The Ability Steal System

Analyze

"Ding"’

[System has detected an F-rank detection ability ‘Analyze’]

[Would the host like to steal it, the cost is 200 system points]

As he heard this, the edges of his mouth rose to reveal a smile.

‘Yes’ Felix said in his mind while staring at Dave's hand which was glowing.

"Ding"

[Stealing ability (1%..29%..54%..76%..99%..100%)]

[You spent 200 system points and gained a new ability Analyze]

[Analyze][Level 1]

Rank: F+

Cost:100 MP

[Description]

[It allows the user to perceive the statistics of an item.]

"It’s aura indicates that it is an E Rank, but the dagger's appearance suggests it belongs to a higher grade," Dave remarked, weariness evident in his voice as he reluctantly returned the dagger to Felix.

"Where did you get this dagger? I want to buy it, but don't worry; I promise to give you a fair price," Dave said to Felix, emphasizing the word 'promise' as his gaze remained locked on the dagger, the yearning in his eyes unmistakable.

"Sorry, but I can't sell. There are people after me, and if I share anything about it, it could put you in danger," Felix said, watching as disappointment flickered in Dave's eyes.

"Who did you manage to offend this time, huh, Felix?" Dave asked, a hint of disappointment lingering in his voice.

"Are you familiar with this organization?" Felix stretched out his hand, presenting Dave with the assassin's card.

"This... Shadow," Dave's gaze fixed on the card with such intensity that Felix half-expected a hole to appear in it. It was then that he caught sight of Dave's hand quivering.

“Is everything alright?” Felix inquired; his gaze fixed on the trembling fingers that betrayed a hidden turmoil.

“Are you aware of the person you’ve wronged? Shadow is the biggest underground assassination organization on the continent," Dave said, his voice trembling, and Felix could feel the palpable fear that laced his words.

"Could this be connected to the incident at your shop?" With a grim expression, Dave posed his question to Felix.

"Yes, it is, and don't worry. I wasn't followed, if that's what you're thinking. I will leave tomorrow so you won't be dragged into this," Felix said with a reassuring smile as he took back the card.

"I don't think you grasp the seriousness of this situation. Their leader is an SS rank Esper, wielding the formidable shadow manipulation ability—an SS rank ability. Where did you even acquire the card? It can be used to track you! Damn it, get rid of it now!" Dave exclaimed, his voice hurried, and his face flushed with urgency.

"An SS rank huh?, Esper, intriguing. I will get rid of the card, but first, I must turn this to my advantage—lure them in closer." Felix spoke with a grin, his eyes glinting with playful mischief.

“Are you out of your damn mind? What has gotten into you, suggesting we lure F and E rank Espers to my shop, perhaps even those of higher ranks? You are behaving very strangely Felix,” Dave remarked, his disbelief evident as he observed Felix's peculiar demeanor.

“I am no longer the Felix who used to cower in fear or submit to bullying. I am a changed man; you should expect more changes from me," Felix said, a mysterious smile playing on his lips as he tucked the card into his pocket.

Felix contemplated the situation, aware that the organization would require a minimum of two days to track him down, thanks to the meticulous preparations he had set in motion. In that fleeting window of time, he knew he had to devise a plan.

"You can stay here for today, but you need to leave tomorrow, okay? I’m already putting myself in danger by keeping you here. Your room is the second one on the left; you can find a first aid kit there. Take care of yourself; you look awful," Dave said to a smiling Felix as he turned off the shop light. These were crystals that lit up when brought together.

Felix made his way to his room, the ache from his injuries were still fresh and raw. The remnants of the fight lingered, some wounds having reopened, yet he had managed to bind them before arriving. Once inside, he tended to his injuries with meticulous care, exhaustion quickly overtaking him. While he drifted into slumber, a lesson learned through years of experience echoed in his mind: never sleep with both eyes closed.

As Felix lay in the depths of slumber, a faint sound drifted through the stillness of the night, stirring his keen senses. With a sudden jolt, he sat upright, his eyes glinting with the sharpness of a dagger. Stealthily, he rose from his resting place, drawn toward the source of the mysterious noise, and as he moved, he managed to catch a whisper of the conversation.

"Thank you for coming. Did you bring the cash?" In a hushed tone, Dave posed a question to an unseen figure, leaving Felix in a state of curiosity.

