Blocking Ryan Carter's path was a towering, bear-like man—at least as towering as one could be while crawling through a three-foot-high tunnel.

  His father, Hank Carter.

  Ryan's borrowed memories instantly surged with visions of being whipped mercilessly with a willow branch by his tough, grizzled dad.

  "Boy, you think you get to choose your bride? I'll have you know, Tiger Girl is the girl with the highest chance of giving birth to a bloodline warrior in this entire settlement!" Hank boomed loudly, his scarred face twisted into a proud grin. "If it weren't for my reputation, you think Big Mike would've agreed to let you marry his daughter?"

  As he finished, a willow branch appeared suddenly in Hank’s single remaining arm. With a darkening expression, he growled, "Now come back with me, tonight's your wedding night!"

  But Ryan wasn't the original Ryan Carter; he wasn't about to meekly submit.

  "Dad, if marrying Tiger Girl is all about preserving our bloodline, wouldn't it be better if you married her instead? I mean, you'd have a much higher chance of producing a warrior kid."

  Ryan's earnest suggestion turned Hank's face from dark to beet-red. "You disrespectful brat! Looks like you need a good beating!"

  Hank swung the branch fiercely—but it bounced harmlessly off the tunnel ceiling halfway through.

  At that instant, words flashed urgently into Ryan’s vision:

  [Target detected. Activate Skill-Stealing Card?]

  Ryan had been itching to test the mysterious card's abilities, so without hesitation, he mentally selected "Yes."

  Immediately, five crimson cards floated in his mind, waiting for his choice. Ryan randomly selected the middle one.

  [Five Tigers Blade Technique: Level 4]

  Ryan recalled from his borrowed memories how Hank often boasted about this fighting technique, claiming he had slaughtered countless beasts using it back in the day. The original Ryan had struggled just to reach the first level.

  The instant the card dissolved into him, Ryan felt a surge of fiery power coursing through his limbs and spine.

  "You little punk, I'll teach you a lesson!" Unable to swing the branch, Hank lunged forward with a fierce leap—using the second move of the Five Tigers Blade Technique, the "Mountain Leap."

  Previously, the original Ryan would have stood no chance. Yet now, almost instinctively, Ryan mirrored his father's move, springing away with incredible agility.

  Hank landed heavily, expecting to pin his son beneath him—but instead found only empty air. To his astonishment, Ryan had already dashed more than ten yards away.

  How was his weakling son suddenly faster than him?

  "Get back here, brat!" Embarrassment turned to fury as Hank launched himself again, determined not to miss a second time.

  But Ryan moved even faster, smoothly executing the Mountain Leap once more, effortlessly dodging Hank's grasp.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  "Impossible!" Hank stood dumbfounded, watching his son disappear down the tunnel. After a stunned moment, he chuckled softly to himself, "Well, at least he's learned to run fast. Maybe he'll survive patrol duty after all."

  Ryan didn't stop running until he reached an intersection deep within the cramped tunnels, finally allowing himself to catch his breath. The thought of marrying Tiger Girl sent chills down his spine. In the original Ryan's memories, Tiger Girl was more like a brother than a potential wife.

  He shook his head, refocusing on his predicament. Being stranded a thousand years in the future, returning home seemed impossible. In this brutal underground world, survival was paramount. The original Ryan had neither talent nor potential—hence why even Hank's reputation couldn't save him from conscription.

  Ryan quickly summoned his mysterious status window again, and his eyes brightened immediately:

  Energy: 115

  Stamina: 12/13

  Strength: 5/5

  Spirit: 13/13

  Skills:

  - Iron Body Technique Lv.1

  - Five Tigers Blade Technique Lv.4

  His stamina, strength, and spirit had noticeably improved. More importantly, he now possessed the fourth level of the Five Tigers Blade Technique. Without the Skill-Stealing Card, he never could have escaped his father.

  Another notification appeared:

  [Basic Skill-Stealing Card available for merge. Proceed?]

  Without hesitation, Ryan merged it again, watching his Energy drop from 115 to just 15.

  He realized suddenly the source of his initial 215 Energy must've been the beast crystals he'd mysteriously absorbed earlier. Now, with only 15 Energy left, he couldn't afford another merge.

  He needed more beast crystals—urgently.

  His stomach growled loudly, forcing him reluctantly toward home. As he approached the tiny cave he called home—ten feet long, six feet wide, and barely three feet high—he found a muscular, imposing figure waiting impatiently for him at the entrance.

  "Ryan Carter! How dare you run away from our wedding?" the booming voice belonged unmistakably to Tiger Girl herself, Big Mike's daughter.

  Ryan stared speechlessly at her muscular frame, dark skin gleaming in the dim tunnel, and finally stammered, "Tiger Girl…I've always considered you my bro. Marrying you…just feels wrong."

  He immediately regretted opening his mouth, feeling a chill down his spine.

  But Tiger Girl merely laughed heartily, slapping his shoulder with enough force to nearly knock him over. "Oh, that's what's bothering you? Don’t worry, bro, I got this! I'll handle everything!"

  Ryan felt blood rush to his head, sweat beading on his forehead. She genuinely saw him as a brother? This girl was too straightforward!

  "Quit whining already—you're acting like such a wimp!" Tiger Girl snorted, shaking her head. "Fine. I'll give you one day. If you're still unsure by tomorrow, I'll drag you to the marriage hall myself. You know I don't usually like using force."

  Force?! Ryan shivered involuntarily. According to his memories, Tiger Girl was a formidable warrior. Her Iron Body Technique had already reached the fifth level, making her nearly invulnerable to normal weapons.

  Desperate, Ryan grabbed her arm, pleading earnestly, "Bro—seriously, what do you even see in me? Tell me, I'll change! I'll fix everything!"

  Tiger Girl rolled her eyes impatiently. "Kid, you think I'm into you or something? I'm just doing Uncle Hank a favor, so he doesn't lose his bloodline. It's a personal sacrifice, get it?"

  Then, as if remembering something, she tossed him a sleek black combat blade. "By the way, take this. Try not to die too soon."

  Ryan instantly recognized the weapon—Tiger's Roar, his father's treasured blade from before Hank lost his left arm. "How…how'd you get this?"

  Tiger Girl shrugged casually. "It's part of the dowry Uncle Hank gave my dad. Don't worry, I'll make sure we have a son soon—though I doubt you'll live long enough to see him."

  Ryan winced inwardly. Did she have to be so blunt?

  Suddenly, another notification flashed in his mind:

  [Target detected. Activate Skill-Stealing Card?]

  Excitedly, Ryan accepted immediately, hoping to gain Tiger Girl's powerful skills—but then the words appeared:

  [Skill Steal Failed!]

  His heart sank. Such a precious opportunity, wasted!

  As despair seeped in, Tiger Girl unexpectedly handed him a glowing beast crystal. "Here—another dowry gift from Uncle Hank. Buy yourself something nice. I'm not marrying you for money or anything."

  Ryan gratefully snatched the crystal, hope instantly rekindling in his chest.

  Because right now, beast crystals meant everything.