Chapter 2: The First Acquisition
As Victor stepped out of the school health room, his mind was awash with thoughts that refused to subside.
He resided on a planet known as Earth, but it was starkly different from the Earth he remembered. The historical and geographical norms he was familiar with had been replaced by completely alien concepts.
Where he once knew of Europe, Asia, Africa, and other continents, this world was dominated by a single vast supercontinent, Antares. The sheer size of the planet was also staggering, dwarfing the Earth he had known.
The timeline was unmistakably modern, but the political systems in place were startlingly archaic. Nations were not governed by presidents or democratic institutions; instead, they were kingdoms and empires.
He was currently situated in the England Empire, one of the ten major empires reigning over the supercontinent of Antares.
A sense of unease seeped into his thoughts as he pondered the laws of this world, a brutal realm where the strong devoured the weak.
Survival in this world hinged on power. This meant awakening superpowers and becoming a Magus.
But awakening superpowers wasn't the sole path to becoming a Magus. There was an alternative method known as Cultivation. This technique harnessed the combined power of the body, mind, and spirit to elevate one's strength.
The levels of Cultivation was segmented into six distinct realms: Aspirant, Enchanter, Magister, Archmage, Supreme Magus, and Transcendent. Each realm further consisted of ten levels.
Victor was not particularly troubled by the prospect of awakening superpowers as he had received a mid-level cultivation talent from the system.
Moreover, the divine stealing system was an additional safety net, lending him a sense of security in this new, chaotic world.
**********
As Victor stepped through the imposing school gate, he found himself squinting at the rapidly darkening sky above.
Rumble!
The distant rumble of thunder echoed ominously, an auditory herald of the impending storm.
"Seems like a downpour is on the horizon. I'd better hustle home," he mumbled to himself, mentally bracing for the sprint home.
However, just as he was about to launch into a run, a commanding voice froze him in his tracks, "Hold up!"
Victor swiveled around to see a woman striding towards him. Her striking appearance caught him off guard; she was encased in armor that was a distinct identifier of a Magus. But it wasn't just her armor that was captivating; her beauty was equally mesmerizing.
"Hey, aren't you an Adenville High School student?" The woman chastised, her hands perched on her hips. "You should've headed home earlier. Weren't you aware of the alert?"
"What alert?" Victor echoed, his confusion evident. He'd been ensconced in the school health room all day and was oblivious to the happenings outside.
"You're uninformed? There's a Raid happening in the vicinity, and Adenville High School is located in the danger zone. You need to evacuate immediately," the woman explained urgently.
"A Raid?" Victor's eyebrow quirked up in intrigue. Raids generally entailed strong monsters. "Are the monsters formidable?" Victor queried, his curiosity piqued.
"Can't say for sure. But it's safe to assume that the monster is potent enough to necessitate the intervention of several A-class, maybe even S-Class Magus," the woman responded.
"Really?" Victor's interest was visibly ignited. S-class Magus were a rare breed, known for their unparalleled power.
If the situation demanded S-class Magus, then the monsters were undoubtedly formidable.
As he stroked his chin, a wicked grin played at the corners of his mouth, his mind teeming with possibilities of unique abilities he could acquire from vanquishing one of these formidable monsters or Magus.
"Freya, is there an issue?" A masculine voice punctured the tense silence, emanating from a distance.
Victor swiveled to find a man donned in armor approaching them. It was evident he was a Magus too.
"Why is there still someone here? Shouldn't the area be deserted by now?" The man questioned, his brows furrowing into a deeper frown.
"Alex, I think your power is required here. Let him use your steed," Freya suggested.
"Ah, a classic case of falling asleep in the classroom, eh? Well, no matter," Alex responded with a chuckle.
With a snap of his fingers, a surge of blue energy materialized a few feet from him, morphing into the form of a magnificent stallion.
Victor was surprised. The manifestation of energy was a feat he knew to be exceedingly rare.
His gaze instinctively found its way back to Alex. A sinister thought sprouted within his mind; if he were to kill Alex, wouldn't he be able to obtain his powers?
