Limitless Fortune: I Collect SSS-Rank Skills as Payment-Chapter 167: Hugo Is Erased from Existence!

"L-Lucien…what the hell are you trying to do to me?"

Hugo asked with thick hatred and a little bit of fear. He thought Lucien was going to torture him in the room.

Otherwise, why would he immobilize him like this?

'If only I weren't bound to this chain.'

Hugo thought while scanning the room to search for Velmara's figure. But it seemed only Lucien at this point.

If he could somehow break away from this chain and regain his power, he could definitely kill Lucien and escape from this place before Velmara arrived.

Unfortunately, he was totally powerless now.

The poor guy didn't know that even if he did regain his strength, he was no match for Lucien now. Well, Lucien also didn't have any motive to entertain the guy who was about to die.

'System, begin debt extraction from Hugo Lionheart!'

Lucien didn't answer Hugo and only stared at him with his cold eyes while asking the system to collect debt.

---

Ding!

[Beginning the debt extraction on Hugo Lionheart. The debt value of Hugo Lionheart is at 100 points.]

[Your true power far exceeds Hugo's capability.]

[Hugo is eligible for Full Collection.]

—

The moment Lucien gave the order, his system began analyzing the transactions. Then, in a moment, Lucien heard a pleasant sound that put a smile on his face.

—

[Congratulations! Full Extraction on Hugo Lionheart has been successful!]

[Due to his high debt value (100), the probability of gain is 100%]

[...]

[Congratulations! You gained: +350 Agility, +289 Endurance, +259 Strength, +100 Vitality, +129 Perception, +200 Mana, +259 Intelligence, +5 Life Span, Affinity: Darkness(Exceptional), Skills: Soul Sense (C-rank), Bone Manipulation (C-rank), Summon Undead (C-rank)]

[Congratulations! Due to the unique nature of lifeforms, you are able to extract Origin Point from the subject in front.]

[Congratulations! You have gained 1 Point of Origin.]

[Current Origin: 2 point]

[Use of Origin: Locked]

[Note: Due to the 100% collection of debt from the subject Hugo Lionheart, his unique existence will be forcibly erased from the World of Origin.]

—

"..."

'What the fuck just happened?'

Lucien, who was awaiting the usual reward, was directly dumbfounded by the system prompt that appeared in his mind.

But before he could ponder them, a sharp cry from the front woke him up.

"Ahhh….W-What? What is happening to me?"

When Lucien turned to look, he saw Hugo crying in shock with clear confusion in his eyes.

For a moment, he saw that Hugo was fine, just as before, with only shock and fear flickering in his eyes as the difference.

But in just a moment, everything changed in an instant.

"NOO… why… what…"

Lucien's eyes widened as he saw Hugo suddenly clutching his head, writhing in agony, his screams choked by an invisible force.

Then right in front of him, Hugo's form suddenly began to shudder and warp, his flesh melting as if dissolving into molten shadows.

Slowly, Lucien saw Hugo sink into the ground with a faint scream, a puddle of black goo spreading outward.

Those goo bubbled and writhed like living ink until every trace of Hugo seemed to dissipate into the darkness right before his eyes, leaving nothing but the faint echo of his torment.

Although it seemed to have taken a long time, everything happened in an instant. From Hugo's scream to his disappearance into the shadows, it didn't even take a minute.

Just like his system said, Hugo Lionheart's existence seemed to have been forcibly erased right before his eyes.

'Damn, that was scary.'

Lucien looked at the empty ground with only the chains around and shuddered in fright. He felt that World of Origin was too powerful to do something like this.

'Or rather, it might be because I extracted the origin out of Hugo that this happened.'

Lucien suddenly thought while looking at the 2 points of Origin in his status panel. Although he didn't know what use these points had, he felt that it was extremely important.

'But, why can I extract Origin from Hugo all of a sudden? Didn't the system say that it cannot do that still?'

Lucien suddenly thought it was odd.

Previously, his system clearly told him that he couldn't just kill someone outright by collecting debt due to their innate power of origin from this world.

That's why people went bankrupt after he extracted debt, saving their lives. That was also the reason why he had to carry out a massacre in the auction house. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

But now with Hugo, the situation suddenly turned different. He couldn't understand.

