Synthesis Wizard - Chapter 150: A Microcosm of Energy Depletion, The Dragon Bone Tower

In humanity’s final war against the Demon Lord, the strongest heroes fell—not by the enemy’s hand, but by their own, twisted into madness by a cruel illusion. Betrayal. Bloodshed. Despair… and then, silence.Only one person remained: Riley—the weakest warrior of them all. Powerless. Ignored. Forgotten.But he saw through the Demon Lord’s deception. The tyrant was on the brink of death—so weak even a fly could’ve finished him off.And Riley did just that, drawing every last ounce of strength to bite off the demon’s head.Victory? Not quite. A final, desperate strike from the Demon Lord pierced him from behind, killing him instantly.But fate wasn’t done with him yet.Riley awoke ten years in the past—when the online game [Apocalypse] was launched. Before demons descended. Before monsters overran the world.And this time, he wasn’t starting from nothing. He had a decade of experience—and a second chance.Even more shocking, he didn’t awaken his old D-rank Strength Boost talent. This time, he received something far more terrifying: an SSS-Rank Gluttony talent!He could now devour anything—monsters, items, talents, even traits—and gain their power.Ding![You have devoured: Iron Fang Wolf][Acquired: +4 Strength, +2 Agility, Skill: Bite (F-rank)][You have devoured: Goblin ShamanAcquired: +8 Intelligence, Skill: Mana Bolt (E-rank), Talent: Minor Spellcasting Efficiency][You have devoured: Flaming Salamander Drake][Acquired: +22 Endurance, Trait: Dragon’s Resilience, Skill: Flame Breath (C-rank)]Now, there is no demon, no god, no monster who will stand in his way. He will devour everything—and save the world.But the power of Gluttony was a double edged sword. If he wasn’t careful… he could be the one getting consumed.

I, Mukouda Tsuyoshi, was caught up in a summoning circle into a different world where sword and magical skills are the norm.

However, when the summoners cast ‘Status Appraisal’ on us, the three other people who were summoned with me had [Heroes from Another World] in the occupation box, whereas I was the [Random Guy Caught Up in the Summoning Spell].

As for our ‘Skill Set’, the three Heroes had outrageous sounding skills rolling after their names like [Holy Sword Technique], [Holy Spear Technique] and [Sacred Magic].

In fact, I too have a skill you know? My one skill is called… [Net Super]…

Because it’s clearly not a combat skill, I am automatically treated like garbage.

Furthermore, the King of the country who had summoned us looked really shady.

As a veteran lightnovel reader, I can read the atmosphere well enough to come to the conclusion that ‘This is a bad world to be summoned into’.

Thus, it is decided. No matter what, I must get out of this castle as soon as possible and escape from this rotten country!

Crossing over to Japan during the year 1860, a time marked by the end of the Edo Shogunate Era, amidst a whirlwind of events.Having completed the industrial revolution, foreign powers with steam battleships have opened Japan's doors, bringing turmoil and opportunity to the nation.In this chaotic era, Tachibana Aoto, who travels through time to become an ordinary police officer in Edo (modern Tokyo), acquires the Talent Duplication System, allowing him to duplicate any talent from an opponent after a confrontation, regardless of winning or losing.For instance—after a match with a beautiful youth named Chokata Toshisuke, Tachibana Aoto duplicates the talent of Swordsmanship Talent Amplification, increased by 50 times the average person's talent.

Alexander walked into the room, dressed in his royal white robe that shimmered faintly under the soft glow of the candlelight. His dark hair was slicked back neatly, revealing a face carved with precision and power — sharp jawline, high cheekbones, and lips that curved with quiet confidence. His midnight eyes, deep and commanding, scanned the room before landing on the figure sitting gracefully at the edge of the bed.Serena.Her emerald-green eyes locked with his, stealing his breath for a moment. The flickering light danced across her skin, giving her an ethereal glow. Her long ginger hair cascaded down her shoulders like streams of fire and sunlight combined, adorned with delicate golden hairpins that shimmered with every movement. She was dressed in a flowing white gown that mirrored his — simple yet enchanting, the fabric hugging her form in all the right places, making her seem like a divine vision come to life.For a brief moment, Alexander simply stared, unable to speak. Then, almost reverently, he crossed the room and knelt before her. His cold, powerful hands gently took hers — smaller, softer, trembling ever so slightly.“You look…” he paused, his voice low and rough, “…breathtaking.”Serena’s cheeks flushed a delicate shade of pink, her lips parting slightly as she met his gaze. “You always know what to say,” she whispered, her tone barely above a breath.He smiled faintly — that rare, almost forbidden smile that softened his usually stoic face. “Careful, Serena,” he murmured, his thumb tracing circles over her knuckles. “If you keep looking at me like that, you’ll make me lose myself.”Her eyes softened, the corner of her lips curving into a teasing smile. “Then lose yourself my king,” she replied, her voice calm yet filled with unspoken desire. “loseyourself.... In me.”Alexander didn't hesitate. He rose to his feet, his hands cupping her jaw as his thumb brushed against her lower lips. Their eyes met one more- predator and , darkness and light before he closed the distance between them.His lips crashed against hers, hungry and desperate, as if the world outside no longer mattered, Serena responded with equal passion, her hands tangling in his dark hair, pulling him closer until there was no space left between them.