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The Mask Never Slips

Shuhas
The Mask Never Slips In a world where morality is blurred, Shiva navigates the dark underbelly of crime while concealing the unbearable weight of his own existence. Emotionally detached yet deeply wounded, he wears a mask of indifference, suppressing a lifetime of trauma that manifests as relentless physical pain. He is a master manipulator, a deceiver, and a survivor—yet, at his core, he is a man consumed by self-disgust. Despite his hatred for himself, three fragile reasons tether him to life: his love for a girl who barely acknowledges him, his unwavering loyalty to the abusive family that broke him, and the little brother he raised to be everything he could never become. If even one of these reasons crumbles, so will he. As he maneuvers through the chaos of the crime world—both a participant and an outsider—Shiva finds himself drawn into a series of brutal conflicts, each forcing him to confront the contradictions within him. He claims to have no desire to kill, yet death follows in his shadow. He yearns to be understood, yet has perfected the art of deception. He wants to feel something—anything—but every emotion is buried beneath years of carefully constructed lies. When the past he’s tried so hard to bury resurfaces, Shiva’s carefully maintained facade begins to crack. Someone close to him is starting to see through the act. And as the weight of his suffering becomes impossible to contain, he is left with one question: Can he keep holding on, or is the mask he wears the only thing keeping him alive?
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Apocalypse Online: Starting with an SSS-level Gluttony Talent

In humanity’s final war against the Demon Lord, the strongest heroes fell—not by the enemy’s hand, but by their own, twisted into madness by a cruel illusion. Betrayal. Bloodshed. Despair… and then, silence. Only one person remained: Riley—the weakest warrior of them all. Powerless. Ignored. Forgotten. But he saw through the Demon Lord’s deception. The tyrant was on the brink of death—so weak even a fly could’ve finished him off. And Riley did just that, drawing every last ounce of strength to bite off the demon’s head. Victory? Not quite. A final, desperate strike from the Demon Lord pierced him from behind, killing him instantly. But fate wasn’t done with him yet. Riley awoke ten years in the past—when the online game [Apocalypse] was launched. Before demons descended. Before monsters overran the world. And this time, he wasn’t starting from nothing. He had a decade of experience—and a second chance. Even more shocking, he didn’t awaken his old D-rank Strength Boost talent. This time, he received something far more terrifying: an SSS-level Gluttony talent! He could now devour anything—monsters, items, talents, even traits—and gain their power. Ding! [You have devoured: Iron Fang Wolf] [Acquired: +4 Strength, +2 Agility, Skill: Bite (F-rank)] [You have devoured: Goblin Shaman Acquired: +8 Intelligence, Skill: Mana Bolt (E-rank), Talent: Minor Spellcasting Efficiency] [You have devoured: Flaming Salamander Drake] [Acquired: +22 Endurance, Trait: Dragon’s Resilience, Skill: Flame Breath (C-rank)] Now, there was no demon, no god, no monster who would stand in his way. He would devour everything—and save the world. But the power of Gluttony was a double edged sword, and if he wasn’t careful… he could be the one getting consumed.
Rusted_Jade · 1k Views