CHAPTER 1: A FATEFUL DISCOVERY
Kazuki Amano crouched in the shadow of a ruined stone wall, his breath barely audible as he peered into the dense forest before him. The silence was unsettling—no birds, no rustling leaves, just a creeping stillness. His stomach growled, but he ignored it. He had to. One careless move, and something much worse than hunger could catch up with him.
Three months had passed since he first woke up in this world, a place where the strong preyed on the weak, and he was weak. His frail body was already a disadvantage, and the harsh reality of survival had carved that fact into his bones. He had no cheat skills, no powerful allies, just his wits and the sheer force of will to keep breathing.
But today, something felt different. The forest wasn’t just quiet; it was dead.
Ahead, Kazuki saw the entrance to a forgotten ruin. The stones were old and cracked, covered in moss and vines that made it blend into the forest. He could have easily missed it had he not tripped over a broken stone marker a few moments earlier. A chill ran down his spine as he stared into the shadowy mouth of the ruin, but his curiosity was stronger than his fear.
There might be something useful inside. A weapon. Supplies. Anything.
Carefully, he made his way inside. His footsteps echoed softly against the stone as he ventured deeper, his senses on high alert. Every instinct screamed at him to turn back, but desperation was a powerful motivator. He had gone too long without a proper meal, and his strength was fading faster than he wanted to admit.
The air grew cold as he descended further, the light from the entrance fading until only a dim glow remained. His heart pounded in his chest, but his mind focused on the thought that there might be something—anything—that could help him survive. Then, in the center of a small chamber, Kazuki saw it: a pedestal, and atop it, a small, blackened stone that pulsed faintly with a sickly light.
“What is this?” he whispered, stepping closer.
The stone seemed to hum in response to his presence, and despite the pit of dread in his stomach, Kazuki felt drawn to it. His hand reached out, almost against his will, as if some unseen force was guiding him.
The moment his fingers brushed the stone, a shock ran through his body. He gasped, stumbling backward, but it was too late. The stone cracked open, releasing a dark, swirling mist that engulfed him in seconds. Kazuki screamed as the cold tendrils of the mist snaked into his body, wrapping around his limbs, tightening around his chest. His vision blurred, his muscles spasming as an unbearable weight settled on his entire being.
He fell to the ground, writhing in agony, unable to breathe as the darkness seeped deeper inside him. His mind screamed in protest, but there was no fighting it. His body felt like it was being crushed, each breath a battle he was losing.
Am I dying...?
The thought was all he could manage as the pain overwhelmed him. Then, just as suddenly as it had started, the pain stopped. The mist receded, leaving only a faint trace of its presence in the air. Kazuki lay on the cold stone floor, gasping for breath, his entire body trembling.
For a moment, he thought it was over—that whatever curse the stone had carried had passed. But as he tried to stand, a sharp, agonizing sensation shot through his limbs. He collapsed again, panting and groaning in pain. His body felt... different. Weaker. Every movement seemed to take twice the effort, and even the act of breathing felt labored.
What... happened to me?
Kazuki forced himself to sit up, his hands trembling as he inspected himself. There were no visible wounds, no marks on his skin, but he felt as if something had fundamentally changed inside him.
And then, the debuffs hit.
A flood of information overwhelmed his senses, like a silent whisper in his mind. He saw it clearly: a status window hovering in his mind’s eye, detailing a series of curses now bound to him.
[Curse of Weakness]: Physical strength reduced by 30%. [Curse of Exhaustion]: Energy drains rapidly with every movement. [Curse of Fragility]: Healing slowed by 50%. [Curse of the Marked]: Attracts the attention of stronger beings.
Kazuki’s heart sank as he read the effects. Each one felt like a death sentence. He had already been weak—barely able to survive as it was—and now, with these curses, survival would become almost impossible. His body trembled not just from the cold but from the realization of what had just happened.
“I... I can’t survive like this...” he muttered, his voice cracking.
But there was no undoing it. The curse was sealed. He had no magic, no healer, no divine intervention coming to save him. In this world, the weak were consumed, and now he was weaker than ever before. His chances of survival, already slim, had just dropped to nearly zero.
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CHAPTER 2: CURSED AND HUNTED
Kazuki didn’t have time to dwell on the curses. The moment he stepped out of the ruin, he felt it—a shift in the air. A primal fear gripped him, and before he could process what was happening, he heard it: the distant sound of heavy footsteps. Something big was coming.
His heart raced. The Curse of the Marked had already taken effect. Something powerful had sensed his presence, drawn to the curse like a predator to blood.
Kazuki’s first instinct was to run, but the Curse of Exhaustion hit him like a wall. His legs felt heavy, each step a monumental effort. He stumbled through the forest, gasping for breath as the sound of his pursuer grew closer. His vision blurred from the sheer strain of moving, and his body screamed at him to stop, but he couldn’t. If he stopped, he would die.
