The unshackled power

The Silver Curse – Volume 3, Chapter 2: The Unshackled Power

The Clash Begins

The moment Raegis moved, the guildhall erupted into chaos.

Yuto barely had time to react before Mira was ripped away from his side, her body crashing into a wooden table, splintering it beneath her. The other adventurers scrambled backward, some drawing their weapons, others frozen in place as the full weight of the moment settled in.

Raegis didn't even spare them a glance.

His gaze remained locked onto Yuto.

"Let's not waste time," Raegis said, stepping forward with the casual confidence of a man who had already won.

Yuto could feel the curse stirring within him, the rings pulsing at his fingertips. The whispers were clearer now, pressing into his mind with insidious intent.

Let go.

Let us in.

You can't win otherwise.

He shook his head sharply, raising his blade. "You should have stayed in whatever hole you crawled out of."

Raegis chuckled. "And you should have accepted your fate by now."

Then he struck.

Yuto barely saw it coming.

The force behind Raegis' blade was immense—the moment their swords clashed, Yuto was thrown backward, his feet dragging through the wooden floor as he struggled to hold his ground. The impact sent a shockwave through his arms, his muscles screaming in protest.

Raegis was fast—far faster than any opponent Yuto had faced before.

But Yuto wasn't the same person he had been before, either.

The curse inside him reacted instinctively, enhancing his reflexes just enough for him to sidestep the next attack. He countered, his sword flashing toward Raegis' side—but the demon commander twisted, avoiding the strike with unnatural ease.

Then, he was gone.

Yuto barely had time to register his disappearance before he felt something slam into his ribs, sending him flying across the room.

He hit the ground hard, rolling before coming to a stop against the bar counter. The impact knocked the breath from his lungs, and for a moment, his vision blurred.

Mira groaned nearby, dragging herself up from the wreckage of the broken table. "Yuto!"

He gritted his teeth and forced himself to his feet, his head snapping up just in time to see Raegis stalking toward him.

"This isn't a fight you can win," Raegis said, rolling his shoulders. "Not like this."

The Awakening Power

Yuto's pulse thundered in his ears. The curse wasn't just whispering anymore.

It was demanding.

You need us.

We can make you stronger.

Stop resisting.

His fingers tightened around his sword hilt, the rings burning against his skin. He could feel the power lurking just beneath the surface, waiting for permission to take hold.

Raegis was right.

Like this, he couldn't win.

But if he gave in, even a little—if he let the curse strengthen him—

What would be left of him afterward?

Mira had regained her footing, blood trailing from a cut on her forehead. "Yuto, don't you dare!"

She knew what he was considering.

Yuto's breathing was ragged, his mind waging war against itself. He had held back before. He had resisted.

But what if he stopped holding back? Just for a moment?

Just enough to survive?

Raegis smirked as if he could see the battle raging inside him. "That's it, Shade. Give in. Show me what you really are."

Yuto exhaled sharply. And then—

He let go.

The Shift

The change was immediate.

The rings pulsed once—twice—before a wave of power exploded outward, knocking back anyone too close. The room dimmed around him, his vision sharpening until every movement Raegis made seemed almost slow.

His heartbeat steadied. His mind narrowed.

The hesitation was gone.

Yuto moved.

Faster than before, faster than he had ever moved, his blade lashed out in a streak of silver and darkness. Raegis barely dodged in time, his smirk fading slightly as the tip of Yuto's sword sliced through his cloak.

"Ah," Raegis mused. "There you are."

Yuto didn't respond. He was already attacking again, relentless, merciless, instinctive.

The clash of steel filled the room, the force of their strikes splintering the wooden floor. Yuto wasn't just matching Raegis now—he was pushing him back.

Mira stood frozen for a moment, watching with wide eyes. But she saw it.

The way Yuto moved.

The way he fought without thinking, without restraint.

The curse had its hold on him now.

And for the first time, Mira wondered—

Could he ever come back from this?

The Interrupted Battle

Just as Yuto pressed forward, Raegis suddenly jumped back, his smirk returning. "That's enough for now."

Yuto lunged to finish it, but Raegis vanished.

One moment he was there—the next, nothing remained but the echoes of his presence.

Yuto's breathing was heavy, his mind still in battle mode, the rings thrumming with power.

Then Mira grabbed his wrist. "Yuto. Stop."

The words cut through him like a blade.

His vision blurred. His body trembled. The overwhelming power began to fade, leaving behind a suffocating emptiness.

And suddenly—

He felt cold.

Mira's grip tightened. "You gave in. You let it take you."

Yuto swallowed hard. He didn't respond.

Because he knew she was right.

And he wasn't sure how much longer he could fight it.

End of Chapter 2 – Volume 3