The Hidden King's Stolen Wife - Chapter 85: Strange Instinct II

The mysterious force known as the Essence Record finally descended upon Earth, tearing the world asunder and reshaping it through chaos and evolution.Cities turned to ruins. Animals mutated. Some humans lost their minds, others became monsters. Only a few survived the Awakening… and were granted the right to evolve.A new world was born, where the old rules meant nothing. The only law that remained was survival—where hesitation equals death.Adam, an ordinary college student, finds himself alone, far from home, in a world no longer built for the weak. His only goal: to find his family—if they’re still alive in this broken world.No god, beast, demon, man or zombie shall stop him. As long as he draws breath, he won’t stop.

When Arran decides to become a mage, he quickly discovers that magic can be more dangerous than he had ever imagined. Soon, he finds himself hunted for powers he never knew he had.

In a dramatic reversal of fate, the commoner Ludwik ascended the throne and became king. Once crowned, he was immediately told that the most important work of the king is “to welcome the princess from the highest lineage on the continent as your bride”! But then, the beautiful bride who appeared muttered, “gross…” upon seeing his face. Just like that, the new queen began to wage a cold war against Ludwik. But the truth is, there lies a secret within the queen’s heart, and when Ludwik finds out about it, he ends up in a certain contract with her… The story of fantasy, harem (planned), and comedy begins here!!

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.