??? POV

I opened my eyes to a tantalizing smell drifting through the air. Just in time, the neighbors finished cooking their delectable fish cuisine. They're a noisy bunch, but I must admit, they're skilled in preparing my favorite dish. Hehe, they should consider themselves lucky to have the privilege of serving lunch to the wonderful me.

My mouth watered at the thought of bringing some home to share with… Wait, big sis? Where did that come from? I don’t have any siblings. I've always been a lone black cat, the coolest and most desirable bachelorette in the entire neighborhood district. The number of suitors vying for my attention is as numerous as the stars in the sky. Ah, the trials of being a district leader.

But, back to the matter at hand. The juicy cooked fish lay perfectly arranged on the plate. The trees and tall grass around the garden provided ample cover for me to move silently. I waited patiently. Only an amateur would pounce at the first opportunity without considering the hidden dangers lurking around every corner.

See that guy behind the door, peering over his shoulder? Heh, he thinks he can escape my keen sight. He'll need a few more years of practice before he can catch a glimpse of my tail.

When the guy went to call the others for lunch, that's when I made my move. With lightning speed, I homed in on my target, leaped onto the table, snatched a fish, and dashed off into the distance. I could feel the delectable fish sauce dripping onto my tongue, but I must maintain my composure!

The mission is only truly accomplished once I find a safe place to enjoy my spoils.

I retreat to my known territory, where other cats know better than to challenge me and savor my gains slowly and sparingly. Only fools stuff their faces like uncivilized plebeian cats. A refined dish demands a refined palate and polished table manners.

Ah, well done, human number 4. I respect and acknowledge your contribution today as well. Just don't let it be said that I didn't do anything for you.

With my belly full, it's time to bask in the sun and flirt with the local beauties. I was about to head to a rooftop when I heard a soft melody in the distance.

"--- ----- ---."

My ears perked up. I recognized that humming lullaby. It seems human number 1 is sitting on her veranda today. Change of plans. I must make a detour to that high place. She gives the best belly scratches.

It didn’t take long for me to reach her.

I perched on a tree branch, observing her for a while. Even though she sings so beautifully, her smile seems sad and forced today too. Sigh, it can’t be helped. Let the great me cheer you up, big sis.

....?

Strange….. whatever.

She noticed my approach, and her smile brightened. I'm sure she's awed by my pristine and lustrous fur coat, which I maintain 24/7. So, don’t be sad anymore. Keep your eyes on me, not down on the ground.

I settled beside her and began to roll around, indicating that it was time for some belly scratching. Oi, big sis, stop yammering and start scratching. I tapped the floor repeatedly with my paw.

She smiled genuinely and approached me slowly. She gets it; that's why she's my number one big sis.

Oooo yes, slowly, slowly, don’t go any lower than that, otherwise the lightning will strike. Very good. I approve.

Hmm… how pleasant. Today is peaceful too. I was about to doze off when her expression suddenly brightened, and the belly scratches stopped. Oi, big sis! What's the big idea? Don’t make me demote you to my second favorite!

She hurriedly ran off somewhere, leaving me behind. Oh well, back to my original plan, I suppose. The sun is still warm, so a nap is in order.

A moment later, I cracked my eyes open as she came back with a peculiar rope-looking thing in her hand. What's this?

Big sis let me smell it, and I don’t detect anything harmful.

Wait… I recognize this.

Is it a collar?

How dare you! I’m the black lightning thunder supreme noble cat with hundreds of thousands of achievements under my fur who needs no human…..

Uh, she’s about to cry. I calmed myself down and stopped hissing at her.

Hmm… wearing the collar means I'm becoming her pet. Even though she's my number one, I don’t know if I can stoop so low as to call myself the greatest district star with this goofy thing wrapped around my neck.

But I don’t want to make my belly scratcher sad… what to do, what to do.

Then, the other memory grew clearer and overlapped with mine. The meaning of her gesture.

To become a part of a family.

I looked up to the sky and cleared my mind for a moment.

