Nick's Cursed Power subsides back into his body, and slowly, I begin to feel safe again.
"What…was that?" I ask as I sit up, panting heavily.
"As I said, Cursed Power is a tool of the imagination, it will listen to your every command. Also as I've said, Cursed Power is an evil, sinister power," Nick begins to explain. "What I did just now, was allow for my bloodlust to take over. The thoughts of killing you two merged with my Cursed Power, so what happened right now, is that you two physically felt the tangible feeling of intense bloodlust being aimed towards you."
"You thought about killing us?!" I yelp.
"Only for this demonstration. I don't actually want to kill you two!" Nick laughs. "But, when you're fighting against someone who does, and they use Cursed Power Burst, that is what it will feel like. That's why you need to learn Cursed Power Burst, in order to protect you from getting overpowered so easily."
How the Hell is Nick able to fake a bloodlust that intense so easily?!
"That felt like…what Slayer Mezame did to me when I first met him…" I grunt.
"Ah, yes, Mezame has a habit of intimidating the newcomers," Nick replies.
"That's also how I felt when I first awakened my Cursed Power," I then add. Boy, I'd never forget that feeling.
"That's because Mezame's Cursed Ability, Cursed Power Awaken, forces the release of Cursed Power in one's body, similar to Cursed Power Burst. Even in those who haven't' awakened Cursed Power yet, which would result in the awakening. The reason that your burst felt ominous is because, as i said, Cursed Power is naturally evil, and those who are new to Cursed Power don't know how to make their cursed Power not feel sinister," Nick explains.
"So if we put like…happy thoughts into our Cursed Power, will it make the receiver of our Cursed Power Burst feel good?" Grover asks, only half joking.
"No, it only works with negative and aggressive thoughts," Nick answers.
"How…do we learn that?" Grover pants as he slowly sits up as well. Grover's excited, childlike wonder has finally been diminished.
"Stand up and I'll teach you," Nick orders. Still shaking, Grover and I do what we're told. "Imagine your Cursed Power rising into the air like a flame, swarming around your body and covering every last inch."
I spread my feet apart and squat down a little, tensing and preparing my body. "Imagine my Cursed Power…rising into the air…" I softly say to myself as I close my eyes. I allow my Cursed Power to spread throughout my entire body, entering into each and every knock and cranny. Slowly, my Cursed Power begins to rise out of my body, becoming visible, but then fwoosh! My concentration is interrupted when a powerful and potent rush of light green Cursed Power explodes out of Grover's body.
"Woah!" I cry as I stumble away from Grover.
"Hey, nice job, Grover!" Nick congratulates. "I know that you've had your Cursed Power almost since birth, but to be able to use both Cursed Power Barrier and Cursed Power Burst so quickly is impressive!"
"I did it, I really did it!" Grover cheers.
"Hmph," I grunt. These two get a kick out of ruining my concentration, or what?
"Now, let's see you use Cursed Power Burst, Luis," Nick says, as both he and Grover turn to face me.
"Oh yeah, piece of cake!" I reply. "I was literally about to use it before you two broke my concentration!"
I turn away from Grover and Nick and close my eyes again, resuming my concentrative state. Just as before, allow my Cursed Power to spread throughout my entire body, entering into each and every knock and cranny. But with two pairs of eyes intently staring at me this time, I begin to sweat. I try to summon my Cursed Power form out of my body again, but this time, nothing happens. I try again, but nothing happens. "Grrrrr…" I growl as I attempt another Cursed Power Burst, but just as before …nothing.
"Um…" I awkwardly say as I open my eyes and turn to face Grover and Nick. "I think I'm a little stage shy."
"Just pretend we're not even here," Nick smiles as he covers his eyes with his hands. Grover does the same, following Nick's lead, except I can't see Grover's eyes eagerly peeking through the cracks in his fingers.
I take a deep breath in…then out. I turn away from Grover and Nick and begin concentrating again, but still, I can't quite manage a Cursed Power Burst.
