NOVGO.NET Chapter 1733: Cursed Runes
Chapter 1733: Cursed Runes
—–
Elayne and Mark gazed at the many desiccated, mummified hands imprinted with powerful Curse Runes. Both wondered for a moment what to choose after hearing the explanations from the shadow-like creature the Undead General called “Cursed Needle Master.”
Although the Curse Caster understood they were low-ranking Undead who couldn’t think quickly, he had a busy day and promptly urged them to decide, or he would choose for them.
“Hurry! Decide in the next ten seconds or I’ll decide for you! I have a busy day! Hurry already!” He slapped Mark and Elayne’s heads, as if that would make them think faster. “Tsk, these damn low-rank Undead! You barely have one or two thoughts in those heads, don’t you?”
As he complained, Elayne studied the Cursed Runes and their names, trying to determine what would benefit her most.
Despite her difficulty thinking in her current state, she focused on finding the best combination to grow quickly.
She recalled what the “Cursed Needle Master” had said about the Runes.
“The Rune of Decay amplifies your decaying power, strengthening your presence.
The Rune of Ghosts enhances your soul’s ghostly essence, allowing you to project it beyond your Corpse Body.
The Rune of Agony grows stronger as you suffer, granting resistance to Dark Magic.
The Rune of Pain is similar but builds permanent strength over time through prolonged suffering.
The Rune of Resentment increases magical power based on your resentment, boosting your potential for Curse Magic.
The Rune of Madness drives you berserk, granting momentary bursts of power.
The Rune of Bones strengthens your bones, if you have any.
The Rune of Rot improves your ability to regenerate rotten flesh.
The Rune of Flesh makes your flesh tougher, if you have any.
Lastly, the Rune of Nether enhances your ability to gather and manipulate Nether. Now choose.”
Among these options, what could awaken the power hidden in her soul?
She realized she needed “Essence” of any kind most.
Undead grew by accumulating, refining, and cultivating Nether.
Thus, the Rune of Nether, which aided in gathering it effectively, was an easy choice.
She also needed to strengthen not her decaying body but her soul to draw upon its hidden power, so the Rune of Ghosts would work.
To capitalize on their suffering, she chose the Rune of Pain. The more she endured, the stronger she could become.
“I… choose… Nether, Ghosts… Pain.”
“Oho?” The Cursed Needle Master seemed intrigued by Elayne’s choice. “An interesting combination… Are you aiming to evolve into some kind of Ghost Maiden?”
“Hm…”
Elayne didn’t respond. The Cursed Needle Master didn’t care about her answer, viewing her as a mere “lowly Undead.”
The shadowy being called her over. Mark watched in awe as it used a needle to pierce her soul and body masterfully.
“Uugh…! Guuhh…”
Though the Runes on her body didn’t hurt, those in her soul were agonizing. She had all three inscribed there.
If she lost her physical body, it was better to keep them in her soul.
The Rune inscription was painful and agonizing. Elayne screamed in horror. The sharp needle piercing her soul’s depths was the worst pain she had ever felt.
Each inscription felt like her wounds were filled with burning acid, intensifying the pain.
When the ritual ended, Elayne could barely think, groaning in pain.
“Augh… Ugh…”
“Tch, what a crybaby! I’m the most dexterous Cursed Needle Master in this Region. Imagine if you were assigned to the others. Your soul would have been extinguished from pain, hah!”
The shadowy entity glared at Mark with glowing red eyes.
“You’re a skeleton, so you’ve only got bones… but they’re tough,” he said. “What will you choose?”
“…”
Mark chose the same combination as Elayne, knowing her choices would suit them both.
Elayne, still in pain, could barely think. After hearing Mark’s ghostly wails, she slowly opened her eyes.
“M-Mark…”
“It’s done! Now get out of here, you dogs!”
The Cursed Needle Master kicked them out of the building. Elayne and Mark collapsed on the ground like ragdolls, nearly powerless.
“Ugh…”
“…”
Elayne looked at her hands, feeling dizzy.
A dark power surged from her soul’s depths, a deep, black energy unlike anything she had experienced.
It was the opposite of everything she had cultivated before. Nether and Cursed Energy were opposites of Lifeforce and Spirit Energy.
It created a disgusting, dreadful feeling within Elayne, making her want to vomit, though her stomach was empty.
“Urk…”
Mark wasn’t as affected, but he grabbed his skull, shaking it constantly, tormented by the curse differently.
“Mark…”
She helped him stand. They walked elsewhere, hiding behind the building near empty barrels while hearing countless Undead practicing with weapons, occasionally sparring.
“It’s… okay… It’s… okay…”
She hugged Mark, caressing his head and kissing his forehead, slowly helping him recover. Eventually, Mark seemed to doze off, though Elayne couldn’t tell, as he had no eyes.
Elayne let him rest in her embrace, holding him tightly. With her soul exhausted, she fell asleep in the dark.
.
.
.
“Wake up, you two! What are you doing here?! You didn’t even come for your rewards! Hey!”
“Ah!”
Elayne woke, crying black tears after a nightmare.
In it, a giant skeletal hand pierced her chest, tearing apart her spiritual heart, magic circle, and soul.
The terrifying nightmare felt more like a memory than her imagination or fears.
Perhaps her missing memories of becoming Undead were like that.
The Demon King of Death must have tortured her, but she could no longer recall.
He certainly seized her powers and stole everything.
But shattering her soul was strange.
If her soul was destroyed, how was she here now?
“Am I… just a small soul fragment?”
She couldn’t understand what she was or her own identity the more she tried to think.
“Hey!”
“Agh!”
Elayne cried as a steel boot kicked her. She glared at the source, a tall, imposing skeleton with a blazing head, wearing heavy, spike-covered armor.
“You dare ignore a great skeleton of my status, you lowly worm?!”
—–