Skill Thief's Gambit

Caden Mercer awakened with the most coveted ability in existence: [Skill Theft]—steal any one skill from anyone you kill. He could become the most powerful awakener in history. There's just one problem: every time he steals a skill, he loses a random one from his collection. Kill a master swordsman, gain [Sword Mastery], lose [Fire Magic]. The more skills he has, the higher the stakes. Now Caden must navigate a world where everyone wants his ability, calculate every kill like a high-stakes gamble, and somehow grow powerful despite a system that forces him to risk everything with every fight. In a world of certainty, he is the variable. And the house always wins—unless you can count the cards. Expect pulse-pounding combat, high-stakes confrontations, and characters pushed to their physical and mental limits. The action sequences are detailed and visceral, with each battle raising the tension.