I felt a spark of consciousness being ignited. A flicker of impulses and nerves expanded like a gradual current as I soon began to recognize "myself". I sensed the range of my consciousness, from my head down to my feet, yet... something was off. A pervasiveness and heavy drowsiness encumbered any attempt at recalling any idea of who I was. Yet I was not inclined to panic, or rather it was as if I was bathed in a sea of contentment.


    I subconsciously questioned why I even needed to think. In that same moment, a vision thundered into my memory.


    It HURTS! I yelled internally as I managed to contain my primal instinct to scream. A light gasp still escaped as I realized I was sprawled across the stone tiled ground as a runed sword tinged with a sinister darkness coating the blade was imbedded in my abdomen all the way through and out my back. I knew immediately it was a cursed blade as the vile magic coursed through my veins and withered my life force. My flesh around the wound began to blacken and decay. My mana was in disarray from not only the pain, but the design of the affliction itself, as it was intended to suppress the accursed.


    Ah... that''s right...


    We had dealt the final blow to the Demon King Ragreus, launching him backwards. Not before he had hit the ground for the last time, his sword which had flown out of his hand when the final blow was dealt, was lifted with magic. It suspended itself in the air for a brief instant before rotating and then was sent flying towards our priestess Sennia.


    With my heightened martial senses, I immediately noticed the incoming surprise attack. I turned to her and started running, and in an instant I forced an extreme activation of a body strengthening technique to produce a burst of necessary speed in my desperation, with no regard for the implications it may have. Before the moment of impact, I pushed her away, only to be impaled myself.


    "FENN!" yelled the others in surprise. Rodis, our tank, swiftly took position in between Ragreus and where I was laying, raising his massive shield to block any further potential surprises. Navri, our sorceress, chant omission casted a barrier before properly chant casting three more layers of higher durability barrier layers, each individual layer being formed to protect against a specific type of phenomena, around me and Sennia. Argeo and Krios, who were our range support and offense respectively, had positioned themselves on each side of Rodis and had their weapons lifted.


    Sennia quickly knelt down and clasped her hands together; her metallic wrist ornament with the symbol of the Goddess of Origin and Life dangling chaotically from the rapid movements. With her eyes closed she began invoking a miracle of healing through her prayers. A soft light began encompassing my body, yet none of the pain was alleviated. The blackened wound had developed cracks of corruption and was slowly but surely spreading all throughout.


    I could see the struggle in Sennia''s face as she seemed to realize the curse impeded all attempts at physical recovery.


    From the other side of the room, I could hear the distorted and vehement voice of the Demon Lord erupt in laughter. Ragreus, in spite of his injuries, yelled a message with malicious enthusiasm.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!


    "Bear the consequences of your resistance! Here I mark the end of your worthless ideals. See how he will suffer unto death and know this. You have all labored in vain, for when my kin renew their vows of hatred and wrath upon the Gods and return to fulfill their vengeance, humanity will become a ruined mockery for all the Gods to witness..."


    In uttering his final words, his body began wasting away; his flesh dissolving and dissipating.


    In silent but seething anger, Krios, the strongest of our group, renewed his grip on his massive blade with the same intensity as when we first first fought the demon king and stepped forward while leading with his right leg as his greatsword towered above him. As mana swirled around his blade in trembling fury, he brought his weapon down with extreme speed, splitting the ground and firing a wave of intense energy at the lingering remains of Ragreus, vaporizing what was left.


    It was a futile effort, but a raw display of power that he could not help.


    I continued to helplessly bleed out as my vision wavered between the faces of my comrades who had all already returned by my side during a brief lapse of consciousness I was not aware of.


    "I''m trying to stabilize the wound but the curse is preventing me!" cried Sennia.


    "Stay with us, Fenn! The rest of the parties outside should be finished with their fighting, there should be a means of reversing the effect of the curse and stabilizing your condition with their assistance!" pleaded Rodis.


    Navri bent down on one knee and produced a small analysis magic circle at the tip of her fingers. She quickly seemed to get a general grasp of the affliction.


    "No... this curse cant be dispelled by any of us." said Navri quietly.


    "What do you mean?" questioned Argeo as he sheathed his bow.


    "Not only is the nature of this curse born out of complex magical design, it''s potency is beyond any curse within the realm of human experience. It''s as if it was fueled by a millennia of hated. Ragreus, being a master of manipulating his life force and channeling his mana through his weapons and artifacts, likely constantly imbued and circulated his mana into his sword at all times, fueling the design of the curse already laid within. " replied Navri.


    "Is there no means to save him?" asked Krios as he shuffled side to side impatiently.


    Navri closed her eyes and silently contemplated all her available options with acuity, darting between all possible ideas and connections in hopes of finding some way out of this dilemma.


    In a matter of seconds, she shifted her body towards my figure on the ground and looked me in the eyes as I looked back.


    "I will suspend all activity within the domain of your body and put you into a stasis, we will make for the southern Nymsa Forest where it is said there is a shrine dedicated to the deity there; we will commune with the Goddess Nymea and implore her aid."


    "Do... as you need." I said in struggled breaths.


    "Rodis. Aurgeo. I need your help with removing the sword," asked Navri while turning towards them.


    "Let me assist," asked Krios.


    "No. We need delicate hands here. You''ll kill him." replied Navri with no ill intent.


    Krios resigned himself to silence, accepting the truth.


    "Ready?" asked Navri as Rodis and Aurgeo positioned themselves near the handle of the sword and each used one hand to grab the handle and the other on the hilt.


    A chant in the ancient language of Xenora filled the Demon King''s chamber as Navri began preparing the spell. Soft light emitted from her staff and illuminated my pale face.


    "Now!" cried Navri, and on command, Rodis and Aurgeo pulled the sword out of my abdomen with great speed.


    Extreme pain once again paralyzed my senses but thankfully it would last only a moment before my vision enshrouded into darkness. The figures of my comrades was the last sight I had before I fell into a deep slumber.