Chapter 10

Eren and Zen climbed the secret staircase, discussing the details of the curse-breaking.

"As I said before, the worst magic eye in history is the 'Strongest and Oldest Curse.' I want you to use this potent poison to break the curse of the serpentine mark."

"Using a higher-level curse to neutralize a lower-level one, right?"

"Yes, that's correct. Find the 'core' of the serpentine mark and inject the curse of the magic eye into it. Theoretically, that should break the curse."

"How do I inject the curse of the magic eye...?"

"There's no need to overthink it. When you remove the special lens and release the worst magic eye in history, your magic power itself becomes the 'highest-level curse.' Just let your magic power touch the core of the serpentine mark, and the curse will be neutralized—Sylph's body will be free of the snake pattern."

"I see..."

The magic power flowing through his body was the highest-level curse. Upon hearing this, Eren felt a bit conflicted.

After that, the two of them climbed the stairs to the end, emerged from the sooty fireplace, and moved to the bedroom where Sylph lay sleeping.

"Ha... ha..."

She lay on the bed, her face contorted in agony, breathing heavily.

"Sylph... you must be in so much pain... so much suffering... But it's okay now. The pain of the curse will end today."

Zen said this and gently stroked her cheek.

During this time, Eren focused his magic power in his left eye, releasing the magic eye, and quickly checked Sylph's current condition.

(...The black mist coiling around her body, like snakes... It's exactly the same as what I saw in the cathedral. The person who cast this curse is most likely the same, the mage Megido.)

Eren closed his eyes for a moment and exhaled a long, deep breath.

"Zen, shall we start soon?"

"Yes, please..."

And so, the curse-breaking began.

Eren focused his left eye on the serpentine mark—aiming inside it.

In the next instant, his field of vision was filled with an enormous spell formula, consisting of tens of millions of sections.

(This...)

Indeed, in appearance, it was not much different from the curse he had broken in the cathedral.

However, its structure was entirely different.

The serpentine mark, crafted by the great mage Megido a thousand years ago, was a collection of formidable magic power and terrifying malice—an unprecedented curse.

And most importantly,

(...It's deep...)

For ten years, the curse had seeped deep into Sylph's cells, almost completely merging with her body.

To break this serpentine mark, he would have to find the core within the 37 trillion cells that make up the human body. This was a task as difficult as finding a grain of rice in a vast desert.

(...It's impossible...)

The thought of failure crossed his mind.

But—

(...If I give up here, what will happen to Sylph? What about Zen's efforts? ...Right. It's not about whether it's impossible or possible... It's about doing it...)

He spurred himself on, taking a deep breath.

(Focus. Concentrate your eyes. Peer into the depths of magic...)

As Eren increased his concentration, a dense, evil magic power began to rise from his body.

This was nothing like the gentle and warm magic power he usually possessed. It emitted a darkness that seemed to condense all the ill omens of the world.

(What kind of magic power does he have...? The final move he showed during the duel wasn't even his full power...?)

As Zen was speechless, a strange phenomenon occurred.

"Kishaa!"

The black mist covering Sylph's body transformed into numerous black snakes, which latched onto Eren's entire body.

This was the curse's defensive reaction. It had detected the intrusion of the magic eye and automatically initiated a counterattack.

"Hey, are you okay...!?"

But there was no response.

(This... isn't it. This... isn't it. This... isn't it either)

Eren, displaying an extraordinary level of concentration, did not stop his efforts to break the curse, even as black snakes bit into his body.

He was in a state of complete absorption. He had blocked out all other senses except for his vision, focusing all his attention on the task at hand—finding the core.

(...Eren, I'm sorry...)

Zen clenched his teeth, apologizing for his own powerlessness. He could easily dispel the black snakes.

However, interfering with the curse's automatic counterattack would disrupt the spell structure. This would make finding the core even more difficult and could hinder Eren rather than help him.

So, Zen endured. He continued to bear the powerless time, unable to do anything.

How much time had passed?

In the suffocating silence, with only the ticking of the clock, the moment finally arrived.

(...I found it...)

The worst magic eye in history could distinguish all magic power by color.

Red—fatal point.

Striking this point would certainly kill the deployed spell.

(No doubt, this is the core of the serpentine mark! If I inject my magic power here without damaging other cells...!)

He concentrated a tiny amount of magic power at his fingertips and accurately pierced the center of the fatal point floating over Sylph's heart.

In the next instant, the black mist eroding her body began to dissipate into glowing particles.

"Phew... I did it... It worked..."

"...Did you break the curse...? Ha, ha, ha... Eren, you...!"

In the midst of his joy—just as the black mist was about to dissipate, it reformed into a massive serpentine curse, baring its fangs at Eren.

"What!?"

This was the trap of the great mage Megido, the 'Curse Rebound.' If the serpentine mark was broken by any external means, it would kill the mage who performed the curse-breaking. A hidden penalty for the forced destruction of the curse.

"Trou... ble..."

"Eren, run...!"

After using the worst magic eye in history for an extended period and burning all his concentration, Eren had no strength left to avoid the curse rebound.

As the serpentine curse spread its malice and tried to kill him, a voice tinged with a slight anger quietly echoed.

"—Get lost, vermin."

In an instant, everything reflected in the magic eye was extinguished. No, it was obliterated.

"...Eh...?"

"What just... happened...?"

Destruction occurred in an instant, leaving only silence. In front of Eren, a large hole had opened in the wall of the Rosés family, and everything beyond it—grass, trees, mountains—had been annihilated.

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