Gilded Ashes: When Shadows Reign - Chapter 278: Red Signal

In a world torn apart by rifts that release dangerous monsters, Espers—humans imbued with powerful abilities—serve as humanity's last line of defense. But the power of an Esper comes with a price. Overuse of their abilities leads to dangerous corruption, a force that can destroy them from the inside out. This is where Guides come in: individuals with the unique ability to calm the corruption within Espers and restore their balance.Rowan Mercer, an S-class Guide, is one of the best in his field, capable of stabilizing even the most dangerous Espers. He has worked quietly behind the scenes, helping those in need, but his life takes a dramatic turn when he is called to work with Lucian Vaughn, an S-class Esper whose immense power and unstable corruption levels make him a dangerous threat to himself and others.Lucian, a tall, stoic, and enigmatic figure, has long fought against the growing corruption within him. At first, his relationship with Rowan is purely professional—Rowan as his Guide, helping him to stay in control. However, as their interactions grow more frequent, their bond deepens in ways neither expected. What started as a simple duty soon turns into a complex relationship where power, trust, and vulnerability collide.As the world around them faces escalating threats from rifts, Rowan and Lucian must navigate not only their personal challenges but also the dangerous world of Espers and Guides. Their bond will be tested as they fight together against the corrupting forces that threaten them both.In Corrupted Bonds, survival isn’t just about battling monsters from the rifts—it's about fighting the darkness within themselves and finding a way to stay connected in a world that’s constantly pulling them apart.

Elric lived a traumatic life since childhood. Being bullied, detested by his family & having no one who cared whether he lived or died. The accumulated loneliness & suffering puts him through severe depression & he decides to take his life’s final decision… SUICIDE.

One day, his soul hears a voice calling out to him.

«Wake up, Elric. I am the God of Darkness. And I’m here to give you another chance at life.»

To God of Darkness, Elric replied with only two words.

«Fuck off!»

Accompany the Protagonist in a journey to achieve an Impossible task he’s given as he aims to become one of the strongest beings in the world full of Magic, Mythical creatures, Dragons and Gods.

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Author: Antihero protagonist who’s a scheming mastermind & doesn’t trust anyone. No Harem, Romance or Fan-service here. MC is an extremely smart & quick witted person who knows how to adapt to situations quickly. But he isn’t an Edgelord or a Psychopath who kills people for no reasons.

After years of hard study, she finally became a master's degree holder. One day, she suddenly finds herself traversing into a different world as an illegitimate daughter.In her previous life, she was a prominent student from a prestigious university; in this life, she is a weak girl from a noble family.She hides her brilliance, conceals her sharpness, aims for survival, and seeks peace. However, the scholarly family she is part of is also fraught with countless disputes and endless troubles.The concubine schemes against her, her legitimate sister plots, leading to her ruin and disgrace.Retaliation is a must!Her attitude must be gentle!Her methods absolutely ruthless!She retaliates fiercely with gentle means, and what's next is...Marriage?To whom?Can she choose her own spouse?This is a serious issue.*******************************

Aurora Waters was overwhelmed with despair when she faced the truth about her family.She had been born into a family of villains.Even worse, her family had an unhealthy obsession with faking their identities.They took “Fake it till you make it” so seriously that it usually ended with them getting killed!Her oldest brother pretended to be a CEO just to mess with the female lead, but that backfired when the male lead showed up and threw him out.Her second brother? He was an obsessive lover who pretended to be a wealthy second-generation heir—until the real heir ended his life.Her third sister? She faked being an heiress to manipulate the second male lead but ended up being killed by him.Her fourth sister? She faked an illness to attract the third male lead’s attention, only to die from a real one.Her mother? She put on a facade of being a kind and loving mom but ultimately met her end at the hands of the male lead.Her father? He pretended to be a powerful tycoon but lost his job and was drowned by the second male lead.And Aurora? She planned to impersonate the daughter of the richest man alive, but if things went the way they always did in her family, she’d probably meet her end by accidentally falling down the stairs.However, there was one glimmer of hope in this nightmare: she had a 100% rebate system that rewarded her for spending money on her family![Beep! You bought an eraser worth 1 dollar for your eldest brother! 2 dollars have been credited to your bank account!][Beep! You bought a candy worth 1 dollar for your second brother! 2 dollars have been credited to your bank account!]Aurora’s eyes sparkled as an idea took shape. She began spending on her family like crazy to rake in cash.She even wished her family were greedier so she could earn more! Just as she was brainstorming new ways to splurge on her family, she unexpectedly ran into her childhood crush.[Beep! You gave a bun worth 20 dollars to your childhood crush! 100 dollars has been credited to your bank account!]Aurora: …! That’s walking money!