Yes, a cursed artifact. The one which gives more negative than positive. It was also the artifact that Krean had consumed in the original story, which ultimately made him the Human Monster who was also the first antagonist in the main story.
Krean was the son of the Joloe family's head, a strong and incredibly powerful family residing in Terra. Although he was born with a silver spoon, his talents were subpar. He was a mana user capable of controlling air but he couldn't even rise to a 2* hunter with all the materials his family provides for him, causing him to abuse his family's power as he didn't have the power to do so by himself.
Desperation for strength had completely devoured him as when the Joloe family had sensed an unexplored Lair on one of their lands, Krean immediately went by himself unbeknownst to his family, to look for an artifact, which he hoped to be his saving grace. Little did he know even after he faced a lot of troubles before he managed to locate the Artifact, his troubles would only worsen.
Krean consumed the Cursed artifact, which was supposed to let you apply raw mana to your ability. If you cast magic, that magic would be able to cast magic of its own as it contains raw mana. This was the explanation written in Holic... but as it could only give you a rough analysis with new items, more so a unique artifact, it didn't find the intense drawback it gave.
The Artifact of Holding copies your entire mana pool to everything you cast, but it keeps your mana pool to 1...
With that only much mana, you could only cast Magic Bullet, which was the weakest spell there was, and it's also neutral magic.
It's common knowledge that mages couldn't use any other attributes other than what their ability pertains to. A fire mage could only from fire with his mana, as for those who have abilities that don't give them attributes, such as increased mana regeneration, they have the ability to use neutral magic.
And a wind mage like Krean is no exception to this rule.
Despair had hit him, he couldn't use any magic anymore. He was no better than a Defect. Coupled with his previous insecurity, his mind completely broke.
When he was rescued from that hole, his complexion had turned black and he had no will to do anything anymore... But it was then that he realized something he could do. He was fed multiple potions to increase his vigor and strength. It was the first time Krean had felt something different in his body. The power might be temporary from the potions, but he thought it could be permanent.
With his immense wealth and family connections, Krean started to research alchemy. He tried to look for potions that could give him permanent strength. He spent countless days to find the perfect and right potion for his body but to no avail. Until he found a book about homunculi and their application to the human body.
And you guessed the ending to that...
Well regardless, Krean and I are different. And this artifact suits me the best. I was kinda nervous that it might fail, but it's now or never. I could only trust my intuition and previous knowledge.
" Who are you " A voice escaped from behind me. It startled me a lot so I jumped forwards backing away from the voice.
" What the f- " I turned around quickly, as I was still in the middle of a dungeon.
There stood the devil...
Wait… Drill? How did this guy get here? What happened to the others? The giants outside? Questions suddenly filled my head. This was something I didn't think of. How did this guy make it this far?
" You! What are you doing here, how are you alive?! " Drill seems like he noticed who I was too. He looked incredibly tired and beaten up like he had just gone through hell.
" Wait Is that… " Drill stares at the artifact in my hands. He seems shocked, angry, and nervous about the situation.
" Give that to me, I'll let you be a common man " Drill started walking towards me.
" What you mean this? " I point at the artifact in my hands.
" Give that to me now or I'll make sure you'll regret it! " He seems uneasy and a lot careful now. He stopped walking toward me, but his eyes were still focused on the artifact in my hands.
His Holic then activates seemingly wanting to find my information.
" A student? What are you doing here! this is Joloe's turf. Do you want to get imprisoned?! "
" That's not a way to convince someone buddy " I put the artifact closer to my mouth.
" Alright!... Uhh Alright, listen... just give me the artifact. I'll do everything you want. "
" Okay, I want this artifact then. " As I say so, I immediately took a large bite off of the Artifact. My eyes look brighter, and my body felt firmer. I could even feel my Ki reserves growing, probably twice more than normal.
" You!.... You're not getting out of here alive "
" I heard that already, can you be original at least? " I pull up my arms as I point a finger gun at Drill. As I do so, mist started forming behind me from two different spots. They seemed to have frightened Drill, as he steps back and looks at them.
Besides this guy's complexion was too weak and vulnerable, he was nearing his limits and he could only be compared to a 1* Hunter at this point. He also didn't have a weapon on him so his ability wouldn't do much.
Also, I have the Artifact of Holding...
This lets your spells hold mana, but it freezes your mana pool at 1. Normally it would be a problem for mages, but an artifact as such could only benefit me...
The arms had formed completely and as they finish, purple light starts to escape and glow from within the arm. It looked like the arms made of mist had started to form purple veins.
When my arms continue to duplicate, the amount of Magic Bullet flying towards the enemy will follow.
" Bang "
The arms forming the same finger gun had mana escape from the index finger. It released from both of the arms hitting Drill right on his knees.
" AGH! " With his tired body, the impact of the magic bullet made him lay on his knees.
" That's right... kneel the fuck down " I whisper, still remembering the lines he had told me earlier.
I formed another arm as I was ready to aim it towards Drill yet again, ready to end him once and for all.
" HA...HAHAHHA " As I do he suddenly burst out laughing as he stares at the ground.
" I can't believe this. After I threw those fucking shits at the face of those tall bastards to escape death, I suddenly stumbled into the Lair where Death was. "
... I could only look at the man... no the demon kneeling down on the floor seemingly on the brink of losing his mind. This guy was no human, he was something worse than beasts.
" I- "
" Stop fucking talking " I kicked him straight in the face.
" Go in the hole. " I say firmly as I point at the entrance of this bunker.
" Bu- " Drill had stopped laughing and his face turned grim.
" I said go in the fucking hole, or I'll push you in there. " I could only seek vengeance for those who died in the hands of this demon.
The third arm had formed completely with mana ready to shoot out at any second. It might just be a normal magic bullet, but Drill who couldn't even protect himself could even die to a single goblin.
With his knees hurting, he could only crawl out of the hole as it was too painful to stand up.
" Don't worry, the Giants are probably eating those people don't you fucking think? " I could only be something stronger than a demon if I want to kill one.
He finally managed to escape the hole where we were at. I soon followed after when I could still see him alive.
The hallway was clean devoid of any giants and corpses. But the sound of eating and stomping was incredibly evident in the hallway where the giant who threw the pillar came from. It was incredibly loud, so it should cover the noise we're making as of now.
" I'm sorry- " He was crying in his hands as he lay on the marble floor.
" I'm doing this for Krean you see. If he had eaten this Artifact he would've- " I approached him slowly with the arm floating ready to shoot at any second.
" FUCK YOU BITCH " Drill who was holding a small piece of debris threw it at me as he sets it aflame.
* Crack *
The debris was only for naught as I shot it with the third arm causing it to break down instantly.
" You piece of shit, you are poop like the others! You are fertilizer and it should be your honor to fucking die for me like the others! I will fucking kill y- "
" I'm fucking sick of your shit. " I slap him right in the face with full force even causing my hands to turn red with the impact.
" You should've stayed at home kid. I wouldn't have had to send you there myself if you did so" I say as I start walking off towards where the exit. I didn't forget to throw the power cell I bought earlier behind me towards Drill, causing it to explode as it hit the ground in full force.
* Thud * * Thud *