Cursed Heir System: Revenge Against the Gods

Alan knelt on the chilly tunnel floor, his body trembling—not from the cold, but from confusion.

Before him lay the dead slave who had tried to assault Moriko last night.

Why was the body here? Expecting pain from Dakel's brutal beating, Alan touched his chest. Nothing. His skin was smooth, as if the punishment had never happened.

Moriko clutched her torn cloth to cover herself, her golden eyes wide with confusion. Her trembling hand touched his shoulder as she leaned forward. "Are you okay, Alan? Did you hit your head?" she asked nervously.

Alan winced, his breathing uneven, thoughts clouded. A strange sensation drew his gaze to his hand. He froze. A blessing seal glowed on his skin, thirteen twisted runes encircling a black void in a grey circular glyph. It was unlike any mark of the Twelve Gods' blessings he knew. This was different, darker. At his will, the glyph sank into his skin.

His voice shook as he muttered, "What…?"

Moriko leaned closer, staring at his hand. "Alan… is that a blessing?" she whispered. "What is that?"

Heavy, frustrated footsteps echoed through the tunnel. Alan and Moriko turned toward the sound.

Dakel Chorev appeared, flanked by two guards. His small eyes locked onto the dead slave, his face twisting in frustration. "You little bastard," he growled, glaring at Alan, crouched on the ground.

His gaze shifted to Moriko, her torn clothing barely covering her body. His anger morphed into a sick, leering grin.

Stepping closer, he said, "Well, brat, I came to punish you for killing my property, but it looks like you've prepared quite the present for me to enjoy."

Moriko's tail curled tightly as she clutched her cloth, pressing herself against the mine wall. "No…" she muttered, trembling.

Dakel's eyes gleamed with lust as he reached for her with his meaty hand. "Don't move."

But before his fingers could touch her, Alan seized his wrist, his grip like iron. Still crouched, he glared at Dakel as if holding a filthy pig. He had promised to protect Moriko from harm.

Dakel's arm shook, trying to break free, his face contorted in disgust. He raised his other hand, pointing the control ring on his finger. "Get your dirty hands off me, you rat. I'll enjoy her while you watch in pain."

He activated the ring, its magic linked to every slave collar in the mines, designed to enforce obedience with searing pain.

Alan braced for the agony from his collar.

Nothing came. No scorching pain.

[Skill: Medium Control Magic Resistance activated!]

Strange words flashed in his vision, glowing briefly before fading.

Crack.

The slave collar around his neck split apart, falling to the floor.

"What the…?" Dakel stumbled back, turning to his guards in panic. "What the hell are you standing there for? Kill that brat!"

One guard moved faster than Alan could react, his sword flashing as it sliced through.

Blinding pain erupted in Alan's skull as steel cut through bone.

Blood sprayed, his vision went black, and the world vanished.

*************************************************************************************************

"I… I tried to fight," Moriko whispered, her voice breaking. "I couldn't… I couldn't stop them…"

Alan's eyes snapped open, his heart racing as he found himself kneeling on the tunnel floor again, his body whole and uninjured. Before him lay the dead slave.

Moriko crouched nearby, her golden eyes wide with concern. His mind reeled, breaths coming in gasps.

"Alan?" Moriko's hand reached for him, her voice faltering. "What's the matter? You're shaking."

Alan flinched, his blue eyes locked on her. His mind struggled to grasp the impossible.

He'd died twice now—he was certain. The searing pain of his skull splitting, the blade slicing through his neck, still burned in his memory. Yet here he was, back on the cold floor. He knew what came next.

"Take the dead guy's shirt and run," he shouted, his voice sharp with urgency.

Moriko flinched at his sudden command. "What…?" she stammered.

Heavy, angry footsteps echoed through the tunnel again. Alan's heart pounded.

*Am I dreaming?* he thought, still crouched.

Dakel Chorev stormed in with his guards, his small eyes landing on the dead slave, then shifting to Moriko's barely covered body. His rage twisted into a sick grin, just as before.

"Well, brat," he said, his voice oily with menace, "I came to punish you for killing my property, but it seems you've prepared quite the present for me to enjoy."

Dakel's hand reached for her, his grin widening. Alan grabbed his wrist again, his grip like iron.

Dakel yanked his hand free and raised the other, brandishing the control ring. He activated it, expecting the collar's magic to sear Alan's nerves.

Alan braced himself, but nothing came.

[Skill: Medium Control Magic Resistance activated!]

Strange words flashed in his vision, glowing briefly before fading.

Crack.

The slave collar split in two, clattering to the floor.

"What the…?" Dakel stumbled back, his face pale, and turned to his guards, shouting, "What the hell are you standing there for? Kill that brat!"

Alan was ready this time, the memory of his last death vivid. As the first guard charged, Alan rolled to the side.

Clunk.

The sword struck stone. But Alan sensed the second guard behind him.

Slash.

The blade sliced through his neck, his head falling, blood spraying the mine walls.

******************************************************************************************************************************

"I… I tried to fight," Moriko whispered, her voice breaking. "I couldn't… I couldn't stop them…"

Alan's eyes snapped open, his heart pounding. He knelt on the tunnel floor again, the dead slave's body before him.

Moriko was nearby.

The same moment. The same place.

*No… again?*

He clenched his jaw. *How many times is this? Three? Four?*

First, he died falling into the cave. Then twice by Dakel's guards—the blade through his skull, his neck sliced open. Each death was vivid, cold, painful. Yet here he was, back in this moment. The same icy breath. The same body.

He trembled, the pain of multiple deaths still raw.

Reaching for the slave collar, he found it whole, undamaged. The pain from Dakel's beatings? Gone, as if they'd never happened.

This wasn't a hallucination. Not a dream. There was more to this.

He slowly glanced at his hand.

The grey glyph was there, thirteen runes circling a black void appeared at his will, glowing faintly before sinking coldly into his skin.

His eyes narrowed.

*Every time I die… I come back here. To this exact moment. A skill?*

*Or a curse?*

His thoughts raced. *No. Not time magic. The guards repeat their actions. The world doesn't rewind, it's just me.*

*It's me going back mentally.*

"Alan?" Moriko's trembling hand touched his shoulder. "What's wrong? Did you hit your head or something?"

He barely registered her voice, his mind grappling with the impossible.

*Is this blessing a mockery? A punishment… or a tool?*

Something stirred in his chest—not fear this time, but exhilaration. Sharp, cold clarity.

He could test it. Exploit it. Rewrite outcomes. Try again.

And again.

And again.

Until they all paid.

A slow, dark smirk curved his lips.

*This curse… is my key.*

He started laughing, a dry breath at first, then a low, sharp laugh like shattered glass echoing in the tunnel.

Moriko's cat ears flattened as she winced. "Alan…?" she muttered, her voice uncertain.

He turned to her, his blue eyes glinting with something dark. "Hey, Kitty, you said you wanted to see the sun again, right?" he whispered, his tone calm yet icy.

"How about you see the next morning?"

Moriko blinked, confused. "What… what do you mean?" she stammered.

Alan's grin widened.

*I've lived this moment. I know what comes next.*

Dakel. The guards. The painful deaths. He could learn from every failure.

This time, he was ready.