Curse energy
Rogi's chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm, his breaths deep and intentional.
"Hooooh!"
"Haaaaah!"
Taking a deep breath, he filled his lungs with the fresh morning air, placing his hand on his stomach, as if grasping at the tension within.
Tiny droplets of sweat shimmered on his forehead, dampening his clothes with their salty moisture.
The morning sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a soft glow on the room.
Rogi's gaze remained fixed on the ceiling, his eyes lacking focus and clarity.
Despite the arrival of a new day, his mind remained trapped in a fog of confusion.
"Hooooooh!"
"Haaaaaaah!"
Once again, Rogi's breaths came in rapid bursts, each inhalation an effort to ground himself in the present moment.
With determination evident on his face, he pushed himself up from the simple wooden bed, devoid of any plush bedding.
The rough surface scraped against his skin as he settled into a seated position.
Thump! Thump!
As he calmed his racing heart, Rogi swallowed, the action soothing his dry throat.
Lowering his head, he winced, a pained sound escaping his lips.
"Ugghh!"
The memory of his encounter with death lingered hauntingly in his mind, the intense agony of being burnt slowly to death by the cursed spirit or Shikigami still vivid and raw.
"Why does the Shikigami possess such immense strength? And why is it so incredibly large?"
Rogi's voice resounded in the quiet room, a solitary question directed inward.
He pondered whether his modest abilities had garnered sympathy from the system, resulting in the acquisition of such a powerful spirit.
However, the idea seemed incongruous, as how could Rogi, with his limited skills, bear the burden of such a mighty being?
Rogi's fingers intertwined as he contemplated his options upon his return.
His gaze settled on the ceiling, his thoughts fixated on the lizard that had taken his life, a creature capable of transforming into a magnificent dragon.
"Haha!"
A mischievous grin tugged at the corners of his lips as he considered the renowned reputation of dragons—a reputation rooted in insatiable desire.
"I didn't get it!"
Rogi said, and then continued.
"I won't be scared next time!"
He made a promise to himself and began to contemplate the possibility of harnessing the power of the phoenix.
As his next target, if he ever fails to capture that dragon one, he will take the bird one.
In terms of combat, the phoenix held a supreme position in Rogi's mind.
Legends spoke of its extraordinary ability to heal and be reborn.
The prospect of tapping into this power enticed him, as it would serve as a formidable alternative to the Reverse Cursed Technique.
However, Rogi quickly knitted his brow.
"Wait, was that dream even real?"
He tried to look under his arm, palm, muscles, etc.
"I just had nightmare huh?"
He mumbled, thinking probably that it was his hallucination after being here in this familiar yet unfamiliar place.
Suddenly, a sound pierced the air, sharp and distinct.
"Beep! Beep!"
Rogi's attention snapped towards the source, revealing the arrival of the household appliances and tools he had painstakingly ordered, depleting his father's resources.
Each beep served as a reminder of the sacrifices made to obtain them.
Although his father had provided him with immense wealth, Rogi understood the underlying motive behind the generous gesture—not to secure his escape from the clutches of the Zenin clan or to distance himself from the suffocating grip of his family, but to abandon him.
Yes, to abandon him completely, alone and begone.
Rogi emitted a derisive snort, his nostrils flaring with contempt.
"Damn it!"
Slowly, he pushed his burdened and sweat-soaked body upright, assaulted by the pungent odor that clung to him.
Spotting his reliable croc sandals, he trudged towards the door, determination etched on his face.
Peering through the window, his eyes surveyed the two uniformed figures stationed outside, awaiting his acknowledgment.
With a flicker of anticipation, he swung the door open, ready to greet them.
With a sense of purpose, Rogi assisted the workers in maneuvering his bed sheets, tools, appliances, and various other belongings into his new home.
Once the task was complete, a smile graced his face as he bid them farewell, expressing his gratitude for their help.
"Goodbye!"
However, as Rogi stepped onto the bustling street, an inexplicable sensation tingled at the back of his neck, causing the fine hairs to stand on end.
"Huh?"
Turning his gaze, his eyes locked onto the figure of an elegant lady walking past him.
The lady's face carried the weight of a challenging day, yet upon noticing Rogi's watchful stare, she attempted to hide her troubles with a forced smile.
"Hi-hehe."
Strangely, Rogi remained unresponsive, his attention fixed on the lady as she moved further away.
An uncomfortable shiver ran down her spine, urging her to quicken her pace, yet Rogi continued to follow her, even as the distance between them grew.
Suddenly, Rogi was startled out of his thoughts, brought back to reality with a jolt.
He felt an urgent surge of energy coursing through him, prompting him to act quickly.
Without hesitation, he ran towards the safety of his dwelling, his house.
As he reached the door, he slammed it shut with a loud bang, feeling the force of its closure reverberating through the air.
Bam!
Leaning against the door, he slid down until he was sitting on the cold concrete floor.
Taking deep breaths, Rogi tried to calm his racing heart.
"Calm down."
He told himself.
He couldn't stop thinking about the cursed spirit he had seen earlier, attached to the back of a lady.
It is said that, that kind of creature will only appear- no!
That creature can only be seen once someone became a sorcerer.
Rogi had always wanted to become a sorcerer to protect himself from the dangers of this unfamiliar world.
He had trained relentlessly under his father, enduring countless insults and humiliations. But as the years went by, his passion for cursed energy waned, until he finally accepted that he had no inherent ability to use it.
He wanted to go back, he wanted to leave the Zenin Family.
Now, he found himself in his new residence, an old house like the one he had in his previous life, real Earth, filled with memories of his real family.
He longed to return to his true home on Earth, searching for a place where he wouldn't have to constantly worry himself against monsters and threats.
Like the cursed spirits.
Suddenly, there was a change in the air.
Rogi could feel his muscles rippling as he attempted to do something his father, Ogi, had constantly tried to test him on using curse energy.
He felt a daunting energy that made his whole body tingle with pleasure.
Rogi's eyes widened in astonishment as he witnessed the manifestation of curse energy emanating from within him.
The ethereal energy flowed outward, permeating the air around him, creating an aura that enveloped him with a comforting warmth.
He couldn't help but mumble in disbelief,
"Curse energy!"
Overwhelmed by the realization, Rogi repeatedly questioned himself, his voice filled with wonder and excitement.
" I have curse energy?
"Finally, I have curse energy?"
Each repetition carried a growing sense of certainty. And then, the words transformed into a declaration rather than a query, his voice filled with exhilaration.
"I finally have curse energy!"
Feeling an overwhelming surge of joy and liberation, Rogi's emotions welled within him, urging him to leap into the air and unleash a triumphant scream.
"I have curse energy!"
Rogi checked for any signs of its existence repeatedly, but as fatigue set in, he decided to take a break.
He arranged the bedding he had earlier unpacked on the bed, creating a makeshift cushion.
With a sense of anticipation, he lay down, arms spread wide in an expression of pure elation.
"This is real!"
Rogi exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with delight. But suddenly, his expression changed to one of concern or fear.
However, it went back to exhaliration instantly.
"I have a curse energy!"
After that Rogi's laughter echoed throughout the whole residence.