CHAPTER 4

Curse of Val'thar

A powerful Sorcerer dies, and with deep regret, his soul spirals into madness. Unleashed upon the kingdom, it wreaks havoc—killing innocents and spreading torment across Eldoria.

Ordinarily, a soul can be hunted and vanquished by a cultivator with at least five years of training. But the soul of a Sorcerer who has cultivated for a hundred years is a different beast entirely. Such a soul cannot be destroyed—only sealed, and only by a master of soul sealing.

Only one man in all of Eldoria can do more.

Theo, bearer of the divine Sword of Val Thar, is the only one capable of truly destroying a hundred-year soul. His power is unmatched, and his name alone inspires fear and reverence.

As the Sorcerer's vengeful spirit ravages the land, the king summons the greatest cultivators to contain it. One by one, they fail. Some perish. Others retreat in defeat. The soul grows stronger with each passing day.

At last, Theo steps forward.

He waits until twilight, the hour when the soul is at its most powerful. Then, he moves. With unwavering resolve, he confronts the abomination. It strikes with unnatural speed—but Theo is faster. He weaves through the darkness like a blade through silk.

The battle is fierce, but brief.

As the heavens darken, Theo rises into the air, the Sword of Val Thar glowing with divine energy. With a single motion, he raises it high, ready to end the torment once and for all BLAZE and with those words, he slashes

A torrent of fiery energy erupts from the blade, banishing the demon soul.

As the soul dissipates, black veins crawl up Theo's arms, snaking to his neck and chin. His eyes flash obsidian, fury igniting within him. He races home, eyes alight with murderous intent, and confronts Deborah.

Deborah, a seasoned cultivator and martial-arts master, sidesteps his frenzied strikes. Their blades ring and clash in a deadly dance.

Meanwhile, Theo's consciousness drifts in a shadowy void, bound by writhing black chains that pulse with malice. From the darkness, his father materializes.

Theo's voice trembles with confusion: "Father, why am I chained?"

His father's expression is grave. "You have awakened the Curse of Val'thar."

"The… curse?" Theo echoes. "Val'thar's blade is cursed?"

His father nods. "When Xarion forged this sword, he encountered his first love, Elena. He embraced compassion and abhorred war. To immortalize this truth, he bound a fragment of his spirit to the blade—and concealed a curse within its heart:

> 'I bind thee by my word:

A curse upon this steel:

Should this blade be unleashed in wrath,

Its wielder's love shall pay the price eternally.'

"Xarion believed that one consumed by rage must never taste love."

Desperate, Theo pleads, "Tell me how to break it!"

In that instant, Deborah's frail hand presses his chest—her touch searing cold. The chains slacken but do not shatter.

---

Theo blinks, and the void dissolves. He finds Deborah crumpled in his arms, battered and barely conscious. "Deborah—what happened?" he gasps.

She manages a weak smile, voice faint: "You… came home… and attacked me."

Theo's heart clenches. "I—why would I do that?"

Deborah's eyes flutter shut as exhaustion overwhelms her. Theo gently lays her on the floor and begins tending her wounds, mind racing with dread.

He understands now: while his soul was imprisoned, his body moved under the curse's control—an instrument of its dark will.Theo's condition was worsening in reality. He urged Deborah to get some rest while he visited the physician to gather more information about the curse afflicting him.

The next day, Theo and Deborah took a peaceful stroll through the bustling Eldoria market. They shared a couple of meals and enjoyed each other's company, savoring the rare moment of normalcy. Their calm was soon interrupted by the cry of the town crier echoing through the streets:

"By decree of King Xavier, a grand martial arts competition has been declared! The finest warriors across the kingdom shall compete. The winners shall be named Generals of Light — a legendary order of cultivators who rule the provinces in the king's name!"

Theo seemed intrigued but initially chose not to participate. However, his interest peaked when the crier added:

"The top three victors shall be awarded the Peerless Jade — an ancient artifact capable of dispelling any curse!"

Realizing the artifact could be their only hope, Theo and Deborah decided to enter the competition.

At the registration line, Theo stood near the back when three bald, burly men approached him. They threatened to kill him if he didn't hand over his money. Theo refused. The thugs dragged him away from the crowd and began to beat him. Not wanting to reveal his powers and risk exposing his identity, Theo endured the assault in silence.

