Within the depths of Akira's mind, a radiant figure sat upon a colossal throne, emanating an aura of immense authority and danger. His piercing gaze fixed on the trembling curse that had dared to seize control of Akira's body.
The curse, a dark and twisting mass of malevolent energy, writhed and convulsed as if in agony. It tried to resist, lashing out with tendrils of shadow, but they disintegrated the moment they touched the figure's radiant presence. Its essence quivered, not just in fear but in desperate, futile defiance. A low, guttural wail echoed through the mental void, a sound of pure torment, as the curse realized the futility of its struggle.
"You dare lay claim to what is rightfully mine?"
The entity's voice resonated, brimming with a menace that seemed to pierce the very fabric of existence. The curse's wail grew louder, its form flickering like a dying flame under the crushing weight of the entity's power.
"This time... I will allow it," the figure continued, his voice dripping with disdain. "Since you acted out of ignorance, I will spare you—this once. But know this should you ever display such insolence again, I will obliterate you from existence itself."
His tone grew colder, more menacing, with each word. The curse's trembling intensified, its form shrinking as if trying to escape the figure's gaze. It let out one final, pitiful whimper before falling utterly still, its defiance extinguished.
The figure leaned forward, his glowing eyes burning into the curse like a divine blade.
"For now, you will behave."
He gestured toward Akira's unconscious form.
"That boy requires your insignificant power to serve as a mere boost. Know your place. Be the obedient pet, and allow yourself to be controlled."
The curse trembled violently, utterly overpowered by fear. For a fleeting moment, its form shifted, revealing a glimpse of its true essence—a hauntingly beautiful figure with long, crimson lashes and eyes like molten rubies, glowing with an otherworldly light. Her features were ethereal, almost divine, but twisted with anguish and despair. Her beauty was undeniable, yet it was a beauty born of pain, a tragic elegance that made her submission all the more pitiful.It had no choice but to submit, its essence folding in on itself like a wounded animal.
The figure's glowing eyes burned brighter.
"Begone now."
With a flick of his hand, a wave of light erupted, engulfing the curse entirely. In an instant, the malevolent presence was erased, leaving behind only silence and a faint echo of power.
Outside Akira's mind, Grido stood rigid, his typically composed demeanor replaced by unease. His instincts screamed that something unnatural had taken hold of Akira.
"Akira, regain your composure!" Grido shouted, his voice cutting through the air. His mind raced. "The curse has ensnared him… What do I do? Will we have to kill the boy too now? That thought terrified him.
Suddenly, Akira's body relaxed as the unnatural energy surrounding him dissipated. His sharp eyes fluttered open, taking in the world around him.
"Huh?" he murmured, his voice steady but laced with confusion. "What just happened?"
Before him, a system notification materialized, accompanied by a faint hum that vibrated in his bones. The air around him seemed to pulse with energy, and the mark on his wrist—a dark, swirling tattoo—thrummed faintly, as if alive.
Ding!
[System Notification]
[The Cursed Infernal Weep has successfully been imprinted onto the user's body.]
[The user now has full control over it without side effects due to an unknown influence.]
[The user has gained immunity against curses.Additionally, each instance of damage sustained will temporarily increase the user's strength by 2.]
Akira's mind raced as he pieced together what had happened."The cursed energy overpowered me… but somehow, I ended up in control of it? How?"
He frowned, his thoughts spiraling. "Was it really me who took control? Or was it… something else?"
The memory of the radiant figure in his mind flickered, vague and distant, like a dream slipping through his fingers. Akira's chest tightened. "What if this is just another form of control? What if I'm being used?"
But then he glanced at the mark on his wrist, its dark swirls pulsing faintly. A surge of power coursed through him, steady and reassuring.
"No, the system confirmed it, so I believe this is mine now. I'll use it. I have to."As he thought this, a faint, almost imperceptible whisper brushed against his mind, like the echo of a voice too vast to comprehend.
DING!
[System Notification]
[Unknown influence detected. Further analysis unavailable.]
Akira froze."Unknown influence? What does that mean?"The whisper faded, leaving him with a lingering sense of unease.
"Still, this curse gives me a distinct advantage," he muttered, his voice low. "I suppose I should be grateful for that, at least."
Grido's voice cut through his thoughts."Akira! Are you okay?"The concern in his tone was palpable, his posture tense and wary.
Akira blinked and nodded, masking the chaos swirling within him.
"Yeah, I'm fine."
Grido regarded him with a wary expression. "You were acting… strange. It was as if the curse had taken control of you."
Akira forced a casual tone to ease Grido's concern. "The curse got the better of me for a moment, but I've got it under control now. No need to worry." He raised his wrist, revealing the cursed tattoo. "See? It's all good."
Grido hesitated, then smiled, a bit of tension leaving his shoulders. "You really are something else." As he thought to himself, "What a kid... to think he even got his hands on this artifact, the one that killed its last wielder due to the overuse of its power. I didn't mention it, but the star who bore this curse before was an A-rank, and still, the curse consumed him this guy never chases to impress me."
Akira shrugged. "Thank you for the artifact."
Grido nodded, his familiar demeanor returning. "Well, that's your first reward. Let's finish up. We need to arrange your payment, and then we're done for today."
Akira smirked faintly, the weight of his recent encounter hidden behind his usual stoicism. "Okay. Let's go."
As they entered the guild hall, Grido waved to a young clerk, who quickly approached with an envelope.
"This is the paycheck you requested, sir," the clerk said, addressing Grido respectfully.
Grido took the envelope, opened it, and handed it to Akira. The sum printed on the check made Akira pause: 7,232,100.00 won—approximately $50,000 USD.
Akira raised an eyebrow. "Isn't this a bit much?"
Grido chuckled. "Normally, yes. But we pulled a bit from our split for you. That's how it should be. You saved our lives and helped secure the raid. Anna and Victor insisted we do this—they're as grateful as I am."
Akira stared at the check, his thoughts swirling. "They pulled from their own pay? For me? People like that still exist?"
Refusing would only insult them. It wasn't about the money—it was about the recognition, a rare thing in Akira's harsh world.
Finally, he sighed and accepted it. "Thank you. I appreciate it."
Grido grinned. "You've earned it, Akira."
Sliding the check into his pocket, Akira turned. "I need to go now. Let me know if there's another dungeon raid lined up."
"You'll be the first I call," Grido assured him.
Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the hall. A frantic voice pierced the air.
"Where is Guildmaster Sylara?!"
Everyone turned to see Captain Imzar rushing into the hall, panic etched across his face. His voice cracked as he shouted again, "Where is the Guildmaster? I need to speak to her—now! It's urgent!"
Grido stepped forward, grabbing Imzar's arm firmly but not aggressively. "Imzar, calm down. What happened?"
Imzar struggled to catch his breath, his eyes wild with fear. "It's… they're coming! We don't have much time!"
Grido's expression darkened. He wasn't one to panic, but Imzar's behavior was deeply unsettling.Whatever had happened, it wasn't trivial.
Grido turned to Akira. "Sorry to ask, but go for now. We'll meet another time. If it's serious enough to rattle Imzar like this, it's best to let him see the Guildmaster first."
Akira nodded. "Something's wrong. He's terrified, and I don't think it's just fear of failure. But it's not my concern."
As Akira turned to leave, he glanced back one last time at Grido and Imzar, who were already hurrying toward Sylara's office. The tension in the air was palpable, and for a brief moment, Akira felt a flicker of unease.
"Whatever's coming… it's big."