The Phantom's Gambit - Chapter 52: Confrontation 2

Leon Vale’s world stopped when the chamber labeled him F-Rank, no spark, just Empty Core.One dozen sparks in a sea of a thousand chances. A near-miracle of failure, somehow flopped harder than flatlining.In Neo-Veridia, strength rules the game, no exceptions. Those who are tough get hailed as champions; others? They're stuck cleaning up messes. Might makes right here, plain and simple.Leon ended up on the ground. That’s where he landed, no surprise there.Later, the red moon climbed into view. Right after, creatures smashed past the shield. His siblings stood near death yet deep in his Empty Core, an old force stirred awake.[ SHADOW EXTRACTION SYSTEM ACTIVATED ]Leon takes energy from whatever he defeats. Each time a creature falls, he gains more strength. As shadows vanish into him, he drifts toward a mystery - something waits in a space beyond places: a seat atop no land, while a voiceless headpiece calls out to him through empty dark.Yet taking what’s not yours brings trouble.On top of everything else, the Evernight Alliance caught wind. Not just vampires - werewolves too. Old creatures that oughta be myths are poking at the city’s walls, messing up dungeon cores, chasing whatever’s pumping out that dark energy signal.Hunting for him.Leon’s stuck in a risky move, quietly getting stronger so he can shield his folks, hitting school while sneaking around to pull out shadows, acting powerless even though some old, grim force now names him successor.That F-Rank tag? Total fake. His Empty Core isn't broken, it fights. Each darkness he swallows drags him nearer to a reality he can’t face yetNot every seat of power fits a hero.Some crowns come from shadows, built on bones.Some kids just inherit stuff whether they like it or not.The Crimson Moon marked the start. What’s coming next? Things are about to heat up.

I became a staff officer of an empire whose defeat was certain.The only way to escape from the empire with an 8-year mandatory service was through dishonorable discharge.But then…“You can be glad, Lieutenant. Thanks to your accurate instinct, our military could prevent damage in advance.”The more I struggled to be discharged, the higher my performance evaluation became.

He was Model 72 — a crash test dummy. A being of metal and sensors whose sole purpose was to break and to be repaired. Routine crashes, routine analysis, routine repairs. Until one day, something… went wrong. Or maybe right. Now, he wakes up in Telaria, a unique world of magic and monsters, and in a body that is, for all intents and purposes, terribly inefficient.Soft flesh. Brittle bones. And as if he weren't fragile enough already, it all came gift-wrapped with something new.Pain.Every jab, scratch, and burn is a revelation. And strangely... irritating.But Axel is no ordinary human. Hidden beneath his supposedly fragile exterior is a regenerative gift so powerful that each recovery doesn’t simply restore him to his former state.It adapts his body against the very damage it just endured.[Your hand has been impaled by Crystal-Blade Grass.][Host's [Pierce Resistance] has increased slightly.][All leg bones have been broken by the ground][Host's [Impact Resistance] has increased greatly : x6][Your face has been burnt by a Fireball.][Host's [Fire Resistance] has increased greatly: x2]He hates it. Every injury is just another reminder that his human body is flawed.And yet he knows...his body can learn. His body can evolve.So, Pain?Pain is a problem he intends to solve. And only then, would he truly be complete.“There will be no need for repairs. No need for pain. No need for regeneration.”“I will simply be unharmable.”The world believes SSS Rank Gifts are the ceiling. The End-All, Be-All.Well...The world hasn't met Axel.

The cosmic player, trapped inside a colossal alien spaceship for 10,000 years, clung to the hope of one day returning to Earth. Abducted and forced to adapt to the dangers of the spaceship, he must do whatever it takes to survive. With anger burning in his heart, he vows revenge against the aliens who tore his life apart.Fantasy World and Adventure start later in the story.What to expect: Fantasy World and Adventure start later in the story. This novel is mostly fantasy, which you will see more later in the story. Also, 1st person writing will eventually switch to 3rd person writing later in the story as more characters are introduced.Keep reading to find out more.Other tags: Isekai, Evolution, Dungeon, Revenge, Summoning, Sci-fi, Romance.