Cursed Heir System: Revenge Against the Gods

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

Alan's vision came back, the world clear and bright again. He stood in the arena, facing the tanned warrior, his heart pounding as he touched his temple. His knife shook in his hand; the weight of returning from death feels heavier than any weapon.

Killing himself was scarier than being killed.

He's breathing heavily, sweat dripping as he hunches, steadying himself.

Janine tilted her head with her grin fading with concern. "Hey, kid, are you okay?" she asked softly. "You can quit if you're scared. There's no shame in it."

Alan raised a hand and took a deep breath to calm himself. His blue eyes met her violet ones and smiled as he gripped the knife tighter.

"I'm ready," he said with a steady tone.

"Alannn!" Moriko's shout cut through from the sidelines, full of worry and excitement. "Don't you dare lose!"

The old referee started the match as usual.

Alan rushed forward again, following the same move as the last loop. He aimed his knife at Janine's shoulder again. As expected, Janine grabbed his left wrist with a playful grin, lifting him off the ground like a toy.

"Too slow, kid," she teased while her grip was strong.

But Alan smirked, which confused her.

He let the knife slip from his left hand, catching it smoothly with his right hand. Janine's eyes widened as he swung upward, but she reacted fast, her free hand grabbing his right wrist.

Alan anticipated this; he planted a foot on her thigh, then her chest, and pushed off with a strong kick, forcing her to let go. He twisted in the air and landed in a crouch as Janine stepped back.

The crowd gasped, their breaths echoing through the onlookers. Anna leaned forward in shock. Even Duchess Sharra's calm face showed a flicker of surprise.

Alan stood, flipping the knife back to his left hand with a showy move. "Not bad, huh?" he taunted.

Janine's grin returned, wild and approving, her violet eyes blazing with excitement. "Well, damn, kid," she said, brushing dust off her shirt. "You actually caught me off guard. No more playing nice, then."

"Bring it, Champion," Alan shot back boldly as he got steady.

In a flash, Janine vanished, the ground beneath her empty.

Alan's eyes darted, searching, his senses on high.

"Miss me?" Her mocking voice purred from behind. He glanced back, but her fist was already coming, which was too fast to block. The blow hit Alan's chest, which sent him across the arena. He crashed into the dirt, rolling to a stop, breathless.

The crowd roared by chanting Janine's name. Alan struggled to rise, pain searing through him, vision blurring.

He sat up with his grip tightening on his knife. "Round three," he rasped, raising the blade to his temple but shaking with hesitation. He tightened his jaw and drove his knife into his head.

The world went dark.

[Skill: Return by Death Activated.]

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

Alan's insides shook, urging him to flee.

Janine, sensing his hesitation, asked, "Kid, are you okay? You can walk away if you want."

He shook his head, wiping sweat off, standing ready. Moriko cheered from behind, and the referee restarted the match.

Alan lunged, knife aimed at Janine's shoulder. She caught his wrist, but he twisted, landing in a crouch as she stepped back.

He stood, flipping the knife to his left hand flashily.

Janine's grin flared. "Well, damn, kid," she said, brushing dust off. "You caught me off guard. No more playing nice."

She vanished with speed, but Alan anticipated her pattern.

"Miss me?" Janine taunted, lunging.

But he ducked, her punch whistling overhead.

Alan lunged, knife targeting her side. Janine's eyes flashed, but her reflexes won. Her boot slammed his chest, sending him skidding.

"Nice dodge, kid," she called, with her voice blending respect and challenge. "But you're going to need more than that to make me bleed."

Alan sat up, lips curling fiercely. "Round four," he rasped, raising the knife to his temple.

[Skill: Return by Death Activated.]

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In the fourth round, Alan dodged her punch, aiming for her side. Her boot grazed his cheek, but he managed to avoid her kick.

But her elbow smashed his ribs, hurling him across the dirt, the crowd roaring faintly.

"Round five," he gasped, driving the knife into his temple.

[Skill: Return by Death Activated.]

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By Round Nine, Alan's movements had sharpened, honed with continuous loops. He faked left, tricking Janine's punch, his knife grazing her shoulder's defense. But Janine was a beast in human form, her fist smashing his jaw, sending him sprawling, vision sparking.

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From Rounds Ten to Fifteen

Each loop refined Alan's moves—his steps, faster reactions, and precise strikes. Janine matched him like a storm, her hits flawless.

By the eleventh loop, her punch crushed his windpipe. He rasped, "Again," and drove the knife in.

[Skill: Return by Death Activated.]

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

Alan stood silent on the ground, those words echoing in his mind, over and over. His forehead dripped with sweat, his body shaking. His knees gave out, and he collapsed, the knife slipping from his trembling hand.

His fingers clawed at the dirt, grains sticking to sweat-slick palms as phantom pains from fifteen deaths wracked his body.

"Alan!" Moriko cried with panic as she ran toward him.

Anna jumped up from her seat under the pavilion as she rushed over without caring about the dirt on her fancy dress.

Duchess Sharra just stayed seated, her emerald eyes narrowing as she watched Alan's sudden fall.

"Alan, what's wrong?" Anna asked, dropping to her knees beside him, her crimson eyes looking at his face with worry. Moriko grabbed his shoulders, shaking him gently. "Hey, talk to us!"

Janine stood there, her confident grin fading into uncertainty, unsure how to react.

The crowd's whispers grew, some worried while others mocking.

"What's with the kid?" a soldier muttered.

"Scared stiff before the fight even starts?" another jeered.

Alan's vision blurred, but he focused on Moriko's worried face, then Anna's. Their concern is pulling him back from the darkness of his memories. "Water," he rasped, his voice barely audible.

"Water, now!" Anna snapped, turning to the maids. Lorie hurried over with a glass of iced water and pressed it into Alan's shaky hands. He gripped it unsteadily and drank it down in desperate gulps before handing it back, his breathing calming.

"Alan, what's going on?" Moriko asked, her voice trembling as she held his shoulders tighter. "You're acting… weird."

He gave a dry chuckle, getting to his knees and ruffling her hair gently. "Relax, kitty. Just getting ready for your training."

He turned to Anna, still kneeling beside him while her dress was smudged with dirt. "You're ruining that pretty dress, Lady Anna," he said with a light tone.

Anna blinked, her cheeks flushing as she stood, brushing dirt from her skirts. "I… don't care about the dress," she mumbled, but Alan's faint smile grew softer.

"Thanks for worrying," he said quietly. "You can head back now. Both of you."

Moriko hesitated, tail flicking uneasily. "Be careful, okay?" she said, voice small.

Anna nodded, crimson eyes lingering. "Please," she added softly. Reluctantly, they returned to the pavilion, glancing back worriedly.

Alan's gaze moved to Janine, who stood across the arena with arms crossed, her face a mix of concern and curiosity. "You sure you're up for this, kid?" she asked with less teasing now. "You don't look so hot."

His smile returned, though his eyes held a hollow intensity that made Janine pause. "I'm going to win this time, Earth's Champion," he said with an almost chilling tone as he raised his knife.

Alan had died fifteen times against Janine, killing himself to learn her moves. He was relieved she fought by holding back heavily, but what if someone with the same power level fought him for real?

That thought unsettled him, pushing him to grow stronger like her. First, he had to beat her here, and now he was certain he'd make her bleed.

"I'm ready," he said with a dangerous smile.

Janine's grin returned, eyes narrowing at the depth in his gaze. "Alright, kid," she said, rolling her shoulders. "Show me what you've got."