Chapter - 2 : Are you the Cursed One?

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Alex sighed, reflecting on the fact that it had been 16 years since he traveled to this unfamiliar world. Unlike the inhabitants of Aracius, Alex was originally from Earth, a planet he left behind at the age of 30. On Earth, he worked as a content writer for a media company. Throughout his life, Alex had been a loner, not by choice but due to the haunting nightmares he experienced. These nightmares involved interactions with devils, as if they were trying to communicate with him.

Aware of the potential stigma associated with his experiences, Alex hesitated to share his fears with others. He didn't want to be labeled as a weirdo or risk being misunderstood. When he did gather the courage to confide in his parents, their religious beliefs led them to take him to church for repentance rather than understanding his predicament. They advised him to keep his experiences to himself and avoid discussing them with anyone else.

Due to his traumatic experiences and the resulting social anxiety, Alex found it difficult to interact with others and remained focused solely on his work. He had never been in a romantic relationship, as his fears and nightmares prevented him from opening up to others. The nightmares, however, ceased when he was 19 years old, after spending 20 days in a coma. Upon awakening, he discovered a burning skull symbol on the right side of his chest, and miraculously, the nightmares never returned. Nevertheless, the fear of those nightmares resurfacing still haunted him, making it challenging for him to form meaningful connections or friendships.

To find solace and escape from his loneliness, Alex turned to anime and light novels. These fictional worlds became his refuge, and he would immerse himself in them after work. Among the various anime and manga he encountered, "One Piece" captured his imagination at the age of 16. He was particularly fascinated by the concept of devil fruits and found his favorite character in Zoro, who wielded three swords. Alex admired the idea of harnessing the power of devils rather than being afraid of them, as he had been his whole life.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

As Alex delved deeper into his fascination with devils, he became increasingly isolated from society. He immersed himself in researching devils through online sources, books, and engaging with like-minded groups in the community who shared similar beliefs. His focus shifted entirely to understanding the powers and nature of devils. However, this obsession took its toll on his social interactions, causing him to exude a gloomy aura that repelled people. Eventually, he made the decision to leave his job at the age of 26.

Withdrawing from the outside world, Alex confined himself to his room, rarely venturing out except when he needed to buy food. Previously, he had shown some emotions, mostly triggered by his experiences with anime and novels. He would display frustration when the main character was overly overpowered or surrounded by a harem. He preferred stories where the protagonist worked hard, kept a low profile, and had a system that served mainly as a means to check their status or provide occasional power-ups. However, now he found himself unable to feel any emotions at all, detached from the stories that once resonated with him.

At the age of 30, a significant turning point occurred in Alex's life. While browsing online and exploring topics related to devils, he stumbled upon a book titled "Cursed Sword." Intrigued, he clicked on the book to read it, but unexpectedly, a popup appeared with a cryptic question: "Are you the cursed one?" Driven by a spontaneous impulse, Alex clicked "Yes" without a second thought.

Suddenly, his reality underwent a profound transformation. In a bewildering twist, he found himself transported to a completely unfamiliar world known as Aracius. However, instead of arriving as his adult self, he emerged in this new realm as a newborn baby, beginning a fresh journey in an entirely different existence.