Chapter 139: The Truth About Escape

Luke and Angelica kept walking, slowly putting distance between themselves and the collapsed area where they had fallen. Just to be sure, he opened Princess Charlie’s interface again. She was still far away, with the other group. And he had no idea how things were going on their end. Charlie had always been close to him. But now, with the risk of her status screen going gray from the distance, he knew she was in real danger—real, permanent death.

Before her connection could go offline, Luke decided to distribute her unspent attribute points. There was no room for caution or “emergency use.” This was the emergency. At least she had just leveled up her race a few minutes ago—fully regenerating her health.

Name: Princess Charlie
Level: 13
Rank: F
Class: [Death Knight (Lvl 23)]
2nd Class: Pugilist (Lvl 6)
Race: Skeleton
Titles: [Servant of the Dark Lord]
Health Points (HP): 980/980
Mana Points (MP): 610/610
Stamina: 1090/1090

Stats:
Strength: 115 (155)
Agility: 68
Endurance: 84 (109)
Vitality: 98
Perception: 49
Intelligence: 61
Free Points: 7

Luke assigned the points—+3 Strength, +4 Vitality.

Stats Updated (Princess Charlie):
Strength: 115 (155) -> 118 (158)
Vitality: 98 -> 102
Free Points: 7 -> 0
Health Points (HP): 980/980 -> 1020/1020

As soon as he finished, he felt a small sense of relief. Charlie would be near Allison, and the two of them could support each other.

“This place gives me the creeps,” Angelica muttered.

That was when it hit him—he and Angelica were the ones in the worst position now. Charlie was with the larger group. They had mages, archers, even a healer. But he and Angelica… if five Beast Captains showed up like before? They might not survive.

Luke gripped his kukris tighter and sharpened his Demonic Perception even further. Just in case, he pulled up his own interface. No reason to leave those free points unused.

Name: Luke
Level: 12
Rank: F
Class: [Demonic Assassin (Lvl 26)]
Race: Half-Demon
Profession: –
Titles: [Dark Lord]
Bloodline: [Bloodline of the Dark Demon]
Health Points (HP): 987/1170
Mana Points (MP): 668/850
Stamina: 339/580
Soul Fragments: 31/1000

Stats:
Strength: 125
Agility: 124 (174)
Endurance: 38 (58)
Vitality: 117
Perception: 133 (143)
Intelligence: 80 (85)
Free Points: 3

He allocated the points—+2 Strength, +1 Vitality.

Stats Updated:
Strength: 125 -> 127
Vitality: 117 -> 118
Free Points: 3 -> 0
Health Points (HP): 987/1170 -> 997/1180

As an assassin, strength was always the priority—but out of habit, he made sure to sneak in a point of vitality.

“Don’t worry,” Angelica said confidently. “Before anything dangerous gets close, my arrows will kill the bastard.”

“I should be the one reassuring you…” Luke replied.

***

Three ants charged down the tunnel. Angelica moved fast, firing two arrows in quick succession. Both hit their marks, dropping the first two creatures instantly. The third kept coming, but Luke was already moving. He leapt with precision and drove his kukri into the ant’s face.

[You have slain a Devourer Ant Soldier – Lvl 20]

Angelica jogged over to the bodies, retrieving her arrows. Even if they were made of mana, wasting them was foolish.

“Looks like the area’s clear,” she said, sliding the last arrow back into her quiver.

They continued down the tunnel. The only light came from the lantern clipped to Angelica’s belt, casting flickering shadows on the damp, uneven walls. The two of them stopped when they heard a sound—scratching. In the wall. Claws. There must’ve been another tunnel nearby, connected to the same underground network. Ants. Multiple.

Angelica let out a quiet sigh, and they resumed walking—slower, more alert. Luke noticed she was tense.

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“I don’t do well in claustrophobic places,” she said, catching his glance.

“That’s okay. I’m not judging.”

She paused, eyeing the next curve in the tunnel like she was expecting something to jump out.

“I got this phobia in the tutorial. Along with a whole bag of trauma.” She smiled, but it was the kind of smile that tried too hard. Luke could see right through it.

“It happened during the second fortress incident?” he asked carefully. It was a sensitive topic—and he hated when people touched his wounds without asking.

“You’ll have to do better than that if you’re trying to set a romantic mood,” she replied, walking again.

“You said you’d tell me everything once we were on this mission.”

She let out a small scoff—almost amused. “Touché for me…”

They walked in silence for a few more steps.

“I said I’d tell you… after we make it out alive.” She glanced back at him, that mischievous smirk returning. “Touché back at you.”

Luke shook his head, giving in. “If you tell me now, I promise I’ll drink with you later.”

Angelica stopped for just a second.

“That’s a low blow…” But she chuckled and kept walking.

“I’m out of cards,” he said.

“You’ve changed. You’re not that wide-eyed newbie anymore. Keep this up, and Auntie Angelica might just adopt you herself.”

“Jonathan would be heartbroken. He likes you. And besides… I’m already adopted,” Luke replied—before realizing what he had just said.

The silence that followed was brief, but heavy. He rarely talked about that.

Angelica gave a soft, sideways smile. “Well, well. Seems like my bad jokes really do loosen tongues.”