Chapter 61: Curse Resonance

When Ethan opened his eyes once more, he found himself somewhere else entirely.

The place was not the same.

He now stood within what appeared to be a royal hall … but unlike the one where he had slain Mathius.

This hall was far grander.

Far vaster.

Within it, he saw a group of people kneeling in complete submission before a single man.

Ethan turned his head—and saw him clearly.

A man clad in regal robes, flanked by guards on both sides.

His hair was silver.

His beard, white as snow.

His features were sharp, and his gaze carried an unmistakable air of superiority—one that laid bare his absolute contempt for those kneeling before him.

Those kneeling all shared the same traits.

Crimson hair, burning red like fire.

Eyes glowing with the same scarlet hue.

They were all Heart.

As for the king…

His identity was not difficult to guess.

Ethan believed he was most likely the head of the ruling House Ardyn—one of its kings.

Though whether he was the current ruler or one from a distant era… Ethan could not tell.

Ethan himself was present within the hall.

But only as a spectator.

A powerless observer, incapable of interfering.

Before his eyes, the king commanded the Heart to march forth and confront the Curse.

To stop it.

Even if it cost them their lives.

The Heart obeyed.

Not out of loyalty. But because they had no choice.

Ethan could see it clearly … the hatred in their eyes, the resentment buried deep within their expressions.

And yet, they could do nothing.

Because the Curse had reduced them to slaves.

Among them…

One figure caught Ethan’s attention more than the rest.

He looked slightly different.

But the features were unmistakable.

Especially the eyes.

“…Mathius?”

Ethan stared at him.

Then at the surroundings.

Understanding began to dawn on him.

“Are these… his memories?”

He frowned, unable to grasp the purpose behind what he was seeing … or why the Curse had dragged him here.

He did not even have time to think further.

Because suddenly—

He was pulled away again.

The world shifted.

And the scene changed entirely.

Now, he stood upon familiar ground.

“The Cursed Lands…”

Ethan looked around, immediately recognizing the place.

This was part of the Curse’s domain.

A land of horrors.

Of calamity.

Before him, a brutal battle unfolded.

The Heart fought against monstrous, twisted abominations—massive creatures that slaughtered many of them with ease.

Flames consumed everything.

Blood flooded the earth in vast quantities.

Human blood.

And monster blood alike.

“This isn’t the early region…”

Ethan muttered, recognizing it.

This was likely a mid-game zone.

The monsters here were far more violent.

Far stronger.

Many Heart had died. But some survived.

And those survivors succeeded in slaughtering the beasts.

Among them … Mathius.

Ethan kept his eyes on him the entire time.

Mathius stood at the forefront, fighting with unmatched ferocity.

With courage.

He was a towering figure.

He wielded a greatsword nearly as tall as himself.

That immense blade allowed him to cleave through even the largest of monsters.

He was not alone.

Four others fought beside him.

Ethan quickly realized—

They were likely members of his hunting squad.

“These memories must be from the distant past… but the Hunter system already existed back then.”

As Ethan analyzed the scene, his attention was suddenly drawn elsewhere.

Mathius threw his sword aside.

Then ran forward in panic toward one of his squad members who had collapsed onto the ground.

The greatsword struck the earth with a heavy crash.

But the sound went unheard.

Because Mathius’ cries .. And those of his companions were louder.

Ethan watched in silence.

The dying Heart began to laugh.

Darkness spread across his body.

A strange, corrupting force devoured him from within.

Held in Mathius’ arms…

He begged him.

Begged him with words Ethan heard clearly.

“Please… Mathius… kill me.”

He begged for death.

With each passing second, the Curse crept further across his body—transforming him into something else.

“Kill me… let me die as a human… don’t let me become one of them… please…”

He begged again.

And again.

The request was unbearable.

Ethan could see it clearly …

How it shattered Mathius.

His body trembled violently.

His fists clenched so tightly his nails pierced his palms.

Blood dripped from his hands.

This decision fell upon him alone. Because he was their leader.

After only a brief hesitation …

Seeing his friend’s condition worsen by the second—

Mathius rose.

He retrieved his greatsword.

Then raised it above his friend’s neck.

The dying man smiled.

“It was an honor… to fight beside you… until the end.”

Then …

A violent sound of steel cutting flesh.

Mathius’ blade fell.

Severing the head of the Heart who had chosen death by his friend’s hand… rather than lose his humanity and become a monster.

Afterward, the survivors buried him.

And left.

Grief heavy in their steps.

But Mathius remained.

Standing there … Alone.

For a long time ..his eyes burned with blazing fire.

A fire of rage and sorrow.

Watching him …

Ethan suddenly felt it.

Pain.

A searing heat in his chest.

An overwhelming urge to cry.

“…Are these his emotions?”

Ethan realized.

His face twisted as the wave of feeling crashed into him.

It was suffocating.

Crushing.

Mathius’ desperate desire to save his comrades …

And his absolute helplessness…

Bound by the Curse he could not defy.

His pain.

His grief.

Everything flowed into Ethan, little by little.

“Are you telling me… I’m forced to live through his suffering?”

Ethan cursed under his breath as understanding dawned upon him … why the Blood Eclipse Curse had shown him these memories.

He did not want to experience any of these suffocating emotions.

But the choice was never his.

He was pulled away once more.

And the scene changed again.

Gradually, Ethan witnessed Mathius lead one hunting expedition after another, accompanied by the finest Heart hunters of their time.

Back then, they had all been used as weapons to halt the advance of the Curse, which had begun to threaten the Kingdom of Ardin itself.

By royal decree, the Heart fought day and night.

And every day, hunters died.

Many watched their brothers fall.

Their friends.

Their loved ones.

Death lingered at their side at all times.

Claiming them.

One after another.

Among the hunters of that era, Mathius stood as one of the most prominent.

A great warrior.

He shone upon the battlefield, tearing apart countless monsters.

He fought ferociously against bosses as well, playing a decisive role in their downfall.

But for every boss Mathius slew…

He lost one companion.

This continued for years.

Fighting without end.

Surviving while watching his friends die before him.

And sometimes…

Killing them himself—To prevent them from becoming monsters.

It was a merciless life.

But the hunt did not last forever.

After years of bloodshed, the Heart succeeded in halting the Curse’s advance.

The borders of Ardyn were safe once more.

It was then that Mathius, along with several of the strongest hunters, was summoned to appear before the royal family of Ardyn once again.

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