Yes, my life has been that of a complete loner. I used to curse my predicament for as long as I could remember. Food was hard to come by, and everybody shunned me for being different. I convinced myself I didn’t need any human or any cat’s pity.

So, I rose to the top through sheer grit and willpower alone. In the end, I earned the respect I always desired. None of those plebeian cats dared to look me in the eyes anymore, and they all found me exotic and desirable for standing at the apex.

But somehow, the loneliness persists.

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

A family, huh?

I want to experience it one last time with big sis.

I lowered my head and nestled it into the hand holding the collar. Geez, stop crying, big sis. You better be grateful and serve me well. I won’t forgive you if the food isn’t at least better than human number 2.

So, it begins, the new chapter of my life as a household cat. No, I’m not a pet. It’s the other way around.

Days passed by easier as a household cat when you didn’t have to fight for every scrap of food. Eat, nap, play, go out, flirt, come back, eat, sleep. Granted, my time for flirting with beauties is shortened due to having to come back home before curfew, lest my sister becomes worried.

I almost grew fat, but this slothful way of life won’t do. So, I occasionally ran around leaping from roof to roof training my body. I don’t know why but recently I feel the need to move around and challenge myself to go faster. It helps that my dashing figure tends to wow a lot of beauties around.

Aaah, life as a bachelorette cat sure is tough.

If there's one thing that gets my claws out, it's those pesky humans always pestering big Sis. They never seem to be up to any good, and they have a knack for ruining my precious belly-scratching time.

Hmph, those humans should consider themselves lucky that I even tolerate their presence. If it weren't for big Sis stepping in every time I growled at them, they'd get a taste of my righteous fury.

And so, life carried on in its usual routine until one fateful day when a pungent scent of smoke stirred me from my slumber. Peering out, I spotted a distant inferno raging against the night sky. I couldn't help but wonder what calamity had befallen, perhaps someone had accidentally set their home ablaze while attempting to cook fish? Shrugging off the curiosity for the moment, I settled back down, awaiting big sis's return later that night.

When big sis arrived, she looked so pale. Her smile seemed more strained than ever. It’s those humans again, isn’t it!?

Why, I oughta-

She gently wrapped her arms around me and settled me down on her lap. Huh? Have her clothes always looked this red? Despite my confusion, she began to speak. I can’t understand you big sis but don’t worry, I have memorized the faces and scent of those humans. I will find out where they live and excrete all over their face when they sleep tonight.

“---- -----, Thank you.”

Hm? What’s that?

I could understand some of her words now. Why are your drools red? Are you alright?

“Every day, I looked forward to live a little bit longer thanks to you. But my time is up, please be free now.”

With that, she took off my collar and fell on her side as she began to slumber. Her chest was not moving, and the red liquid continued to pool around her. Why was that?

I inched my head closer to the red liquid and gave it a sniff. It smelled familiar. I should know this scent from my past struggles and injuries during my warring days with other plebian cats. I should lick it to make her feel better right?

I licked the blood off her hand and was instantly flooded with memories. Memories of screams, anguish, and pain rushed back to me, overwhelming my senses. It struck me out of nowhere as if a part of me that had been repressed suddenly resurfaced in an instant.

So, that's what had happened.

I realized the meaning of death—the loss of my loved ones. As I glanced at my now-deceased sister, a vow emerged within me. My form swelled with growing wrath, overtaking my body, mind, and soul. With solemn determination, I vowed with a pledge of curse.

I curse them.

I curse their children.

I curse their grandchildren.

I will curse them for generations to come even after death had claimed me.

None shall escape.

“I Mikoto Meling will make them pay and suffer!”

-----

“Wake up, sleeping beauty.”

I opened my eyes abruptly, startled by the voice that greeted me.

I blinked, trying to make sense of my surroundings. I realized I was inside a capsule. The pain that had plagued me was gone, replaced by a sense of relief and newfound energy pulsing through my veins.

