The Mark of the Cursed King
Chapter 42: The Mark of the Cursed King
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The Choice Made
Kai's eyes locked onto the system screen, weighing his options for a moment longer. Each of his beasts had voiced their opinion, but ultimately, the choice was his alone. His instincts as a strategist kicked in. Practicality. Long-term growth. Versatility.
With a decisive tap, he selected:
[Mark of the Cursed King — Imbues you with a passive boost to all curse-related resistances and abilities.]
A surge of dark energy exploded from the system screen, wrapping around Kai like a coiling serpent. Shadows twisted and writhed over his skin, etching faint, glowing symbols on his forearms and neck. It was cold but familiar, like a quiet storm brewing beneath his skin. His vision flickered with images of ancient kings adorned with crowns of shadow, their gazes heavy with dominion.
[System Notification]
— You have obtained the Mark of the Cursed King. —
— Curse Resistance +50% —
— Curse Power Amplification +30% —
— The aura of the Cursed King now follows you. Cursed beings may react differently in your presence. —
"An aura, huh?" Kai flexed his fingers, feeling a newfound weight in the air around him. It wasn't physical, but the oppressive nature of curses no longer clung to him as they had before. Instead, it felt like he had become the storm itself.
"Master, you reek of dominance now," Yami noted with a sly grin, her golden eyes narrowing with approval. She leaned forward, her gaze sharp. "Some cursed beasts will bow before you if they recognize that aura. A fitting choice."
"Yeah, yeah, King of Curses or whatever," Kiyomi muttered, folding her arms. "I still think the mystery chest would've been way cooler." Her eyes darted toward the glowing symbols now on Kai's arms. "But those look pretty awesome, so I guess it's fine."
Virelith's eyes gleamed with respect, her gaze more serious than usual. "You've claimed power and authority, not just for yourself, but for us as well. Smart choice, Master." Her voice rumbled like distant thunder. "Anyone foolish enough to wield curses against us will regret it."
Selene's calm, steady voice echoed in his mind. "Your path becomes clearer, Master. Curses will no longer hinder you. Instead, they will fuel you."
Kai clenched his fists, feeling the raw, steady pulse of his new power. He didn't need to say anything. His beasts understood.
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The Path Forward
The glow of the exit shimmered ahead, casting faint shadows that flickered like ghostly flames. As Kai stepped toward it, the system prompt flickered once more.
[System Notification]
— The next chamber is one of the final trials. Prepare yourself. —
His eyes sharpened. "Final trial, huh? Then let's finish this."
With his beasts walking beside him, Kai moved through the glowing veil of the exit. The feeling of displacement hit him like a sudden gust of wind. His vision blurred briefly, and then everything around him changed.
The air was heavier. The oppressive feeling of curses had returned, but this time it didn't crush him. It bowed to him. His gaze scanned the surroundings — a wide, open field of cracked obsidian stone, glowing veins of red energy streaking across the ground. Jagged stone spires jutted out like teeth from a colossal beast.
And at the center of it all...
A throne carved from cursed obsidian.
Upon the throne sat a figure clad in heavy armor, his body seemingly fused with the seat itself. Glowing red eyes peered out from the slits of his helmet. His aura was palpable — ancient, wrathful, and unyielding.
[System Notification]
— Final Trial Boss: The Cursed King's Echo —
"So that's what they meant by the Mark of the Cursed King." Kai's eyes narrowed, his heart steady. This was no ordinary opponent.
"You see it too, right?" Virelith's flames ignited along her arms, her dragon instincts flaring to life. "That thing won't kneel to you like the others. It'll test you."
"Good," Kai replied, his grin sharp and fearless. "Then I'll prove to it that I'm the real king here."
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The Trial of Kings
The Cursed King's Echo stirred from his throne, his helmet creaking as he tilted his head to face Kai. No words. No speeches. He simply stood. The weight of his presence alone shook the ground, cracks spidering out from his feet. He raised his hand, and with it, a massive, jagged sword of cursed obsidian materialized in his grasp.
"Oppose me if you dare," the Echo's voice was like a thousand voices overlapping, deep and resounding. His glowing eyes locked on Kai.
The battle began.
"Selene, containment web. Virelith, suppression. Kiyomi, I want disruption. Yami, you're with me."
Selene's webs shot forward, shimmering with faint glows of venomous energy. The threads latched onto the ground, weaving into a trap that would restrict the Echo's movement. Virelith charged forward with terrifying speed, unleashing a burst of dragonfire that blanketed the area in an inferno.
Kiyomi zipped through the flames, her small form darting like a lightning bolt. She danced around the battlefield, unleashing arcs of electricity that bombarded the Echo's armor, testing for weaknesses.
"Master, he's immune to basic curse effects," Yami reported, her eyes glowing with ancient wisdom. "But physical destruction still works."
"Then we'll break him piece by piece," Kai declared, his eyes gleaming with determination. "Focus on his joints. He's still bound by the rules of form."
BAM!
The Echo moved faster than expected, his sword cleaving the air with a deafening roar of pressure. Virelith blocked the strike with her claws, sparks flying as she grunted, her feet grinding against the ground. "He's got strength, but I've got fire," she snarled, eyes wild with fury.
Kai activated his system. "Enhance Virelith's Strength: MAX."
Her flames exploded outward. Virelith's muscles tensed, her power multiplying. Her next swing shattered the Echo's sword mid-swing, the fragments raining down like obsidian rain.
"NOW!" Kai shouted.
Selene's webs constricted around the Echo's feet, locking him in place. Kiyomi darted forward, lightning surging from her fingertips as she aimed for the crack in his chest armor. "Zap zap, big guy!" she cried, unleashing her full power. The electricity danced and surged, finding its way through the crack in the armor.
The Echo staggered.
"Finish him," Kai commanded.
Yami appeared at his side, her human form shifting into her colossal serpent form. Her eight heads lunged forward simultaneously, sinking their fangs into the Echo's armor. Her venom flowed freely, dissolving the obsidian plates.
Virelith didn't hesitate. Her flames focused into a singular, white-hot sphere in her palm. "End of the line, King of Shadows." She thrust her hand forward, the flame detonating in a flash of pure light.
BOOM!
The blast echoed for miles. When the dust cleared, only shattered obsidian and flickering embers remained. The throne was gone. The Echo's body had disintegrated, his armor reduced to shards.
[System Notification]
— You have defeated The Cursed King's Echo. —
— Final Trial Complete. —
— You have been recognized as the True Warden of Curses. —
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Claiming the Throne
At the heart of the battlefield, something remained. A single crown, forged from obsidian and shadow, hovered in mid-air. Its presence was undeniable, a symbol of sovereignty.
[System Notification]
— The Cursed King's Crown is available for you to claim. —
— Do you wish to claim it? —
Kai approached, his gaze unwavering. His beasts watched in silence, knowing that this was a defining moment.
"I didn't come this far to stop now," he muttered, reaching for the crown.
As his fingers touched it, the weight of kingship settled on him. Power. Authority. Sovereignty over curses. The glow of the Mark on his body intensified as the two powers merged.
[System Notification]
— You have become the King of Curses. —
— All curse-based beings will acknowledge your rule. —
"I am no longer just a Warden," Kai declared, his voice echoing through the realm.
"I am the King."
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End of Chapter 42