Hidden Dead Ends - Chapter 56

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.

For Marco, Lucas is his meek little brother. For the rest of the world, he is the menacing Ghost of Vermil.“Angels endow blessings. Demons sow curses.” A hundred years ago, angels and demons descended on earth. It is said they are still here.Annointed with potent holy power, Marco is set to join the Kingdom's Holy Army to fight off the demonic legion. But before that, he must confront the trail of blood and ash that points to Lucas's involvement with the dark side.As mysteries unfold and loyalties fracture, Marco is faced with the question: where does holiness end and damnation begin? If all lines are blurred and the fate of humanity is at stake, will he have enough resolve to strike down the brother he once swore to protect?

Of the ancient gods only one remained in the world. This god lived alone for thousands of years and no longer had any desires. Legend had it that during the great war between the worlds he used his powers to turn the tide managing to seal the cataclysmic rift bringing order back into the three realms. Time flew by and hundreds of years passed in the blink of an eye.

“Hurry up and take them off!” she demanded with her eyes tightly closed.

His eyebrows lifted up. “No! Only my wife can see me naked!” he replied firmly.

Opening her eyes, she complained, “But you said I could look for the marks?”

She saw a playful smile on his face and she could tell that something cunning was brewing in the man’s mind.

She growled, traces of impatience evident on her beautiful face.

She had been trying to coax him, to seduce him to get her wish, but somehow it all ended up with her naked and him enjoying the view.

“Fine! I will be your wife! Happy? Now just strip out your clothes!”

Her words made his full lips curve into a cunning but alluring smile. He immediately reached into his drawer and grabbed the marriage contract he had prepared in advance and said, “I need to be sure before I let you take advantage of my body. So, if you will just sign here, now!”

Her jaw dropped hearing his conceited words. 'That sly wolf.'

She looked at the paper and her eyes widened. It was really a marriage contract.

“You’ve got to be kidding me?” she unconsciously uttered.

“Well, I told you. I’ve never been more serious in my life. I have been waiting for you to accept my marriage proposal but you are always insisting on seeing me naked. I’m a bit conservative in this matter, you see. I think I already told you numerous times that I will only allow my future wife to see my nude body.”

She picked up the pen and scribbled her name and signature on the contract and then handed it to him.

“What are you waiting for now? Just strip, will you?”

Hearing her command, he smiled viciously, and stepping closer to her he whispered, “Huh! Why don't you do the honors and satisfy yourself? This body and my whole existence are now all yours!”

“.....”

Brione Yu had everything one could ever want. She had always been an over-achiever who was good at everything she did. She was famous in the entertainment industry as a phenomenal model and actress.

She had everything which included a special person on whom she could rely for anything. Her best friend… her first love… Gavin Wu.

But she had lost him before she could confess her true feelings to him, that she was ready to take a chance and turn their friendship into love.

While she was missing him and longing for him, she had an unexpected encounter with a recluse Prince. He was the heir to the throne, in a foreign country. He was a cold and ruthless man who was feared by many. There were rumors that he was cursed and so he rarely came out of his palace which was situated on a secluded island.

But Brione could not explain her attraction for this Prince? Why did he remind her of Gavin every time she set her eyes on him?

The Prince resembled Gavin substantially but their characters were contradictory.

Was fate playing some kind of cruel game with her? Or was she being played by the Prince?