The Prince & His Curse

The Prince's ferocious yellow eyes narrowed on Zulu with boundless hatred. All of its nest had been slaughtered by the orange furred intruder. It would have its revenge one way or the other.

Zulu revealed a sly grin as he prepared another [Fireball]; However, before he could build it up completely, something began to change in the environment.

The large crystal snake was slowly disappearing behind a wall of mist. The entire cave was soon filled with it, and Zulu was unable to see past a few feet in front of his face.

'Not good. Seems like I ran into a beast with an innate ability,' Zulu concluded, watching his surroundings with caution.

Suddenly, a sharp stream of water blitzed past Zulu, piercing the rocky ground below him like a laser, drilling a slim but precise hole.

'Holy hell! Does he actually have two innate abilities? Or is he a Rank 3? I might've bitten off more than I can chew here…'

After thinking that, another jet of water sped towards Zulu. His [Quick Feet] were instantly put into action, dodging to the side. The water laser skid past the side of his cheek, slicing his fur and drawing a line of blood.

'Okay, but how does he know where I am in this mist?' Zulu pondered, but then he carefully thought of his opponent.

'It's a snake! Snakes sniff the air with their tongues, right? Hmm, I can't seem to smell it at all. Well, damn; I never thought I'd be out sensed. Though I can at least try to remedy this situation somewhat. [Olfactory Confusion]!'

Giving that mental command, Zulu's smell was masked by the scent of dirt and rocks. Everything he had smelt from his time in the cramped tunnel up until now was laced over him. To the sensitive nose of a beast — or a tongue in this case — he didn't even exist.

The Prince was confused. The target of its hatred had vanished from his senses. His innate ability allowed him to blind his opponent. He used this in tandem with his incredible sense of smell to locate and attack them unopposed. The purple crystal wrapped around his body worked to destroy any sense of smell he had, giving him an absolute advantage in a battle of senses.

Without sight or smell, the Prince had to rely only on sound and vibration. However, the light-footed orange creature made zero detectable vibrations even while moving erratically, so he had to focus his hearing to the maximum. He listened closely for his enemy.

A shuffling reached his position from the right side. The Prince had located the intruder.

The Prince bolted in the direction of the sound, his crystalline body sliding across the ground like ice.

In only a short moment, the Prince arrived at the source of the sound, his momentum building to its peak. However, what he discovered was not the orange creature, but a large purple stalagmite.

The Prince's body slammed into the purple protrusion, his long body crumpling together like a spring. He released a pained cry as the crystal on his snoot cracked under the impact.

The stalagmite was obliterated under the Prince's force, sending purple crystal and rock in every direction.

The Prince was infuriated. His sense of hearing had failed him. He coiled together in a defensive measure. His opponent would surely know his current location.

Zulu could only grin at the effectiveness of [Auditory Confusion]. The spell could identify the desired sound from Zulu's mind and project it directly into the target's mind. The target would then hear the noise from the desired area.

'Worked like a charm. The mist is useless now, Mr. Snake,' Zulu thought, charging up a [Fireball] before launching it toward the sound of crashing crystal.

The Prince swept his vision across the mist; The thing which he once considered his strongest ability now served only to hinder his ability to find his opponent.

However, something suddenly entered the Prince's field of vision. It was mass of writhing red flame, and it was heading right for him.

The Prince tried to untangle himself in time. However, it was futile; The large fireball was simply too quick.

The fireball slammed into the Prince's impenetrable crystal shell. His defense was his greatest attribute; No other Rank 2 creature was his match in that field.

The fireball detonated, releasing an intense wave of heat and destruction. The Prince's purple armor cracked under the pressure of the explosion. The spell's might truly was great. The heat, though, had no effect on him.

However, the Prince's defense was not completely destroyed. Only some strings of cracks could be seen across his crystalline body. He surged with pride as he witnessed how inferior the orange creature was to him; Its puny fireballs could not overcome his defense.

That pride did not last, however, as second and third fireball soon followed, detonating across the Prince's body like gunfire. His purple exterior began splintering under the fierce barrage before quickly shattering altogether. The crystal across his body broke away like glass, unable to bear the might of the orange creature's assault.

