Chapter 636: Heart of Agility Awakens

This time, Wind God Supreme Assassin Gale had no objections. He nodded firmly, looking every bit as decisive as Marcus, before explaining the conditions in detail.

"Kid, here’s how it’ll work. Once your Divine Beast, the Dark Violet Sky Dragon, hatches and reaches Level 50, I’ll be able to borrow its dark energy and bloodline power to help you complete the class change into the ancient Shadow Dragon Assassin."

Gale paused, then added, "However, once the class change is complete, you’ll have to do me a favor."

There it was.

Marcus had known something like this was coming. Gale had become almost suspiciously enthusiastic about giving him an assassin class the moment he discovered that Marcus possessed Heart of Agility. There was no such thing as a free lunch, especially when the person offering it was a legendary expert like Gale.

"What kind of favor?" Marcus asked. "And will I actually be able to pull it off?"

If even the greatest assassin on the Dreamland Continent needed his help, then whatever Gale wanted certainly wasn’t going to be simple. Marcus needed to know exactly what he was getting himself into. He wasn’t about to accept a powerful new class only to end up trapped in some absurd quest with a punishment so severe that he would lose more than ten levels or get thrown back to the Newbie Village.

"Kid, it’s simple. I want you to steal something for me."

"Steal something?"

Marcus stared at him, completely baffled.

Gale was a legendary assassin. Why would someone like him need Marcus to steal anything? Even if Gale’s class specialized in assassination rather than thievery, his own stealing ability should still have been far better than Marcus’s. And after the class change, Marcus would become an assassin too, not a thief.

So why send a complete rookie? Something about this didn’t add up. Fortunately, Gale continued before Marcus could ask.

"In the northeastern part of the Dreamland Continent, there’s a secret realm called the Phantom Monkey Forest. A Super Divine Beast known as the Six-Eared Macaque lives there. Thirty years ago, that bastard stole two Wind Spirit Orbs from my weapon, Stormedge. I want you to steal them back for me."

Marcus stared at him. ’Steal from a Super Divine Beast?’

He didn’t think he possessed that kind of ability.

"Elder, you really think I can steal something from a Super Divine Beast?"

"Heh..."

Gale gave him a confident smirk before reaching into his inventory and pulling out a yellowed skill scroll.

"Kid, take a look at this. Check the properties of the scroll."

Marcus accepted it and examined the information.

—

Phantom Chain Steal: Divine-grade Skill Scroll. After approaching an enemy, rapidly steal three to five items from them. If the target item is known, the success rate is 95%. If the target item is unknown, the success rate is 60%. Cannot steal weapons or equipped equipment.

Restriction: Only usable by Rogues or assassin-type classes that have learned stealing skills.

—

Marcus’s eyes immediately widened.

’Damn.’

That was an incredibly powerful stealing skill. If he knew exactly what he wanted to steal, a 95% success rate was practically ridiculous.

Yet the more Marcus looked at the scroll, the more confused he became. He turned it over in his hands before looking back at Gale.

"Elder, if you have a skill like this, couldn’t you just steal the Wind Spirit Orbs yourself?"

Gale shook his head helplessly.

"Unfortunately, I can’t get close to the Six-Eared Macaque."

"Can’t get close?"

"That’s right."

Gale nodded and began explaining. "The Six-Eared Macaque possesses an extraordinary natural ability to perceive its surroundings. Its six ears can monitor everything within an four-kilometers radius. Teleportation, stealth, concealment, none of them work against it. The moment you enter its range, it knows you’re there."

He paused before continuing.

"Forget a combat-type assassin like me. Even the two greatest thieves on the entire Dreamland Continent can’t approach it without being detected. One is the Demon Lord’s Eight Guardians’ Phantom Monkey, the Thousand-Faced Phantom Monkey. The other is humanity’s Phantom Blossom. Both of them are masters among masters when it comes to stealing and concealment, yet neither can get close to the Six-Eared Macaque."

Marcus finally understood why Gale had come looking for him.

"And I can?"

Gale nodded.

"Mm. According to legend, an assassin who possesses the Heart of Agility can bypass the Six-Eared Macaque’s senses while using ordinary stealth, allowing them to approach it without being detected."

