Eternal Tale - Chapter 363: The Floating Island, Lichen

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-Rank 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 ShamanAcquired: +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 is no demon, no god, no monster who will stand in his way. He will devour everything—and save the world.But the power of Gluttony was a double edged sword. If he wasn’t careful… he could be the one getting consumed.

Growing up in a facility that turned children into weapons, Subject 42 never knew freedom; only survival.So when a strange creepy entity offered him a second chance in another world in exchange for one mysterious task, he took it. Even if that meant living in a world that was drenched in curses, ruled by ancient gods, and shaped by powers no mortal should touch.Reborn as a Moon Elf, a being of myth and moonlight, he finally thought he could live the life he was denied.But the task he completed set something in motion. Something that he couldn't outrun.Witness, as his fate twists and turns, as Noctis moves through this strange world in search of a respite...

I don’t know why I die, I don’t know why I live.

Divided hunters die of loyalty,

The witch who plays with emotions dies of love,

Cautious fortune-tellers die of trust.

The thief who steals everything has nothing,

The visionary who created everything never existed.

The traveler fell on his way home,

The twilight giants rest before dawn.

Lawyers sacrifice for order,

Judges forget the law.

The sleepless sleeps in the dark,

The corpse collector lay in the coffin.

We are guardians, and a bunch of poor creatures who are constantly fighting against danger and madness.

This journey is life and death.

While drowning was inevitable, they had struggled.

This is the worst of times, this is the best of times.

- Description from novelbuddy

In the mystical land of Teyvat, where elemental forces collide and secrets of ancient gods remain buried, an ordinary traveler awakens to an extraordinary destiny. Armed with unparalleled ambition and a mysterious system, they embark on a quest to become the Supreme Arbiter—the ultimate authority over all creation.The world of Teyvat is no stranger to conflict, but its hidden truths are more treacherous than any battle. Beneath the veneer of harmony lies a struggle for dominance among divine beings, and the enigmatic Heavenly Principles rule from the shadows. Yet, this traveler defies fate itself, determined to shatter the chains of divine control and reshape the world.Guided by a unique power to harness and manipulate the essence of Teyvat’s elements, the protagonist builds alliances with heroes from every nation—Mondstadt’s free-spirited knights, Liyue’s calculative sages, and Inazuma’s thunderous warriors. However, their journey is far from peaceful. Ancient enemies, forbidden truths, and the ever-present gaze of Celestia test their resolve at every turn.As they ascend in power, unraveling secrets that defy the understanding of gods and mortals alike, one question looms: What does it mean to be the ultimate authority?Will they bring salvation to Teyvat, or become its greatest threat? The skies tremble, the earth stirs, and destiny itself bows before the rise of the Supreme Arbiter.