[Mission »Punish Gabriel!« completed. Cursed Armor has been enhanced as a reward. Cursed Armor will still be available even if you are not inside Nimireth's dungeon, thanks to Cursed Graveyard.]
“What? What do you mean it will still be available even if I'm not inside the dungeon?”
“[You should know that by now! That's what the burden of the Cursed One implies. While you're in here, you're really hard to kill, but outside you won't be able to use many of your skills. At least not in the same way.]”
“Are you implying that outside I will be weak?”
“[Weak? No! ... It's true you won't be able to activate the chains and several other skills will be seriously affected, especially the skills that depend on the miasma that is everywhere here. Outside, you will need to have your Cursed Graveyard full. You are bound to this place until vengeance is fulfilled.]”
That could take years. “Is that why you warned me not to go through the portal?”
“[Don't you get tired of me saving you ass?]”
Jean rolled her eyes and focused on conjuring Hunger for Evil on what was left of Gabriel. Reducing his body to ashes was de-stressing, but also much slower than normal. His body harbored great power. However, it seemed that he had barely been able to manifest it. Why? Had his Master intervened as he had said?
“Nah! I don’t think so!”
“[Be thankful you are still alive!]”
“Why? What exactly does Zattank want from me?”
“[I don't know, but whatever it is, I don't think it's good for you.]”
“Really?! I thought he was trying to woo me!”
[You have defeated Spawn. Level 62.]
[Experience bonus awarded to the shared experience for killing aspirants corrupted by evil.]
[You have reached Level 33. +20 attribute points.]
[You have acquired +5 Strength, +1 Dexterity, +4 Endurance and +1 Vitality.]
“Holy Shit! 11 attribute points from this bastard alone! … I still can't believe I could defeat him!”
“[You need to start sharpening your wits and stop relying so much on Cursed Binding. What if you couldn't use it?]”
Jean was silent. She knew he was right, but she didn't want to inflate his ego any further.
[You have learned Concentration — Level 1.
Need a boost in your attributes? Temporarily increase 10 points in an attribute of your choice.]
[You have learned Energy Blast— Level 1.
You like energy blasts that much? With this you will be able to hit multiple people at once. Increases your base damage by 50%.]
[You have learned Demolishing Blow— Level 1.
A heavy blow that needs to be charged to reach its full potential. Increases by 500% your base damage at maximum charge.]
[Chameleon has increased to level 1. Rango 3.
Allows 25% presence concealment. In the shadows it's twice as effective and quadruples if you are standing still. High mana consumption when moving.]
[Elemental Curse has increased to level 2.]
[Swift Strike has increased to level 6.]
[Enchain has increased to level 4.]
[Last Breath has increased to level 6.]
[Cursed Punish has increased to level 3. Rank 2.]
[Cursed Binding has increased to level 4. Rank 2.]
[Cursed Armor has increased to level 8. Rank 2.]
[Cursed Manage has increased to level 1. Rank 3. Now you can transfer your corruption to others with a simple touch.]
[Cursed Healing has increased to level 2. Rank 3. Your healing is now four times more effective.]
“Concentration? 500% damage! If they do that while being only rank 1.... Now I get his explosive power.”
Jean remained thoughtful for a good while. “I want to spend everything on Willpower!”
“[Again?]”
“I need them to endure the screams of that damn rat. Plus, having more mana never hurts. I need it for what I have in mind.”
“[What you're trying to do is very risky.]”
Status
Strength: 34
Dexterity: 33
Vitality: 61
Endurance: 30
Intelligence: 56
Willpower: 80
Perception: 23
The relic vibrated until it emerged from the spawn's ashes. “If it was so dangerous to touch this relic, why was he carrying it?”
“[I guess it was his desperate attempt to kill you. He used it as bait to see if greed would get the better of you.]”
“What a bastard! He really hated me! But... why? I didn't choose to have the relic join me.”
“[What does that matter? You had it! Do you think Al-Hek hated you when he was a spawn? He lived a nightmare that he could only get out of by obeying Thitad.]”
Jean clenched her fists. She felt her hatred for Gabriel waver. Maybe he was just trying to escape his fate and she destroyed that chance. Nah! Probably he was just a bastard. Anyway, what was she going to do now? Crusading against an angel seemed an unattainable goal. She had nothing to do against someone protected by such powerful lackeys. And surely they were nothing special compared to those closest to him.
Jean bent down and picked up a piece of Gabriel's bloody clothing. She placed it on top of the relic and picked it up. The whispers were wildly agitated by having it so close.
“[Leave it there! You need to find other relics first if you want to withstand that one.]”
Jean headed into the depths. “I don't get it! Why do I need others to withstand this one? Gabriel said that his body could resist thanks to his training. What did he mean by that?”
“[You can establish a minor connection with the relic without it accepting you as a host. The abnormal thing is that it chooses you!]”
“Really?”
“[Yeah! The will of the original Cursed One rarely manifests itself through the relics. He must be very interested in you.]”
“Me? There's nothing special about me.’”
