Steel and Mana - Chapter 29 – Hounds

Noah Brown had a gift for fighting. Unfortunately punching things didn't pay the bills, at least until he died and an Eldritch god found his soul. The encounter led him to a new world, summoned by bloody cultists, with nothing but the shirt on his back, and a strange item in his system menu.

[???] : A source of infinite potential.

Perhaps he'd finally get to put his gifts to good use.

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.

After being fired from his job due to a baseless accusation and dying while trying to save a girl from a robber, Maximilian is reincarnated into a world where caped heroes and superpowered villains clash in the streets.Disillusioned by a life of injustice and unrewarded good deeds, he vows to live for his own satisfaction. Armed with the Greatest Villain System—a golden finger that promises to make him the most feared villain in history—Maximilian sets out to embrace his dark side.First Mission: Beat up innocents.An old, retired hero thanks him for preventing a terrorist attack.Second Mission: Destroy a hero monument.Maximilian ruined an unlucky villain career.Third Mission: Beat up a famous hero.A detective hero praises him for exposing a criminal’s crimes.System: “Maximilian, are you messing with me?”Maximilian: “I’m innocent!”Several heroes who think they’re privy to the truth: “Maximilian, you are the most selfless hero we’ve ever met!”Maximilian: “I’m a villain, you idiots!”As Maximilian struggles with his new life as a villain and tries to prove his villainy, he uncovers numerous conspiracies within the new world’s government.Will Maximilian be able to prove his villainy? Or will he be remembered as the greatest hero of all time!?

You, an ordinary human, transmigrated into this world along with a City-Destroying Calamity—Blood Moon.Just when you thought you could rise to the top of the world by awakening a system, you received the following mission:[Do not harm any living being for 10 years][Reward: Unknown God-Tier Reward]...Ten years later, during the Awakening Ceremony—“Hahaha! This loser actually awakened an F-rank talent—Furniture Craftsman!”“Looks like our academy's carpentry workshop finally has someone to carry on the legacy!”[Ding! Congratulations, host. Mission complete. God-tier reward unlocked.][Ding! Host has obtained: Infinity Skill Points. You can instantly upgrade all skills to their MAX level.][Ding! Host has obtained: Infinite Plunder. You can plunder any unowned skill traits.][Ding! Host has obtained: Infinite Fusion. You can fuse all your existing skills and randomly generate new effects!]...Years later—A lean, handsome figure sat atop the frozen skies.Pointing your sword toward the heavens, you declared:“The fate of mankind shall be decided today.”And standing against you—was the very Sun, the celestial being humanity had worshipped for tens of thousands of years.Faintly, a string of symbols floated upon its blazing surface:HP: 999999999999999999