The Forsaken Knight

The Silver Curse – Volume 2, Chapter 10: The Forsaken Knight

The forest stretched endlessly ahead, bathed in the dim light of a waning moon. Yuto and Mira moved cautiously through the dense undergrowth, their footsteps barely making a sound. The parchment from the guild had been clear—Varek had last been spotted near the ruins of an old outpost.

A cold wind swept through the trees, carrying with it the scent of damp earth and something else—something metallic.

Blood.

Mira stopped first, her eyes scanning the clearing ahead. "I don't like this. It's too quiet."

Yuto didn't answer. His fingers flexed over his sword hilt, the silver rings pulsing against his skin. The curse was restless. It could sense something.

Then, they saw it.

The Battlefield of One

The ruins of the outpost were barely recognizable—nothing but broken stone and splintered wood. But what caught their attention wasn't the wreckage.

Bodies. Scattered across the clearing, twisted in unnatural positions, their weapons shattered beside them. All adventurers. Some bore the crest of the guild, others looked like mercenaries.

And in the center of it all, one man stood alone.

He was tall, clad in battered armor that once belonged to an elite warrior. His hair, once silver like Yuto's, was now streaked with crimson. His greatsword rested against his shoulder, the blade still slick with fresh blood.

Varek.

Mira tightened her grip on her dagger. "That's him. No doubt."

Yuto stepped forward, his voice steady. "Varek."

The knight lifted his head slowly, golden eyes gleaming beneath his helmet. He studied Yuto for a long moment before smirking. "You're finally here."

The First Strike

The air shifted. One moment Varek was standing still—the next, he was upon them.

Yuto barely had time to raise his sword before the impact sent him skidding backward, boots digging into the dirt. Varek was fast. Too fast.

Mira dodged left, striking out with her dagger, but Varek twisted mid-air, catching her blade with his gauntlet before kicking her away with brutal force.

"Too slow," he muttered, his voice carrying no arrogance—only certainty.

Yuto steadied himself, eyes narrowing. The rings pulsed, their whispers clawing at the edges of his mind.

Take more.

Match him.

Let us in.

He clenched his jaw. Not yet.

The Curse Awakens

Varek charged again, his greatsword a blur of steel and death. Yuto met him head-on.

Blades clashed, the force shaking the ground beneath them. Varek grinned, his strength undeniable. "You fight like a man haunted. Do you hear them too?"

Yuto's breath hitched. "What?"

Varek knocked him back and pointed at Yuto's hand. "That curse of yours. I know it well."

Mira, still recovering, narrowed her eyes. "You mean—he's like you?"

Varek let out a dry laugh. "Not like me. He's following my path." His gaze darkened. "And if he keeps going, he'll end up just like I did."

The rings burned. The whispers grew louder, no longer a mere murmur but a deafening roar in Yuto's skull.

Take more. Let go.

Yuto gasped as his body seized up—not from fear, but from something worse. The curse was taking hold.

A surge of power ripped through his limbs, his muscles tightening, his vision sharpening into something more than human. His sword moved before he commanded it.

He lunged.

Mira shouted, but it was too late. Yuto's movements became inhuman, precise, and ruthless. His blade howled through the air, striking with a force that sent Varek stumbling back for the first time.

For a brief moment, Yuto felt it—absolute control. Overpowering strength. Pure instinct.

Then he felt nothing at all.

The Cliffhanger

Mira rushed forward, grabbing Yuto's arm. "Snap out of it!"

His vision blurred. The rush of battle, the thrill of power—it all came crashing down, leaving him breathless and shaking.

Varek wiped a trickle of blood from his chin, his smirk widening. "Now you understand."

Then, without another word, he vanished into the night.

Yuto collapsed to one knee, his breath ragged. The rings had taken over—even for just a moment.

And for the first time, he wasn't sure if he could stop it from happening again.

Mira placed a hand on his shoulder, her voice softer now. "We need to talk about this."

Yuto didn't respond.

Because deep down, he knew she was right.

End of Volume 2