Zulu dashed at the dazed crystal snake. His mana had run out after the third [Fireball], forcing him to resort to the more conventional methods of bestial combat.

The defenseless snake appear in Zulu's shortened field of view. Its unarmored body was a deep blue and covered in slime. It was still trying to comprehend the situation it found itself in; It did not understand a life in which both its mist and crystal shell were rendered useless.

Zulu didn't wait for the crystal-less snake to recover, leaping at its exposed head. His jaws unlatched midair before slamming shut on the skull of the snake. His Rank 2 [Bite] made short work of the snake's soft under skin, directly piercing its skull with his teeth. The snake's brain was soon crushed under the force of his attack, killing it instantly.

The Prince was confused by the outcome of the battle. What should have been an easy victory over an arrogant intruder turned into a tale of his own demise. He could only collapse to the ground reluctantly, his golden eyes losing life.

However, within the last vestiges of the Prince's spirit arose a powerful will, created by an unbridled loathing and contempt for the orange creature. It leaked out of his body before disappearing inside Zulu as though it were only the whisper of a life that once existed.

Zulu dropped to the floor beside the crystal snake's deceased corpse, staring at it eagerly.

'Foxes prove themselves the superior race once again. Time for a snake feast. '

After thinking that, Zulu devoured the large crystal snake as well as the dozen or so smaller charred snakes.

Soon the nest of crystal snakes was converted into a nest of bones.

Zulu retreated up the dirt passageway and back to the surface.

The sun was beginning its journey behind the horizon, turning the azure sky to a dazzling red. It would be night soon.

Zulu hurried back to his quaint foxhole under the tree before curling into an orange ball.

'So sleepy. Fighting a massive snake and running my mana dry will do that, I suppose.'

Like that, Zulu closed his eyes and let his consciousness fall into darkness.

--------------------------------

[Rank 1 - Crystal Snake (Newborn) x15 consumed]

[31 Essence gained]

[Rank 2 - Crystal Snake (Prince) consumed]

[15 Essence gained]

A feminine voice welcomed Zulu to the white mental space.

"Good to be back, guide!"

[…]

"You don't talk much, do you?"

[Negative.]

"What a shame. I really like your voice. Say, are you single?"

[…]

"Whatever, don't answer. I don't care. Oh, yeah! Guide, is it possible to have more than one innate ability?"

[Affirmative. Some magical creature species can be born with more than one innate ability.]

"What about me?"

[You have to find out for yourself.]

'Just like my affinities, huh? I'm on my own to find out. Well, all in good time. Now what should I buy? I gained 46 Essence, plus my 1 Essence leftover, gives me 47 Essence. Good to see my first grade math coming in handy.'

After thinking that, Zulu called for the upgrades panel.

>—————————<

>>Available Upgrades<<

-Rank 2: [Night Vision (10 E), Quick Feet (10 E), Razor Teeth (10 E)]

-Rank 1: [Mana Absorption (15 E), Sharp Claws (5 E)]

>>Available Skills<<

-Rank 3: [Bite (30 E), Creep (30 E)]

-Rank 1: [Dash (5 E), Slash (5 E)]

>>Available Spells<<

-Rank 2: [Auditory Confusion (30 E), Corporeal Illusion (40 E), Fireball (40 E), Olfactory Confusion (30 E)]

>—————————<

'I think I should focus fully on my body and skills this go around. It's a shame I didn't unlock the crystal snake's crystal armor. Hmm? Though it seems I unlocked something else…"

"Guide, what is [Mana Absorption]?"

[The upgrade [Mana Absorption] allows you to naturally absorb ambient mana from the environment rather than having to wait for your body to naturally produce more. The upgrade's effects are limited at Rank 1 but generally very useful.]

"I see, but what does that have to do with crystal snakes? Why'd it unlock?"

[Rank 2 crystal snakes use the upgrade [Mana Absorption] to pull mana from the environment before using it to fuel their innate ability, [Mist], which blinds prey. You would have unlocked this upgrade naturally at Rank 3. However, consuming the Rank 2 crystal snake has unlocked it for you early.]