Yet, despite the vitality surging within me, my body felt strangely weak and malnourished.

“Haha, look at you. Such a wonderful and exquisite transformation. The first ever Arcanum vessel has awoken in all of her naked glory.”

I could hear his voice clearly through the confines of the capsule. My senses heightened as I surveyed my surroundings. When had they replaced the binding belt with metallic restraints?

Then, my gaze fell upon the glass mirror positioned opposite me. It reflected an image that took me by surprise. That's... me, but somehow taller.

“Finally, got your head screwed in straight, eh? You've been sleeping for years now. Grew up to be quite the looker too.”

No... what are you saying? It's only been a few minutes since the light took me away from the pain. Where is my sister? I need to see her.

Panic gripped me as I struggled to sit up, the metal restraints around me groaning in protest against my efforts. I had to see her. She must be nearby.

But then, the memories flooded back with overwhelming force, threatening to overwhelm me.

My days as a cat.

My vow.

My rampage.

My battle with a skilled human.

My eventual demise by his hand.

My residue and remnant as a cursed spirit.

I am…..Who am I?

"Good. It works. Erase the rest. Family, friends, or any known associate. I want a clean slate."

"Yes, sir."

"Huhu, I can finally show those backstabbing non-believers that I am right all along. Oh, and also, delve into the root and erase the relevant concept too. Can’t have her make a new one in the middle of a mission. But the Master concept, bring it to top priority."

"B-but sir, is it wise? Tampering with the ego will shift the balance. What if the Reverse Side overtakes her?"

"It’s just a concept or two, doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things. All she needs to do is listen to my words and my words only. Isn’t that right, my cute little -----"

No.

NOO.

"Please, let me out. I don't want to forget them," I pleaded desperately, but the blinding blue light only hummed in response. I struggled against my restraints, but my body felt weak as if paralyzed.

My head throbbed with pain as memories flooded in, memories that didn't belong to me. They shouldn't be there, but they overwhelmed me, filling my mind with scenes I couldn't recall experiencing.

I felt my consciousness slipping away, precious memories slipping from my grasp one by one. Even the concept of having them began to fade. Instead, a new idea took hold in my mind.

A Master.

It was what I had always sought in my loneliness—the collar, a symbol of belonging. I accepted it willingly, becoming a pet, relinquishing all autonomy to my master. Her smile of happiness as she cradled me after putting on the collar was all I needed.

Yes, everything is as it should be. I avenged my master because it was my duty. I cursed them and their future generations to ensure my master's happiness in heaven.

Everything is for the sake of my master, the man standing before me now. In this deep, consuming darkness, there exists a one-way track between us. Every moment I hesitate to accept him is a moment wasted, inching closer to being consumed by the darkness.

It's so easy. All I have to do is walk forward and surrender myself to him. But with each hesitation, the darkness encroaches further. I know that if it consumes me, only the beast inside will remain, unleashed and untamed.

I want to live. I don’t want to become a monster.

Thus, I took one step after another toward him. The moment he snapped the collar on me, the imprint would be complete. The monster would fade away, and I would have a master. It should have been a happy occasion, shouldn't it? A new chapter in my life filled with joy and excitement for the days to come.

So why are these tears flowing down? Isn’t this what I have always wanted? A family Master.

So please, somebody, anybody.

Save me…..

SLASH!

A moment before he could snap the collar onto my neck, his head disappeared, replaced by a gush of blood from his neck stump as he collapsed to the ground. I stood there, stunned and motionless, trying to process what had just happened.

“Tch, instant death is too good for you. Hey, are you okay?”

A voice broke through the shock, and a guy gently grabbed my shoulder, his tone filled with warmth and concern for my well-being. But I couldn't tear my gaze away from the bloodied collar lying on the ground.

“We don’t have much time. Here, wear this. I'll get you out of here once I finish cracking everything down. It won’t take long.”

The master at the end of the track had vanished, leaving me with a sense of loss as the encroaching darkness threatened to consume me.

Where do I go now?