Through sheer willpower, Kazuki pushed forward, using every ounce of strength he had left to evade whatever was hunting him. The trees whipped past him, branches scratching at his skin, but the footsteps didn’t stop. They were getting closer. He couldn’t outrun it.
Kazuki’s mind raced. If he couldn’t outrun it, he had to outsmart it. He quickly scanned his surroundings, searching for something—anything—that could give him an advantage. A fallen tree. A rocky outcrop. A narrow ravine. His eyes locked on a small cliff ahead, barely wide enough for a human to slip through.
Without thinking, he dove toward the gap, squeezing his body into the tight space just as the ground shook from the impact of his pursuer’s arrival. A massive, hulking beast, easily twice the size of a bear, stomped into view. Its black fur was matted with dirt and blood, and its glowing red eyes scanned the area, searching for its prey.
Kazuki pressed himself deeper into the crevice, barely breathing as the beast sniffed the air, circling the area. His heart pounded so loudly he feared the creature would hear it. Every muscle in his body screamed in pain from the strain, the Curse of Weakness and Exhaustion making it nearly impossible to stay still. But he had to. One wrong move, and he was dead.
The beast prowled for what felt like hours, but eventually, it seemed to lose interest. With a final snarl, it turned and lumbered back into the forest, leaving Kazuki trembling in the darkness.
He had survived. Barely. But for how long?
Kazuki leaned against the cold rock, his body aching, and tried to calm his racing heart. The curses had weakened him, but he wasn’t dead yet. He still had his mind. And if he was going to survive this, he would need to outthink not only the monsters but also the very curses that were eating away at his body.
In this world, strength was a curse and weakness was a death sentence—but Kazuki would find a way. He had to.
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CHAPTER 3: THE WEIGHT OF WEAKNESS
Kazuki sat at the base of the cliff, breathing shallowly as the weight of his curses pressed down on him. Every movement felt like dragging his limbs through thick mud, and his vision swam from the effort of simply staying upright. His throat was dry, and his body screamed for rest, but he couldn’t stop. The curses wouldn't let him.
The Curse of Exhaustion had drained nearly all his energy from that frantic sprint, and now, even the act of sitting still felt like an unbearable task. His body trembled from the strain.
How long can I keep going like this?
Kazuki looked down at his shaking hands. The simple act of raising them felt like lifting stones, and his mind was already fogging over with fatigue. His body hadn’t fully adjusted to the curses yet, but he knew he didn’t have the luxury of time. Not in a world where predators could sniff out weakness from miles away. He had to adapt, and quickly, or he wouldn’t last another day.
The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows through the forest. Kazuki knew nightfall brought more than just cold and darkness—it brought the real monsters. The ones that hunted in silence, whose eyes glowed like embers in the night. The Curse of the Marked was going to make every one of those creatures aware of his presence.
He needed shelter. Somewhere he could hide. Somewhere to think.
Kazuki pushed himself to his feet, wincing as his legs threatened to give out beneath him. His head swam, the Curse of Weakness making it feel like his muscles were ready to collapse at any moment. He gritted his teeth and forced himself to take slow, deliberate steps toward the tree line.
I need a plan. A place to rest. Somewhere... safe.
As if mocking him, a low growl echoed in the distance. The sound was far enough away that he wasn’t immediately in danger, but it was a chilling reminder: the world wouldn’t wait for him to figure things out. He was being hunted, always.
Kazuki staggered through the forest, each step harder than the last. He knew he wouldn’t be able to last much longer without rest or food. The Curse of Fragility meant that any minor injury or sickness would take days, maybe even weeks, to heal. He had to be careful.
After what felt like hours of stumbling through the underbrush, he spotted it: an old, hollowed-out tree, large enough for him to crawl inside. It wasn’t perfect, but it would be enough to hide him for the night. Kazuki’s legs gave out as he collapsed inside the hollow, his body screaming for respite. The air was damp and cold, and the small space smelled of decay, but he had no other options.
With a final glance around to ensure he wasn’t being followed, Kazuki huddled inside the hollow, pulling his knees to his chest. His body ached in protest, but the cool bark against his back was a small relief from the burning exhaustion coursing through him.
His mind, though, raced. He replayed the events in the ruin over and over, trying to make sense of what had happened. The stone. The curses. The sudden attack by the beast. It was as if the world itself had decided to break him, targeting him for something far beyond his understanding.
Why me? The thought crept in, unbidden. Why curse someone who’s already weak?
But deep down, Kazuki knew there was no point in asking why. In this world, the weak didn’t get to ask questions. They simply had to survive.
Survival, he reminded himself, that’s all that matters now.
His eyelids grew heavy, despite the gnawing fear in his gut. Exhaustion pulled him into an uneasy sleep, filled with dark dreams of being hunted, of shadows that whispered his name. In the darkness, he saw flashes of those glowing eyes, heard the growls that promised death.
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CHAPTER 4: CURSED DREAMS
Kazuki jolted awake, his body slick with sweat and his heart hammering in his chest. The nightmares were becoming more frequent—more vivid. He rubbed his eyes, trying to shake off the lingering sense of dread. The world outside the hollow tree was still dark, with only the faintest glow of moonlight seeping through the leaves.
