Gilded Ashes: When Shadows Reign - Chapter 304: New Eon

[You have been slain by an Evil God. Time Reversal initiated.][Save file loaded successfully. Beginning Fifth Playthrough.]In 2030, a game burst onto the scene.And you had already been reborn for the fifth time.Only you knew that in three years, the game would merge with reality.Humans and races from other worldlines would invade Earth through the game.And not long after that, even more unknown horrors would descend upon every timeline![Ding! Congratulations, player registration successful. Please draw your Talent.][Ding! Detected that the player has used a redemption code.][Ding! Redemption code successfully applied. Congratulations! You have obtained the unique Talent: Millionfold Boost!][Talent Description: Millionfold Boost — When selling an item, you may choose to receive a millionfold boost in either quantity or quality!]As expected, the redemption code you had painstakingly gathered during your first four playthroughs was worth it![Detected: Player has sold a Common-grade Bow. Player has chosen Quality Boost.][Ding! Millionfold Boost activated. Congratulations! You have obtained the Legendary-grade equipment: Moon Reaper!][Detected: Player has sold a D-rank Skill Book: Blink. Player has chosen Quality Boost.][Ding! Millionfold Boost activated. Congratulations! You have obtained the SSS-rank Skill Book: God Speed!][Detected: Player has sold a God-grade Pet: Ancient Dragon Egg. Player has chosen Quantity Boost.][Ding! Millionfold Boost activated. Congratulations! You have obtained 1,000,000 God-grade Ancient Dragon Eggs!]Beautiful!You bastards, get ready to face the strongest ancient dragon legion in history!

An AI calling itself Schema has assimilated earth into its system. As a consequence, everyone gained access to status screens, power-ups, and skills. This AI turned these concepts from fiction to fact. It's easy to become intoxicated with leveling up and becoming stronger. To some, it's too good to be true like living out a dream.

For Daniel, however, it's closer to a nightmare.

He's in a bit of a predicament. Cracks in our dimensional fabric have unleashed terrifying beasts from dark, abyssal places. Schema organizes these cracks into dungeons, giving the native species of the planet a chance to fight back. Daniel finds himself trapped in one of these dungeons. Not long after, he discovers there's only one way out.

Ji Han, who was worried about his sister’s medical expenses, accidentally bound a money-making game.

The monsters in the other world, the puzzles in the film and television world, and the forbidden tombs in the legendary world.

Your game is too scary (love)!

What? 50,000 for completing the task? Kill a monster and give 30,000?

As an ordinary person, Ji Han shivered in the game, doing his best to complete the task to grab the head and get the much-needed monetary reward.

But in the eyes of others, he is the strongest alien warrior.

“Captain, the 10th team is really empty, they actually found a cowardly ordinary person.”

“Fart! All the monsters in the other world were killed by him alone. You fucking call this a cowardly ordinary person?”

- Description from novelbuddy

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.