[Third Person's PoV]
🎶 "Mixing, mixing, mixing, mix," 🎶 Lucian sang as he wiggled his hips, stirring the potion with exaggerated enthusiasm.
🎶 "Mixy, mixy, mixy, mix," 🎶 he continued, watching as the brew began to bubble and churn, turning a deep black with crimson swirls spiraling through it.
He stopped abruptly, lifting the wooden spoon out of the cauldron, only to find the spoon's head completely disintegrated, leaving him with just the handle.
"Oh goodie, it's ready..." he muttered.
"..."
"That's... ominous," Lucian mumbled, eyeing the potion suspiciously as he poured it into a bottle. He twirled the bottle in his hands, his smile fading into a weary grimace.
"My instincts are screaming not to drink this... They're not saying I'll die, but... I'm definitely going to suffer."
With a resigned sigh, Lucian raised the bottle, "To infinity and beyond!" he shouted before downing the entire potion in one gulp.
For a moment, everything went eerily silent. Too silent.
"What...?" Lucian muttered, hearing a faint whisper. The murmurs grew louder, but the more they increased, the more incomprehensible they became.
"Ah!" Lucian shouted, startled by the sudden sharp pain reverberating through his skull. Even with his natural resistance, it hurt. His hands flew to his ears, trying to block out the maddening noise.
The whispers intensified.
"Ahhh!" Lucian cried, his fingers pressing tightly over his ears, but it was futile. The muttering became faster, louder, more chaotic.
He dropped to his knees, tears streaming down his face. "Make it stop! Shut up already!" he screamed, his voice raw.
Blood began seeping from his eyes. "Stop! Please!" he begged, his voice a broken rasp.
"Make it stop..." he gurgled through gritted teeth, desperately slamming his head against the ground in a frenzied attempt to make the torment end. "Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!" Each strike against the floor splattered more blood, staining his face and the ground beneath him.
Suddenly, a distorted voice pierced through the cacophony, words twisted beyond understanding.
Lucian flinched violently, screaming until his throat burned, feeling as though his head was about to explode.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
Desperately clawing at his own face, he tore at his skin, leaving jagged red scratches as he tried to pry his skull open, as if ripping his brains out would make the agony stop.
And then, it happened.
His arms went limp, his body frozen, his eyes unfocused and hazy.
From his chest, tentacles erupted, slithering and writhing, drenched in blood, as they clawed their way out of the gaping wound. The grotesque sight painted his abdomen a dark crimson as they twisted and thrashed wildly.
Lucian collapsed onto his back, his face contorting into something monstrous. His once-familiar features shifted grotesquely, one cheek warping into a blackened mass, spreading to consume half of his face. The tentacles continued to grow, their dark, wriggling forms stretching ever longer as he lay there, motionless, his half-open eyes glazing over, nearly gray.
A single tear, untouched by the blood that stained his face, slid down his cheek.
'Mom...'
As he hovered on the edge of death, a single thought surfaced in his mind: his mother. The person he treasured more than anything.
Even as his body betrayed him, wracked by the grotesque transformation, that thought alone slowed the process. The incessant whispers in his head became irrelevant.
All he wanted was to see her one last time. He closed his eyes softly, imagining her. Medea, smiling, calling his name, 'Lucian...'
He forgot the pain, the torment, even the fact that he was dying. In his mind, there was only her. The monstrous transformation halted as a small, serene smile touched his lips.
Then, as if pulled by unseen hands, Lucian's body lifted from the ground, his transformation beginning to reverse. His skin returned to its normal state, the tentacles retreating back into the gaping wound, which sealed itself until no trace remained.
Lucian floated, his arms outstretched as his hair fluttered wildly around him. From his fingertips and toes, a black and red glow emerged, spreading across his body. The glow coalesced, forming sleek, black armor with crimson highlights. The armor wrapped around him, encasing him fully.
At his neck, a metal helmet materialized, its design intricate and menacing. Simultaneously, his ring shot from his finger, hovering in front of him as it began to glow brightly.
Lucian's hand slowly reached for it, grasping the radiant sphere. His eyes snapped open, glowing a fierce red from within the helmet. As his eyes opened, a long, blood-red cape unfurled from his back, and the ring in his hand shifted, transforming into a scythe. No longer the familiar purple, it now gleamed blood-red, matching his cape.
Lucian twirled the scythe with precision, slamming its pole to his side as his cape billowed behind him.
He was reborn.
Lucian had ascended.
He was now a Sequence 6: Cursed Knight.
…
Lucian took a deep breath before exhaling, watching as his armor slowly retreated back into his skin, and his scythe reverted into a skull-shaped ring with glowing red eyes. He brushed the hair from his face and sighed in exasperation.
"Well, that was... something else. If I'd known I just had to focus on something to drown out the ramblings, I could've avoided all that suffering," Lucian muttered to himself, shaking his head. "That was way too close for comfort. Honestly, that's probably the closest I've ever been to death. Looks like Death and I get to maintain our long-distance relationship." A smirk tugged at his lips before he refocused on the task at hand.
Sitting cross-legged on the ground, Lucian closed his eyes and began reviewing the new abilities he had gained after ascending to a Cursed Knight.
"Alright, let's start with the basics. My Endurance, Strength, and Danger Sense are stronger than ever. Honestly, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say I could tank a hit from a train and walk away with just minor injuries. And according to my Intuition, my max lifting strength is around 1,000 pounds—half a ton. Not bad at all." Lucian grinned to himself, feeling the power coursing through him.
"Now for my brand new, super-awesome abilities…"
---
Curse Manipulation: The Cursed Knight can imbue weapons, armor, or even the environment with powerful curses. These curses inflict debilitating effects on enemies, such as weakening defenses, draining energy, or worsening wounds over time. Lucian can redirect curses cast upon him to others or amplify the effects on foes. He can also lay traps or enchant areas with curses that activate when enemies enter their range.
Knight's Resolve: As a true knight, Lucian possesses enhanced physical strength, agility, and combat skills. With particular proficiency in swords, shields, and other knightly weapons, his combat prowess is unparalleled, allowing him to excel in battle.
Dread Presence: Lucian exudes an aura of fear and despair, sapping the morale and willpower of nearby enemies. Those with weak will may flee in terror or be paralyzed by fear, rendering them vulnerable in combat.
Phantom Steed: The Cursed Knight can summon a spectral warhorse made of shadow and dark energy. The steed is faster than normal horses, capable of traversing cursed or spiritual realms, and is resistant to conventional weapons, making it ideal for battle or escape.
Blood Oath: Lucian can forge a blood oath with allies or enemies, binding both parties through a powerful curse. Breaking the oath brings severe consequences, such as death, loss of power, or a terrible affliction. This ability allows him to enforce loyalty or create high-stakes pacts during critical moments.
Darkened Armor: Cloaked in an aura of dark energy, Lucian's armor provides both physical and magical defense, absorbing or negating attacks. His attack power is doubled when wielding this shadowy armor, making him nearly unstoppable in battle.
---
Lucian fell to the ground, tears of joy streaming down his face. "The pain… It was all worth it. Every agonizing second." He laughed, wiping the tears from his eyes. "I'd do it all again in a heartbeat."
He remained on the ground, grinning like a madman, reveling in his newfound power.
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A/N: The Image of the Armor is here below:
[Image]
+10 advance Chapters on: patreon.com/Shadow_D_Monarch3