His body felt stiff, every muscle sore and protesting even the smallest movement. The Curse of Exhaustion had barely let him recover during the night, and he knew he couldn’t afford to stay here much longer.
He crawled out of the tree, wincing as his joints creaked in protest. The forest was eerily quiet, the only sound being the occasional rustle of leaves in the breeze. The air was cool, and Kazuki felt the cold bite at his skin, a sharp reminder of how fragile his body had become.
Food, he thought, his stomach growling. I need food.
Kazuki looked around, scanning the forest floor for anything edible. His knowledge of survival skills was limited—mostly gleaned from books and shows he’d seen back in his old world—but he knew enough to avoid brightly colored berries and mushrooms. Most of them would probably be poisonous.
After several minutes of searching, he spotted something: a small cluster of edible-looking roots poking out of the ground. They were thin and twisted, barely a meal, but it was better than nothing.
Kazuki crouched down, carefully pulling the roots from the soil. As he worked, he couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. His senses, though dulled by exhaustion, picked up on the faintest rustle in the bushes nearby. His heart skipped a beat.
He froze, his fingers still gripping the roots. Slowly, he turned his head toward the sound, and there it was: a pair of glowing eyes watching him from the shadows. The creature was crouched low, its body obscured by the foliage, but Kazuki could make out its shape—large, muscular, and predatory.
Another one? Already?
Panic surged through him. He was in no condition to run, much less fight. The Curse of the Marked had drawn the beast to him, just like it had before. And this time, he had no narrow crevice to hide in, no trap to spring. It was just him, his curses, and the creature in the dark.
Kazuki's mind raced, trying to think of something—anything—that could save him. The roots in his hands felt insignificant, useless against the predator stalking him. His body was too weak to run, and even if he did, the Curse of Exhaustion would drain what little energy he had left.
He had to think. Fast.
Suddenly, an idea sparked in his mind. He couldn’t run or fight, but maybe—just maybe—he could trick the creature. Kazuki took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm. Slowly, he pulled the remaining roots from the ground and held them up, crushing them in his hands.
The smell was pungent, earthy, and bitter—enough to make his nose wrinkle. But more importantly, it was strong. Kazuki smeared the crushed roots on his clothes and skin, hoping that the overpowering scent would mask his own.
With his heart pounding in his chest, Kazuki slowly backed away, keeping his eyes on the creature. The glowing eyes watched him, but the beast didn’t move. It sniffed the air, clearly confused by the sudden, overwhelming scent. For a moment, it hesitated, unsure of whether Kazuki was prey or something else entirely.
Kazuki kept moving, slow and steady, until he was far enough away to turn and break into a run—or rather, a weak, stumbling jog. His legs felt like lead, and every step sent sharp pain through his muscles, but he didn’t stop. He couldn’t.
The forest blurred around him as he pushed himself forward, his breaths coming in ragged gasps. Behind him, the creature let out a frustrated growl, but it didn’t follow. The smell had worked—at least for now.
Kazuki collapsed to the ground, his body heaving with exhaustion. His vision swam, and for a moment, he thought he might pass out. But he was alive. He had survived another encounter, if only by the skin of his teeth.
Lying on the cold ground, Kazuki stared up at the sky, the faint light of dawn beginning to break through the trees. His curses weighed heavily on him, but his mind refused to give up.
I’ll survive. I have to. One way or another.
And so, with trembling hands and a body that felt ready to break, Kazuki prepared to face another day in this cursed world.
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CHAPTER 5: A CLEVER GAMBLE
Kazuki lay on the forest floor, his breath coming in ragged gasps. His body ached from head to toe, and the cursed exhaustion made every part of him feel sluggish, like he was dragging himself through quicksand. But despite the pain, his mind was still sharp. He had to be smarter, faster, and more resourceful than the creatures hunting him. His body was weak, but he had one advantage—his brain.
As the first light of dawn began to cut through the trees, Kazuki forced himself to sit up. He had been relying on sheer instinct to survive up until now, and it was starting to take its toll. He couldn’t keep running from every beast he encountered, not with the Curse of the Marked constantly drawing predators to him. He needed a strategy—a way to use the curses to his advantage.
Running won’t work forever, he thought, rubbing his temples. I need to set a trap. Something that can help me fight without relying on brute strength.
He looked around the forest, his eyes scanning the terrain. The trees were thick and close together, their roots twisting above the ground like a labyrinth. The landscape was uneven, with dips, valleys, and fallen logs scattered around. It wasn’t much, but it could be enough. A plan started to form in his mind.
Kazuki stood, wincing at the pain in his muscles, and began gathering what he needed: vines from nearby trees, sharp rocks, and branches sturdy enough to act as stakes. He worked slowly, his cursed body resisting every movement, but he pushed through the fatigue. This was his best shot at survival.