So that was the reason. Marcus suddenly understood everything.

No wonder Gale had been so eager to give him an assassin class the moment he discovered Heart of Agility. It wasn’t simply because Gale wanted to see such a rare talent put to good use. He had been looking for someone who could accomplish something that even the greatest thieves on the continent were incapable of doing.

Gale continued, "Kid, once you complete your assassin class change, I’ll teach you a Divine-grade Stealth skill. Combined with the Phantom Chain Steal, I believe you’ll have a good chance of successfully stealing my two Wind Spirit Orbs."

Marcus nodded slowly, but one concern still remained.

"But what happens if I fail?"

Stealing wasn’t guaranteed. Even Phantom Chain Steal only had a 95% success rate when the target item was known, and the supposed ability of Heart of Agility to bypass the Six-Eared Macaque’s senses was based on nothing more than an old legend.

Marcus needed to know exactly what he would lose if things went wrong.

"Kid, if you fail, the Shadow Dragon Assassin class change I give you will automatically disappear. Other than that, you won’t lose anything."

"Deal!"

Marcus agreed immediately.

As long as his existing abilities and classes weren’t affected, there was no reason for him to refuse. Besides, considering the conditions Gale had described, Marcus felt that failure was highly unlikely in the first place.

"However, kid, there’s one more condition."

Gale’s expression became serious again.

"You must successfully hatch the Dark Violet Sky Dragon and complete the Shadow Dragon Assassin class change before reaching Level 80. Once you’ve done that, you’ll have to steal the two Wind Spirit Orbs for me."

He paused, then added bluntly, "If you fail to meet that deadline, I’ll forcibly change you into a random assassin class and send you on the quest anyway."

"Level 80..."

Marcus considered it for a moment.

He had already been planning to hatch the Dark Violet Sky Dragon as soon as possible. Now that he knew it was necessary for the Shadow Dragon Assassin class change, there was even more reason to make it one of his priorities.

"Fine. Level 80 it is."

Marcus agreed without hesitation. Just then, a system notification chimed in his ears.

Ding!

[Congratulations, Player Stonehaven. Because you possess the talent skill "Heart of Agility" and have encountered Wind God Supreme Assassin Gale, you have triggered the "Wind Spirit Orbs" quest.]

Marcus immediately opened the quest interface and looked it over.

The requirements were exactly as Gale had described. So far, everything was proceeding according to plan.

Then Gale spoke again.

"Kid, now I’ll activate your talent skill, ’Heart of Agility.’"

Marcus’s attention immediately returned to him.

Gale closed his eyes and began muttering an incantation under his breath. As his voice grew louder, an enormous golden radiance gradually gathered in his palm, growing brighter until it illuminated the surrounding area.

"Powerful spirits of heaven and earth, lend me your boundless energy. Accept my control, pass on the mighty power of the assassin, and let the assassin’s glory shine ever brighter..."

The golden light continued to intensify. Then Gale suddenly raised his voice.

"Activate, Heart of Agility!"

With his final shout, the golden radiance in his palm erupted forward and shot directly into Marcus’s body.

A brilliant golden glow swept across Marcus from head to toe. He could feel an indescribable force coursing through his body, as though every muscle, every nerve, and every fiber of his being had suddenly become sharper and more responsive.

At the same time, the familiar system notification rang in his ears.

Ding!

[Congratulations, Player Stonehaven. Under the guidance of the super expert Wind God Supreme Assassin Gale, the effects of your talent skill "Heart of Agility" have now been activated]

Marcus’s heart skipped a beat.

’Finally!’

He immediately opened his skill panel and looked at the newly activated talent skill.

—

Heart of Agility: Talent Skill, Level 1 (0/50,000).

Only players born with maxed-out Agility and exceptionally high Luck can awaken this skill.

Effects: Agility increases by Level × 3. Accuracy +20%. Dodge +20%. Attack Speed +3. Movement Speed +5. Critical Hit Rate +30%.

Special Effect: Players possessing Heart of Agility can, under the guidance of certain specific experts, gain an additional assassin-type class without affecting their original class.

Skill: Heart of Agility, Active Skill.

When activated: Attack Power is halved. Movement Speed increases by 5×. Dodge Rate increases by 100%.

—