Yuluulth

I hadn't been able to look away from own viewer for a good while because my champion needed my constant focus for so long.

But suddenly, a blip popped up on my viewer.

[Andrew The Unorthodox has been cursed with The Maledict Of Misfortune, the assigned misfortune is The Beacon. All champions within 2 quebs will sense the victim's presence and distance for the duration.]

[Andrew The Unorthodox is 1.7 quebs away.]

I looked up and saw several others staring at their viewers.

I looked to my left and saw Lviyr start to panic.

This is suddenly going to get hectic.

The question is whether my champion will show up.

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Andrew

I sprinted the whole way back to the village.

Juohen the poisoner was the first person I saw. "What's wrong Andrew?"

"I was just cursed I think?! I'm not really sure what's happening!"

"Slow down, what happened?"

My mind was going a mile per minute. "Do you know how [Skills] work?"

"I mean, more or less? A champion activates it and it does something."

I tried not to scream at him. "Okay, but how do you know if you have them, and, more importantly, do they go away after a caster dies?"

Juohen looked back at me in confusion, clearly pondering this for the first time. "I have no idea, I'm not a champion."

"I'll need you to expand upon that another time, for now I need information."

I suddenly had a terrible idea.

"I have a plan to get that information."

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Ghuther

My name is Ghuther.

Before I came here, I was a plumber on a pirate vessel after being kidnapped.

When participation was offered to me, I realized that it would be an opportunity to get stronger and learn combat.

Maybe if I won I could wish to keep my [Skills], then I could definitely escape from my servitude.

It had been hard adjusting to the strange atmospheric conditions, it would cause my eyes to water at inopportune times, which almost got me killed more than once.

But here I am, still kicking.

I was wandering around, searching for supplies left by other champions as they died when I suddenly got a message.

[Andrew The Unorthodox has been cursed with The Maledict Of Misfortune, the assigned misfortune is The Beacon. All champions within 1230 wing-lengths will sense the victim's presence and distance for the duration.]

[Andrew The Unorthodox is 540 wing-lengths away.]

I was confused at first, but then I realized... this is my chance to sneak up another champion and get the drop on them!

People liked to call my species opportunistic, I suppose it's time to show them how true that could be!

After a little bit of trial and error, I figured out which direction to go to get to him, and began my flight in that direction.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

It only took a breaths-time to get to him, as he seemed to already be going in my direction by chance.

[Andrew The Unorthodox, plus two other titles]

Danger Level: Low Threat

This was even more perfect than I could have hoped for!

I quietly picked up a rock with my talons and filled my floatation bladder, it was really heavy after all.

I aimed myself above him and divebombed, attempting a tossing-run to try to cripple him.

He immediately looked up at me and held up a strange device with his smooth-wings.

A breaths-time later, I was wracked in pain.

I looked over at my left wing and saw that it was gone.

And even worse, my floatation bladder was ruptured.

I gulped as I stared at the fast approaching ground.

The next thing I knew, I was in incredible pain and being looked down at by several strange creatures along with Andrew himself.

Andrew made some number of noises that sounded like a strange mumbling with lots of overly soft sounds.

One of the strange creatures then spoke to me in perfect tongue.

"So Ghuther, we have some questions for you, will you cooperate peacefully?" They asked.

"No! Why would I?" I replied in spite.

The voice looked at Andrew. "He says no and asks why he should."

Andrew stepped on my neck and twisted it with his soft-talon.

I gasped for air as my screams were stifled under his weight.

He grabbed by beak and put his face inches from my eye.

I could sense the killing intent and utter lack of patience as he mumbled something.

"He says that if you don't, he'll pluck all of your feathers and force your head underwater until you drown." The voice said matter-of-factly. "Will you cooperate or not?"

I was terrified, gesturing a yes as emphatically as I could.

Andrew threw my head into the ground, causing my beak to chip a little bit.

He asked his first question. "Do you know if Andrew is effected by a curse?"

I gestured yes and explained what I read from the text.

"Good, was that so hard? Next question, how do you use [Skills]?"

I stared at Andrew in horror.

That thing he has isn't his artifact weapon... maybe he has a passive [Skill] that allows him to steal things from other champions?

If so, who did he kill to get it?

