The woman raised her hand despite the warnings. Multiple stabs in the neck managed to slow her down, but she still succeeded in bringing it dangerously close to Jean’s face. Immediately afterwards, a ball of green liquid appeared and quickly transformed into multiple small needles.

The whispers brought panic. The attack was so wide that raising the left arm was only able to block a small part of it. The splatter burned her torso and legs; large pustules erupted almost instantly.

Jean tried to heal herself as usual, but fear shocked her to the core. Cursed Manage was capable of countering poisons, but this was completely new. The spell was acid mixed with poison, both terribly potent.

The woman began to conjure another acid ball. Jean had no option but to endure sheer pain. She plunged the dagger viciously into the dark elf's neck and then twisted it. Not once, not twice. Six times she plunged it into her windpipe.

“How the hell is she still alive?”

A thin layer of ice crawled up her feet. The dark elf gave up on conjuring more acid and focused on healing. The green aura surrounder her grew denser. Jean punched her in the face with Cursed Punish and focused on the spawn.

Breaking his first attack was easy, probably because he could barely see her. However, getting closer was more difficult than she anticipated. Just before she reached him, a blast of ice emerged from his hands, freezing her legs.

Jean staggered due to her numb legs, but managed to stab the dagger into his hand before falling. His spell went out of control, spraying ice in all directions indiscriminately, including the dark elf.

The ice burns momentarily aggravated the pain of the pustules that had not yet fully healed, but the cold finally extinguished it, helping her clutch his arm and reach his neck. A single enhanced stab was enough.

She checked to see if the dark elf was still stunned. She still had time. She invoked Hunger for Evil on the dead spawn as the boy tried to pull the gnome back to get past him. When the body turned to ash in Aham's hands, he realized that his troubles had only just begun.

[You have defeated Spawn. Level 33.]

[You have acquired +1 Endurance]

[You have learned Elemental Barrier — Level 1.

It won’t manifest as an independent skill, it will be combined with Cursed Armor. Your armor gains an active barrier that temporarily gives as much magical and elemental resistance as the armor’s toughness. In addition, it increases them by 10%.]

[You have learned Ice Blast — Level 1.

Want to control the elements? Let's start with ice. You’re now able to spray a wave of ice that chills your enemies. Using both hands at the same time will increase the power and range.]

[Enchain has increased to level 2.]

[Chameleon has increased to level 3. Rank 2.]

[Cursed Healing has increased to level 6. Rank 2.]

A blast of ice invaded the narrow passage. Aham, the companion of Thitad, the dark elf, desisted from advancing any further. The gnome who was capable of generating flames began to summon another fireball in response.

“What are you doing, dickhead?! Are you trying to kill me too?!”

As Aham stepped back, the narrow passage dramatically lit up again. This time she planned to obstruct it; she grabbed the dark elf and dragged her into the hole. The woman was barely aware of what headed in her direction.

“Stop, can't you see she's in the way?!” The terrified boy's voice sounded farther and farther away.

Jean ran towards the waterfall. She expected the woman's body to block the flames completely, but the spawn was taking his time casting the spell. Did he hesitate?

The explosion was so powerful that it shook the cavern. If she hadn't ducked, Thitad's body would have hit her back. The woman had flown through the air until she crashed into a wall a couple of meters ahead. Not even that had killed her, Cursed Binding was still active.

“Holy shit! This bitch is tough as fuck!”

Jean retrieved her spear and some throwing daggers from where they had previously fallen and stared at the Thitad's burned body. The sight was poetic. After all, the dark elf loved barbecues.

Hearing hurried footsteps approaching, Jean hid in the shadows and activated Chameleon. Completely immobile and with the spear ready to receive the spawns that were trying to return through the passage.

She planned to attack as soon as one of them showed up, but when she saw that they were side by side, watching each other's blind spots, she didn't know what to do. The fireballs of the first one were devastating, but slow to conjure. The lightning strikes, on the other hand, were almost instantaneous. And while not as damaging, their ability to knock her out was indisputable.

Jean had no choice but to let them advance to their master in search of an opportunity. Both were staring at Thitad’s burned body, but while one seemed impassive, the other was smiling brightly.

The spawn began to conjure another fireball while aiming at the dark elf. The other gnome recoiled in confusion and aimed at him with a lightning strike that flashed across his hands and arms.

Jean finally understood his behavior. The fire gnome was not a brainless idiot. He wished to see her dead.

As the size of the fireball increased, Chameleon's mimetic effect was going to hell. The light from the flames was quickly dissipating it. It was now or never.

She diverted the gnomes' attention by throwing a dagger against the wall. Sparks were still flying when the second gnome launched his lightning strike. Now that his flank was exposed, he was an easy target. An enhanced spear thrust to the head and he was already dead before his body hit the ground.

