The rain had stopped by morning, but the forest was still soaked in a cold mist that clung to the trees like ghostly shrouds. Kairo sat under the hollow tree, soaked to the bone, his body bruised and stiff. Every time he moved, the chains rattled, a constant reminder of what he was now—something between man and monster.
His stomach growled.
His body ached.
And still, no help came.
> [System Update: Hunger Level Reaching Critical]
Effect: Physical Stats Debuffed by 15%
Suggested Action: Feed or Perish.
Kairo groaned and dragged himself to his feet. "Great. So now you're my dietician too."
The system didn't respond. Not with words.
Just silence—and the ever-present whisper of cursed energy in his chains. They slithered subtly when he moved, almost guiding his steps. He didn't know if they were trying to help him or control him.
Still, if he didn't eat soon, he was dead.
He limped through the forest, one hand on a tree for support. The birds were silent. There were no deer, no rabbits. Just rot and shadows.
Then he heard something—running water.
He followed the sound, pushing past twisted roots and fallen logs until he came upon a narrow stream. It wasn't much, but it was clear. He knelt and drank greedily, ignoring the metallic taste. It was the first relief he'd felt in hours.
But then…
Snap.
A twig behind him.
Kairo spun around—chains raising like serpents—but there was no one.
Then came the growl.
He turned slowly and saw it.
Not a beast-wolf this time.
Something worse.
A humanoid figure stood across the stream. Skin gray and cracked like burnt stone. Eyes glowing blue. It wore no clothes—just runes etched into its flesh, pulsing with cursed light.
> [Enemy Identified: Hollow Thrall – Lv. 8]
Status: Soul-dead. Immune to Fear. Weak to Holy Damage.
Warning: Threat Level – High.
Kairo's mouth went dry. "You've gotta be kidding me…"
The Hollow Thrall hissed and lunged across the stream in one bound.
Kairo jumped back, the chains reacting faster than him—one shooting out to block the creature's clawed hand. Sparks flew as flesh met cursed steel.
> [Bind Lv. 1 – Activated]
[Pain Feedback Engaged – Minor Fracture Detected]
Pain flared in Kairo's arm. His wrist throbbed like it had been slammed by a hammer. But the Thrall had stopped—snarling, twitching—its limbs straining against the chain like a rabid dog.
"I can't win head-on," Kairo muttered. "Think. Use the terrain."
The stream. Wet rocks. Slippery ground.
He darted to the side, limping hard, baiting the creature. The chain holding the Thrall tugged, but eventually snapped loose, releasing the enemy.
It charged again.
Kairo pivoted at the last moment and dove to the side. The Thrall's momentum carried it straight onto the slick rocks—its footing gave way. It stumbled.
Kairo lashed a chain forward.
This time, not just to bind.
To strike.
> [New Skill Acquired: Chain Lash Lv. 1]
Effect: Delivers a sweeping blow. May cause Stagger. Bonus vs. Stumbling Targets.
The chain cracked like a whip across the creature's back. It shrieked, toppling forward into the stream with a sickening crunch. Its body twitched… and then went still.
Silence.
Kairo panted, arms trembling. He could barely believe it.
> [Enemy Defeated – Hollow Thrall]
Curse Experience Gained: +15
Progress to Curse Level 2: 60%
He dropped to his knees.
His first real kill.
Not a beast. Not a fluke. A real fight. And he'd survived.
Barely.
"I'm gonna die like this," he muttered, glancing at the chains coiled around his arms. "Unless I get stronger. Fast."
Then came the voice again.
> [New Curse Skill Path Unlocked: Parasite Chain (Locked)]
Condition: Devour the cursed essence of a Thrall corpse.
Kairo blinked. "What?"
A prompt glowed faintly before him.
> [Devour Essence? Y/N]
He hesitated. "This is insane…"
The body was still twitching in the stream. Faint trails of cursed energy seeped from its cracked skin like mist.
Kairo clenched his jaw.
And tapped [Yes].
The chains uncoiled with eerie speed and drove themselves into the Thrall's chest. The corpse convulsed violently as the cursed energy surged up the chains and into Kairo's arms.
> [Cursed Essence Absorbed]
Parasite Chain – Unlocked
Effect: Gain limited use of defeated enemy's ability for 30 seconds. Cooldown: 12 Hours.
Kairo collapsed backward, breath ragged.
His vision blurred again, but this time from sheer overload.
He'd felt it.
The power of the Thrall. Cold. Hollow. Merciless.
But it was his now.
For a time.
He chuckled weakly. "Guess I'm the leech now…"
Then his stomach growled again.
"Still starving," he mumbled, stumbling upright.
---
Hours later, he found an old campsite—half-burned, abandoned, likely by a previous exile or traveler.
There was a rusted pot, some moldy cloth, and—thank the Goddess—dried jerky still wrapped in wax paper under a rock.
He didn't ask questions.
He devoured it.
And with food in his belly, he finally lay down and passed out.
The chains coiled loosely around him, as if guarding him in sleep.
---
Elsewhere…
In the palace, the Princess paced her chamber. The crystal orb on the pedestal flickered.
"He's evolving," she said coldly. "That shouldn't be possible."
The masked man beside her shifted. "Shall I send a proper squad this time?"
She shook her head. "No. Not yet. I want to see what kind of monster he becomes."
She turned to the orb again.
"And when he's ripe… we'll harvest the curse from him directly."
---
Back in the forest, Kairo dreamed.
He stood alone in a void, chains floating around him like serpents. Before him stood a mirror—cracked, ancient. In it, he saw a reflection not of himself…
…but of what he could become.
Eyes like molten silver. Chains coiled like armor. A crown of thorns on his head.
And behind him… countless shadows, bound and kneeling.
The system's voice echoed once more.
> [Curse Level 2 Approaching…]
Warning: With growth comes madness. Choose your path wisely.
Kairo opened his eyes.
Morning had come again.
But the light felt no warmer.
Only colder.
Only heavier.
He sat up, looking at the chains, and whispered, "I'll survive. No matter how twisted the path."
The chains rattled, as if in answer.
> [Quest Updated: The Shackled Path – Survive for Seven Days in Exile.]
Progress: 2/7
The countdown had begun.
And Kairo knew now—this world didn't want him.
But he was done asking for a place.
He'd carve one out himself.
Even if it meant becoming the very monster they feared.