Just as one of the men raised a knife to stab him, a stranger in blue robes intervened. With a fluid motion, he manipulated water into a slicing wave that sent the attackers flying, leaving them groaning on the ground with internal injuries.

The man approached Theo and asked, "Are you alright?" He extended a hand.

Theo accepted it, wincing as he stood. "Thank you," he said. "What's your name?"

"My name is Klaus," the man replied.

"I'm Theo," he said in return.

They both registered for the competition, and though hesitant, Theo eventually allowed Deborah to sign up as well, at her insistence.

After a long and exhausting day, the three returned home together. During the walk, Klaus confessed that he had no place to stay. Deborah and Theo, moved by his honesty, invited him to live with them temporarily.

Later that night, after they had settled in, the curse on Theo suddenly surged. Klaus was struck by a vision — a terrifying glimpse of Theo losing control and attacking Deborah.

Panic seized him.

"He's a criminal!" Klaus shouted, rushing forward.

Theo and Deborah turned in shock just as Klaus shoved Theo back, uncertainty and fear rising in their eyes.A few seconds after the curse activates, its influence intensifies. Dark veins spread toward Theo's eyes. Klaus attempts to subdue him but is forcefully pushed aside, as Theo seems consumed by one desire—to kill Deborah. The fight and chaos escalate. Thinking quickly, Klaus uses his water manipulation, freezing it into ice to restrain Theo—and the plan works.

Meanwhile, Theo's consciousness is trapped, bound by black chains within the void realm. He calls out for his father, but there's no answer. Only a distant voice echoes in the darkness:

> "If it continues, your consciousness will be lost in the curse forever—until your body kills the one you love."

The words reverberate through his mind.

Back in the real world, Deborah embraces him, but the curse resists—her touch barely reaching him. Still, she holds him tighter and whispers, "I love you." A few moments later, Theo begins to return to himself.

Klaus remains cautious, trying to hold Theo down. But now calm, Theo and Deborah explain everything that has happened—from the fall of the Phoenix Clan to this very moment.

Suddenly, realization strikes Deborah. She turns to Klaus, her eyes narrowing. "How did you know he was going to turn?" she asks, suspicious.

Klaus hesitates, mumbling, "Um... I was just trying to avoid the question..." Then, after a pause, he adds, "He said... he had to leave."

Deborah's expression darkens—she begins to suspect Klaus has been spying on them. As she prepares to confront him, Klaus raises his hands, closes his eyes, and exhales deeply.

Then he speaks:

> "I am a Glassed Eyes Seer—descendant of the Glass Eyes Clan. A lineage cursed and blessed with visions of the future and the past. But few of us can control what we see. Unfortunately, the Phoenix Clan and the Glassed Eyes Clan were born enemies. The latter always sought dominance, and so, the two never coexisted peacefully."

Theo and Deborah lower their weapons. They no longer cared about ancient rivalries. The tension dissolves, and eventually, everyone finds rest.

Later that night, Theo slips into a deep sleep. A nightmare takes hold—his curse awakens, and in the dream, he kills Deborah. He jolts awake, drenched in fear. Unable to stay still, he steps out for a walk, the moonlight casting a pale glow along his path.

At that same moment, Klaus awakens too, sensing Theo's unrest. He follows silently.

They meet at the riverside.

Theo looks out at the water and says "If one day my curse activates and I try to harm Deborah, please promise me you'll kill me without hesitation," Klaus said solemnly.

"I won't stop worrying, Klaus. But we will find the cure," Theo replied. "Remember, whoever passes the competition earns the Peerless Jade—the artifact that can cure any curse."

Klaus nodded, assuring Theo that it would never come to that.

The next morning, the trio shared a quick breakfast before beginning their rigorous training for the competition. Klaus and Theo sparred, with Klaus clearly having the upper hand—Theo had never had a proper master to guide him.

Later, they visited the market, where the town crier delivered surprising news: the rules of the competition had changed. Only ten participants would be accepted, each chosen to train under one of the Ten Lords of Eldoria—a legendary order of unmatched cultivators.

Theo was elated. At last, he would have a true master. The news reignited their determination, and they trained with renewed intensity. There was no room for failure.