The sun slowly set, and a chill crept in.
The subjugation team, having finished their simple meal around a large bonfire, was fully prepared. Gerbus meticulously checked the barrier magic several times, ensuring no mistake would be made.
“Beast is similar to a golem. Due to eating minerals, its body is extremely hard. But don’t worry. We’ll soften its body with magic.”
Before entering combat, Gerbus gathered the team to briefly explain the curse.
The curse that consumed minerals could devour equipment in an instant. The barrier reduced the absorption rate of the curse, but couldn’t completely block it. If the battle dragged on, even equipment would be consumed. It was crucial to finish this quickly. Even veterans couldn’t fight the curse barehanded.
“Damn, such a money-eating bastard!”
The mercenaries found it troublesome as they lost their cherished equipment. The absorption began as soon as they entered the curse’s domain, making reserve equipment pointless.
As Gerbus explained, the setting sun finally sank below the horizon. The red glow lingering in the sky soon succumbed to darkness.
The time of the monster and the curse approached. The eerie feeling of something rubbing against the skin turned into a sharp pain. Yuric’s blade was hot, emitting intense heat. He gulped down a tasteless potion, further heating his stomach.
Under the faint moonlight.
With their vision illuminated by magic artifacts, the subjugation team kept a constant watch on their surroundings.
During this, three mages felt a distant mana wave rippling through space. It was a thick and unpleasant mana. The intensity of the wave was so great that even non-mages felt its presence vaguely.
The mineral-consuming curse.
It was undoubtedly a curse. Appearing opposite the subjugation team, centered around a large mine pit.
Gerbus said it resembled a golem, but its appearance was strikingly different. It looked like a long worm standing up, shooting tentacles from its body. Its surface had a metallic shine, yet its movements were smooth. Standing at about 5 meters, it felt twice as large as a golem.
“Damn.”
A mercenary cursed, voicing everyone’s sentiment. It radiated a different kind of menacing aura than the monster.
Its disproportionately long head slowly tilted towards the subjugation team. Then, it shook up and down before splitting open like it was squeezed from side to side, spewing molten minerals like phlegm.
Whoosh!
The mages immediately created a mana barrier over the subjugation team. The molten substance shattered upon hitting the barrier, emitting a sizzling sound. Fortunately, there was no damage.
At that moment, the curse leaped across the edge of the mine pit. As soon as it landed, equipment started corroding, sizzling. Despite resisting with the barrier, how long they could last was uncertain.
From the moment the beast appeared, the subjugation team was already in combat stance. Frontliners stood at the forefront, followed by warriors, while mages and archers formed the rear.
“Hold your positions!”
With Gerbus’ shout, the tentacles from the curse’s body whipped like whips, attacking the team. Surprisingly, shields bent under the impact when they met the seemingly soft tentacles. Parathis and Miles, frontline fighters, clenched their teeth under the shock.
Simultaneously, the three mages unleashed spells.
Gerbus and Albert cast mana balls, while Yuric shot mana arrows. Upon explosion, the tentacles crumbled and fell to the ground. The beast’s body split again, and thick, molten minerals emerged, glowing red-hot. Clearly, a direct hit would be fatal.
“Damn.”
The beast swung it horizontally. Everyone swiftly dodged, but one knight was hit and exploded instantly. There was no time for potions; he was dead on the spot.
Immediately after the attack, Yuric prepared another spell. His index finger pointed upwards, and a massive mana vortex appeared above the curse. As his finger plunged downwards, a giant mana spear pierced the beast’s body.
!
Unlike living beings, the curse felt no pain. It continued to shoot dozens of tentacles despite being attacked.
Mercenaries swiftly struck back with weapons, each swing dulling their axes and swords.
“Damn, it’s incredibly tough!”
The offensive and defensive pattern repeated several times. Eventually, Jena, a warrior, was hit by a tentacle, crushing her left arm and shoulder.
“Agh!”
Lying on the ground in pain, she quickly regained her senses and poured the contents of a long potion bottle into her mouth. Though agonizing, she needed to endure to swing her weapon with her remaining hand and fend off the tentacles.
Battered by the relentless spells, the curse was severely damaged. Any living creature would have been dead multiple times over, but this was no ordinary life form—it was the curse itself. It showed no signs of weakening.
Finally, Gerbus used his specialty. A substantial amount of mana was consumed, and transformation magic took effect. The transformed mana began to tightly bind the beast’s body.
“Attack!”
Albert focused on areas not bound by the mana ropes and continuously cast mana balls. He skillfully used the mana shield to deflect tentacle attacks and strike back, creating blunt impacts.
Yuric seized the opportunity and concentrated powerful mana in his index finger. He fired the swirling mana directly at the curse.
!
The compressed mana beam pierced through the beast’s body, leaving a large hole. Everyone’s eyes widened at the immense power of the spell.
Struck by the powerful magic, the curse seemed desperate. Red molten material gushed from its split head, falling like lava. It aimed to devastate everything around it.
Gerbus, bound by the mana ropes, couldn’t use a mana shield. So, Albert and Yuric created multiple layers of the strongest mana shield above the team. When the molten substance hit the shield, it melted with a tremendous roar.
Protected by the shield, the team tried to withstand the impact and heat, allowing some molten material to fall on them. They fought to protect their heads at least.
“Gah! Damn!”
The burning molten metal scorched their skin, melting clothes.
Yuric gathered mana again, aiming to crush the curse’s mouth. At the moment of impact, Gerbus tightened the mana ropes around the beast’s body, sealing its mouth shut.
“Everyone, move aside! Remove the shield!”
Following Albert’s command, the team moved out of the shield’s protection. Removing the shield allowed the molten substance to pour onto the ground with a loud thud.
Burned by the molten metal, all mercenaries collapsed. Their limbs were barely intact. They would need days of recovery even with potions.
The curse was still not defeated. Despite Gerbus’ strong binding, the beast struggled, drenched in sweat.
“Yuric! Quickly bring me the jar from my bag!”
Responding to Gerbus’ call, Yuric hurriedly searched the bag and retrieved a jar larger than a book. Its ominous aura indicated it was no ordinary container.
Yuric placed the jar near the struggling curse. The mana ropes binding the curse emitted smoke as they heated up, attempting to melt them.
As soon as the jar was placed, Gerbus activated the spell forcefully. The seal magic etched on the jar combined with the barrier magic outside, creating a strange phenomenon. Yuric watched the intriguing combination intently.
“This is Curse Studies.”
Light began to emit from the heating ropes, and the jar’s lid opened, slowly engulfing the bound curse.
Gerbus focused intensely on the seal, channeling powerful mana to drag the curse into the jar. The curse resisted, but the precise combination of the two magics rendered its efforts futile.
The beast’s massive body was forced into the relatively small jar. Gerbus quickly sealed the lid and reinforced the magic.
The jar calmed down. Only then did Gerbus collapse onto the floor, exhaling deeply.
“It’s done… damn…”
Rough breaths filled the air. Molten material still sizzled, emitting heat. Most of the mercenaries’ equipment was beyond repair.
“My shield is completely ruined. I won’t fight curses anymore…”
Miles lay sprawled on the ground after drinking two bottles of potion, muttering.
Jena, whose arm was crushed, chuckled.
“What if double the pay?”
“Of course, if that’s the case.”
Without hesitation, everyone burst into laughter. Their situation made them laugh at the thought of money.
Gerbus thanked the exhausted subjugation team for their efforts until the very end.
It was a hot night.
