Chapter Forty-Five: Curse · Love · Heart

“Boss, the emergency treatment is done. You shouldn’t engage in strenuous activity for now...”
“Boss, the Red Lions and that man are almost here. Should we—”

The Skull Chief clutched his neck, breathing heavily.
“Feather stays; everyone else, retreat.”

The Skull Chief sat down in his chair, showing no intention of moving. Silence fell over the safe house, where moments ago his subordinates had been noisily arguing. A short, silent man approached the leader of Death’s Wing and bowed.
“Mr. Skull Chief, only five of your fighters remain. I think I should—”
“Triple the commission’s already in your account.”

Though gasping for air, his tone remained firm and unyielding, allowing no refusal. Everyone present had just witnessed their leader’s grievous state, yet no one saw him as weak. Sitting drenched in sweat, his body trembling from exhaustion, the fierce gaze beneath his skull mask was that of a lone wolf cornered with no escape.

Behind this man stretched wings woven from fear and loyalty. No matter how grievous the wounds, the black wings would never fall—they would only be stained red with blood.

The Skull Chief’s men silently nodded, obeying his orders. He struggled to stand, raising his right arm; his mechanical limb gleamed as if new.
“One last battle.”

·

Kaldessia gazed out the window, casually asking,
“Ren, when you were treating your wounds earlier, did you forget everything that happened today?”

“A day’s memory means the weight of a day’s worth of memories. Paying with the memory of the very day is a heavier price, for the mind reverts to the same time the previous day. Judging by the outcome, that would put me in an extremely disadvantageous position.”

Which day’s memory was it exactly? He thought Kaldessia might press further. In truth, only precious memories could be paid as treatment costs—specifically, his memories after escaping the Shigure Research Institute and arriving at the Sky City.

Curses are a technique born of pain: by sacrificing one’s own suffering, one can inflict pain upon others. But to use this power to heal or reclaim something, one must pay with what they cherish. Otherwise, the scale cannot balance.

“I see.”

The girl didn’t pursue the matter. She donned her dried hat and pointed toward a nearby building.
“We’re here.”

The Scarlet Meteor transformed back from a robot into a car and stopped before a pitch-black building. Perhaps realizing that sending reinforcements was pointless, or because Death’s Wing had suffered heavy losses in continuous battles, no one barred their way at the safe house where the Skull Chief was. The building’s doors stood wide open, silently inviting them in.

Ren Shigure stepped out first.
“Kaldessia, how many do you think are left?”

The blonde girl refused the driver’s offer of treatment, partially turning her body into flames to suppress her injuries. The glowing spots on her right arm ceased spreading and began fading visibly—signaling she was nearing the limit of her “Death Charge” ability.

“Death’s Wing isn’t what it used to be. I wiped out the elite unit, and the rest were mostly taken care of on our way here. Probably only five or six fighters remain by the Skull Chief’s side.”

At least one spiritual mage capable of large-scale illusions remained—likely an advanced Communicator class, not Manifestation, for that price the Skull Chief could not pay.

Ren removed his gloves early, making one last attempt to persuade.
“Kaldessia—”

The girl cut him off decisively, her tone resolute and unyielding, reminiscent of her usual sudden whims.
“I’m coming with you.”

The suited young man smiled wryly.
“Promise me you won’t get hurt again.”

Kaldessia nodded enthusiastically. Honestly, the pressure she put on him was far greater than that from the Skull Chief and Death’s Wing combined. He had never undertaken such a difficult mission before—only a morning date could compare.

And this was still a date. Thinking of that, the pressure tightened even more.

Ren removed his gloves, slicing his palm with his fingertips. His scarred hand became a canvas, and intricate patterns formed swiftly with no errors. His hands intertwined like butterflies, revealing a complete design on his backs.

Floating above his hands was a blood-red scale.

Ren whispered,
“Corrupt Curse Body, Will Command Jubi.”
“Calamity Sign: Manifestation—”

The most vicious experiment from the Shigure Research Institute revealed his soul fully at this moment.

Behind him appeared a huge humanoid silhouette, draped in a gauzy cloak. Its sleeves and the area beneath its hood were nothing but an abyssal darkness. Hovering before the white phantom was a scale as wide as itself—one side golden, the other gray—a true form of Ren’s Impermanence Technique.

“Impure Day: Curse Scale.”

He initiated the initial bargain.

“The cost is immobility for ten minutes; the reward is bodily enhancement for ten minutes.”

The scale tilted slightly toward the golden side.

There was ample time; if necessary, he could repeat the bargain.

Ren drew his handgun, disengaged the safety, and calmly stepped into the building. At the same moment he crossed the threshold, soft sounds came from both sides—bullets fired from silenced guns aimed at his head! Immediately, a burly man swung a club from the front!

