[You've completed the quest]
[Congratulations, you've leveled up]
[And you've gained a +3 skill card]
[Would you like to reveal your skill cards?]
"Boss, leave this to us! We'll handle him," one of Ayo's crew members confidently stated, cracking his knuckles.
Donny removed his cigar, releasing a cloud of smoke, and addressed Ayo,
"I heard you defeated Adelaide and my guys who came to your apartment."
Ayo paused, a cunning smile forming as he remembered, and replied,
"Oh, those were your guys, huh? Sent them right after my neck, right after surviving a backstabbing."
Donny's face hardened, and he said,
"This guy," while the burly man with dark skin and a bald head moved to attack Ayo but was restrained by Donny.
Donny questioned Ayo, "Are you crazy?" His tone inquired, but his gaze remained fixed on Ayo, who remained unfazed.
"If you talk like that, you must have some guts," Donny said, his eyes signaling his subordinates to step back.
Ayo grinned and taunted, "Alright, let's see what took out Adelaide. Come at me."
In response, Ayo dove forward, aiming for Donny's jaw with a clenched fist.
~Whish~
Ayo's fist barely grazed Donny's jaw, and Donny scoffed, "Is this a joke?"
Ayo replied with a smirk, "~Wham!~ ~Pow!!~" as Donny's powerful punch sent him tumbling.
"Damnit! You don't always have to tell me that..." Ayo muttered, struggling to rise and clutching his belly.
"I'll take note of that," the system acknowledged.
Ayo requested, "Yes, please, I can't do this on my own."
Two skill cards were revealed:
[Breathe Of Life(SSS)lv.1]
> A breathing skill that detects the presence of life and their state through their breathing patterns.
> Passive skill.
> Possibility of detecting feints and lethal attacks.
> Upgradeable.
[Skill Dismissal(S)lv.1]
> A skill belonging to the god of laziness, nerfed due to his weak state as a pseudo-god.
> Status
> Can take away others' skills for 10 seconds.
> Upgradeable.
Ayo's eyes widened as he saw the second skill card. He confidently extended his hand, causing Donny to flinch momentarily.
"Now, I shall have you powerless. Skill Dismissal!!"
[Target does not have a skill]
Donny took a step back and waited, but nothing happened.
"Is that really it?" he asked.
Ayo responded, "Seems so."
[Activating Aura Body]
Donny's hand covered Ayo's face as he raised him and repeatedly smashed him into the ground.
[You have failed the quest]
[Transporting user to the zeroth floor of the tower]
~Whish!!~
Ayo vanished from Donny's grip, leaving him bewildered.
"Did you guys see this just now?" Donny asked his crew.
"Yes, Boss! We saw him disappear!" one of them confirmed.
"Ayo!!" Shola's voice approached them.
"Tch!" Donny muttered and ran away, escaping the situation.
***
"No... no... no... not here again," Ayo complained as he recognized the surroundings.
"That was the only way to save you," the system explained.
"Then why didn't the status skill work? It was supposed to get rid of his skills, damnit!" Ayo protested.
"The human race is unawakened," the system replied.
"What do you mean unawakened?"
"Estimated time until first gate break 11:23:44:08," the system stated.
"Almost twelve days to the first gate break... what does that even mean?"
"The human race will face an unprecedented threat," the system warned.
"Hey, Phanes... what are you planning?"
"It is not I. I can only prepare you through your failures."
Ayo felt heavy footsteps approaching and a roar erupted.
[Hobgoblin has entered rage mode]
"Dragon power."
[Dragon power has been activated]
[Using Breathe of Life]
[Incoming attack detected]
[Pathway visible]
A thin line appeared, guiding the Hobgoblin's attack. Ayo and the creature clashed, shaking the ground upon impact.
"Skill dismissal!"
[Target does not have a skill]