Chapter 272: Cursed Technique

Palpable silence spread across the warriors, their faces growing pale.

Rationally speaking, even if a Titan was going to attack them, there was no need to worry. Surely they could rely on the Emperor to arrive to their aid.

But even so…

A Titan was no different than a god in everybody’s eyes. Being told an entity of such scale was going to attack them instantly put them on edge.

However, one person didn’t share their feelings. Crossing his arms, Michael glanced at his system. More specifically, the quest that had been active for quite some time now.

[Quest: Curing a Paragon’s father]

[Difficulty: Impossible]

[Task: Cursed with an untreatable disease, your father is destined to die, regardless of how much medical help he receives. Achieve the impossible and become the first person in history to defeat the illness!]

[Reward: Mythic cybernetic, 5,000 Skill Points]

Michael’s father was sick, and he had deduced that by utilizing the spiritual energy of a Titan, he would be able to heal him.

Unfortunately, Michael didn’t wield the strength to challenge a Titan yet. Not to mention, even if he did, the Emperor and the faction leaders would never let him have the valuable corpse even if he defeated it single-handedly.

’Troublesome.’ He frowned.

Sooner or later the current leadership had to be removed. However, Michael had to tread carefully when it came to ridding humanity of their current leaders.

In his prior life, he had rushed things and… Paid a hefty price for doing so.

Not just him, everybody did…

A mistake that, even though he had erased it by going back in time, still haunted him to this day.

“Boss!”

Seeing him deep in thought, Richard nudged Michael as he whispered.

“Fifty Overlords, a Monarch, and a Titan. What do you make of this?”

Blinking a few times, Michael glanced at his crew. Surprisingly there was no trace of hesitation or fear in their gazes.

Their loyalty was unwavering, to the point that it stunned him momentarily.

After a brief pause, he shrugged.

“It doesn’t change anything, does it? Foolish aliens, daring to challenge humanity… only death awaits them.”

His usual confidence steadied the crew’s resolve, making them the only ones among the soldiers who showed no reaction to the looming threat.

“May I speak?”

The soothing voice of a woman echoed. She was Iris, and her beauty and presence marked her as a Radiant Lord, though even her looks paled in comparison to Victoria and Claire.

With a nod, Cayson prompted her to speak.

“For the Titan, it’s obvious the Emperor would be involved, but what is our plan for the Monarch?” Iris asked calmly. “Excuse my use of words, but even you, a Transcendent Lord, will not be able to hold a candle to such a monster.”

Cayson scoffed, not taking offense.

“Don’t worry, I have no intention of challenging the Monarch in an attempt to earn myself a name with my impulsive actions.”

The Lord threw a deliberate glance towards Michael before continuing.

“After discussing things with the higher-ups, our call for aid has been answered by the Sacred Order. Supreme Lord Nicole would personally oversee the operation.”

“…”

While a Supreme Lord was by no means a King or Queen, they were still a force to be reckoned with.

A grimace twisted Iris’s face.

“I understand that things may be dire, but…” Her voice cracked.

“Are we sure entrusting our lives to one of the Cursed Children is wise?”

Cayson stared at her with a deadpan expression.

“Beggars can’t be choosers.”

Eventually, the meeting concluded.

As the crew walked across the ship’s hallways, Richard glanced at Victoria.

“I’ve been meaning to ask… everybody calls Nicole one of the Cursed Children. What does that really mean?”

She sighed.

“Honestly? Even I don’t know. And like you, I didn’t have the courage to ask her when we met. From what I’ve observed, the name is given to those who share the same traits as the Emperor.”

Richard hummed, then shifted his glance to Michael.

“Boss… do you happen to know?”

Michael went quiet for a few seconds.

“Perhaps… but it’s just a rumor.”

Nevertheless, the eager glances of the crew made it clear they were all curious. After all, Nicole had helped them establish an official base for their faction. They wanted to know more about her.

“The Cursed Children can be distinguished by their naturally crimson eyes and hair, just like the Emperor.” He said slowly. “That is no coincidence, as they are all the Emperor’s children.”

Enzo, visibly not surprised by the revelation, bellowed. “Then why are they called Cursed Children? Being a child of the strongest human sounds more like a blessing than a curse!”

Instinctively, Michael’s fists clenched, veins bulging under his skin, as he elaborated.

“You know how soldiers gain techniques, right? The first way is by inserting a cybernetic into their neural link and comprehending it. The second is by creating the technique themselves.”

He paused briefly.

“Expanding on the second method, you can forge a technique into an individual with enough training. Many families have what’s called a family technique, passed down through generations. Coincidentally, the Emperor’s family has one as well, which alters their eyes and hair to crimson.”

Ava gasped.

“An Emperor’s technique?! What could it possibly be?”

She obviously didn’t expect Michael to know… That was why he stunned the crew when he answered.

“Blood manipulation. Pretty powerful, right? Imagine controlling the life essence of your enemies, moving them like puppets, or causing them to die before they even realize it.”

The crew stared at him in deadly silence. How could Michael possibly know this?

Meanwhile, Michael was too furious to notice their stunned expressions.

“And that technique.” He continued. “Is why they’re called Cursed Children… Or rather, one of the conditions to attain it. It’s tied to blood. Not just any blood, but the blood of relatives: parents, siblings, and children. You kill hundreds, thousands, over many years, and eventually you comprehend that ability.”

“Wait—” Victoria tried to interject, but Michael didn’t even glance her way.

“So how did the Emperor ensure his children inherited the technique? Simple. He had numerous wives, made them bear his children, and once those children could walk, locked them in confinement and forced them to kill one another until only one remained. Conducted over a long enough period, a few would inevitably inherit his technique… The ones we know as the Cursed Children.”

Michael blinked a few times, his anger subsiding as the daze over his mind lifted.

“But of course… This is just a rumor. Nothing has been confirmed nor brought to light.”

“…”

The crew could tell Michael knew he had revealed too much and was trying to backtrack by calling it a rumor. But they weren’t buying it even for a second. Despite his skill as an actor, the intense rage that had seeped from his voice couldn’t have been faked.

Naturally, their thoughts drifted to when they had first met Nicole. She had seemed intimidating, yes, but not evil… Could she truly have endured such a brutal past? The mere fact that she strove to fight for humanity, rather than use her power to destroy it… Was more than astounding.

Coincidentally, Michael had felt the same way in his first life. It was the reason he fell in love with Nicole once he learned what she had endured… It wasn’t her otherworldly beauty, but the resilience and strength of her soul that had utterly captured his heart.

“Enough gossiping.” Michael said, interrupting their train of thought.

“Considering the danger we’re about to face, it’s high time we grow stronger. We’re about to go shopping… for techniques.”

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