"Young man, thank you so much for running those thugs away. How about I just let you have that crystal for free? It hasn't caused me anything but trouble. Consider it my thanks."

The old man bowed his head to Julian to show his sincerity.

"Thanks, sir. I appreciate it."

Julian and his squad left the shop and returned back to their house. Everyone was tired so they went to their rooms to tend to wounds and rest.

Julian was sitting on his bed marveling at the crystal tear. The reason Julian wanted it so badly was because of its usage. The tear had the power to transform into any weapon the user wanted as long as they had a sufficient aura pool. I took a large amount of aura to even activate it. If a normal person were to try, then their aura pool would be drained immediately.

Julian was different. Since he had retained his aura pool size from before he died, he wouldn't have any problems activating it. It was a great asset to have, but its true potential would really show when Julian gained back his heavenly aura.

He picked up the crystal and inserted his aura into it. The crystal began glowing and formed into a small knife. He did it again but this time changing it into a shield.

"This would've been handy in my fight earlier."

Just then he heard a knock at the door.

"Hey Julian, it's Luke."

"Come in."

Luke opened the door and walked inside.

"What's up?"

"I'm ready to start learning a martial skill. I don't want to be like I was today anymore. All I could do was stand aside while everyone else fought for our lives. I felt so useless!"

Luke was clenching his fists as he spoke. Julian felt bad for him, but he was prepared for this.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"Let's hold off on the martial skill. I believe that I have a solution for your little curse."

Luke's eyes lit up. If what Julian had told him before was true, then removing the curse would finally unlock his alpha cells. That would mean he would develop an ability.

"Let's go outside."

Luke followed Julian out the back door of the house and stood in the training yard where they held their sparring matches.

Julian took out a few gemstones that he bought from the old man at the shop before he left. He prepared these before taking out the Crystal Tear for a look.

"These gemstones hold large amounts of natural aura. This type of aura is ten times denser than normal aura produced from the body, so it should be enough to break your curse."

Julian handed Luke one of the gemstones.

"Try putting some of your own aura into it."

Luke listened and inserted his own aura into the stone. The gem began glowing as the aura swirled and blended inside. After a few seconds, the glow died down.

"Now try absorbing into your aura pool."

Luke did as he was told and absorbed the aura from the gem. He felt his aura growing stronger, but he didn't feel much different from before.

"I don't think it's working."

"Don't worry. That's why I prepared a few of them."

Luke did the same thing with two more gemstones and the result was the same, but after the fourth gem, something happened.

"What is this feeling!?"

Luke could feel something like an explosion happen inside his body and a dark purple gas was being expelled from his body.

"That's a sign that the curse has been lifted. Your alpha cells are forming as we speak. In just a few minutes, you will be able to finally manifest an ability."

Julian's words caused Luke to tear up. He never would've thought that he would be hearing those words. He's gone his entire life so far without an ability, and zero hope that he would ever have one. Now all of a sudden he was being told that he would now have his own ability.

"Julian. Thank you so much!"

Tears were streaming down his face as he spoke. Julian smiled and gave him a pat on his shoulder.

"Don't thank me yet, bro. We still don't know what your ability will be. It will take some time to learn it."

After about 10 minutes, the gas was finally gone and Luke could sense the alpha cells in his body were completely formed.

"So how do I manifest my ability?"

"All you have to do is pour your aura into your alpha cells to activate them. The ability will manifest automatically."

Luke did what Julian said, but nothing happened.

"Hmm...maybe you need a medium as I do. Here, try using it with this empty stone."

Luke tried again, but the result was the same.

"Did it not work? Can I not develop an ability after all?"

Luke started to look depressed.

"I don't think that's it. Maybe you're like Luna and have to touch an opponent for it to work. Try touching me and using it."

Luke walked over to Julian and placed his hand on Julian's shoulder.

"Here goes."

Luke activated his ability and a dark purple light faintly glowed around his hand. He felt a strange sensation pouring into his body.

Julian's eyes grew big. What was happening was unheard of. Luke's ability was doing the same thing to him that Luke did to his mother while she was pregnant.

Julian tried to pull Luke's hand off of his shoulder but it wouldn't budge.

"Luke! Deactivate your ability, quickly!"

Luke shut off his ability and moved his hand away.

"What's wrong?"

"It would seem that the Glutton's Curse has left lasting effects on your soul. You had it for so long that a portion of it was infused with you. That part has become a part of your being. In other words, your ability has been modeled after the very curse that's been plaguing you."

************************************************************

If you enjoy this story and want to help keep it going, consider supporting me on P a t r e o n!

https://www.p a t r e o n.com/ryan_spears

(Be sure to remove the spaces)