The hivemind is conquering for me? - Chapter 15: Bonk

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.

Following the death of his popular online persona, seventeen-year-old Suzuki Mato decides it's time to retire from professional VR gaming. However, his plans are abruptly cut short when he's kidnapped from his high school and forced to be a guinea pig for Genaco Gaming, the world's largest esports and entertainment company. Armed with nothing but his wit and a new online persona, he's thrown headfirst into the virtual reality of “Live No Evil,” a VRMMORPG littered with overpowered bosses, secretive NPCs, and backstabbing gods. His mission? Find a way to conquer this new world and get back at the company that took over his life, all while avoiding 'Parallel' -- a condition that would make it impossible to separate his real and virtual personalities. Because in a world obsessed with VR gaming, Parallel means death, and Suzuki just doesn't have time for that...

A man who races against time in the Marvel universe, hungry for pleasure. In the dark night, Nuohe stood on top of the building in a black robe, overlooking the bustling New York City. He lowered the brim of his hat and said in a low voice: They are restless, because I…

He grasped the supreme mystery, transformed into one identity after another, staged a big show, but in the end all became real

Behind him, there are many people standing, Madara with Sharingan open, Artoria holding the holy sword, Doflamingo laughing, proud Gilgamesh…

- Description from novelbuddy

Suddenly I died.Because of a heart attack, right after beating the hardest game I had ever played.But when I opened my eyes, I was no longer myself. I become Tristan Althrone, the main villain of the first arc, the wretched noble who tormented the protagonist, only to meet a gruesome end.I know how this story unfolds. I know how I die. I know who will betray me.So I refuse to play my part.I won’t follow the script. I won’t accept my fate.But the more I struggle to escape my doomed role, the deeper I sink into it.And the worst part?I have to deal with her, the naïve protagonist, destined to become this world’s hero.But she doesn’t even know that the fate of this world rests in her hands.And me?I just want to survive… even if it means deceiving everyone. Including her.