"It's not working!" I cry.
"Ah, I see," Nick replies. "It's because of your personality."
"My…personality?" I ask.
"Extroverts, such as Grover, have an easier time at "showing themselves off" with Cursed Power Burst, while introverts, such as yourself, have an easier time at meaning hidden and discreet," Nick explains.
"Which one are you?" Grover asks.
"I'm more of a "Cursed Power Hiding" kind of guy," Nick answers. But knowing Nick, he's not introverted at all? He may be secretive, but Nick still does have a huge personality. Weird.
"So what, I can't use Cursed Power Burst?" I sneer.
Nick shakes his head. "It'll be harder for you to do, but still possible," he answers.
"You don't like showing yourself off, don't you, Luis?" Grover asks me.
"I hate being the center of attention," I answer.
"Focus, Luis," Nick orders, interrupting mine and Grover's brief squabble. "Focus on a time when you disobeyed your instincts and became the center of attention, let your personality burst out of you, in the form of your Cursed Power."
"Robby." When I close my eyes and focus again, he's the first thing that comes to mind, when I first "let my personality show." That time I "defied my instincts" and stood up to my tormentors to save Mr Kittles, when Robby first came to my aid. Heh heh…reminds me of when I first met Nick? Maybe that's why I didn't like Nick for a while. He reminds me of my friend, my friend who died.
"Luis!" A voice calls to me, but I can't really hear it.
"Luis!" A voice shouts again, but again, I ignore it.
"Luis!" This time, the voice snaps me out of my concentration, my vision of Robby.
When I open my eyes, a dark blue flash clouds my vision, spiraling all around my body and rising into the air, not as a flame, but rather, in the form mimicking a tornado, resembling my Wind Control.
"Woah, what a powerful Cursed Power Burst!" Grover exclaims.
Nick smirks as he crosses his arms at me. "Very good, Luis," he says.
I smirk back as I rub the moisture away from the concerts of my eyes. "Right!" I subside my Cursed Power back into my body, before releasing my Cursed Power Burst back out again. Grover does the same.
"Well then!" Nick begins to say as he claps his hands together. "It looks like you two can use Cursed Power Burst by will, now, very good!"
"Can we learn how to do what you did?! To scare our enemies into submission?!" Grover excitedly blurts out, causing Nick to laugh.
"That's something that you'll learn to do in life or death combat," Nick answers, causing Grover to sulk. "But, if you try to do it now, I won't stop you," Nick then continues, causing Grover to perk up. "Except you two don't want to kill me, so I can't imagine it'll work."
"Well you don't want to kill us but you did it?" I ask.
"Well I'm different than you two," Nick replies, causing me to raise an eyebrow.
"Alright, so how do we do this?" Grover asks.
"Just use Cursed Power Burst, but while thinking negative thoughts about me," Nick answers. "Hatred, anger, murderous intent, any negative, aggressive emotion will do."
"Right!" Grover and I answer as we focus for a bit, before activating our Cursed Power Burst again. The two of us stare at Nick intently, who raises an eyebrow back at us.
"RAHHHHH!!!" Grover and I grunt as our Cursed Power begins soaring higher into the air, but then, without another warning, Grover sinks to the ground as I let my Cursed Power Burst diminish.
"How can I think negative thoughts about the Bumblebee?! He's the coolest!" Grover wails as he drops to the ground on his hands and knees.
"Yeah, and I can't kill Nick, I owe him a lot," I add as I awkwardly rub the back of my neck.
Nick laughs. "Yeah, I figured! Now, why don't you two try that again but while thinking about someone you hate," he says.
"Right!" Grover and I reply as we stand back up. Grover and I focus again, releasing our Cursed Power Burst. I can sense Grover's body tense up besides me as Nick smirks approvingly.
"I can sense the malice in your Cursed Power, Grover. Though it's not directed at me, so I don't feel threatened, I'm sure the receiving end of your bloodlust would be," Nick says.