Chapter 105: Healing? Dark Wave. Obtaining the High-Tier Job, Curse Knight
Watching Imina leave, Leinas's deep blue pupils relaxed. She stepped forward, a glimmer of hope in her eyes.
"I have heard that the miraculous alchemical potion you create possesses the ability to repair all manner of injuries."
There was a barely perceptible tremor in Leinas's voice.
Since being afflicted by the curse, she had tried countless methods. Neither the temple's healing magic and holy water nor various miraculous potions had offered any solution.
Because of this, she had even started to feel desperate.
It was not just because of the change in her appearance.
More importantly, she was abandoned by her family and her engagement was broken off by her fiancé. For the ever-proud Leinas, this was the true blow.
"The rumors are a bit exaggerated."
Tang Zheng shook his head. As Leinas's gaze instantly dimmed, he said flatly, "As long as the injuries and deformities aren't congenital, they can basically all be healed."
The light returned to Leinas's eyes, and she was just about to speak again.
"Miss Leinas, you offered your help, which makes you a guest. There's no need to be so anxious. Please, have a seat first," Tang Zheng said with a gentle smile, gesturing for her to sit as he walked toward the stone table in the center of the courtyard.
Leinas took a small breath, calming herself, and followed Tang Zheng.
Over the past few days, Leinas had been observing for a long time. Only after confirming that the alchemical potion Tang Zheng created was indeed that miraculous did she come to visit.
As the two of them sat down one after the other.
Tang Zheng looked at the long, golden-haired Leinas opposite him, his expression turning serious. "Now then, let me see your injury."
"The injury might be a bit frightening. Please, forgive me."
Leinas gave a word of warning and raised her right hand, lifting the golden hair that covered half of her face.
The next moment!
A faint, putrid smell wafted out.
At the same time, a completely rotten cheek, riddled with messy, bloodshot veins, was exposed to the air. If one looked closely, they could even notice the rotten flesh on her right cheek squirming from time to time.
Leinas lightly bit her lip. She did not want anyone to see such a filthy, ugly sight, but for the sake of treatment, she had no choice but to reveal it once more.
For a fleeting moment.
She thought she could already see the young alchemist across from her, his eyes filled with various emotions like disgust, disdain, and revulsion.
However...
Leinas clearly noticed that the young alchemist before her, aside from a slight frown when he first saw her hideous appearance, had a gaze that remained perfectly calm.
If she had to describe it, there was even a hint of fervor?
Leinas's heart trembled, and she wondered if she was seeing things.
She had heard that alchemists skilled in their craft all had some special hobbies. The thought inexplicably flashed through Leinas's mind.
Tang Zheng gazed at the rotten cheek. It was a stark contrast to the other, perfectly fine half of her face.
However, what puzzled Tang Zheng was that the Curse Knight job shouldn't have such a side effect. Or could it be that a new change had occurred in this world?
"First, splash this potion on your face."
As this thought flashed through Tang Zheng's mind, his expression remained unchanged as he pulled a bottle of clear, sparkling regeneration potion from his sleeve.
Leinas did not hesitate in the slightest. She reached out, took the regeneration potion, and poured it onto her rotten right cheek.
Sssss~
Instantly, the potion of regeneration touched her rotten cheek, making a sizzling sound like roasting meat.
A wave of pain washed over her.
Leinas let out a soft grunt, forcefully enduring the itching pain that felt like countless ants gnawing on her cheek. A hint of surprise and hope appeared in her eyes.
After trying every possible treatment for so long, this was the first time she had ever felt a change in her rotten right cheek.
She quickly pulled a mirror from her clothes and aimed it at her right cheek.
Seeing this, the corner of Tang Zheng's mouth twitched slightly.
To think she would carry a mirror with her.
Indeed, no matter the world, women are always very concerned about their appearance.
Under Tang Zheng's gaze, Leinas's rotten cheek began to slowly recover, although the speed was several times slower than when treating other injuries.
The entire process lasted a full three minutes.
Looking at her fully recovered cheek in the mirror, Leinas wore an expression of disbelief, which was then replaced by one of joyous surprise. She clenched her left hand into a tight fist.
"Don't get happy too soon."
Tang Zheng's faint voice sounded out.
Leinas froze. Just as she was about to look up at Tang Zheng, her now-perfect cheek suddenly began to rot again.
"How could this be?"
Leinas's hands, holding the mirror, trembled.
