The Soul System in the Apocalypse - Chapter 192: Intelligent Zombie

Meet Gu Yu—a college dropout and a talented incense maker, and at the same time, the rather stoic protagonist of this story. Despite his somewhat introverted manner, he has a tendency to make sarcastic remarks in his thoughts. One day, after saving a squirrel, a windfall (metaphorically and literally) dropped into his lap. Stumbling into the cultivation world with little help, he was not turned into Superman overnight (as he would like). Apparently, becoming a cultivator would not make your life easier, at least in the beginning.

Somewhere along the road, he ran into Jiang Xiaozhai, a young woman who’s got the brains, the beauty, and maybe one or two secrets of her own. As it turned out, the two made a perfect team—Mulder-and-Scully style. Motivated by many unanswered questions, they had been running up and down the country, getting into all kinds of trouble, and learning more of the modern cultivation world, which is by no means the same as in the ages long past…

- Description from Novelupdates

Ren Kuroda, a college student and hardcore gamer, finally conquers Eternal Souls: Last Judgment, an unbeatable RPG, only to be met with a strange message on his screen.“Congratulations, Champion. Would you like to unlock the bonus stage?”When he clicks “Yes,” he is transported straight into the game world, reborn as Terence Ross, the overlooked third son of a minor noble family. Realizing he’s just an extra in a world teetering on ruin, Ren trains relentlessly to survive the coming chaos.However, life wasn’t smooth sailing.He was soon engaged to Lilith Underwood, the girl destined to become the game’s final boss, the Third Great Calamity. To avoid her devastating future, Ren takes a risky approach, trying to make Lilith emotionally dependent on him in the hopes of anchoring her humanity.Yet, his plan backfires spectacularly. Lilith’s attachment becomes a fierce obsession, one that could be just as dangerous as her dark powers.Now, as doom inches closer, Ren faces a double-edged crisis. He must keep Lilith’s powers in check while somehow surviving her unrelenting need to keep him by her side.In a world where even heroes fall, can an extra rewrite his fate? Or will he be claimed by the calamity he tried to prevent?

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.