Temple of the Demon Lord of Wishes

'The main task has been triggered?'

Ivaim's thoughts sharpened as a realization struck him like a bolt of lightning.

'Wait... does this mean Grandma Neli is the Master of Cruelty, not Darian?'

His stomach twisted.

His gaze flickered toward Nathan and the Black Veil Master.

They, too, seemed stunned by the unexpected turn of events.

'Shit...'

Before he could process it further, Neli's voice cut through the tension like a blade.

"I, Neli Valiente..."

Ivaim, Darian, and the others thrashed against their restraints.

Even Darian, still pinned by his mother's chains, struggled desperately.

'These chains... are they even further enchanted? The suppression is too strong... it's even draining my strength!'
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Neli continued, her voice unwavering as the very air grew heavy around them.

"I stand before fate itself and offer my body as a vessel. May this burden of power be bound to my soul alone. May its darkness find no place beyond my grasp. By my will—by my blood—by my name..."

The pressure around them thickened.

The chains holding them seemed to tighten, as though reacting to her words.

Then—

A sharp whistle tore through the silence.

An arrow sliced past Nathan's head, striking the chain that bound him.

It shattered with a metallic snap.

Nathan dropped to the ground, momentarily stunned.

His eyes darted toward the direction of the shot.

"Dad!"

A voice, breathless but determined.

Reves.

He stood at the edge of the scene, gripping a light crossbow in trembling hands.

His face was slick with sweat, his chest heaving.

Ivaim's eyes widened.

'Reves? Did he follow us all the way here?'

Judging by his state, he must have lagged behind, probably to avoid being caught by Nathan.

"I-I followed you because I was worried..."

Reves admitted, his voice small, his gaze dropping to the ground, as if bracing for his father's anger.

Nathan didn't scold him.

He barely spared him a glance before immediately turning back to the battle.

With a flick of his fingers, metallic spears formed in the air, their gleaming edges sharp and unyielding.

With a swift motion, they shot toward the chains restraining the Black Veil Master and Ivaim.

They broke free, dropping to the ground, ready to move—

But it was too late.

Neli's voice rang out, final and unshaken.

"I embrace the weight of this curse, binding it to my soul and my soul alone. May no other bear its burden, may no other suffer its wrath."

The energy swirled around Neli like a living storm, crackling with unseen force.

"May the kindness I have learned and the strength I have gained endure within this gift... until the day fate calls it away."

The last word left her lips, and the very air trembled.

A deep, resonating hum spread outward, as if the world itself acknowledged the binding of the curse.

[Sync Rate: 5%]

Ivaim's eyes flicked to the system message before snapping back to Neli.

The black sphere in her hand began to sink into her palm, its inky darkness stretching and coiling until it spread across her skin like intricate tattoos.

The markings pulsed, veins of dark energy shifting beneath her flesh.

The moment the sphere started to merge with her, Nathan and the Black Veil Master struck.

Nathan's metallic spears rained down from above, glinting with deadly precision.

At the same time, the Black Veil Master let out a slow, lilting tune... a whisper of sound that carried an unnatural drowsiness, a melody meant to lull its target into helplessness.

But Neli didn't flinch.

With a single motion, she raised her free hand, her fingers splaying open.

A series of reddish-hued mirrors materialized in midair, forming a protective barrier around her.

The moment the spears reached them, they stopped.

Nathan's eyes widened as he halted his attack.

If he continued, the effects of his own attack would be reflected back into his own body...

The Black Veil Master narrowed her gaze, tilting her head as she stopped singing.

"The mirrors... they're reflecting back the effects of my melody..."

She murmured, her voice carrying a hint of intrigue.

Nathan's expression darkened.

"Then brute force won't work."

Ivaim, however, didn't join the assault.

His eyes flickered toward Darian, still struggling against his restraints.

Without hesitation, he lunged for one of the fallen metallic spears, gripping its cool surface before dashing toward him.

Ivaim crouched down, gripping the spear tightly as he drove its tip into the chains.

Sparks flew with each strike, metal screeching against metal.

The bindings groaned under the force until, at last, they snapped apart, clattering to the ground.

Darian staggered forward, rubbing his wrists.

His face held a mix of relief and embarrassment as he muttered.

"Thank you…"

Ivaim grinned.

"See? What did I tell you? You and your mother are quite alike."

Darian blinked, caught off guard.

"What?"

"Annoyingly sacrificial as hell..."

Ivaim chuckled.

Darian didn't react much, still confused as to how Ivaim could make jokes in a situation like this.

The tension in the air was suffocating, the weight of what was happening pressing down on them.

And yet, somehow, Ivaim still had the nerve to tease him.

Pushing past his confusion, Darian turned sharply toward Nathan and the Black Veil Master, who were a short distance away.

"She hasn't fully absorbed the curse yet!"

He shouted, urgency filling his voice.

"I need you to bind her so I can contend for control over it!"

He clenched his fists, desperation flashing in his eyes.

"Please! Let me be the one to take on the curse!"

Ivaim remained silent for a moment, processing the situation.

His mind raced through the possibilities.

'In the original reality of this place, it was Grandma Neli who became the Master of Cruelty... But if we can transfer the curse to Darian instead, that should fulfill the requirement for the main task!'

His jaw tightened as he made his decision.

"Alright!"

He said, locking eyes with Nathan and the Black Veil Master.

Their expressions shifted as though they had analyzed the same thing as Ivaim.

They had come to the same conclusion.

Darian, who had been bracing himself to argue, hesitated.

He had expected resistance, expected them to deny him, to tell him he was too weak, too unworthy.

Instead, they agreed without hesitation.

His breath caught in his throat.

For a moment, he wasn't sure if he should feel relieved... or terrified.