"Yes, but first, reveal to me his whereabouts." A deep voice resonated from within the room, and Felix felt a surge of certainty wash over him—he was the one Dave was referring to. Alongside that certainty came a surge of rage, for he recognized in an instant the identities of those involved.

"That lying, betraying son of a..." Felix began, but his words trailed off as he heard something else that caught his interest.

"He is in the second room on the left. What could he possibly possess that warrants a bounty of 5 D rank beast cores?" Dave inquired of the owner of the voice.

"A bounty of 5 D rank beast cores was announced, but wait—wasn't that equivalent to 5000 E rank beast cores? It doesn't matter; escape is the main priority now. Damn it, I forgot the dagger. I have to go back for it." Felix muttered to himself as a sudden realization struck, a flicker of greed dancing in his mind. But he swiftly put aside that thought, aware that succumbing to such desires could spell his doom. Resolute, he turned and retraced his steps back to the room quietly.

As Felix approached the room, he heard the voice commanding urgency and precision. "Here's the money. Fan out and secure the area. Find the book, and if you find him, kill him immediately. He is considered a dangerous target; he killed an F rank assassin, so treat him as you would an F rank enemy. He isn't getting out of here alive." The weight of the words pressed on him, prompting him to quicken his steps.

He entered the room and found his dagger resting on the table. Just as he reached for the bag containing his belongings, he hesitated, understanding that it would hinder his escape. A moment of contemplation washed over him, torn between the decision to take it or leave it behind.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed, drawing nearer to his room. In a hurried motion, he extracted several cores and tucked them away in his bag, leaving the remaining items scattered across the bed. However, in his haste, his hand inadvertently brushed against a vase perched on the table.

CRASH

With a thunderous crash, the vase tumbled from the table, shattering on the floor; the sound echoed ominously, quickening the footsteps approaching him. Cursing silently, he snatched the bag and frantically surveyed the room, searching for a place to conceal himself.

The door creaked open, revealing an assassin who slipped into the room with the utmost caution. The space was empty, with silence hanging thick in the air. As he moved through the shadows, his gaze fell upon a shattered vase scattered across the floor. The sound of its breaking had echoed moments before, a clear sign that the target was awake. But where could he be hiding?

"This must be what just broke, which means the target is still in the room." The assassin kneeled, his eyes scanning the vase for any hidden clues. Finding nothing, he rose, determination fueling his next move as he prepared to search the room. Suddenly, a cold blade pressed against his neck, sending a shiver down his spine. In that tense moment, a bone-chilling voice pierced the silence, laced with a palpable intent to kill.

"Utter a single sound, and it shall be your last," Felix spoke to the man dryly with the dagger pressed against his neck. The hostage, fully aware of the gravity in Felix's tone, understood that this was no mere bluff; the threat was real. In that tense moment, he resolved to play along, biding his time.

"Alright, just please spare my life. I am willing to comply with any request you have." The assassin feigned fear, but Felix saw right through the act. In his mind, a dark thought brewed: ‘Just wait until you let your guard down; then, you will pay with your life.’

“Good boy,” Felix continued, his voice dripping with menace.

“Answer all my questions, and I might spare you. But try any funny moves, and you won’t even realize how you met your end. Now tell me, how many of you are there, and what are your ranks?” He chuckled inwardly as he posed the question to the man, wondering how he thought Felix could be so oblivious to the thoughts swirling in his mind.

“There are five of us," The assassin answered, his voice steady despite the blade pressing closer to his neck. "We're all F ranks, except for our leader, who's an F+ rank."

In a world where power is everything, a team of four F ranks and one F+ rank, with unknown abilities, stands poised for an uncertain confrontation. With years of deadly combat experience, Felix felt confident he could manage the odds stacked against him. His focus remained on the assassin, who underestimated him and seized the moment, attempting to disarm him. However, Felix, anticipating the move, pressed his palm against the assassin's mouth, silencing him before swiftly slitting his throat, followed by a precise stab to the heart.

The assassin crumpled to the ground; a look of disbelief etched across his face as if he couldn't fathom that Felix had just ended his life. But Felix understood the reason behind the ease of this fight, he

had added one point to strength, and when the assassin entered the room, he seized the element of surprise. And with his newfound power, Felix had claimed victory.

“Ding”

[You have defeated a F rank Esper and obtained 100 XP.]

"Now for the next part of the plan" Felix smiled to himself, the system notification echoing in his mind. A bloodbath was on the horizon, and he could feel the thrill of anticipation coursing through him.