The other gnome searched in surprise for the source of the attack, but Jean's chains pulled him forcefully by the arms to the ground. A sweep with the spear to the feet ended up destabilizing and detonating the spell. It wasn't devastating enough to hurt her, it was barely charged.

He tried to stand up, but he was tightly restrained. He moved his lips cursing her; he couldn't speak either.

“Relax! I left you alive on purpose!”

The spawn opened his mouth and flames began to gather nearby, as if it were some kind of fire breath. However, the chains were not sleeping. They pulled his head until his nose touched the ground, leaving her out of their line of attack. Only until Jean brought her fist wrapped in blue-green flames closer did he desisted, watching her as if he awaited his end.

“Nod if you understand me! Are you a puppet customized to this bitch's liking? Is that why you can't talk and only have a couple of spells despite being level thirty-something?”

He hesitated for a long time, but finally gave up. He looked towards the dark elf and nodded. There was extreme hatred in her gaze.

Jean wondered if that could happen to her. Would her companions end up hating her for bringing them back and intertwining their paths with that of her curse?

“Can you be freed?”

He looked at her dumbfounded, but quickly denied. He then moved his lips with a blank stare. Jean could understand; “Kill us!”

Jean looked at the dark elf. “I need answers first!”

Jean burst into anger when she noticed a smile on the dark elf's face. She rushed over and punched her with all her might. The blow hit her right in her face, but she didn't lose consciousness this time. She only spat blood.

How much vitality did that damned woman have? Even if her healing had helped, she had endured far too much.

“Go ahead! Hit me! Whatever you do, it won't change anything!”

Jean raised her fist, but realized it was useless. “Who are you afraid of?”

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

Thitad spat blood again, this time at Jean's feet. “Fuck you!”

Jean clenched both fists. She was going to get information from anywhere she could. Maybe with Identify... Bingo. Jean smiled playfully. “Now it makes sense. You're a minion too! Will they bring you back to life when I'm done with you? What are they, demons or... angels?”

The elf was taken aback by her deductions, but ended up laughing while coughing. She was terrible at pretending.

That gave Jean more clues. “Who's Gabriel? How many spawn are there with that name? What is the purpose behind this?”

The dark elf looked surprised again, but she hid it a little better this time. “You're just another Cursed One for the collection. Your fate will be the same as the others! ... Honestly, I prefer my fate a thousand times over!”

“Whatever I do, will you come after me?”

“After you? What are you talking about, stupid? We've done nothing but take care of you!”

Several voices in the distance startled them all. Surely Aham had returned with reinforcements after fleeing in terror.

The gnome became erratic, conjuring a fireball into the passage. Jean understood the situation and released him from the chains. There was no time left. She concentrated Cursed Punish in both fists.

The dark elf managed to utter a name despite the multiple blows. It was the last thing she did before her skull caved in at the fifth punch.

“NORTHELLLL!”

[You have reached Level 27. +10 attribute points.]

Jean didn't bother to shield herself from the explosion caused by the destabilization of the fireball. She focused on healing herself while freeing the puppeteer's soul. However, her left chain did something of its own. It linked back to the dark elf to become invisible moments later. Thitad's soul had vanished from her body, further confusing her.

Jean ignored the phenomenon for the moment and focused on quickly consuming the three corpses. The voices were very close, specifically at the entrance to the tunnel passage. A shiver ran through her body as whispers foretold her that her previous enemies were nothing compared to the one approaching. They wanted her alive, though she didn't want to find out what for. However, that was about to change.

“Thitad? … Thitad! … THITAD, ANSWER MY CALL, DAMMIT!”

“Sir, do you think it was the Cursed One?”

“What are you talking about? That's impossible with her level!”

“Then, why isn’t she answering?”

“Enough! I'll take care of this! Let me concentrate!”

[You have defeated Spawn. Level 32.]

[You have defeated Spawn. Level 39.]

[You have defeated Dark Elf (Minion). Level 42.]

[You have reached Level 28. +5 attribute points.]

[You have acquired +1 Strength, +1 Vitality, +3 Endurance, +1 Intelligence and +1 Perception.]

[You have learned Flare— Level 1.

Want to control the elements? Next is fire. You’re now able to cast a short-ranged cone of flames from your hands. Using both hands at the same time will increase the power and range.]

[You have learned Lightning Strike— Level 1.

Want to control the elements? Lightning too? There is only one left then. You’re now able to cast a short-range arc of lightning. Using both hands at the same time will increase the power and range.]

[You have learned Acid Splash— Level 1. Unique Skill.

