[Status: Dawn]
[Warning: Subject exhibiting unusual mana signatures]
[The Nameless One noting peculiarities]
"I DID IT!" Kael leapt from his seated position, pumping his fist in the air. The morning sunlight caught the residual mana shimmer around him, creating a brief rainbow effect.
[Finally. Watching you fail was becoming tedious.]
"Hey, I deserve some credit here!" Kael grinned, still riding the high of success. "A little ''good job'' wouldn''t kill you."
[You would have received congratulations had you succeeded eight loops ago.]
"Whatever, oldie. So what rank would you say I''m at now?"
A sensation of ancient irritation rippled through the room.
[First, mortal, I''m not ''old.'' Second, you''re approximately at a low B-rank by your mortal measurements.]
"WHAT?" Kael''s jubilation deflated instantly. "That''s it? I thought I''d at least hit A-rank after all this!"
[First, lower your expectations. Second, mortal, this entire process was merely correcting your horrifically configured mana circuits and improving their flow. Most C or B-rank practitioners accomplished this basic milestone ages ago.]
But something nagged at the ancient entity''s consciousness. Even accounting for improper training, the boy''s circuits shouldn''t have been quite so... underdeveloped.
[Get into lotus position. We''re doing another exercise.]
"What, more practice already?"
[You could call it that.]
Kael complied, settling into the meditative pose. As he channeled his mana, The Nameless One''s presence focused intently.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
[Hmm...]
The entity''s attention pierced deeper, past the surface flow of Kael''s mana. There, buried beneath layers of energy, something dark pulsed. Something that shouldn''t be there.
[Status: Anomaly detected]
[Warning: Divine-level curse detected]
[The Nameless One contemplating entertainment value]
"Something wrong?" Kael asked, noticing the extended silence.
[Hmm. No, nothing wrong. Just... interesting.]
The ancient entity observed the writhing darkness buried in Kael''s circuits. A masterpiece of divine spite, really – a curse designed to slowly devour mana and erode talent, eventually leaving its victim a hollow shell. But this was no ordinary divine curse. The complexity, the precision of its consumption... whoever crafted this wasn''t just some minor deity with a grudge.
[This level of vindictiveness... they must have truly hated you, or feared what you might become.]
The Nameless One''s consciousness brushed against the curse''s structure. Could it be they knew? No, impossible. None of those children should remember...
[Tell me, mortal. How would you feel about a quest?]
Kael opened his eyes. "A quest?"
[To increase your talent.]
"Wait, that''s possible?" Kael straightened. "I thought talent was just... what you were born with."
[Of course it''s possible. How do you think divine backers and their apostles progress so quickly? The backer shares energy, removes limitations...]
"So I could get stronger faster?" Kael''s eyes lit up.
The Nameless One''s presence rippled with amusement. It could simply remove the curse, but where would the entertainment be in that? Besides, watching this particular god''s reaction to having their curse systematically dismantled piece by piece would be far more satisfying.
[Much faster. Though you''ll have to work for it.]
"I''m in." Kael didn''t even hesitate. "What''s first?"
[Status: Quest system initializing]
[Warning: Subject showing dangerous levels of enthusiasm]
[The Nameless One preparing appropriate challenges]
The morning light strengthened, catching the eager gleam in Kael''s eyes. In the depths of his circuits, the curse pulsed, unaware that its days were numbered.
And in the spaces between reality, something ancient enough to remember when gods were young settled in to enjoy the show.
[Final Status: Entertainment value optimal]
[Note: Divine curse detected]
[The Nameless One looking forward to future developments]
[Warning: Local reality should brace for impact]