He found a narrow path between two large trees, a natural bottleneck where a larger creature would have to squeeze through. Perfect. If he could lure one of the predators here, he’d have a chance to turn the tables.
The trap took hours to build, and Kazuki’s cursed body made every moment feel like torture. But he persevered. He strung vines between the trees, weaving them into a near-invisible tripwire. Then, using sharp stones and broken branches, he fashioned crude spikes and set them into the ground just past the wire, hidden beneath a layer of leaves. If a creature stepped on the wire, it would trigger a collapse, sending it stumbling onto the spikes.
Kazuki stepped back, inspecting his work. It was rudimentary, nothing like the traps he’d seen in survival books or anime, but it was the best he could manage with his limited strength and resources.
It’ll have to do, he thought, wiping the sweat from his brow.
Now came the hard part: luring a predator into the trap.
He couldn’t rely on the Curse of the Marked to bring one directly to him; it was unpredictable and didn’t work on command. Instead, Kazuki would have to be the bait. The thought of standing out in the open, waiting for one of the beasts to come for him, made his stomach twist with fear. But there was no other choice.
Kazuki positioned himself just beyond the tripwire, crouching low behind a bush. He picked up a small stone and threw it against a nearby tree, the sharp crack echoing through the forest. For a few moments, nothing happened. Then, in the distance, he heard a low growl.
Here we go, Kazuki thought, his heart racing.
The growl grew louder, followed by the sound of heavy footsteps crashing through the underbrush. Kazuki’s muscles tensed, and despite the curses weighing him down, adrenaline surged through his veins. He forced himself to stay calm, his eyes locked on the narrow path where the trap was set.
Out of the shadows, the creature emerged. It was another of the hulking beasts, this one larger than the last, with thick, matted fur and glowing yellow eyes. Its snout twitched as it sniffed the air, and its gaze locked onto Kazuki almost instantly.
Kazuki’s heart pounded in his chest. The beast let out a deafening roar, charging toward him with terrifying speed.
He waited, timing it perfectly. Just as the beast’s massive paw crossed over the tripwire, Kazuki sprang into action. He darted to the side, throwing his weight against a nearby branch he had wedged against the tripwire. The tension released with a snap, and the vine whip lashed out, catching the beast’s leg.
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The creature stumbled, its forward momentum throwing it off balance as it crashed onto the ground—right onto the sharp spikes Kazuki had laid out.
A sickening thud echoed through the forest, followed by a guttural howl of pain. The beast thrashed, trying to rise, but the spikes had done their job, impaling it in multiple places. Blood oozed from its wounds, staining the ground beneath it.
Kazuki stood up, his legs shaking. He had done it. The beast was incapacitated, unable to continue its attack. For a moment, Kazuki allowed himself a small smile—he had outsmarted it. His trap had worked.
But he wasn’t out of danger yet.
The creature, though wounded, wasn’t dead. It snarled and struggled, its eyes glowing with fury as it tried to pull itself free. Kazuki’s body was too weak to finish it off in direct combat, and his only weapon—a rusty, chipped sword—seemed useless for a fight against such a massive beast.
He unsheathed the sword, the weight of it feeling heavier in his cursed hands. The blade was dull and brittle, the kind of weapon that would break if used improperly. He couldn’t strike down the beast with brute force, not with this.
Think, think... Kazuki’s mind raced. He couldn’t let the creature recover or call for others. He needed to deal a killing blow while it was trapped.
Then, an idea hit him.
Kazuki scanned the nearby trees and spotted a large, half-rotted log perched precariously on a slope. If he could dislodge it, the log might roll down and crush the beast.
Without hesitating, Kazuki scrambled up the slope, ignoring the pain shooting through his legs and the burning in his lungs. He reached the log and shoved against it with all his might. His muscles screamed in protest, and the Curse of Weakness made the effort feel impossible.
But desperation fueled him. With one final push, the log shifted.
It teetered for a moment, then tipped over the edge, crashing down the slope with a thunderous rumble.
Kazuki watched, breathless, as the log barreled down toward the wounded beast. The creature let out one last, defiant roar before the log smashed into it, crushing its body beneath the weight. The forest fell silent.
Kazuki collapsed to the ground, panting and trembling. His entire body felt like it was on fire, every muscle strained to its limit. But he had done it. He had killed the beast.
I did it... I survived.
For a long moment, Kazuki just lay there, staring up at the sky. His body was weak, cursed, and fragile, but his mind was his greatest weapon. He wasn’t going to survive by being stronger than his enemies. He was going to survive by being smarter.
Kazuki pushed himself to his feet, his legs barely holding him up. The beast’s body lay crushed beneath the log, a testament to his victory. He approached cautiously, making sure it was truly dead before scavenging what he could from the remains.
It wasn’t much—some meat, a few usable bones—but it was enough to keep him going for a little while longer. His sword, though chipped and rusted, had helped him survive this far. Maybe he could find a way to restore it—or better yet, find a real weapon in his travels.