Tang Zheng tilted his head up slightly, leaning back against the stone chair as he looked at Leinas. "The injury on your face isn't ordinary damage. It's a curse, right?"
It was expected that the regeneration potion could not heal the injury on her face. After all, the potion could only treat the "Physical Injury" debuff.
What's more, the potion's healing effect was limited, and Leinas's true curse came from her job itself.
"That's right."
Leinas's eyes were a little red as she suppressed the tumultuous emotions in her heart.
"I've never heard of any curse that only affects half of one's face."
Tang Zheng glanced at the newly rotten right cheek. "For a result like this, the only possibility is that the problem lies with you."
"So, would you allow me to see this special curse on you?"
As if sensing his glance, Leinas subconsciously let her lifted golden hair fall, once again hiding her rotten right cheek.
"Alright."
Leinas had no intention of refusing Tang Zheng's request. She stood up and took a few steps back.
Boom!
Leinas's body trembled, and black energy radiated from her. Although it was already late at night, the dark energy emanating from her was thicker than the night itself.
In an instant!
This black energy rapidly expanded, but it dissipated before it could spread very far.
Tang Zheng's pupils shrank slightly. He clearly saw the grass at Leinas's feet rapidly wither and decay.
"Apologies, I'm not yet proficient at controlling this cursed power," Leinas said, looking up at Tang Zheng again. She continued, "Do I need to demonstrate it again?"
Omm—
*Discovered Skill "Dark Wave". Requires High-Tier Job "Curse Knight". Current conditions not met. Requires 3 Skill Points.*
*No prerequisite job. Conditions not met. Requires 6 Skill Points.*
*No basic job. Conditions not met... "Genius" job activated. Already possess basic job "Warrior". Learning conditions met.*
*Expend 6 Skill Points to learn this skill?*
Seeing the information that had refreshed on the panel, Tang Zheng straightened his back and spoke to Leinas. "That won't be necessary."
Success!
It went much more smoothly than expected. The month-plus he spent waiting here was not in vain.
It actually costs 6 skill points?
So that's how it is.
Tang Zheng recalled that when he acquired the Intermediate-Tier Job, Sword Saint, it had cost 3 skill points.
As for his other High-Tier Job, Magic Swordsman, he had acquired it automatically by meeting the prerequisite conditions, so there was no skill point cost at all.
Snapping back to his senses, Tang Zheng did not learn it immediately. The last time he acquired Magic Swordsman, his magic power had become agitated.
Who knew if a similar situation would occur after acquiring Curse Knight.
"I need to consider your situation," Tang Zheng said bluntly, rising from the stone chair to face Leinas.
"I can wait," Leinas replied without hesitation.
Tang Zheng nodded. With no intention of further pleasantries, he turned and walked toward the half-European, half-Byzantine style residence.
"By the way, if you two don't plan on leaving, there are spare rooms on the first floor."
Tang Zheng took a few steps, then stopped. He turned to remind Leinas and Imina, who had finished dealing with the corpse and was now standing in the distance, curiously looking over.
On the third floor of the residence.
Inside the somewhat desolate, spacious, and private room.
Tang Zheng took a deep breath and mentally recited, "Learn."
Omm—
[Skill Points: 39 → 33]
As he mastered "Dark Wave," the high-tier job, [Curse Knight], also automatically appeared on his job list.
...
**Job: Curse Knight**
**Tier:** High-Tier Job
**Abilities:**
**Passive - Complete Curse Resistance:** Grants immunity to curse attacks.
**Passive - Dark Attribute Resistance I:** Reduces dark attribute energy damage by 20%.
**Passive - No Rest:** When releasing cursed power, continuously reduces durability loss for high-tier (below level 40) equipment. When legendary-tier (below level 80) equipment loses durability, it causes double durability loss.
**Active: Job Skills**
**Dark Wave:** Releases a wave of dark curse energy centered on the user, inflicting "Fear (Mind Shock)" and "Weakness Curse (Movement Restricted)" debuffs on enemies within range. The next attack against an afflicted enemy removes the debuff and deals double damage.
**PS: Job Level 3** — Curse damage cannot be healed by low-tier healing magic and suppresses recovery effects.
**PS: Job Level 5** — Curse damage includes an "Instant Death" effect.
*(Note: For every level increase, HP, Physical Attack, Physical Defense, and Magical Defense increase by 15 points.)*
**Description:** An unforgivable, treacherous dark knight, cursed to wander the world for eternity, clad in shattered armor, prolonging its own twisted life.
...
(end of chapter)