Want to control the elements? Earth so quickly? Really? You have really mastered them all. You’re now able to cast and hurl a bubble of acid at an opponent within 5 meters.]

[You have learned Elemental Curse — Level 1. Unique Skill. Allows to combine the effects of:

◦ Ice Blast.

◦ Flare.

◦ Lightning Strike.

◦ Acid Splash.

Elemental damage in pure state. Different combinations generate different spells.]

[Last Breath has increased to level 5.]

[Cursed Punish has increased to level 1. Rank 2.

Impact damage is quadrupled.]

[Cursed Binding has increased to level 1. Rank 2.

Corruption transfer and attribute steal increases by 25%.]

[Cursed Search and Cursed Perception have increased to level 2. Rank 2.]

[Chameleon has increased to level 5. Rank 2.]

[Cursed Healing and Cursed Manage have increased to level 9. Rank 2.]

[Hunger for Evil and Pupil of Evil have increased to level 6. Rank 3.]

A sudden roar startled her greatly. The man breathing became heavier by the second and a purple glow reached her side of the narrow passage. A huge claw emerged moments later, cutting the rock like butter. It was black with white fur.

Jean conjured Elemental Curse in an attempt to slow down the fearsome creature. A blast of ice and acid reached his hand, freezing it as it eroded his skin. He growled in pain, but didn't withdraw it. A silver aura surrounded it, protecting him from all harm. Not only that, but it also deflected the blast into the wall, damaging it.

»Dark Elf«

Level ???

Name: Northel

Marks: [Human Killer], [Thief]

Details: Warning! This aspirant's attributes make him a deadly opponent for you. This dark elf's demonic blood allows him to transform into a Draegloth.

Highest Attribute (Strength): 189

Whispers warned her again to evade all confrontation, but Jean was already running at full speed to the waterfall. She hoped he couldn't fit through the hole, but she wasn't going to stay and check either. Her only hope was to reach the other side of the waterfall.

“What was the guy's name? … Aurom, Aurum, … Aru?”

“[Auruth.]”

“AURUTH! Please help! I need to reach your side of the waterfall!”

Jean had just left behind the glowing mushrooms and there was still no response or movement on their part. To make matters worse, the sound of claws cutting through rock only increased her distress.

"Shit! I don't think he wants me alive now!"

After a loud rumble, the wall gave way and the creature chased at full speed. The waterfall was already in plain sight, she just needed a little push. The dark elves of the other side showed no sign of help, so she would have to reach the rope by herself. Would she be able to reach the hanging rope with her current speed?

Barely 5 steps from the edge of the waterfall, whispers warned her. She hardly managed to conjure the armor’s barrier before the attack. However, the attempt proved futile. A single swipe from the creature's claw easily shattered it and caused three deep cuts from her shoulder to her hip.

Pain was the least of her worries now. She had lost her balance, hindering her from gaining enough momentum to jump. Despite extending her arms to their fullest extent, the rope remained inaccessible to her left. Furthermore, she collided with the wall with no opportunity to evade the impact.

She fell into the void with a bloody chin, torso and legs. She even lost several fingernails in a futile attempt to grab onto one of the small ledges. She couldn't help but end up swallowed by the waterfall. A strong flash forced her to close her eyes. A flash that embraced her with a calming and healing effect. So pleasant that it almost prevented her from hearing the dreadful scream that followed.

The scream had nothing to do with the bellowing of the creature left behind. It came from the waterfall. Its waters shuddered, slowing the speed with which each drop plunged into the void. That's when the nightmare began.

A burning sensation gripped her soul, as if someone was casting a Sacred Touch-like spell on her. That reminded her that she was cursed and, consequently, that evil was part of her.

She fought against it, but that caused the liquid to try to suffocate her. It went down her throat and into her nose while squeezing her with devastating power. Eventually, that force pulled her out, pushing her out against the walls of the waterfall.

Jean lost consciousness, and gravity pulled her back into the void. When she came in contact with the waterfall again, the process repeated again. This time, however, she didn't lose consciousness. The whispers had healed her while unconscious. If it hadn't been for that, she would have died for sure.

The curse on her body was easing, but contrary to expectation, that was killing her. It was a shock to realize that a sacred power like the one she once had was her greatest enemy now.

This awakened a fleeting thought. The dead group of adventurers led by paladins had probably tried to cure themselves, but they had been killed, preventing it. Perhaps the purifying water source could end up corrupted if exposed to large amounts of corruption. From the screams of pain emanating from the waterfall, it seemed indeed alive. Was that why the dark elves who gave her the relic had tried to prevent her from approaching?

The divine touch of water once again punished her curse. This time it felt like hell. Death looked her in the eyes. Her time had come.