“[Well, you have a really absurd healing power. I've seen very few like you. It's as if your original Healing Hands skill was special.]”
“Why? It doesn't usually heal so much?”
“[By the gods, no! Yours is absurd!]”
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Jean consulted her panel, but there was nothing that indicated that her healing skill was either rare or unique. She shrugged and headed deeper. “Whatever the reason, that rat abomination is my main concern right now. I need its corruption!”
“[Are you sure? Narhad's warning has come true. Another spawn could appear while fighting it.]”
“Let them come! I have this relic to shove up their asses.”
“[That's not how it works! If their meet the requirements, it could join them!]”
Outraged, she looked at the relic in her hand. “Why is it white and blue when the others are black and red?”
“[It’s related to the Cursed One choices!]”
“And that means...”
“[His story is complicated. He began as a holy paladin who gained the trust of the celestials themselves. It was then that they gifted him with a series of relics.]”
“Celestials?”
“[What you know as angels.]”
“What went wrong?”
“[Many things, but it was one in particular that triggered it all! ... In his relentless fight against the demons, he earned their absolute hatred, and in retaliation, they captured and tortured his beloved Nimireth.]”
“Like the dungeon?”
“[Correct! No celestial helped him rescue her despite his pleas. That darkened his heart and he gradually drifted away from virtue and righteousness. After recovering the dead body of his beloved, the only thing that drove him was hatred and revenge.]”
“Why didn't they help him?”
“[First. Don't expect the angels of this world to be as they are described in yours. Demons and angels are beings of great power, concerned only with preserving it.]”
“Got it!”
“[Second. They probably sensed that Nimireth was already dead, and he refused to accept it. I don't know for sure. I only know that for various reasons, the relics gradually corrupted. There were a few that evaded that fate and so only someone of great virtue can merge them into his being without consequences. Although there may be other special methods. I am not sure.]”
“So mine are all corrupt?”
“[Yes! All by the Cursed One. However, he did not originate it. It was the demons that ended up corrupting his whole being, and consequently, most of the relics. I don't know how.]”
“You're not hiding anything from me, are you? I remember you saying; 'Interesting choice old friend'! ... I bet you met him!”
“[Do yourself a favor! Don't gamble!]”
Jean picked up the wrapped relic and hid it inside a skull completely black with rot.
“[Wait! Why are you hiding it there now when...? ... Oh! I see!]”
An intense light approaching broke the eternal darkness of the tunnel. Several people were approaching from the lake, although only one in particular was really worried about her. “JEAN! Are you okay?!”
Jean turned only to be blinded. With Cursed Perception, the light of their torches was amplified to the point where she felt like she was looking directly at the sun. They were not like her. Without that light, they couldn't even see their feet, let alone distinguish her.
Jean raised her hand to block the torch from her view. “Yeah! Don't worry!... I'm fine!”
»Human Aspirant«
Level: 22
Name: Erish
Marks: [Sacrificed]
Details: This young woman sees you as if you were the light of her life. You have nothing to fear from her.
Highest Attribute (Dexterity): 51
Erish quickened her pace when she saw all the blood. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she managed not to cry. “It's impossible that you're okay with all those wounds...!”
“Pain is only temporary. I heal very fast!” Her wounds closed in a matter of seconds. “See! What about you? You're still bleeding a little...”
Jean extended her hand towards her, but her companions tensed up and pointed their weapons at her. “Hey! Slow down, Cursed One!”
A tall young man stepped through the crowd as he tapped everyone on the shoulder. “Calm down! Can't you see they're friends! She won't do anything to her!” He reached behind his back. There lay his bow and his greatsword, held in place by a leather harness that had seen better days. “Right?”
Jean nodded without taking his eyes off his turquoise eyes for a moment. Jean was not going to be intimidated by his height or his muscular body that perfectly matched a very attractive face barely covered by his straight, long brown hair.
»Human Aspirant«
Level: 43
Name: Zad
Marks: [Sacrificed]
Details: This young man is the third in command among his people. He won’t attack you without provocation.
Highest Attribute (Strength): 65
“But she's cursed. What if she infects her and it spreads to us!”
Zad laughed. “Relax! She's not radioactive!”
Erish brought Jean's hand close to her face, only for seconds later to embrace her without warning. “I thought I was going to lose you again!”
Jean was overwhelmed, but it quickly faded. Erish had many barely healed wounds and was wobbling slightly. Blood loss could become a problem. “I'm sorry, but... I've lost my memory, Erish! I don't remember who you are. I don't even know what the world is like outside of here.”
Erihs looked up in bewilderment. Despite the blood and wounds, everything about her was adorable. From the harmony between her brown hair with orange highlights and blue eyes, to her cute little dimples.
The wounds disappeared with every second she stayed by Jean's side, but before the healing achieved its final purpose. Zad, the tall and strong young man, approached Erish. “We have to get back as soon as possible, Erihs! We already have enough problems without worrying about the demons that haunt her.”
Erihs shocked her head. “Not a chance! I won't separate from her!”
“She's half-demon now!” blurted out a man in the distance. “She's not one of ours!”