Kazuki looked out into the forest, the ever-present feeling of being hunted still hanging over him. The curses were relentless, constantly drawing danger to him, but he wasn’t going to let them break him.
“I’ll survive,” he muttered to himself, his voice barely above a whisper. “No matter what.”
And with that, Kazuki began to prepare for whatever would come next.
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CHAPTER 6: PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE
Kazuki sat beside the crushed body of the beast, catching his breath. His hands still trembled from the effort of setting the trap, dislodging the log, and surviving the encounter. His cursed body screamed for rest, but his mind was already racing ahead.
I can’t afford to stay here too long, he thought, glancing around the forest. The scent of blood was thick in the air, and Kazuki knew it wouldn’t take long for other predators to catch the scent. He had to move—and fast.
Kazuki crouched beside the beast’s corpse and began working quickly. The meat would only last him a few days, and he needed to make sure he could carry it. He cut off what he could with the rusty sword, careful to avoid straining his muscles too much. The weapon wasn’t ideal, but it was better than nothing. He’d have to find a way to repair or replace it soon.
Once he’d gathered the meat and a few sturdy bones, he turned his attention to the creature’s fur. Its thick, matted coat could provide some warmth, and in his current condition, anything that kept him alive longer was worth the effort. Using the jagged edge of his sword, he began stripping the fur, fashioning a crude cloak that he could drape over his shoulders. It wasn’t much, but it would help keep the chill of the night air at bay.
Good enough, he thought, wrapping the makeshift cloak around himself. He stood up, wincing at the sharp pain in his legs. He was still sore from the fight, and the Curse of Exhaustion wasn’t making things easier. He could feel his energy draining faster than it should, his cursed body betraying him with every step.
But he didn’t have time to rest. He needed a plan—something that would give him an edge against the relentless dangers in this world.
The traps worked, he mused. I need to do more of that. I can’t rely on strength or speed, but I can rely on strategy.
Kazuki’s mind raced as he considered his next move. The forest was vast and filled with dangers, but it was also filled with opportunities—natural hazards he could use to his advantage. He just had to think ahead.
I can’t fight directly, but if I set up more traps... create ambush points... His thoughts trailed off as an idea began to form. He would create zones of safety—places where he could control the environment, where he could draw predators and stronger opponents into traps he’d set in advance. He could make the forest work for him.
But there was a problem.
Kazuki couldn’t stay in one place too long, not with the Curse of the Marked drawing creatures to him. No matter how well he hid or how many traps he set, the curse would continue to attract danger. He needed to balance setting traps with moving quickly from one location to the next.
It wasn’t going to be easy, but Kazuki was determined to make it work. He began scanning the forest around him, looking for the next possible site where he could set up an ambush. He couldn’t stay in this area much longer, especially with the scent of blood in the air.
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As Kazuki moved through the forest, his pace slow but steady, he noticed something strange. The trees here were thicker, the branches intertwining overhead to form a natural canopy that blocked out most of the sunlight. The ground was uneven, covered in thick roots and jagged rocks. It wasn’t ideal for traveling, but it had potential for another trap.
If I can lure something big into this area, its size will work against it, Kazuki thought, kneeling to inspect the terrain more closely. The uneven ground would make it difficult for a large predator to move quickly, and if he could trigger a collapse or block off an escape route, it could be enough to bring down something stronger than himself.
He began gathering materials—more vines, stones, and branches—his hands moving automatically even as his body screamed for rest. The process was slow and grueling, every movement taking twice the effort it should because of his curses. But Kazuki had learned to ignore the pain, to push through the exhaustion. His survival depended on it.
Kazuki worked for hours, setting up tripwires and stacking rocks in precarious positions, ready to be knocked loose. He created a small, hidden pathway for himself to escape through, should things go wrong. The entire area became one big death trap, and while it wasn’t perfect, it was his best shot at surviving another encounter with the beasts that roamed the forest.
Now, I just need bait.
Kazuki considered his options. He could try making noise again, but that might draw too much attention. The Curse of the Marked was already doing that for him, and if he wasn’t careful, he could end up with more than he bargained for.
He decided on a different approach. He took some of the meat from the creature he had killed earlier and scattered it around the trap area, making sure the scent would travel far enough to attract attention. Then he climbed into a nearby tree, crouching low among the branches, ready to wait.
Time passed slowly. The forest was eerily quiet, with only the occasional rustle of leaves or distant call of some unseen animal. Kazuki’s muscles ached from staying still for so long, but he forced himself to remain focused. This was a waiting game, and patience would be his greatest weapon.
Just as the sun began to dip below the horizon, Kazuki heard it—a low, guttural growl. His heart skipped a beat as he peered through the branches, his eyes searching the shadows for movement.
There. A large shape moved between the trees, slowly making its way toward the trap. It was another predator, different from the one he had killed earlier. This one was leaner, with long, sinewy limbs and sharp, glinting teeth. Its fur was a mottled gray, blending in almost perfectly with the forest around it.
