Chapter 1: The Cursed Child

Inside a cold and dirty room, barely illuminated by several long candles. The wall was completely drenched with blood, rituals drawn with complete delicacy and complexity.

A naked and skinny young man could be seen chained to the ceiling by his wrists and neck. His feet were nailed to the floor to prevent him from moving.

His long hair which was matted with blood covered his face. anyone that enters the room could clearly see his body full of fresh cuts, scars, and bruises.

It's been a long time, an extremely long time since he was graced with sleep. He couldn't remember when the last time he sleeps but it was a very long time ago.

There was a loud bang when the door was opened, revealing a woman with long wavy black hair, and wearing a dark mask, lined with silver highlights. She entered the room and stood in front of the man.

"Good morning, my cute Mikhail~!! How is your day today?" she asked the man that was identified as Mikhail.

He ignored her, which prompted her to grab a bunch of his hair and pulled it upward so that he stared into her purple eyes. Mikhail looked at her and spat on her mask. This made the woman chuckle. She then punched him in the face, making him lose a few of his teeth.

"You really love to make me angry, don't you? Be grateful that I didn't make you as a food supply to those peasants!!" she screamed at Mikhail who glared at him. "Those eyes… Full of anger… I've seen them before, and you know what happens to that person? Killed by me in front of his family!! DO YOU WANT THAT SAME THING TO HAPPEN TO YOU?!"

Mikhail screamed in anger, "You fucking psycho bitch!! You killed my family!!"

The masked woman was about to hit him when another masked woman with short wavy rose gold hair entered the room.

"My Queen…" she greeted as she knelt before her. "It appears the Celestials are here."

"How many of them?"

"Only one squad."

"I see… Let's go, Kendall. It's been a while since I met them, especially Molly."

Wait… Molly? Mikhail looked at the woman that punched him earlier and screamed at her. She just laughed sadistically and left the room, leaving Mikhail alone, cursing her name, Black Diamond.

A few moments later, several explosions occurred. The building where Mikhail was held captive shook violently for a few seconds. Suddenly, the door was destroyed. Mikhail's eyes widened when he saw familiar faces.

"My God… It's Mika…"

"Jordan…? Jordan!! Linh!!"

Jordan, a young man with short spiky brown hair entered the room with Linh. Mikhail was so happy that tears blurred his eyes, years of isolation were slowly making him lose his mind. They hugged him, feeling each other's warmth before Jordan stood up and told the girl with shoulder-length ombre red hair to take a few steps away from Mikhail.

"Steel Arm!!"

Jordan's arms were immediately coated with dark steel that has a silver line. He then easily crushed the chains and nails, freeing Mikhail as Linh rushed to him and placed her hands on his chest, causing his entire body to cover by flame.

"This is my Recovering Technique. I am healing your wounds, especially your feet but most of them require a talented healer or doctors." Linh said to Mikhail who nodded his head and helped him to stand up. She placed his left arm around her neck and nodded at Jordan who led them to the exit.

"How… long?"

"What?"

Mikhail looked at Linh and asked once again, "How many years have passed?"

Linh grimly replied, "It's been four years since the Annihilation."

Mikhail let tears come out of his eyes as they left the building and saw a crimson dragon-like airship with golden scales not too far from them. As they were heading toward the airship, Black Diamond appeared with several demons.

"Linh, make sure Mikhail is safe. I will buy you some time to escape." Jordan said as his entire limbs were coated with black steel.

"Jordan… That's insane!!" Linh screamed only for her to receive a stern glare from Jordan. "Don't get left behind or die."

"Not planning to do so." Jordan said as he punched the ground, causing the entire location to shake violently and allowing Linh and Mikhail to rush toward the airship. "Hello, Diamond."

"Jordan… If you think you can escape with my pet, then you are wrong." Black Diamond spoke in a sharp and cold tone. She then commanded the Demons to attack Linh and bring back Mikhail, but they all were shot down by a girl with glasses. "Tracy."

Jordan disappeared and reappeared in front of Black Diamond, engaging in hand-to-hand combat with her. The masked woman effortlessly avoids the punches and kicks before grabbing Jordan's face and slamming him to the ground.

Black Diamond's arm was then engulfed in blackish purple flames. She prepared to kill Jordan, but Jordan made a hands sign, and immediately several shadow dogs came out from the ground and attacked Black Diamond who easily destroyed them.

Jordan used this as an opportunity to run toward the airship and told the pilot to take off. As the airship preparing to take off, Black Diamond created a gigantic hand of purple slime and grabbed the airship.

"Not this time."

The hand slowly crushed the airship until Mikhail, suddenly stood up with his eyes from black became gradient blue. He extended his arm forward, creating a small black orb that slowly became crimson made everyone stunned. Mikhail then whispered,

"Crimson Explosion of Sun…"

He fired a powerful and large blast, forcing Black Diamond to let go of the airship and blocked the technique. The pilot then immediately took off as Black Diamond absorbed the technique. She watched the airship slowly disappear from her eyes and clenched her fist tightly.

As for Mikhail, he blinked his eyes several times and turned around before collapsing in front of Jordan and Linh. They all rushed at him and checked his condition when Linh noticed a mark on his neck.

"Jordan… Look…"

Jordan looked at the mark and was stunned once again.

"The mark of the Cursed Child."