This Life, I Will Be the Protagonist

Chapter 379 I Could Just Steal It—A New SSS-Tier Talent!

Unlike her calculated negotiations in the High Tower, where warriors clashed in measured combat, or on Blue Star, where alliances and influence could deflect enemies' focus, the rules here in the World Battleground were entirely different.

Here, everything visible was a resource. The goal was to exploit enemies completely, using every means available to drain them dry before their death.

Hiding strength? Useless.

Negotiation? Irrelevant.

Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire

Death as an escape? No. Death was the easiest outcome.

There were no retreats, no compromises, no mutual victories.

If only she had known... But even if she had, what could she have done differently? Every step she had taken was her own choice.

Even at full strength, without the debuff from soul shock, she was no match for Frenzied Shark.

Perhaps the moment she had stolen Mistblade's World Graveyard, her and Nivalis's fates were already sealed.

It felt like karma. She had moved too quickly, entering the game ahead of everyone else, only to be pushed prematurely into a world she wasn't ready for.

When the [Forced Stay] timer hit 10 seconds, the thorns suddenly released Nivalis, as if they had finished draining her dragon blood. They even swept away her shed scales.

Nearly 60% of the scales on Nivalis's back had been stripped, leaving her collapsed on the ground. Her glaring eyes fixed on Frenzied Shark, who grinned at her menacingly.

Rita, sensing danger, immediately stepped in front of Nivalis, shielding her with her body. Before Frenzied Shark killed her, she still had value—as a translator.

Sure enough, a skill's sound cracked through the air behind them, leaving a massive crater to their side. Frenzied Shark had intercepted his own attack.

Rita abandoned her attempts to return Nivalis to the pet space. Instead, she healed her with a skill before carrying her and facing the shark-like menace head-on.

Before she could speak, a sudden impact slammed into her chest. She was flung back into the thorns, coughing up blood as her HP dropped to 0.01%. Nivalis's health mirrored hers.

Such terrifying precision.

Once selected, the skill dimmed and vanished from her list.

When she reopened her eyes, she found herself on the rooftop of a building in Dark City. It seemed the respawn location was randomized.

[Detected: Black Spring Civilization World Graveyard - Red Airplane. Honor points +10,000.]

Ignoring the notification, Rita immediately used [Happy New Year] to return to Blue Star.

She rushed to the backyard, summoning Nivalis. As the dragon emerged, her body returned to its full size. She collapsed, her flesh bloody and mangled, the gemstone on her forehead dull and lifeless.

Her once radiant, pearlescent scales were now dim and lusterless.

Nivalis weakly said, "I can't use my skills anymore."

Rita carefully used water-based skills to clean the sand and blood from Nivalis's body. Then, she cast every healing skill she had, each in its ultimate-enhanced version.

Under the effects of [The First Step to Making Cotton Candy], Nivalis's HP fully recovered, and her scales began to regenerate. Yet, their dull appearance remained, and she still seemed fragile.

Rita resolved to take Nivalis to Dragon Island.

First, she traveled to Lania KaiaTon Ton Mountain, removing her disguise after leaving the city. She summoned Nivalis and used [A Big World, A Small Me] to shrink her down, carrying her as she flew toward the island.

Nivalis was nearly asleep when Rita began recounting her theft of Frenzied Shark's talent, hoping to lift her spirits.

The mention jolted Nivalis awake. "Really?! You stole his divine talent?"

Rita nodded. "Yes. SSS-tier. Midnight Exile. I only managed to steal four skills."

Her tone was calm. There was no point in hiding it—she had taken the talent right in front of Frenzied Shark.

Besides, a used [I Could Just Steal It] was far safer than an unused one.

[Midnight Exile] (SSS-tier, Incomplete):

Skill 1: Midnight Exile (Passive): After killing a target, your next attack deals triple critical damage. If an attack fails to kill, the next attack deals quintuple critical damage, stacking up to three times. Skill 2: Absurd Story (Passive): Any enemy attacking you experiences unbearable pain and suffers guaranteed damage reflection equal to 100% of the damage dealt (even upon your death). Absurd Effect: A 10% chance to heal 1% of the damage dealt and a 1% chance to heal completely. Reflection damage does not trigger this effect. Skill 3: Bedtime Tale (Passive): You cannot be one-shot killed. Each hit can only take a maximum of 30% of your HP. Skill 4: Ancient Curse: Anything you say becomes a guaranteed curse. However, you must also state a method to break the curse, which will be widely known and retold as a legend. Cooldown: 7 natural days. Only 7 curses can exist at a time. (0/7)