The Asmodeus Curse

"Err…" Ethan mumbled in disbelief. "Lucifer was a female? What was Alaric thinking, forcing himself on a defeated woman? Was he really the chosen one? What sort of prison did he escape from?"

Velma shook her head. "Alaric was the most virtuous among humans. But the Chaste Devil's identity and virginity were protected by powerful dark magic. Whoever saw her face would be doomed! He would be overcome by lust and forced to defile her purity. It would unleash a terrible curse on the mortal world. The Asmodeus Curse." 

Ethan raised his brows. The name sounded familiar. Asmodeus was an important character in the Solomon texts. In both Christian and Jewish demonic hierarchies, he was referred to as the King of Demons.

"Who is Asmodeus, Mom?"

Velma ruffled his hair lovingly. "Legends say that before the Devil disappeared, a bastard entity was birthed from her infernal loins. His name was Asmodeus. His birth first cursed Alaric's sin, which infected all males among the intelligent species."

The boy gulped anxiously. What did that mean for him?

"So Alaric was the first to be affected by the Asmodeus Curse? How did it affect every other male?"

Velma's eyes became teary as she explained. "It spread like a plague, wiping out most of the masculine gender in the world."

Ethan got up from his mother's lap. "Oh? If the curse was fatal, why do men still exist? Aren't both genders needed to propagate a species? The entire human race should be extinct, along with other cursed races. How am I infected by it generations later?"

His mother smiled warmly. "It seems you have finally started showing signs of high intelligence, sweetie. Anyway, the Asmodeus Curse threatened to wipe out all intelligent species in a generation. However, they were rescued by a witch of the new generation."

"Not just any witch, but the legendary witch Cassandra, an ally of the humans. She conjured a powerful spell to counter the Devil's Curse. Cassandra reversed Asmodeus' birth, postponing it to future generations."

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "His birth is postponed? I don't understand."

Velma shrugged nonchalantly. "Neither do I. But folks say that Asmodeus will be born again among humans. His destiny lies in ruling the world like his mother intended."

The boy was silent, processing the backstory. Reincarnation in novels never came without trouble and responsibility. Was he, Ethan Cromwell, somehow wrapped up in the Asmodeus legends?

"Cassandra's magic couldn't end the curse but severely reduced its effects," Velma added. "However, by that time, ninety-nine percent of males were already dead, and it had become an inalienable part of the human gene."

Ethan scratched his head. "I still don't understand. You said I have the Asmodeus Curse. Does that mean I am going to die?"

His mother shook her head. Her cheeks were soggy with tears. "I wish I knew how it will affect you. But I have no idea!"

"What do you mean you don't know? What do the lore and legends say?" What was the point of reincarnation into a fantasy world if he died young of some dark magic disease?

Velma eyed her son with affection. "My dear baby… The story ends there…"

[Challenge completed!: Discover curse's backstory]

[Reward: Golden library key]

Ethan ignored the notifications for now.

"The Devil's Curse was never completely gone from the world," Velma added. "It is still prevalent in all generations of men, albeit with a condition."

Ethan looked up expectantly. "What condition?"

"That brings me to your curse, son… Let me explain how it works… If a male gets an erection and does not satisfy it within three hours, the curse unlocks. The resultant effects are unique for every individual male."

"What kind of effects?"

"Some boys sprout boils, while others have organ failure. Some men shed all their hair, and others get cancer. The effects escalate as the hours pass. Depending on the unique curse status, a man can easily die of unattended erections. It is a reflection of the unbridled lust that infected the hero Alaric. His future generations have to pay the price for it."

The boy gulped anxiously. "Do guys really die of it? Have there been any such deaths lately?"

Velma bit her lip, trying to recall. "I read this in last week's newspaper… Recently, a male donor named Edgar suffered a terrible fate. He was a rich traveling merchant who sold his seed nationwide. Edgar's curse effect was—part of his skin turned to stone if he didn't tend to an erection within three hours."

"Oh? What happened to him?"

"During Edgar's last trip, his carriage fell into a troll trap in the mountains. No matter how much he tried, the man couldn't escape from the pit. He called out for help, but there wasn't a soul around."

"Edgar had sufficient food and water with him. However, back in the town, he used to lead an active sex life. Therefore, he started getting erections and couldn't satisfy them. When travelers found him three days later, Edgar had completely turned to stone."

Ethan's face turned pale. A man turned to stone for not getting an orgasm? That was the most ridiculous thing he ever heard. Then, a doubt suddenly occurred to him.

The boy tried to make his voice as innocent as possible. "Why didn't he… you know… pleasure himself and get rid of his erection?"

Velma offered him a sorrowful smile. "Touching yourself only spreads the Asmodeus Curse faster, dear. Please remember that. In fact, if you spill your seed after self-stimulation, you may die within a minute!"

Ethan's erection completely drooped on hearing the horrifying news. What sort of weird curse was it? He gulped anxiously and turned to his mother.

"So something like that could happen to me if I don't satisfy my urges on time?"

Velma nodded with glassy eyes. "I'm afraid so, dear."

Ethan felt an onset of panic. He was just reincarnated into a world of women. However, the rules were completely stacked against him. He did not wish to die miserable and horny.

"Mom! I don't know since when I've been having erections. I could be getting them in my sleep! What if I am already affected by the curse? I don't want to turn to stone!"

Velma placed a reassuring hand on her son's thigh. "Oh, baby… Don't worry. Your mom has been keeping tabs on you. Since you achieved puberty, I have visited your bed every night. While you were asleep, I'd pull down your pants to ensure you don't have a night erection or even morning wood."

"You did what?" Ethan asked in disbelief. Her words came as a jarring shock, and somehow, he felt his prick engorge again. What kind of mother would do that?