Return of the Runebound Professor - Chapter 9: Not for free

Facing extinction, humanity seeks salvation in the Astral Verge, a dangerous dimension accessed via portals that threatened to wipe out the entire planet.Few years later, aspiring recruit Daniel Vance enters the Verge for his final assessment, hoping to Awaken a Talent and secure his future. While others gain common abilities, Daniel secretly Awakens the mythical SSS-Grade Talent: [Soul Assimilation]. This allows him to absorb essence, enhancing gear, gaining stats and EXP from slain creatures, and crucially, absorbing attributes and skills from fallen Awakened.Witnessing the swift death of the arrogant Jaxon Rex, Daniel makes a grim choice: he assimilates Jaxon, gaining his first skill, [Kinetic Pulse]. This sets his path: scavenging the aftermath of others’ battles. He enhances gear and, after achieving his first kill on an injured beast, waits patiently to assimilate two more fallen recruits, acquiring [Quick Step] and the invaluable passive [Aura Sense].Starting as average, Daniel rapidly gains power in secret, enhanced gear, multiple skills, and boosted stats , far exceeding his peers while remaining outwardly unremarkable. He navigates the lethal Verge alone, using its inherent dangers to fuel his growth, wrestling with the moral cost of his unique, overwhelming power.

Talent.As a demon born into a prestigious family like the Tenebris, Cale lacked nothing, except talent.Talent, to surpass his twin sister, who was better than him in every way.Talent to earn the approval of their mother, the cold and ruthless Matriarch.It wasn’t mere rivalry; his very life depended on it.But, no matter how hard he trained or how low he stooped, using forbidden methods to grow stronger, he never succeeded. He couldn’t awaken his bloodline, nor defeat his sister in a single duel.“Just give up already. You’re only making it more painful for yourself,” she would say every time.He was pathetic, and he knew it.But giving up on life was never an option.“One more time... I’ll try it one more time.” That was how he always responded to her scorn.Was it ego? Or a desperate desire to prove everyone who waited eagerly for his downfall wrong?Cale didn’t know. But he always stood up again.No matter what they said, he refused to surrender.Not to his mother.Not to the world.Not even to his sister.If the world stood against him, then he would crush the world.-------------------------“Wow. That’s an incredible backstory for a villain.”I flipped through the worn pages of an old book, my only functional eye open wide.“But where did this come from? It wasn’t here before.”I’d read this romance fantasy novel back in my childhood, and as far as I remembered, Cale Tenebris never had a backstory.“Did I grab the wrong book?” I tilted the cover to check the title.[Curse of the Crown]It was the same one.“Did I skip this chapter before?... Whatever.” I shrugged, turning the page again as I slowly lost consciousness.And then I died.

[The Golden Snake Sword was successfully strengthened, and the Snake Queen was summoned. ]. ?Snake Queen: Master, please tell me what you want!

[The skill ‘Evil Light Ghost Slash’ was successfully strengthened, and after summoning the ghost ghost. ]. what! female ghost? Then I’ll put you on maternity leave!

[The Yao soul suit has been strengthened successfully! ]. Um? Is this the Yao princess? Princess Yaoyao! Don’t get on me!

Zhou Han was surprised to find that the only SSS-level talent in the universe that he had awakened: infinite enhancement, was so awesome.

- Description from novelbuddy

Chen Mo was told by a fortune teller that he had a suffocating aura, and was ordered to commit murder, and then inexplicably traveled to a world of high martial arts and became a fake eunuch serving the queen’s concubine in the harem of the Song Dynasty.

One day finally ushered in his golden finger…

Immortal Cultivation Simulator!

[Choose the talent to complete, do you want to start the simulation? 】

“Yes.”

[Day 1: The great turmoil came, and the horns of uprisings were raised throughout the Song Dynasty. The sky is dead, and the yellow sky stands. You are in the palace, which is the safest place in the Song Dynasty. You are ready to grow up in a dreadful way, and then surprise everyone. 】

【Day 2: You were promoted from the third-class eunuch to the first-class eunuch by the empress. 】

[Day 3: A palace maid accidentally discovered that you were having an affair with the Empress, and you died. 】

…

- Description from novelbuddy