I Can See Your Combat Power - Chapter 40 - 36: Sitting in the Pavilion

[Welcome to the Magic Universe, a world where magical power reigns supreme.][Congratulations on awakening the Infinity Money System.][Feel free to splurge your money and prove to the entire universe that there's nothing money can't solve.][If there is, it simply means you don't pay enough money!]So, the show of your adventure begins![Detected: Host burned Forbidden rank Scrolls for warmth, rewarded with God rank bloodline: Heart of Origin!][Detected: Host used Temporal Shard to ripen grapes, rewarded with God rank talent: Master of Time!][Detected: Host fed Leaves of the World Tree to a rabbit, rewarded with Mythical Beast: Aetherlapis!][Dear Host, you now bought and own the entire Magic Universe.][Which universe would you like to conquer next?]Good, let’s move on![Ding! Abnormality detected.][Warning, Host, you are not the only system processor…]

The first-ever virtual reality game, New World. {The time has come.} {Synchronization starts.} That marked the beginning of the catastrophe. As the game became reality, the Earth began to crumble. However, there was hope. All-Master Jeong-hoon, who had survived until the very end, was just one step away from finishing the game. “Gah!” But ended up being betrayed by his comrades. “Should I say, from the moment you said you wanted to end this game?” The reason for their betrayal was simple, if the game ended, their power would disappear. The moment they thought it was all over. [An unknown mysterious force is protecting you.][An unknown mysterious force is sending you back to the past.][Warning! The system attempts to intervene… failed.][Warning! Warning! The system attempts to intervene… failed.][Warning! Warning! Warning! The system attempts to intervene… failed.][An unknown mysterious force dissipates.] Thanks to that unknown force, he returned to the past.

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.