The taste of blood lingered on Reyn's tongue as the bandit's latest blow slammed into his jaw, sending a fresh wave of pain shooting through his skull. His vision blurred, and the room seemed to sway before him.
His body sagged against the restraints, too exhausted to muster any resistance. The ropes binding his wrists and ankles felt tighter with every breath, his skin raw where they cut into him.
As he tried to catch his breath, he bit down hard in an attempt to stifle a groan. His teeth sank into the mark on his tongue—a sharp sting pulsed through him, almost as if the mark itself had awakened. Then, suddenly, his entire body seemed to vibrate with a strange, unfamiliar energy.
Ding!
A melodic chime echoed inside his head, clear and sharp, cutting through the haze of his pain.
[New Host Located!]
[System Binding in Progress...]
[System Bound Successfully!]
[Welcome to the Lustbound System!]
The words appeared before his eyes, floating in the air as if conjured from thin air. For a moment, he thought he might be hallucinating from the beating, but the words didn't fade.
They hung there, bright and solid, and with each second, he could feel a presence expanding inside his mind—something foreign, yet somehow... familiar.
"Huh...?" he whispered, his voice hoarse. The bandits hadn't noticed the change; they were busy congratulating each other on their handiwork.
"Ten minutes should do it," the interrogator said with a sneer, pushing back his chair. "We'll give him some time to reflect on his lies. When we come back, we'll double the fun."
The other bandits chuckled as they filed out of the room, leaving Reyn alone in the dim light. He heard the click of a lock turning behind him, followed by the fading sound of their footsteps.
As the door shut, a new notification flashed before his eyes.
[System Tutorial Activated]
[The Lustbound System has been designed to assist its host in growing stronger by forming emotional and physical bonds with others. The deeper the bond, the more power can be accessed from those he has bonded with.]
[Emotional Resonance (ER) serves as the system's primary energy source, used to activate skills and abilities. ER is gained through emotional interactions, situations, and experiences.]
Reyn blinked, trying to process the information. He struggled to remember the woman's face—the mark on her forehead, the kiss that had felt like it seared his very soul. Somehow, she had passed this system onto him.
But what did it mean to "form bonds"? And how was any of this supposed to help him now?
As if in response to his unspoken questions, another panel appeared before him.
[Status Window]
[Name: Reyn Lanthorne]
[Race: Human]
[Age: 19]
[Life Force: 22/100]
[Mana: 0]
[ER: 10]
[Bonds: Nil]
[Abilities: Locked]
[Skill: Nil]
His life force was dangerously low—no doubt the result of the beating he'd taken—and his mana was completely depleted, though that didn't surprise him.
As a Null, he'd never had any magic to begin with. But the number that caught his attention was [ER: 10]. Ten points of Emotional Resonance... whatever that was worth.
Just as the status window faded, a new notification appeared.
[You have received a reward for binding with the system!]
[Reward: Power Outburst]
[Power Outburst: A skill that allows one to momentarily surpass their limit with overwhelming power. It consumes 5 ER per minute and will increase as the skill evolves.]
Reyn barely had time to absorb the words before a surge of energy began to course through him, hot and fierce. His pulse quickened, and his muscles seemed to swell with newfound strength.
It was as if the system had breathed life back into his broken body, rekindling the fire that had nearly been extinguished. The pain that had held him paralyzed now felt distant, dulled by the raw power surging within him.
His mind focused on a single goal: escape.
'I need to get out of here,' he thought, and as if on instinct, he activated the skill.
[Power Outburst Activated. ER: 5/10]
"Roaaaar!" A primal roar tore from his throat as the energy burst through him. He strained against the ropes that bound him, and with a sudden snap, the wood of the chair splintered beneath his raw strength.
Crack!
He tore his hands free and, with a single kick, broke apart the chains around his ankles. The entire process took no more than a few seconds, and when the dust settled, Reyn was standing—free, and ready to fight.
Just then, the door burst open, and the bandits rushed back in. They froze in the doorway, eyes wide with shock at the sight of Reyn standing amidst the shattered remnants of the chair, his muscles tensed like a cornered animal ready to strike.
"Get him!" one of them yelled, lunging forward with a dagger raised high.
But Reyn was faster. He surged forward, the power of the system propelling him with incredible speed. He launched himself at the nearest bandit, his fist connecting with a sickening crunch against the man's jaw.
Bang!
The bandit crumpled to the ground, unconscious before he even hit the floor.
The other two reacted quickly, brandishing their weapons, but Reyn felt unstoppable. He ducked under the swing of a blade, driving his elbow into the gut of the second bandit, who doubled over, gasping for air.
The third made a desperate lunge, but Reyn was already on him, slamming his fist into the side of the man's head and sending him sprawling.
The world seemed to slow as Reyn breathed heavily, his chest rising and falling with each breath. The raw energy flowing through him began to fade, and he felt the familiar weight of exhaustion creeping in as his ER dropped to 0.
The room spun slightly, and he realized he had only moments to escape before the rest of the bandits discovered what had happened.
Without hesitation, he sprinted out of the room, his legs carrying him forward with a speed that bordered on frantic. He darted through narrow hallways and passed rough-hewn doors, his instincts guiding him back the way he had come.
The open forest lay ahead, the dense canopy beckoning him with the promise of concealment. He didn't know how many more bandits there were, nor did he care. His only thought was to get as far away from this place as possible before the others realized he was gone.
As he burst into the sunlight and disappeared into the trees, he couldn't help but wonder about the power he had just wielded, and what it would mean for him now. The woman had left him more than just a kiss—she had given him a chance. A chance to change his fate.
'Whatever this system is... I'll figure it out. And I'll survive.'
With that thought burning in his mind, Reyn pressed on, his sights set on the one place he knew he could find safety... his village.