But he quickly shook his head to dispel the thought. A direct confrontation with Alex, given his current state, would result in nothing but his swift demise.
"Don't just gawk. Climb aboard," Alex instructed, folding his arms across his chest.
"Oh, am I permitted to?" Victor questioned, a hint of incredulity in his tone.
"Absolutely," Alex affirmed with a nod.
"Alright then," Victor responded, taking measured steps towards the energy-formed stallion. The creature was significantly larger than a typical stallion. However, his prior riding experience came in handy, allowing him to mount it effortlessly.
"So, what's the next step?" Victor asked, seeking guidance.
In response, Alex's lips curved into a mischievous grin.
"All you need to do is... This!"
Slap!
With a swift motion, Alex slapped the stallion's hindquarters, propelling it into a gallop.
A satisfied smirk spread across Alex's face as he watched Victor disappear into the distance astride the stallion.
He then turned his attention back to Freya, gently stroking her hair and cradling her cheek in his hand.
"Now that he's gone, we can enjoy some solitude," Alex remarked with a charming smile.
Freya reciprocated by placing her hand over his, but her face remained devoid of any smile.
"Alex, you need to take things more seriously. Your status as an A-class Magus doesn't warrant underestimating that monster," Freya admonished earnestly.
"Why not? I can easily obliterate it with my power. And don't label me an A-class Magus. Soon, I'll ascend to an S-class Magus," Alex declared confidently.
Freya sighed at Alex's unwavering confidence, a part of her feared that his pursuit of power and reputation might make him dismissive of potential threats.
Rumble!
Suddenly, the rumble of an impending storm drew her attention.
"Alex, I believe it's time for us to unite as a team. The Raid seems to have commenced," Freya suggested, urgency seeping into her voice.
"(Sigh) Fine, let's exterminate the monsters," Alex conceded.
******
Meanwhile, Victor clung onto the stallion's neck for dear life as it darted forward at a breakneck speed.
He was unsure of their destination but knew he needed to rein in the stallion.
With one hand still gripping the stallion, Victor reached into his pocket, extracting a pen. With a swift motion, he transformed it into the Gungnir spear.
He carefully aimed and plunged the spear into the stallion's neck, gradually slowing it down.
He sensed an odd energy emanating from the spear's tip, almost as if it was siphoning off the stallion's energy.
On a whim, Victor decided to take a gamble. He raised the spear, thrusting it into the stallion's head.
Stab!
With a sharp cry, the stallion lost balance, collapsing onto the ground and catapulting Victor into a nearby tree.
"Ugh, this creature is too swift," Victor grumbled as he dusted himself off and rose to his feet.
[Energy detected. You can steal it]
"I can... steal it?" Victor echoed, disbelief lacing his tone.
[The stallion was a product of Alex's power. Therefore, you can steal it]
"What do I do next?" Victor questioned.
[Just touch it and concentrate]
"Okay, so I just need to touch it and concentrate, right?" Victor sought clarification from the system, his tone laced with anticipation.
[Yes]
Upon receiving confirmation, Victor nodded resolutely.
Without a moment's hesitation, he advanced and placed his hand on the stallion's head. His eyes drifted shut as he channelled all his focus into his palm.
Gradually, the stallion began to dissolve, evaporating into a mere illusion before his very eyes.
When he opened his eyes, he was greeted by the sight of a new stallion, its form bathed in a soothing blue hue.
[Congratulations, you have acquired a new mount: the stallion]
A rush of exhilaration coursed through Victor as he realized he had successfully pilfered someone's power for the first time. It was a sensation he had hardly dared to imagine, and the reality was even more intoxicating.
He stood in awe of his accomplishment, a newfound confidence blossoming within him.
Victor made his way towards the stallion, his hand gently caressing its form. Its obedient response to his touch impressed him, prompting him to test its loyalty further.
"Sit down," he commanded authoritatively.
Without an iota of hesitation, the stallion acquiesced to his command, promptly taking a seated position on the ground.
An impish grin tugged at the corners of Victor's lips, "Excellent. You and I, we're going to make quite the team."
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone