Chapter 47 – A Curse

Body Trait Poison Resistance (C) evolved into Poison Resistance (B) due to exposure to the Shadow Poison, a poison of B rarity.

Poison Resistance (B ) – Raises resistance to all poisons by 49%. Can be evolved further through surviving stronger poisons.

This trait is the only thing keeping me alive somehow. He promptly cast Cure Poison on himself and sat down with a loud thud, hoping that Healing Flow would activate quickly. “I’ll be fine… please protect me,” Maximus said tiredly as he began manually forcing spirit energy into his empty seed.

Skill Leveled Up: [Cure Poison (E) Lv. 10]

Half an hour later, the soft spirit energy that surrounded him faded, and he slowly opened his eyes.

Skill Leveled Up: [Healing Flow (C) Lv. 8]

Class Trait Leveled Up: [Nature’s Sprouting Elemental Seed (D) LV.9]

“Boss, are you alright?” Vesper asked anxiously.

“I am fine now. That was a close call, though, luckily, I seem to have a cheat against instant death,” Maximus said seriously. He had felt his Death Defiant trait activate when the centipede struck him, as if something had shifted his organs just enough to avoid a fatal blow. “What about you two?”

“I heal fast; I’m good, and the gecko is fine as well, as you can see.” Vesper pointed toward Silex, who was currently spitting chunks of shell as he eagerly devoured the pristine white flesh hidden beneath the centipede’s thick black armor.

“Silex, come here!” Maximus ordered.

Silex grumbled something under his breath but obeyed; he owed his life to his ‘smelly Max,’ as he liked to call him.

Maximus inspected his wounds and cast Rejuvenation again. “You should be fine. The poison was weakened, but it’s still there; it will take some time to cleanse fully,” Maximus explained.

“Oh, don’t worry, Max. A voice told me I got stronger,” Silex said.

Maximus stared at him, confused, and opened his status. Right there, beneath his traits, a new one had appeared: Lesser Poison Resistance. Look at that… Astrae’s work, I would say.

“Good, you should be somewhat stronger against poison now. Good job, you can go back to your feast, just leave the core for me,” Maximus said, relieved.

“Vesper, you can go eat as well,” Maximus added as he noticed his armor barely holding together. I’ll need to buy something new… I cannot go through this cursed place without proper defense.

Then his breath hitched as he noticed the area where he had been stabbed was still pitch black. The wound had closed, and his health had returned to 1000, but the blackness remained, faintly pulsing beneath his skin.

What in the nine hells is going on now?! He cursed inwardly.

“Uhm, boss… That doesn’t look good,” Vesper noticed, his voice heavy with concern.

“Don’t worry. Go… go eat, rest,” Maximus urged, waving him off as he focused and tried to appraise the strange discoloration spreading across his flesh.

[Shadow Touched]

A curse that is left on those who survive the Shadow Poison of the Skittering Shadow. You are now marked until you either die or exterminate all living Skittering Shadows in the area.

The centipedes will hunt you relentlessly. Any centipede within a 500-meter radius will be able to locate you effortlessly, while others will be drawn into the hunt until the marked one is found.

Quest Created: There can be only one.

Exterminate all Skittering Shadow Centipedes or die.

Rewards: 5 Talent Points, Blessing of the Centipede, Acknowledgment of The Weaver of Shrouds

Status: 1/10 Killed

Maximus stared at the notification, and his face grew serious. He reached down and touched the blackened patch of skin, which looked as if someone had poured ink over him. It was cold to the touch and felt more like a hardened shell than flesh. He tried to pour spirit energy into it, but it passed through without resistance, behaving as if everything were normal. Curses… Damn it all. He cursed inwardly before forcing himself to calm down. A leader could not show even a hint of losing control in front of those who followed him.

Vesper still stood there, carefully observing Maximus. “It’s bad, isn’t it? Nothing good ever happens in this accursed place. Boss, don’t hide it!” Vesper pressed, his tone rising with urgency.

“Very well. I’m marked by the beasts to be hunted, and by the looks of it, there are nine left that will try to come after us now. Maybe it would be for the best if you two left the Wildlands and waited for this to pass,” Maximus said, his voice controlled but heavy.

Before Vesper could reply, Silex bellowed, “I ain’t going anywhere, you bastard! This ugly bitch tried to kill me; it’s time for revenge, and don’t even get me started on this meat. This is pure bliss!” Silex roared as he tore off and swallowed a massive chunk.

Vesper suddenly burst into laughter before adding, “The gecko said everything I wanted to say… Well, except the last part. We ain’t leaving. Now then, I’ll leave the planning to you, boss. I need to taste this meat full of bliss.” Vesper chuckled as he joined in, ripping into the centipede.

This book’s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

Maximus shook his head, astonished at his ridiculous beasts. I’d better protect these two… They are family now. True family. A warm smile spread across his face as Sprout leapt into his arms, Embi fluttering close behind.

“Hey, you two… Glad to see you’re getting along. Don’t worry, I’m fine, and we will be fine. Come, let’s save some materials before those two eat everything,” Maximus said with a faint chuckle as he approached the centipede remains.

He carved out the hand-sized black core and carefully extracted the remaining venom sac filled with pitch-black liquid. He also stored the pincer that had pierced his stomach, along with as many intact shell fragments as he could find. That should be it.

Now then… How to handle this efficiently. He lowered himself to the ground and began to think.

***