The beast sniffed the air, clearly drawn by the scent of the meat Kazuki had laid out. It moved cautiously, its glowing eyes scanning the area for any sign of danger. Kazuki held his breath, his grip tightening on the rusty sword.
The creature stepped closer, inching toward the trap.
Come on... just a little closer...
Suddenly, the beast’s paw hit the tripwire, and in an instant, the trap was sprung. The vines snapped, releasing the rocks Kazuki had set in place. They tumbled down, crashing into the ground and knocking loose more debris. The creature let out a startled yelp, its body thrown off balance as it stumbled into the uneven ground.
Kazuki watched from the branches as the predator struggled, its long limbs caught in the vines, its body slipping on the jagged rocks. It was trapped.
But it wasn’t over yet.
The beast thrashed wildly, trying to break free, and Kazuki knew he had to act quickly. He leaped down from the tree, landing awkwardly on the uneven ground. Pain shot through his legs, but he ignored it, focusing on the task at hand.
With the beast immobilized, Kazuki rushed forward, sword in hand. The creature snapped at him, its teeth gnashing inches away from his face, but it was too tangled to reach him. Kazuki raised the sword, aiming for the creature’s exposed throat.
The rusty blade came down with a sickening thud. It wasn’t a clean cut, but it was enough. The beast’s body went still, its glowing eyes dimming as its life drained away.
Kazuki stood there for a moment, panting heavily. His entire body shook from the effort, but he had done it again. Another victory, another day survived.
He sank to his knees, his breath coming in ragged gasps as exhaustion washed over him. The curses had taken their toll, but his mind remained sharp, his strategy sound. He had outwitted the predator, and that was all that mattered.
But he couldn’t stay here. More would come, drawn by the scent of blood. He needed to move, to find a new location and set another trap. His survival depended on always being one step ahead.
“I’ll survive,” Kazuki whispered to himself again, forcing his aching body to stand. “No matter what.”
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CHAPTER 7: THE HIDDEN VALUE OF CURSES
Kazuki staggered through the forest, his body protesting with every step. His muscles burned, his legs felt like lead, and the constant drain from the Curse of Exhaustion was gnawing at him. Every part of him screamed for rest, but he knew he had to keep moving. The beast he’d killed had already drawn too much attention, and staying in one place for too long would only invite more danger.
Still, as he moved deeper into the forest, Kazuki found his mind lingering on the events of the day. He had outsmarted not one, but two predators in quick succession—without brute strength, without magic, and without divine powers. And yet, he had survived. There was something stirring inside him, something he hadn’t quite grasped before. Despite the physical toll the curses were taking, he was still alive.
The curses... they’ve been nothing but a burden, he thought as he trudged through the woods, his eyes scanning for a place to rest. But maybe... maybe they’re not as hopeless as I thought.
He slowed down, his thoughts starting to crystallize. Yes, the curses had weakened him physically, but they had forced him to adapt. They had pushed him to think outside the box, to strategize, and to use the environment in ways he would have never considered otherwise. Would he have been able to survive these encounters if he had relied on strength alone? Probably not.
The Curse of Weakness made his body fragile, but it had taught him how to avoid direct confrontation. The Curse of Exhaustion limited his stamina, but it had forced him to move more efficiently, to plan his actions carefully. And the Curse of the Marked, while dangerous, had its own unexpected benefit: it brought predators to him, which meant he could anticipate when and where danger would strike.
I’ve been thinking about these curses as obstacles, Kazuki realized, his eyes widening as the idea began to take root. But maybe they’re not just that. Maybe they’re... opportunities.
As strange as it sounded, Kazuki couldn’t deny that the curses had shaped the way he had survived. They had pushed him beyond what he thought he could endure, and in doing so, they had sharpened his instincts.
His thoughts drifted back to the moment when he had lured the second beast into the trap. The creature had been fast and deadly, but Kazuki had been faster—not with his body, but with his mind. His ability to assess the terrain, to set traps, and to wait for the perfect moment to strike had been crucial. The curses had forced him to rely on his mind in ways he wouldn’t have needed to if he had the strength or stamina of other survivors.
Maybe that’s the key, he thought, a spark of hope igniting inside him. I’m never going to be stronger than the beasts or the other survivors in this world. But if I can be smarter... if I can keep using these curses to sharpen my mind instead of dragging me down...
For the first time since arriving in this world, Kazuki didn’t feel entirely helpless. He had thought of the curses as a death sentence, but now he was beginning to see their potential.
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Kazuki found a sheltered spot beneath a rocky overhang and decided to rest for the night. The cold air bit at his skin, but the crude fur cloak he had fashioned kept him warm enough to stave off the worst of it. He sat against the stone wall, watching the moonlight filter through the trees, lost in thought.
The Curse of Fragility still terrified him. Every injury he sustained took twice as long to heal, and even minor scrapes could become life-threatening if he wasn’t careful. But that curse had made him cautious—hyper-aware of his surroundings. He had become skilled at avoiding unnecessary risks, calculating every move he made, because he knew the price of failure was higher for him than for others.
