Cursed Heir System: Revenge Against the Gods

Dekel hung slumped against the tunnel wall, wrists and ankles bound by rusty chains, blood pouring from the stump of his severed hand.

Grrrrrrkkkk.

A low growl echoed from the deep tunnel, forcing Dekel to look up, his face paling. A chilling screech followed as a long, twisted limb with grey, gnarled fingers scraped the stone, stepping into the torchlight.

The eyeless creature emerged, its jagged teeth dripping with fresh blood. Dekel thrashed against the chains, letting out a high, desperate scream. "No! Leave now!"

With a bone-crunching snap, the monster's jaws clamped around his torso as it lunged. Only his bloodied hand remained, hanging from the chain, swaying as flesh and bone were torn apart.

---

Meanwhile, Alan and Moriko sprinted through the tunnels, their footsteps echoing off the walls. Alan gripped the sword he'd taken from the dead guard.

The Parheller mines were a maze of dead ends and dark shafts, but Alan had a tool better than any map: the power to return from death.

Still running, he raised his hand. "Everyone, release!" he shouted.

Sharp *clicks* reverberated through the sleeping quarters. Slave collars snapped open across the mines. Hundreds of slaves froze, hands touching their necks, feeling the absence of their collars. The cavern erupted in a wild roar of freedom as gasps turned to triumphant shouts.

"We're free!" a rough-voiced slave bellowed, his tone raw and exultant. Others joined in, rushing toward the exits.

The guards stationed at the quarters stood frozen. As the slaves charged forward, one guard muttered, his hand reaching for his whip, "What in the gods' name—?"

Another drew his sword, yelling, "Stop them!" But the emancipated slaves overwhelmed them, their roars drowning out commands as the stampede pushed past.

Moriko glanced at Alan as they ran. Breathless, she asked, "Why did you release everyone? Every guard in the mines will come down on us now!"

Alan's mouth twisted into a sly smile. "Chaos is our cover. The guards'll be too busy chasing them to chase us. We slip through the cracks."

As they rounded a corner, three guards emerged from a side tunnel, forcing them to skid to a stop. The lead guard drew his sword, shouting, "Escaping slaves! Stop right there!"

Moriko didn't hesitate. With her newfound freedom, she let out a savage growl and charged, her body shifting into her semi-beast form mid-stride. Her muscles tightened, her frame grew leaner, and dark fur sprouted along her arms and legs.

Her hands transformed into gauntlets with long, sharp claws, and her legs shifted, feet turning digitigrade, giving her explosive speed. She resembled a human panther.

She lunged at the first guard, her claws meeting his sword with a shower of sparks. Parrying with overwhelming speed, she slashed through his chest, tearing flesh and armor like fabric. He collapsed, blood pooling on the stone.

Alan's sword clashed with a loud *clang* as he deflected a blow from the second guard.

The third guard was quick, swinging his sword from the side. Alan dodged just in time, a thin line of blood welling where the steel grazed his arm.

Seizing the moment, the second guard struck, his blade slicing clean across Alan's chest. Searing pain erupted as blood sprayed.

His vision blurred, the world fading to black.

[Skill: Return by Death activated.]

[Checkpoint retained.]

---

"Why'd you release everyone?" Moriko asked, running through the tunnel. "Every guard in the mines will come down on us now!"

Alan's eyes snapped open, his heart pounding as he stopped running, gasping for air. The phantom pain of the sword across his chest lingered, but his body was unscathed.

He'd looped again, back to this moment, just before the guards appeared.

*Back to this point? Is it time? Place? Some kind of anchor? How does this work?*

"Alan?" Moriko shouted, running back and grabbing his hand. "What's wrong with you? You're shaking!"

He blinked, shaking his head, her voice grounding him. "Let's go," he said.

They ran through the tunnel, Alan now anticipating what was coming.

Three guards charged from a side tunnel, the leader raising his blade. "Escaped slaves!"

Moriko didn't hesitate. Her body shifted, sprouting dark fur as she transformed into her semi-beast form. She leaped at the first guard, claws slashing across his chest. He screamed, collapsing in a pool of blood.

Alan deflected the second guard's sword with a spark-flying *clang*. Knowing the third guard's attack from his previous death, he ducked before the blade could swing.

He was ready this time.

Before the third guard could recover, Alan spun and drove his sword into the man's chest. The guard died standing, blood gushing from his mouth.

"Sorry," Alan muttered, yanking his sword free. "I'm done repeating myself."

The second guard froze, stunned. Enraged, he swung wildly, but Alan was faster. He shoved the dead guard's body into the blade's path. The sword bit into the corpse, and the guard stumbled, shocked.

Moriko pounced, her claws slashing the guard's throat. He choked, blood pooling as he crumpled. She stood, gasping, her form shifting back, her golden eyes weary. "I'm starving, Alan," she said. "This is too much."

Alan wiped his sword on a guard's cloak. "No time to rest. We're almost out."

"A MONSTER!"

A scream echoed, followed by deep, eerie growls. Moriko's ears twitched, her fur standing on end. "What was that?" she asked, staring into the darkness.

Alan smirked, his eyes knowing. "Something favouring us."

A group of terrified slaves and guards rounded the corner, their faces pale with fear.

With a sickening crunch, a slave was dragged into the shadows by a long, twisted, grey arm.

Moriko's eyes widened. "What on earth is that thing?"

"No time!" Alan grabbed her wrist. "Let's move!"

Moriko kept pace, breathing heavily as they ran through the tunnels, navigating broken paths, slippery slopes, and sharp turns.

They skidded into a large chamber—a dead end. Their labored breathing echoed off the stone walls enclosing them.

Moriko turned around in panic. "Alan, we're trapped!"

A low growl rumbled from the tunnel behind them. The monster was close.

"What do we do?" Moriko whispered, her voice trembling.

"Stay here," Alan said, stepping toward the tunnel.

She grabbed his arm. "Are you insane? You can't fight that thing!"

Alan hesitated, his fingers twitching. His heart pounded like a war drum. Even knowing he'd return, the pain and fear never got easier.

He looked back at her, his blue eyes fierce but betraying a flicker of fear. "I'll figure out how to get us out," he said, almost convincing himself.

"Alan, no!" Moriko cried.

His throat felt dry. His legs resisted moving. A tremor ran through him. Dying still hurt, every single time.

He pulled away, his blue eyes blazing. "Trust me."

"Alan, please, don't!" she screamed, reaching for him.

The creature burst into the torchlight, an eyeless horror with jaws wide, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth. It moved faster than Alan expected.

Crunch.

Teeth tore through him. Blood sprayed. Alan's body went limp, half-devoured in the creature's jaws.

[Skill: Return by Death activated.]