Cursed Heir System: Revenge Against the Gods

That night, in her room, Anna lay on her soft bed, staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep. Alan's words echoed in her mind. Moonlight streamed through tall windows, casting silver patterns, but her thoughts were restless.

Since her adoption, everyone in the manor—Duchess Sharra, Janine, servants, and guards—had embraced her warmly, unlike her uncle's cold estate, where she'd been ignored.

Yet, their care often felt cautious, as if they saw her as fragile glass, pretty but easy to break. They protected her and cared for her but never pushed her to be more than a sheltered figure.

Alan's words stirred something inside her for the first time.

He didn't pity her or see her as delicate. His steady voice had sparked a flicker of courage she barely recognized.

She raised her hand, fingers recalling Alan's rough hand holding hers as he knelt. Her fingertips tingled where his calloused skin had brushed against hers, the memory stubborn as a brand.

"Please, Alan," she whispered. "Win against Janine tomorrow. Prove I can trust this hope."

Her blessing seal, a glowing tree branch, pulsed faintly, its light illuminating her face. It's a rare blessing of the God of Living that she hadn't mastered.

A shy giggle escaped as she hugged her pillow, silver hair spilling over. A spark of hope burned steadily, awaiting morning.

As she closed her eyes with hope, the morning arrived pretty quickly.

The manor filled with anticipation as every servant, guard, and noble awaited Alan's test to become Anna's personal knight.

Alan sat alone on a wooden bench in the courtyard, the morning sun casting shadows across the cobblestone. He stared at his hand, where his blessing seal—twelve strange runes around a void—glowed before disappearing into his skin.

This test was his first step, the start of a long plan to track down those who had caused his pain.

A shadow with twitching cat ears fell over him, and he looked up to see Moriko with a toothy grin, her golden eyes gleaming with mischief.

"Think you can handle the Earth's Champion?" she asked as she sat beside him closely.

Alan exhaled, wearing fingerless gloves. "I'll win," he said. "I promised, Moriko. I don't break those."

Moriko's grin turned sly, nudging his shoulder with hers. "Oh, come on, grey-hair. Playing the knight in shining armor, spouting all those fancy words to charm a noble lady?" She leaned closer. "Even I swooned a bit hearing you talk to Anna like that. Total lady-killer move."

She lowered her voice to a sneaky whisper while her breath tickled his ear. "You're only doing this to get cozy with the noble girl, right? Sneaky way to stick close to her."

Alan stood suddenly, making Moriko jump, her ears flattening as she braced for his anger. But when he turned to her, he made a faint smile. Without a word, he adjusted his gloves and walked toward the arena with steady steps.

Moriko blinked. "What's that mean?" Her tail swished as she followed.

Alan turned the corner to the training ground.

The air crackled with anticipation as nobles and soldiers gathered along the raised platforms surrounding the dueling ground. Nobles are here to see at least a glimpse of Janine's fight.

His gaze shifted to a shaded pavilion where Duchess Sharra and Anna sat under an umbrella with maids serving drinks. Anna's crimson eyes brightened as she spotted him.

She gave a warm smile and waved. "Alan! All the best!" she called, her voice cutting through the chatter.

Duchess Sharra noticed him, and her amber eyes met him with a calm look.

Alan exhaled and stepped onto the training ground, whispers trailing him.

"Is that the kid?" A servant muttered, craning his neck.

"He's so skinny," another scoffed. "No way he can challenge Janine for knighthood."

"But didn't he save Lady Anna?" A maid replied, awed.

A soldier snorted. "Doesn't matter. Janine's the Earth's Champion. She could end this without breaking a sweat."

Alan heard their doubts and felt their stares, but a faint, knowing smile touched his lips. They didn't know his secret. The power to die and return, until he won.

He reached the arena's center, where Janine waited, arms crossed. The sun lit her silver-pink hair and tanned skin, her leather jacket, and her short gleaming. A few soldiers and servants stopped, staring at her beauty openly.

Janine's violet eyes sparkled as she put a hand on her hip, her grin sharp and bold. "You sure about this, kid?" she asked with a confident tone. "Taking me on's no small feat."

Alan met her gaze. "I'm sure," he replied simply.

Janine's grin grew. "If you were just asking for some random knight's post, we'd hand it over without a second thought," she said, stepping closer.

"But you're asking to be Anna's personal knight, my girl's shield. That means I need to see your limits. I will only use my hand-to-hand combat. Hit me with everything you've got. Make me feel a pinch of pain, and you win."

Alan's smile matched hers, a spark of thrill in his blue eyes as he pulled a small knife from his belt with his left hand, its blade catching the sunlight. "How about a bet, Earth's Champion?" he asked boldly.

Janine blinked with surprise. "A bet?" she echoed, tilting her head.

The crowd, including Anna, Duchess Sharra, maids, and soldiers, were stirred, their whispers growing as they stared at the grey-haired youth.

Alan raised his knife. "If I managed to make you bleed," he said, "you don't just grant me the knighthood. You personally train me and Moriko."

The arena went quiet, the crowd frozen, their eyes wide with shock at his daring words. Then everyone just started laughing and mocking him.

"This kid thinks he can take on the Earth's Champion?" a soldier scoffed.

"Five rare blessed knights couldn't even scratch her!" another jeered.

"He's got guts, I'll give him that, but he's a fool!" a maid added, giggling.

Anna's crimson eyes fixed on Alan, her face a mix of worry and embarrassment, her fingers twisting nervously in her lap. Beside her, Duchess Sharra sipped her iced juice.

"You think he's making a fool of himself, Anna?" Sharra asked, her voice smooth and knowing.

Anna glanced at her adoptive mother, confused. "What do you mean, Mother?"

Sharra's lips curved into a small smile as she nodded toward the arena. "Your knight's no fool. Look at Janine."

Anna's gaze darted to the arena, where Janine stood with a wild grin but not laughing. The Earth's Champion raised a hand, silencing the crowd's jeers instantly.

"Kid," Janine said with ringing excitement, "I love that fire in you. Make me bleed, and I'll train you and your cat-eared friend myself. That's a promise."

"Alannn! Don't you dare lose!" Moriko shouted with worry and excitement.

The referee, an old soldier, stepped forward, raising his arm. "The duel begins!" he shouted, dropping his hand. "Now!"

Alan charged in a blur, approaching Janine. She stood there calmly, unguarded, with her arms crossed. As he lunged, his knife aimed at her shoulder.

She didn't dodge. She didn't block. She just stepped in, seized his wrist, and lifted him like a rag doll.

Then came the fist, straight into his gut like a hammer to a melon.

Alan flew backward, crashing onto the hard dirt of the arena. He rolled, skidding to a stop, the air knocked out of him. The crowd cheered loudly by praising Janine's victory, though Anna and Moriko stayed quiet.

Alan struggled to sit up, coughing up the blood, his body shaking from the hit.

Janine called him with a loud, kind voice, "Don't feel bad, kid. You gave it a shot."

But Alan lifted his head, his eyes shining with a wild grin. "Who said I lost?" he rasped, raising his knife to his temple. The crowd froze, their cheers fading as confusion spread. "Round two," he muttered, and drove the blade into his skull.

The knife scraped bone with a sickening crunch as crimson painted his temple. Moriko's scream tore through the sudden silence as his body collapsed.

The world went blank.

[Skill: Return by Death Activated.]

[Checkpoint Retained!]