Her pleading eyes pointed at her like a spotlight in an interrogation, but with the cuteness of an adorable puppy. “NO! She will help us! Right, Jean?”
“Don't be naive! Do you really think we're going to let her fight side by side with us?”
“Right! We don't want any more trouble!” muttered someone else as Zad watched intently. Zad's face showed distrust towards her, but not hatred like the others.
Jean interrupted them curtly as she turned toward the darkness of the depths. “I will kill any demon that endangers the lives of my companions!” She glanced sideways at those present. “You decide if you want to be a part of them!”
Everyone was silent as she walked away. Erihs chased after her, but Jean stopped her as gently as she could. “Stay with them for now! I need corruption to resurrect Dih! I need a lot, and it's dangerous for anyone but me. I promise I'll come back to the lake later.”
“WHAT! Resurrect Dih!? Are you serious? How?” The stupefaction was general.
“It's complicated. Please, go with them! I don't think I can protect you where I'm going!”
Much to her regret, Erihs was a good girl and let her go. Soon, they were too far behind for Jean to hear their grumbling.
««◊◊◊« »◊◊◊»»
Jean sneaked up to where she had encountered the rat abomination, alert to the slightest disturbance in her surroundings. It was nowhere to be seen and sneaking through the narrowing to look for it seemed foolhardy. The ambush was assured.
It was time to lure it in. She picked up some of the bones lying around and threw them through the crevice. It wasn't long before she heard the brisk footsteps of something much larger than a rat. Several osquip appeared; they were barely level 10.
As soon as they noticed Jean's presence, they ran in terror. Either they could see her level, or she was emanating some kind of fearsome aura. “That's it! Go get daddy! I have a matter to settle with him!”
The four-armed abomination did not take long to appear and did not seem in a good mood. As soon as it saw her, it let out another psychic scream. This time, however, Jean was already prepared. With her arms crossed over her face, she summoned Concentration increasing 10 points in Willpower and activated the barrier to reduce the intensity of the shock wave.
The abomination continued to scream as its fellows lunged for Jean. However, when they saw that she did not fall, they froze. The abomination became serious and increased the volume of the scream. Jean began to bleed from her ears and nose, but the healing could handle that and more.
Enraged to see Jean resisting, the abomination screamed at the top of its lungs. It wasn't realizing that her corruption was entering its body to the point that even it began to feel affected by its own screams. The abomination tried to retreat when it began to bleed from the mouth, but Jean imprisoned its body in chains previously anchored to her waist.
She grabbed the chains and began to pull them. The abomination put up some resistance with a couple more screams, but it came out the worse affected. Its bones began to crunch as it was pressed against the narrowing.
She kept pulling until its whole body broke and completely slipped through the narrowing. The abomination screamed one last time, but it could no longer do anything. It was so weak that it barely made Jean bleed even though she was no longer protecting herself.
Its fellow creatures tried to save it, but a few simple kicks and punches were enough. There was no need to divert her mana to anything other than Enchain.
After finishing off the entire family, it was the abomination's turn. Jean tried to make it quick. After all, it was just a big stinking rat that wanted to feed its own. However, she cut off a foot first to corrupt the rest of the osquips and rats. That allowed her to fill the Cursed Graveyard level halfway.
The rest of the abomination ended up in ashes. Two birds with one stone. She completed the mission of gathering an abomination to create a body for Dih and used the rest to learn its skills.
[You have defeated Rat Abomination. Level 41.]
[Experience bonus awarded for killing creatures corrupted by evil.]
[You have acquired +1 Strength and +1 Perception.]
[You have learned Psychic Scream — Level 1.
Elemental and physical damage were not enough for you? Psychic scream capable of knocking several individuals.]
[You have learned Frenzy — Level 1.
You increase your combat power by 20%. It will not manifest as an independent skill, it will be combined with Concentration.]
[You have learned Channeling— Level 1.
You can enhance the damage of a skill by adding a bonus of 10% of your Willpower. It will not manifest as an independent skill, it will be combined with Concentración]
[You have learned Cursed Tenacity — Level 1. Unique Skill. Combines the effects of:
◦ Concentration
◦ Frenzy
◦ Channeling
Temporarily increase 15 points in an attribute of your choice. If it is not Wilpower, you will receive a bonus of 10% of your Willpower value.]
[Swift Strike has increased to level 4.]
[Enchain has increased to level 6.]
[Cursed Search, Cursed Perception and Cursed Punish have increased to level 4. Rank 2.]
[Cursed Binding has increased to level 5. Rank 2.]
“5 more to Willpower!”
“[Focusing on a single attribute is unwise.]”
Jean started her way back to the lake. She had hoped to have plenty of corruption to create a body for Dih. However, the whispers brought her bad news. She needed nearly everything she had. That put her in a bind.
“[I knew this was going to happen. The question is simple. Do you want to spend it on bringing back Dih or use it to improve your body so you don't get crushed like a bug?]”
“Always so funny!”
“[For me the decision is easy! What will you do?]”