How To Survive A Calamity

A Curse Mark that brands a target as a new revival vessel for a Demon; the Demon race most powerful and greatest Cursed Technique — Devil's Karma.

Or so Meta called it.

"I'm getting a headache."

In less than an entire day, the amount of new information and discovery i had made weighed down on me consciously, almost enough to make me break down under it all. I pressed a palm against my slightly throbbing forehead as a deep sigh escaped from my lips, and shuffled backwards on my feet to my back.

A frown folded on my face, but even then, i somehow couldn't find it in me to jump through the roof with an exaggerated reaction, which would be about well and proper right now. I don't know, maybe it was due to the fact I'd been presented with so many suprise and shocks already throughout the day up until now, or i was probably this apathetic because my Ether had plumet and reached a low bar at once.

"Dammit. Nicodemus, that bastard."

Regardless, i could only agree and decide that my latest discovery of the nature of the Curse Mark was troublesome, at best, at the moment and my curent state. This was actually really a serious life threatening risk to me, after all.

The small headache i inevitably ended up getting was a nuisance, but my thoughts managed to process more quickly with my emotions and excitement set aside, allowing for reasoning.

I grimaced, sighing briefly.

"Why shouldn't i go to the Academy and report this right now? On the surface, i don't see how anything good could come from me hiding this, my existence is at threat right here. In fact, the way i see it now, judging from what you've explained to me, there's a very likely chance that Aegis might actually be in search of a victim branded with this exact same Curse Mark among the survivors and cadets who returned back alive."

The Karma was a Demon's last ditch effort at the moment of their death, from what i recently knew. Often at times, powerful Demons already had a target branded with a Devil's Karma as a plausible vessel for their eventual return and resurrection upon their untimely demise.

The truth was, not all Demon's could employ this dreadful technique, and only those of a certain standing and power level were privileged to do so. And at times, the vessel was often the body of their contracted human, or contractee. That is because a previously existing contract between a Demon and a villain establishes an already present bond and connection between the two which raises their affinity dangerously to each other.

[A Karma is often always a matter of compatibility. After all, it involves a Demon choosing a new body and vessel for it's revival. If the compatability and affinity between the two fall short by some margin, the process may result in some unnecessary backlash and weaknesses against the Demon upon revival, like a short life span.] Meta said.

[To raise the chances of a successful revival, the marked vessel is sometimes often a Demon contractor who already has semblance of the Demon's ability and power through them. Also, the stronger a person was, or the more potential one held, the higher the chance of them being a very appropriate vessel.]

Demons chose the bodies of those they felt had reasonable compatibility with them for a more better result when they revive, as such what better vessel was there than a contractor who already possessed a growing connection and bond with the same Demon before.

Except in my case, the Demon's contractor...was dead.

Usually, killing a Demon Contractor didn't necessarily mean you kill the Demon they're contracted to. Not at all. But Nicodemus and his alleged Contracted Demon were in a stranger state of being.

The Demom didn't seem to possess a physical body and was well on its way to integrating it's soul and existence with Nicodemus's, making them one singular being.

[Demons are truly mocking and sinister creatures until the end. They're also known to Mark the existences that are responsible for taking their lives, aside from their contractors.]

Meta seemed to sneer coldly.

[It's devious and fitting, don't you think? The one who kills a Demon...is destined to become that same Demon. This is why slaying Demons isn't also such a simple matter. There is a reason why this Race is the most hated across all dimensions and universe after all.]

A dark grimace befell my face. Then Meta's voice added again.

[And yes, to answer your previous question. I believe when you think about it, you can create suspicions to what the answer is. Indeed, it is likely the Academy is going through all the survivors of the Dungeon Incident, searching for a Devil's Karma. It is also true that Aegis may be more than willing to do anything to control the effects of the incident from escalating way more than they would appreciate; they are an organisation after all with a reputable standing and reputation in the Awakened society of the human domain. What would people say if they found out the leading Academy had a Demon and a Contractor under their nose all this time?]

But what Meta didn't include in there was that...in such a setting, it was more likely that there were spies in the Academy, and all other major Human organisations. And so could probably be said as vice versa. This was a world at war after all.

But it was true about Aegis standing and reputation. There was no doubt if this got out into the wrong hands, there were those who would weaponise this scandal to bring down the Academy. There were always haters and lurking enemies waiting for moment to strike for those in high places. Just as great as Aegis was, so were the numbers of its enemies.

[A curse mark is never such an easy matter, as I've previously said before. Especially in the case of the appearance of a Karma. There are almost no cases of getting rid of one — the resources are just immense. It is also true about your standing as a low talent prospect and cadet who has hit a wall on their talent and potential.] Meta added.

[Now, what do you suppose would happen if you walked out that door and reported yourself to having a Karma that houses a Demon waiting to revive inside of your body?]

A heavy sigh drifted from my lips as my eyes dimmed. A cold aura began to surge from my body, representing a sharp biting intent as my eyes darkened coldly.

[80% chance says you'll be forcefully silenced.] Meta coldly inputted.

"97% says I'll be outright killed or erased." I asserted calmly, equally placid.

In a time like this, the Academy couldn't spare resources on endeavours or investments that lacked nonprofits whatsoever. They would rather focus it all on talents that will result in even bigger gain.

[There's only one easy way to get rid of Karma.]

Having someone branded with a Curse Mark walking around the academy like any other was also too risky. It really was no different than having a Demon within the walls of Aegis.

"It's the best way to get rid of anything..."

Aegis also wanted sealed lips on the matter, and having one with a Curse Mark was no different than walking around with a large sign board over your head.

Simply put:

They couldn't spare resources. A Curse Mark was too powerful.

Letting someone branded with a Karma walk around the academy was no different from having a Demon present, it was too dangerous.

And having someone with a Karma posed great risk to the Academy's reputation credibility. Their standing and position was at stake.

Reporting myself while surrounded by all this circumstances and factors would be foolish unless i was desperate to die.

"I see. So... turning myself in to the Academy is out of the question."

Yes, and as for them finding out about me, i probably didn't need to worry. They couldn't even find that I had been branded with a curse mark with all the tests and processes they took on me in the name of a Second Evaluation.

I was the lowest ranked cadet and my talent was abysmal. I even just allegedly hit a wall on the limits of my potential. I was weak. What Demon would want my vessel?

I also wasn't the one who killed the Demon — well, Victor Bright, Cadet 1499 wasn't, at least.

Considering all this, i believe it was more than likely that I've been crossed of their lists of likely suspects. The academy would turn their most attention to the top ranked and most talented Cadets, or those who came in direct contact with Nicodemus during the incident.

And I didn't. I was never supposed to have even seen Nico from afar, so i could breathe easy on that front, i guess.

Gathering my thoughts, i leaned backwards on my bed and stared dryly at the ceiling.

"You knew about all this, didn't you?"

All of a sudden, there was an eerie calm in my being, almost as if none of the things happening had nothing to do with me. It wasn't confidence or arrogance — in fact, i had no idea how to get out of this one this time —Just... indifference.

The kind of listlessness that came from knowing everything was most likely going as it was supposed to, by machination of another third party.

"Meta."

The synthetic voice promptly chimed coldly.

[Affirmative.]