The suited youth leaned back, extending his arm. The curse scale’s bargain had enhanced his physical abilities; bullets whizzed past his sleeve, causing only minor burns.

“The cost is absorbing others’ damage.” He pulled the trigger, firing at the third assailant’s shoulder. “The reward is reflecting my injuries.”

The white phantom’s robe billowed, and the scale tipped toward the gray side. Horrified screams echoed at the entrance. One assailant erupted with deep wounds down to the bone; another’s flesh melted as if rotting!

Ren stepped forward, his left fist striking. His knuckles connected solidly with the burly man’s throat, crushing his Adam’s apple. Within a breath, all three attackers fell.

The fourth assailant leapt from behind a sofa, a ghostly green orb glowing in his hand! Ren dodged aside, firing a bullet into the man’s side. The shot’s force knocked him down; Ren followed with a side kick, his leg whipping like a whip, the tip striking the man’s temple—a decisive blow!

The fifth attacker jumped down from the second floor, spraying gunfire wildly. Using the recoil from his kick, Ren retreated while aiming at the attacker’s wrist. The man ducked to evade, but one “lucky” bullet grazed Ren’s leg...

“The cost is absorbing others’ damage. The reward is reflecting my injuries.”

Ren repeated the tactic. The fifth attacker was charred black and collapsed silently. The spacious hall was cleared of enemies, and only then did Kaldessia catch up.

She surveyed the carnage and nodded.
“So you’re actually the secret ace agent trained by Zero Island?”

Gongsun had said similar things before.

Their ways of thinking were surprisingly alike in some respects.

“My origins are... even harsher,” he replied, glancing toward the stairway leading to the second floor. Eight spiral steps led down the hall, each landing with a closed door behind it.

This was no normal architectural design—likely a trap set by that spiritual mage.

“The cost is—”

“Ren,” the blonde interrupted, “that meaningless staircase and the trick with the reversed sign—same guy, right?”

“I think so... Kaldessia?”

“That means it’s an illusion. This thing—”

Kaldessia ground her teeth, crouched down, and slammed her fists on the floor.
“If we burn it all down, it won’t work anymore!!!”

Eight pillars of flame rose, incinerating the stairs completely. The fiery columns converged on the ceiling, then cascaded down like a tide, cleansing all areas outside the second-floor doors. But a scream cut through the blaze; the stairs vanished instantly, leaving only a burning short man falling from midair!

Kaldessia exhaled in exhaustion, clapping her hands with a triumphant smile.
“Done! How do you usually deal with this kind of ability?”

The suited youth thought for a moment and smiled.
“I think your method is more efficient.”

Compared to how to dispel illusions, Kaldessia’s energy reserves exceeded his expectations. To unleash such powerful attacks after such a chaotic battle showed remarkable stamina.

Noticing his companion’s curious gaze, the blonde proudly tossed her hair.
“I’m an energy emitter—if I ran out of flame this easily, how could I survive out here!”

Though she disliked fighting, she used the word “survive” in such a casual way...

He kept this to himself. Their priority remained to end the fight. After the fiery purge, the spiritual mage’s traps were violently broken. Whatever arrangements the Skull Chief had made, only a charred staircase and a locked iron door remained inside.

The Skull Chief no longer used his powers. At a glance, it seemed the organization leader had given up resistance, but in truth, it was a wise decision: Ren’s two attacks had proven he could counter Death’s Wing. Skull Chief would never hand his lifeline to the enemy again.

Two paths lay before him: fight to the death or seize the chance to escape.

Which would he choose? The answer was obvious. With almost all his forces deployed, the leader of a violent organization would rather die than accept such a pitiful end.

He grasped the iron door’s handle and tried to turn it.

It wasn’t locked.

“Kaldessia, stand aside.”

The blonde obeyed. The youth gripped his gun and slammed the door open sideways.

“Ahhhhh—!”

A hoarse roar and the sound of the iron door crashing against the wall rang out simultaneously. The man with the skull mask charged like a raging bull, raising his mechanical arm in defense! Bullets sparked upon his mask but bounced off to the side.

Just as Skull Chief was about to collide, Ren rolled aside, firing low shots aimed at the Skull Chief’s ankle!

Clang! The bullets compressed into a lump against the reinforced armor, unable to penetrate. Conventional weapons were useless against this fully armored man!

“Useless!”

Ren missed his chance again. Skull Chief roared and swung his fist! The silver mechanical arm grazed Ren’s jacket and slammed down, shattering the second floor’s floorboards. Both fell together to the first floor’s hall!

Aiming at the enemy’s eyes midair, Ren fired twice—both shots deflected by the mechanical arm. They landed mere feet apart. Ren reached out first, not to attack, but placing his index finger on the Skull Chief’s mechanical arm.

