The Curse

After absorbing the crystal, the wolf cub seemed to regain its strength. Its once frail body now appeared healthy, and it had even grown slightly in size.

Two messages stood out to Ray. The first mentioned gaining five points, but five points of what? It didn't make much sense. The only way he might be able to determine its significance was by absorbing a crystal himself. The cub's transformation intrigued him—if absorbing crystals could make the cub stronger and even increase its size, would the same thing happen to him?

The second message indicated that the cub had been tamed. With this, a new skill had been added to his skill list:

Curious, Ray activated the skill. Immediately, the cub in front of him was enveloped in a bright white light, its form shifting until it transformed into a small orb of light. The orb swirled in the air before suddenly merging into Ray's body.

The cub had vanished, yet strangely, Ray could still sense it inside his mind. Checking his skills, he noticed that had changed to . He could already guess what this meant without needing to test it.

Still, the thought of absorbing a crystal himself intrigued him. If it had benefited the cub without any visible side effects, then perhaps it would do the same for him.

Ray selected "Yes."

The black crystal materialized in his hands just as it had with the cub. As he watched, the crystal became engulfed in white light, glowing brighter and brighter until cracks formed across its surface. A moment later, the light shattered, and the crystal burst into dust.

<7 Points Gained>

<93 More Points Needed>

A surge of energy coursed through Ray's body. It felt as if he were being reborn. His senses heightened, his muscles tensed with newfound strength. Unlike the cub, he had not grown physically, but the improvement in his body was undeniable.

Eager to test his limits, he unsheathed his sword and swung it with all his might. His speed had increased dramatically—far more than he had expected. If this was the effect of just one crystal, he couldn't help but wonder what absorbing an intermediate-tier crystal would do.

Ray frowned at the message. It was disappointing, but he now had hope. He just needed to reach the necessary threshold.

As the sun began to set, he gathered his belongings and left the forest, heading back home.

Everything was as usual when he returned. His father had made significant progress in repairing the house, so they were finally able to stay in their home again. That night, his mother tucked him in, whispering a soft "goodnight" before leaving his room.

A few hours later, it was time to put his plan into action.

Slipping out of bed, Ray made his way to the small barn attached to their house. Inside, he retrieved the bucket he had taken with him earlier that day. The bucket was filled with beast blood. He also grabbed the clothes he had taken from Bob and Kyle, the village boys who had tormented him.

Ray carried the bucket and clothing toward their mother's house, making sure that no one saw him by using to scan the area. He knocked on the door before swiftly hiding nearby.

A plump woman in her late thirties answered the door, looking around suspiciously. Noticing an article of clothing on the ground, she picked it up and gasped, instantly recognizing it. Her eyes widened with panic as she spotted a trail of footprints leading away from her house.

She followed the trail, finding another piece of her son's clothing along the way. Each step she took brought her closer to the Black Forest. Ray had used his own footprints, knowing they were about the same size as her sons'.

As she neared the forest's entrance, she hesitated, staring into its depths. "Bob? Kyle?" she called out, her voice laced with worry.

This was the moment Ray had been unsure of. Would she enter the forest, even knowing the dangers? Judging by her past actions—her willingness to falsely accuse him and seek revenge—he had bet that she would.

Gritting her teeth, the woman stepped forward cautiously, continuing to collect the clothing scattered along the path. Once she was deep inside, her voice grew quieter. She was no longer calling out their names—she knew better than to draw unnecessary attention to herself in a place like this.

Ray had been following her from above, silently moving through the trees. He waited for the perfect moment. Then, she stopped.

"It's too dangerous… I've gone in too deep. Maybe I should turn back," she muttered to herself.

Just as she decided to retreat, Ray struck.

He dropped the bucket from above. A thick, sticky black liquid drenched the woman from head to toe. The overwhelming stench of blood filled the air.

Confused, she looked down at the bucket, her hands shaking. "Who did this?!" she screamed.

Ray leaped down from the tree, landing directly in front of her. His red eyes gleamed in the dim light.

"You… Your eyes… I knew you were cursed! I was right to try and get rid of you!" she shrieked, her voice trembling with fear.

Using , Ray saw the dark silhouettes of beasts gathering in the distance. The smell of blood had drawn them in, just as he had planned.

The woman screamed again, but it was too late.

The beasts surged forward, ignoring Ray completely. Their target was right in front of them. They pounced without hesitation, their claws and teeth tearing into her flesh before she had a chance to fight back.

The next morning, the village was in an uproar. Rumors spread that one of the villagers had gone missing. Whispers of "the curse of the Talen family" circulated once again.

But this time, things were different.

People no longer tormented Ray. They no longer hurled insults or called him names—at least, not to his face. Fear had taken root in their hearts. The villagers now avoided him, whispering among themselves, too terrified to challenge him directly.

A smirk formed on Ray's lips.

He liked this new rumor.