"Just like with the chef rats. Cool! Now what should I get?"

[I recommend increasing your mobility in accordance with your species natural ability. The combination of [Quick Feet] and [Dash] would make this natural ability most noticeably shine.]

"You give recommendations?"

[Yes. I am your Evolutionary Guide.]

"Oh... Right."

[…]

'I genuinely like her recommendation. I should try to be like the crystal snake and focus on the thing my species specializes in; Speed. But what else should I get? [Mana Absorption] is a must; Recuperating mana takes way too long right now. I don't want my teeth to fall behind my [Bite] skill, so I'll also get [Razor Teeth - Rank 2]. Then what? I guess I'll just get [Sharp Claws]. I haven't at all used my claws for anything other than digging, so maybe this will make them an actually viable combat option.'

"Okay! I'll take your advice. I want to buy [Quick Feet - Rank 2], [Dash], [Mana Absorption], [Razor Teeth - Rank 2], and [Sharp Claws]."

[Confirmed. Applying upgrades. Learning skill.]

"Awesome! Status!"

>—————————<

Name: Zulu [Rank 2]

Species: Spirit Fox (Adolescent)

Species Specialization: Illusion Magic

Innate Ability: [Rank 1 - Corporeal Illusion]

Major Elemental Affinity: Fire

Essence Value: 2

Upgrades: [Rank 1 - Mana Absorption, Night Vision, Sharp Claws], [Rank 2 - Quick Feet, Razor Teeth]

Skills: [Rank 1 - Dash], [Rank 2 - Bite, Creep]

Spells: [Rank 1 - Auditory Confusion, Fireball, Olfactory Confusion]

>—————————<

'I'm getting so strong and it's damn intoxicating! I NEED more Essence!' Zulu thought, however, he then seemed to remember something.

'Should I heal my injuries? I don't think I really got hurt at all, but I should probably check just in case. I don't want another Death ETA on my hands.'

Thinking that, Zulu called upon the injury report and an orange panel appeared.

>—————————<

>>Injury Report<<

-Light skin laceration

>>Ailment Report<<

-Curse of the Vengeful

>>Death ETA<<

-30 days, 22 hours, 7 minutes

>>Heal all injuries and ailments?<<

-2001 Essence

>—————————<

'AHHH! WHAT THE HELL?'

"Guide, what is the 'Curse of the Vengeful'!"

[A powerful curse that is formed when a living being's hatred for another is high enough. You seem to have contracted it.]

"Yeah, I noticed!"

'Dammit! Dammit! Dammit! It was all going so well too…"

Zulu could only sigh at his misfortune. Just when he finally felt as though he was becoming something significant, he encountered something so ridiculous.

'Sheesh, Mr. Snake, all I did was kill you and your whole family. Don't be so petty!'

"Guide, how might I go about removing this curse before I die?"

[You must have someone capable of removing curses with light magic do so for you.]

"And where might I find such a person?"

[I do not have that information. You will have to find such a person by your own means.]

'Just great.'

Zulu could only bask in the resentment for his own luck before pondering about his uncertain future.

'Spending 2000 Essence isn't an option. I'll be damned if I let all my hard work go to waste for one little curse. A little curse that kills me… Okay, on the bright side, I have plenty of time to find someone to remove my curse, one month in fact. Now I just need to plan out my immediate future to use that time wisely. First and foremost, I want to reach Rank 3 before I attack the humans in any way. I have no doubt that Rank 2 creatures are lambs to the slaughter when compared to powerful humans, so I want to be at least a little assured in my strength before willingly provoking them. Second, I need to upgrade my [Corporeal Illusion] spell. That spell will be essential when interacting with humans, especially when the time comes to have someone remove the curse. I doubt a light mage would be willing to help a magical creature; Rather, they'd try to kill me instead. Other than that, I just need to increase my overall strength. Evolution to the third rank and upgrading [Corporeal Illusion] will be my main priority for now, but I can't lose sight of my original purpose. Alright, I'm ready to deal with this.'

"Send me back, please."

[Confirmed.]

And everything went dark.