“The cost is one minute of stinging pain.”

He smiled and winked; the half-gold, half-gray scale behind him began to tilt. Skull Chief suddenly recalled the strange attacks earlier and sensed danger! He decisively abandoned his prime opportunity, shaking off Ren’s touch—

But at that moment, the suited youth exploded with speed beyond expectation! Pushing off with one foot, his lithe figure leapt like a leopard. He deliberately used only a handgun to display slightly superhuman agility, aiming to mislead Skull Chief about his true strength.

That misjudgment decided the battle’s outcome!

Ren landed in front of the masked man, covering his face with his left hand, then crushed the skull mask in his palm!

Conditions met again, the unfinished bargain continued!

“The reward is to transfer the scars on my torso within one minute.”

Not reproduction, but transfer. Only a few minor scars reappeared; the rest on his torso vanished. The scale tilted toward the gray side. Skull Chief screamed—not human—his strong body convulsing wildly, rolling on the ground like a madman. Piercings, slashes, burns, corrosion—all imaginable injuries appeared on him. His face twisted into a demonic grimace, his body grotesquely distorted!

Ren looked down at the man with cold eyes.

Curses are a technique born of malice—a means of the unfortunate, the impure, the despised—to inflict pain upon others through a sinister ritual.

All this was pain he had once endured.

The hall’s devastation resembled hell on earth; no one would call this “righteous retribution.” Compared to the Shigure Institute’s monstrosities, even Skull Chief seemed like a righteous warrior.

He forced himself to ignore the girl watching nearby, raised his gun, and prepared to fire the last bullet.

“Stop, Ren.”

Ren didn’t lower his gun.
“I’ve killed many people, Kaldessia.”

“That’s enough.”

The girl grabbed his wrist, refusing to relent.

Ren sighed silently and lowered his gun. The white phantom and scale behind him vanished; no new wounds appeared on Skull Chief. The dreadful scars returned to the Impermanence Mage.

The Skull Chief’s mask had been crushed, revealing his battered face. Not a patch of healthy flesh remained; his terrifying visage could make children scream.

He forced his eyes open, unwilling to close them. Ignoring the young man who had defeated him, he stared at the blonde beside him.
“I didn’t lose to you...”

His voice was faint—after such grievous injury, it was a miracle he could speak.
“I didn’t... lose to you... Red Lion!”

Kaldessia removed her hat and looked down at the dying man.
“Yes, Red Lion lost to you.”

Then,
She threw her arm around the silent youth, a refreshing smile blooming amid the astonished gazes of both men.

“But, Kaldessia doesn’t care about such trivial things!”

She donned her hat and gave no further glance to Skull Chief.
“Let’s go, Ren!”

“Ah? Wait, Kaldessia...”

She grabbed his collar and pulled him from the dark building.

The afternoon’s chaos had passed, and dusk approached. The setting sun bathed them in light no longer harsh.

Kaldessia dragged the suited youth to the sports car, hands on hips, firing questions.
“Can you tell me now?”

Ren lowered his gaze.
“I am...”

He spoke softly of his past—of the remote island research institute, the inhumane experiments, the child chosen as a test subject.

Of his scars, his cursed power, the blood on his hands.

Confessing took longer than he imagined; even the incapacitation period had passed.

Kaldessia never interrupted, listening intently.

“...This is the real Ren Shigure.”

He finished, staring at his feet, afraid to meet her expression.

“And then? Keep talking.”

Ren looked up in surprise. The blonde stood with arms crossed, expression unreadable—just urging him to continue.

“That’s all.”

Kaldessia’s expression finally changed—not disgust, not fear.

She looked angry.

“You’re not finished! Why did you say it was a joke this morning, at the end?!”

“...”

The suited youth opened his mouth but found no words. He had imagined many responses, but none addressed this question. Like that morning, he answered hastily.
“I thought... I... I didn’t deserve it... I was afraid you would...”

Kaldessia flexed her wrist and spat out a few words through gritted teeth.
“Clench your teeth.”

He did instinctively. A dull thud followed, fire blooming on his chin, stars flashing in his mind. Kaldessia delivered an uppercut!

“—Who would hate you for something like that, idiot!!”

Confused, he struggled to open his eyes. The blonde’s beautiful face drew closer. She held him tightly and kissed his lips.

Ren trembled, placing his scarred hand on her back.

He had never been so lost, nor so happy.

Carefully, he built an invisible bridge, linking two hearts as one.

They embraced, never to part again.

·

In the distance, a blue-haired woman dressed in hunting gear lowered her binoculars.

She curled her lips in mockery, about to utter her usual biting words. Yet somehow, the words stuck in her throat.

Ren Shigure turned away, disappearing into the shadows, leaving only a calm phrase drifting on the wind.

“Wishing you happiness.”