'System, do you have anything to say?'

Feeling that there was something fishy going on, Lucien asked his system again.

Just as he thought he wouldn't get an answer this time, too, he suddenly heard the robotic prompt in his mind replying to him,

---

[Hugo Lionheart is a unique existence forcibly created by someone using the power of origin.]

[During the process of his birth, he already lost his innate identity, losing the protection of the world.]

[Basically, he was similar to the creatures found in dungeons. The host can extract such lost Origin as a debt if the conditions are just right.]

---

The system explained to him clearly before going silent again.

'Unique existence forcibly created by someone?'

However, what it said made Lucien almost shout in shock. He never thought the reason behind Hugo's sudden power up would be such an incredible mystery.

To be honest, Lucien felt dread just thinking about such abilities that could produce powerhouses in an instant. Fortunately, it seemed such a creation required Origin power, which was clearly scarce.

'Wait a minute, didn't this mean that Duke Morvain has the power to create such an existence? Then, why is he after my life?'

Suddenly, Lucien thought of a glaring issue, making him solemn. He knew the reason behind Hugo's power-ups was Duke Morvain.

And if the system's information was correct, didn't that mean Morvain made Hugo like that forcibly?

If that was the case, such a powerhouse, why was he after his life? Moreover, he must be extremely powerful on his own.

Why didn't he just come and kill Lucien easily?

Lucien didn't understand. He couldn't understand at all.

'Sigh…let's leave this place. I need to calm down.'

Lucien sighed loudly, feeling the extreme headache. He felt that he was in an unknown quagmire that he couldn't get rid of in any way.

The only option for him right now was to enter the World of Origin and power up, while hoping that the person would not suddenly appear to take his life.

"Velmara, you can go now. Everything is taken care of."

Lucien left the room, appeared outside, and told Velmara, who was waiting for him.

"Hmm? That's good then. Okay, you do what you want for now."

Velmara, of course, heard that ear-piercing scream from Hugo just now. So, he thought Lucien killed that guy mercilessly.

To be honest, he wanted to advise him not to be too murderous. It wasn't a good thing, as that could lead to realm deviation or demonization.

A peace of mind was extremely necessary in the higher realm after all.

But when Velmara felt the faint aura out of Lucien's body that made even him shiver unconsciously, he stopped himself.

'What do I suddenly feel creeped out by this guy?'

Velmara sensed that something had changed in Lucien after exiting that room, although he didn't know what.

So, feeling that it was of no use being nosy here, he directly flew out of the courtyard before leaving a message to Lucien,

"Boy, take a proper rest for now. When the Shadow Kingdom is ready to open, I will come and inform you."

"Umm…"

Hearing his words, Lucien nodded lightly and walked toward his mansion. As Velmara had said, he needed time to gather his thoughts and make careful plans.

With Morvain breathing down his neck, the urgency to grow stronger pressed heavily on him.

Only when he became powerful enough could he pierce the veil that had shrouded his existence ever since arriving in this world.

'Let's take a proper nap. I have no energy left,' he thought.

Completely drained, Lucien stumbled into his room and collapsed onto his bed, letting go of everything for the moment.

All he wanted now was a deep, restorative sleep that could wash away the exhaustion of the day. So much had happened in one day that Lucien felt totally overwhelmed.

For now, rest was all that mattered.

***

"Interesting… just as I thought. That guy knows how to wield the power of Origin."

In the darkness of a secluded room, atop a grand throne, a shadowy figure murmured to himself, his voice barely more than a whisper.

"No wonder that guy survived my Soul Poison. Sigh… unfortunately, I cannot leave yet. Otherwise, I would have a fine toy to play with."

He sighed dramatically, as if lamenting his situation.

"Well, he will come to the Abyss one day anyway. Let's just wait until then. I want to see how strong he will become."

He mumbled with interest, clearly eager for Lucien's arrival. Then, suddenly, as if sensing something, he turned toward the north and whispered,

"It is time to leave. I cannot maintain my incarnation now that the moment has come. Well, it was enjoyable while it lasted."

With that, he disappeared from his place, leaving only the lingering darkness that still permeated the empty throne at the center of the room.