If I hadn’t been cursed, Kazuki thought, would I have even survived this long?
The realization hit him hard. In a strange, twisted way, the curses had kept him alive. They had forced him to become something different—something more than the weakling he had been before. His mind had become his greatest weapon, and in this world, that was more valuable than strength alone.
Kazuki tightened his grip on the rusty sword at his side. The blade was in poor condition, but it had been enough to help him survive so far. He would need something better eventually, but for now, it was a reminder of how far he’d come. The sword was a symbol of the fight he had chosen—not with raw power, but with strategy and intelligence.
The world around him was hostile, and the curses had marked him as prey. But Kazuki was no longer running from that fact. He was starting to understand that his weaknesses were part of what made him dangerous in his own way. He wasn’t just surviving despite the curses—he was surviving because of them.
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CHAPTER 8: EMBRACING THE CURSED
Morning came, and Kazuki woke with a newfound clarity. The forest felt different today. He wasn’t sure if it was the light filtering through the leaves or just the shift in his own perspective, but something had changed. The fear that had weighed so heavily on him before was still there, but now it was tempered by something else—determination.
He rose to his feet, shaking off the stiffness in his limbs. His body still felt weak, the familiar drain of the Curse of Exhaustion gnawing at him, but he didn’t let it bother him. He had learned how to manage it. He moved deliberately, conserving energy, pacing himself instead of burning out too quickly.
As he walked through the forest, Kazuki’s mind was already racing with plans. He couldn’t rely on luck or chance to keep him alive. He needed to be proactive. He needed to find more places to set traps, to scout out areas where he could control the battlefield. The curses would continue to draw predators to him, and if he was going to survive long-term, he needed to turn that into an advantage.
I’ll create a web of traps, he thought. Make this forest my territory. Let them come to me. Let them fall into my hands.
Kazuki smiled to himself, the idea taking shape with every step he took. He would become a hunter, but not in the traditional sense. He wouldn’t chase down his enemies. He would let them come to him, drawn by the curse, and he would be ready—every step of the way.
The next few hours were spent gathering materials—vines, sharp stones, and branches—and setting up more traps in strategic locations. Kazuki was meticulous, making sure each trap was perfectly hidden, each tripwire carefully placed. He studied the terrain, choosing spots where the forest itself would work to his advantage—narrow passes, steep drops, and tangled roots that could slow down any creature that came too close.
As he worked, he couldn’t help but marvel at how natural it felt. The curses, once a source of despair, were now guiding him, pushing him to think ahead, to plan for every possibility. He was learning to live with them, to use them as tools rather than seeing them as obstacles.
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By late afternoon, Kazuki had set up several traps and marked the locations in his mind. He knew he couldn’t stay in one place for too long, but with this network of traps, he could move between them, always staying one step ahead of the predators that hunted him.
As the sun began to dip toward the horizon, Kazuki found himself standing on the edge of a cliff, looking out over the vast, hostile wilderness. The world was still dangerous, still filled with creatures stronger and faster than he was. But for the first time, Kazuki didn’t feel completely powerless.
I’m not the strongest, he thought, gripping the hilt of his sword tightly. But I don’t need to be.
The curses that had once felt like shackles were now something else—something that gave him a unique edge in this world. They had stripped away his reliance on physical power and replaced it with something more valuable: the ability to outthink, outmaneuver, and outlast anyone or anything that came after him.
“I’ll survive,” Kazuki whispered to himself, his voice filled with quiet determination. “Not because I’m strong. But because I’m cursed.”
And in that moment, Kazuki realized the truth. The curses weren’t just a burden. They were his greatest weapon.
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CHAPTER 9: THE FINAL TEST
The forest had grown darker, the shadows longer, as night crept in. Kazuki moved cautiously through the underbrush, his senses heightened, every step deliberate. He had spent the last few days refining his traps, learning the terrain, and honing his new strategy. He had fully accepted the reality of his curses now, using them as a guiding force rather than a weight pulling him down. He was no longer running blindly; he was planning, adapting, surviving.
But tonight, something felt different.
Kazuki sensed it before he heard it. A stillness in the air, as if the forest itself was holding its breath. Then came the distant sound of branches snapping, followed by the unmistakable sound of heavy footsteps approaching from the west.
A predator was coming. But this one felt different. Bigger. More dangerous.
Kazuki’s heartbeat quickened. He couldn’t afford to panic. He had traps in place, a plan ready to be executed. This was what he had prepared for.
Focus. Stay calm. Let the curse bring it to you.
He quickly positioned himself near one of the larger traps he had set—an intricate combination of tripwires, a hanging log rigged to fall, and sharpened stakes hidden in the ground. It was his most complex trap yet, designed for a larger predator. He crouched behind a tree, gripping his rusty sword tightly, his breath shallow and controlled.
The footsteps grew louder. Kazuki could feel the weight of each step vibrating through the earth. Whatever was coming, it wasn’t just another beast. This one was a true apex predator.