I gulped as he stared intently. "I- Um-"

Andrew kicked my open floatation bladder wound and mumbled something forcefully.

"Answer!" The voice translated.

"Okay, okay, you find out as soon as you gain an active [Skill], it plays a tutorial then!"

He cocked his head at me as soon as he had it explained to him.

"How did you get your [Skill]?"

"I dunno, I just took some stuff from the remains of a champion or two and suddenly I gained the [Skill] [Necrosight]!"

"What does it do?"

"It lets me see the experiences of a recently killed champion, I was only able to use it once!"

The next question surprised me. "What did you see?"

I gulped. "I saw a man with smooth-wings like Andrew's, in addition to regular wings, he killed him in a matter of seconds... it was horrifying."

Andrew reduced his intensity.

"Andrew thanks you for your help."

I breathed a sigh of relief, I was going to-

Andrew shoved his device inside my beak.

I didn't even have time to scream.

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Andrew

[New Acquired Title: Torturer]

I wasn't exactly proud of that title, but I guess I would have to deal with it.

All of that information was crucial, especially in the long run.

One of the answers in particular frustrated me, the one about how he got his [Skill].

It was probably a [Skill] that only he could get, which means that I'll probably have to figure it out on my own still.

I ran my fingers through my hair as I sat on the ground.

"Well, what do I do now?!"

Juohen put his paw on my shoulder. "Don't worry, we'll help you out."

"I appreciate it Juohen, but I can't put you all in danger like that, this curse is my burden to bear."

He looked me right in the eyes. "Listen, I'm not good at this sorta touchy-feely stuff, but if you die, I won't forgive you. Understand?"

I smiled at him. "Thanks Juohen."

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Sydui

The news traveled fast among our village, that our resident champion was cursed to bring hell upon himself, and he was staying here.

I was furious at him at first, but then I heard that that's what everyone wanted.

Then I was just furious in general.

I strode straight up to him, making sure he couldn't retreat.

"What is wrong with you?!" I exclaimed.

He stopped whatever he was doing with Juohen and looked at me. "Oh hello, Sydui... I guess you want to talk to me again then?"

As my name came off his lips, my heart suddenly started beating faster again. "What did you just do to me?!" I asked, beside myself with anger.

He looked at me with a confused expression. "What do you mean?"

"You did something when you said my name! My heart's beating so fast! What [Skill] did you use?!"

Juohen looked at me incredulously for a moment, and then spoke in a tone that seemed to insinuate something that I wasn't familiar with. "No no my dear Sydui, Andrew can't use any [Skills], what happened to you is something that happened all by itself."

I pointed at him forcefully. "Stop talking to me like that and just explain!"

Juohen thought for a second. "Let me put it to you this way... Andrew is pretty amazing person am I right?"

I was confused by that, surely that didn't have anything to do with this feeling? "I'm not following."

Juohen seemed to laugh at my expense. "Okay, how about this one: when do you feel this way?"

"I felt this way one other time when he and I were talking alone, why is that relevant?"

Andrew seemed really excited for some reason and exchanged a knowing glance with Juohen, who nodded back at him.

"Did he say anything to you that caused it?"

"He said my name back then too, which makes me think that the secrets game we played was a vehicle for it."

"Sure, but he knows my name and him saying it to me doesn't make me feel in any specific way." Juohen said with a grin.

"What are you implying?"

Juohen threw his hands up in the air. "Wow you're dense! I think you need to figure it yourself, you wouldn't believe me if I told you anyway."

"Piss off Juohen, I'm not dense! If anything, you can't see the obvious danger he poses!"

"Wow, harsh Sydui."

My heart beat fast again.

I had completely forgotten he was there!

Why do I keep lowering my guard when I'm around him?!

"I'm sorry!" I said out of reflex.

But wait... did I- did I mean it?

No, I couldn't have!

Right?

"Apology accepted Sydui." He replied with a smile.

My heart felt like it was going to explode in my chest.

I needed to leave and calm down.

"Juohen, tell me what the plan of attack is later, I'm going to take care of something over here." Wow, that was worst excuse I've ever told... what is going on with me?

"See you later Sydui!" The champion called after me.

I sprinted away from him before my heart really did explode.