The Heart of the Curse
Chapter 40: The Heart of the Curse
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Kai's Test of Sacrifice
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The cavern's air thickened with tension as Kai stepped closer to the pedestal, its dark aura seeming to pulse like a heartbeat. The voice that echoed from the depths of the chamber reverberated in his bones, warning him of the test ahead.
"To those who dare seek power from the Realm of Curse… know this: It will not come without sacrifice."
Kai steadied his breath, the weight of the curse pressing down on him, yet he remained unfazed. "I'm prepared," he murmured, his eyes narrowing. "Let's see what this trial has in store."
With those words, the ground beneath him cracked open, and he fell. The descent was brief, but the darkness felt endless. Finally, with a heavy thud, he landed on solid ground, rising swiftly. The chamber around him was vast and foreboding, ancient symbols etched into the walls, glowing faintly with cursed energy.
His beasts materialized at his side, and though he felt the familiar presence of Selene, Yami, and Nyx, today's battle would be different. It was time for Virelith and Kiyomi to take center stage.
"This place... is cursed beyond measure," Yami's voice came in his mind, her golden eyes scanning the surroundings. "But it is not our true enemy. Stay focused."
Virelith, the mighty dragon, stepped forward, her crimson wings unfurling as she flexed her claws. Her scales shimmered in the dim light, radiating a fierce energy. "Let me handle this," she growled, her voice filled with deadly intent.
Beside her, Kiyomi, the small yet fierce Raiju beast, crackled with electricity. Her loli form appeared almost too delicate for the immense power she held, but the storm swirling around her told a different story. "This is gonna be fun," she chirped, her eyes gleaming with excitement as arcs of lightning danced around her.
Kai smiled at their eagerness. "Alright, show them what you're made of."
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The Battle with the Cursed Guardian
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A figure materialized from the shadows ahead—a monstrous, distorted version of a beast, its twisted form writhed as if not fully anchored in reality. It towered over them, dark energy seeping from its body in waves, its hollow eyes locking onto Kai with malice.
"You seek to take the power of the Realm of Curse, but none are worthy!" it roared, its voice a mix of rage and anguish.
Before Kai could even react, the cursed guardian lunged toward him with terrifying speed, its dark limbs reaching out to crush him. But there was no need for Kai to do anything.
In an instant, Virelith launched herself into the air, her wings slicing through the air with terrifying precision. She opened her maw and, with a deafening roar, unleashed a wave of fire that was hotter and more concentrated than anything Kai had seen. The flames tore through the guardian's chest, and in that split second, the cursed creature was reduced to nothing more than ash.
One strike.
The power of Virelith's fire, amplified by her maxed-out abilities, left no room for resistance. The cursed beast dissolved into nothingness, its form consumed by the inferno.
Kiyomi, eyes glowing with the thrill of battle, stepped forward as the ashes settled. "Too slow for me," she said with a wicked grin. In a blur of motion, she released an electric pulse from her tiny hands, her Raiju bloodline's lightning surging through the air in a single, devastating bolt. It slammed into the remnants of the cursed guardian's form, dispersing the last traces of dark energy.
One bolt.
The entire room seemed to crackle with the aftereffects of her lightning. The air hummed with raw power as the guardian's presence was completely obliterated.
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The Trial's End and the Dark Reward
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With the guardian vanquished in a matter of seconds, the oppressive energy in the cavern began to fade. The pedestal before Kai shimmered, and upon it lay a cursed artifact, its form twisting and pulsing with dark energy. It was both a prize and a potential danger.
Kai stepped forward, reaching out to grasp the artifact. As his fingers made contact, a wave of cursed energy surged through him, but it did not harm him. Instead, it seemed to merge with him, connecting with his own power.
The curse becomes yours, Kai. A voice whispered in his mind. What will you do with this power?
Kai's mind raced, considering his options. He could feel the energy surging through him, an ancient power that could be both a boon and a curse. He glanced at his beasts—each one awaiting his decision.
"I will control it," Kai said with conviction. "This power will strengthen my beasts and me. But it will be on my terms, not the curse's."
With that, the cursed artifact pulsed once more before the energy stabilized. The dark power within it became a part of Kai, his beasts sensing the shift in energy as well.
"Master, it seems you have conquered this trial," Yami said, her voice both approving and cautious.
Kai smiled. "We've only just begun."
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End of Chapter 40