to stay up late, doing God knows what." The masked man expressed his irritation as he strode toward Felix, who was still desperately searching for the knife. And upon noticing the man's approach, Felix's search became increasingly

frantic.

"I don't know which book you are talking about; you can take all the books here, I won't say a word of this to anyone." Felix said to the masked man, his hand finally grabbing the hilt of his knife and gripping it tightly.

"Oh, I will, but you must understand, in our line of work, all witnesses must be terminated." The masked man grinned wickedly, then lunged at Felix, intent on slitting his throat. At that moment, his fate was sealed.

As he leaped toward him, the smile on Felix's face caught his attention and a flicker of unease washing over him. But it was too late; Felix had already raised his left hand, aiming it directly at him.

A brilliant burst of light shot forth from his hand, momentarily blinding the masked man and disrupting his concentration. Seizing the opportunity, Felix drove the knife into his chest three times and swiftly slit his throat before stepping aside and letting the body drop to the ground.

Having now successfully neutralized the threat, Felix then rose to his feet, his gaze fixed on his hands, now stained with blood. Yet, after years of confronting such grim realities, he had become desensitized to the sight. Instead of remorse, he felt a familiar surge of adrenaline coursing through him.

"Ding"

[You have killed an F rank Esper and gained 100xp]

[You have levelled up to level 1, all stats increased by one, you have also gained an additional stat point with 200 system points]