Increase Talent: Become More Stronger! - Chapter 9: Innate stage

Sakimori Kagami plays a VRMMORPG called Arch Earth Online. He is a veteran player with the name and appearance similar to an elderly bearded wizard from a certain book about a ring.

One day he purchases an appearance change item as a last resort to spend expiring currency and gets the idea of choosing what he would want to look like if his character was ever a girl.

Falling asleep should have suspended the game, but Kagami wakes up still online and feels the game has has gotten a bit more realistic. Did Arch Earth Online finally get a long-awaited update?

A story of time-travel. Sly and cunning, she unexpectedly became a sickly noble lady whose fiancé is merciless and demotes her to a lowly concubine. She sneers and bravely breaks off the engagement. To hell with scumbags, marry heirs to lords, blind the courts with her brilliance.

But, my Lord, we agreed that we are only partnering to scheme against others, when did you start to treat acting as real? Hey, hey, don’t touch me.

The Lord smiled slyly, “Your hands are too cold, let me help you warm them… Your feet are cold too, let me help you warm them.”

“Why don’t you just say that my whole body is cold and you need to warm it all up”, Murong Xue said indignantly.

The Lord nodded, “Good idea!”

Murong Xue – speechless. Hey hey hey, where, where are you putting your hands?

- Description from Novelupdates

“There are always people who want to be evil!”

“The end of the world is coming soon, I must survive!”

Shen Cong, a patient of paranoia, saw other people’s opinions on the Internet about the end of the world in 2022, and immediately believed.

After which, He didn’t go out of his home, stayed and built his own doomsday vehicle, honed his ability to survive. Until one day, Doomsday actually came.

- Description from Novelupdates

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.