The Devouring Knight - Chapter 66 - 65: The Shield and the Sentinel

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.

Rise Lee, a well-known A-rank esper in the federation. He was even ranked as one of the strongest among the A-ranks and recognized as one of the hopes for humanity. However, he wasn't only famous because of his prowess or his attractive appearance; Rise was more infamous because of his terrible personality. He was called a villain by most guides and espers for a reason.And who would guess that Rise Lee was really a villain, in a literal sense? The terrible truth then unfolded to him. He, Rise Lee, is one of the main villains of the novel. Rise Lee spat out a mouthful of curses and swore that if he had a second chance, he would mess up this damn novel until everyone went down with him. If the author was in front of him, he too would be destroyed with him! And a second chance did come! Rise Lee, the villain, woke up five years before the main storyline! Heh. So what if he was a villain destined to die? That protagonist who killed him, and the author... He would screw them over. Being a villain, be damned. In this rebirth, he would take and mess up everything. What did you say? The protagonist’s love life? Heh. That too. Rise would take his lover. The male lead... will be his.

GunGun, as a national treasure(panda), was stolen by thieves and skinned. Once he woke up, he had a healthy body and lots of bamboo leaves. But monsters with glowing eyes surrounded him, most importantly they were floating, have greenish blue faces, fangs, and have no little legs?!

(⊙o⊙) Oh, the two-legged monster is here again, huh, is this bowl of food for him? These tender leaves are delicious, they should be hidden in the deepest part of the den.

There was an extra panda cub in the Interstellar Admiral’s embrace which he brought everywhere he goes. The place where a gun was once placed turned into a place for holding a basket full of leaves.

One day, GunGun became a beautiful boy.

Pouting face GunGun: Big monster I’m hungry. Huh? Where’s my fur!

The admiral’s face flushed crimson red being overwhelmed by its cuteness: “!!!!!” My darling!

******Small Theater~******

GunGun who was holding a small bamboo shoot and shivering: It’s so scary, monsters with no heads or tails are floating!

The admiral who fell from the sky: GunGun, don’t be afraid.

GunGun who was holding a little apple and shivering: It’s so scary, a glowing green skull is smiling at me!

The admiral who fell from the sky: GunGun, don’t be afraid.

GunGun who was clinging to the Admiral’s thigh with wet eyes: Ah, the corpse moved! He said that I’m cute and wanted to touch me.

The admiral who became fierce: This absolutely won’t do!

- Description from Novelupdates

Based on the popular Vocaloid series, by HoneyWorks, called “Kokuhoku Yokou Renshuu (Confession Rehearsal)“:

Natsuki, a third-year at Sakuragaoka High School, who holds unrequited feelings for her childhood friend, Yuu, who’s in the Film Club. However, instead of being honest about her feelings, she makes him be her confession “rehearsal” partner. Unable to say her true feelings, things start to get complicated when Miou and Akari, who are also in the Art Club, get involved! Will she ever be able to confess for real!?