Out of the darkness, a massive silhouette emerged. Kazuki’s eyes widened as he took in the creature’s hulking form. It was a giant, bear-like beast, easily three times the size of the others he had encountered. Its fur was jet-black, its eyes glowing a menacing red. Sharp tusks protruded from its mouth, and its claws dug deep into the earth with every step.
Kazuki’s heart pounded in his chest. This was it. His greatest test yet.
The beast sniffed the air, drawn by the Curse of the Marked. It was coming straight for him.
Let it come, Kazuki thought, his mind sharp despite the fear clawing at him. Let the trap do the work.
The creature lumbered forward, stepping closer to the tripwire. It sniffed the air again, its glowing eyes narrowing as it sensed something was off. For a moment, Kazuki’s breath caught in his throat. Was it smart enough to avoid the trap?
But just as it hesitated, the scent of the bait—a piece of meat Kazuki had placed strategically—caught its attention. The beast lunged forward, stepping right into the tripwire.
Now!
The trap triggered with a loud snap. The vine snapped loose, releasing the massive log that came crashing down from above. It slammed into the beast’s side with a thunderous impact, knocking it off balance and sending it stumbling into the sharpened stakes hidden beneath the leaves.
The beast let out a deafening roar of pain as the stakes pierced its flesh. It thrashed wildly, trying to shake free, but the stakes held firm, impaling it further with each movement.
Kazuki didn’t waste a second. He darted from his hiding spot, ignoring the burning pain in his legs and the weight of the Curse of Exhaustion dragging him down. He couldn’t let the beast recover.
With a determined cry, Kazuki plunged his rusty sword into the creature’s neck, aiming for the artery. The sword’s dull edge barely pierced the thick hide, but it was enough to cause the beast to thrash even harder.
Blood poured from the wounds, soaking the forest floor. The beast let out one final, ear-splitting roar before it collapsed, its body twitching as life drained from its massive form.
Kazuki stood over the fallen creature, panting heavily, his sword still gripped in his shaking hands. His entire body ached, his limbs felt like they were made of lead, but he had done it. He had killed the beast.
He sank to his knees, exhaustion crashing over him in waves. His vision blurred, but he forced himself to stay conscious. This was a victory, but he knew better than to relax. There would always be more challenges ahead.
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CHAPTER 10: A NEW UNDERSTANDING
The next morning, Kazuki awoke to the sound of birds chirping faintly in the distance. His body was sore, every muscle protesting as he slowly sat up. The events of the previous night came rushing back to him. The massive beast, the trap, the desperate fight—it all felt like a blur.
But he had survived. Again.
Kazuki looked down at his rusty sword, now stained with the blood of the beast. It had held together, just barely. But he knew it wouldn’t last much longer. He needed something stronger, something more reliable if he was going to continue surviving in this world.
But more than that, he needed to understand the true nature of his curses. They were no longer just a hindrance—they were a force that shaped him, guided him. And Kazuki was starting to realize that they weren’t just a burden to be overcome. They were part of him now, and he had to embrace them fully if he wanted to thrive in this world.
The Curse of the Marked had drawn the beast to him, yes, but it had also allowed him to control the encounter, to lure the predator into his trap. The Curse of Weakness had forced him to rely on strategy rather than brute force, sharpening his mind. And the Curse of Exhaustion had taught him to be efficient with his energy, to plan his movements carefully.
Kazuki stood, his body still aching but his mind clearer than ever. The curses had become his allies in a way he hadn’t expected. They had made him smarter, more adaptable, and more dangerous.
As he packed up what little supplies he had left, Kazuki looked out over the vast, hostile forest. There were still many challenges ahead, and many stronger creatures that would hunt him. But for the first time since arriving in this world, Kazuki didn’t feel like prey anymore.
I’m not running from this world anymore, he thought, gripping the hilt of his sword tightly. I’m going to master it.
With that thought in mind, Kazuki set off, his eyes sharp and his mind focused. He would find better weapons. He would refine his traps. He would learn more about his curses, how to use them to his advantage. And he would keep surviving, no matter what.
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EPILOGUE: THE PATH AHEAD
Days passed, and Kazuki’s reputation began to spread through the land. Survivors and hunters alike whispered of the “Cursed Weakling,” a frail boy marked by strange afflictions who had somehow managed to outwit and defeat beasts that even the strongest warriors feared.
Kazuki paid little attention to the rumors. His focus was on survival—on building his strength, not in the traditional sense, but in the way that mattered most in this world: with his mind, his traps, and his strategic thinking.
As he moved through the forest, always aware of the dangers that lurked in the shadows, Kazuki couldn’t help but smile to himself. He had started this journey as the weakest among the weak, cursed and vulnerable. But now, he saw those curses as the very thing that had made him stronger.
The path ahead was still filled with danger, but Kazuki was ready for it. With his wits sharpened and his curses embraced, he was no longer the helpless boy who had stumbled into this world.
He was a survivor. And he wasn’t going to stop fighting.