Coiled Sanctuary was the location were the last flesh storm had occurred. It belonged to Hybrids of many shapes and sizes.
Hybrids are a type of creatures that are different from one another. There are many Hybrid species that are larger than the most like cathumans or lizardforks or some more obscure one like Rockbrings.
Hybrid isn't a specific type or race of creature. Any creature that is a fusion of two different creatures are basically considered hybrid.
Because of that, many original creatures show distain towards them. Hybrids see discrimination everywhere.
Coiled Sanctuary was one of the places that was like a home for them. Of course, it is a dead dungeon. West world's safe zones are only dead dungeons. But sometimes, they're not enough.
The Coiled sanctuary was suffering form an infestation of zombie. A Devil spawn that was like a virus and it reanimates dead corpse into killing machine. The reanimated bodies didn't devour the living or anything like that. That devil spawn's only purpose is to kill the living, tear it apart and make them into a part of itself.
No matter how many times corpses are killed or torn apart. The dead never stopped rising again and again to kill all the living. Steel calls that devil spawn as the zombie maker.
Steel Knew of the hellish state of the Coiled sanctuary. To him, this was the first time he felt like he was gonna do something good.
River's flesh storm is the only thing that could end Zombie maker. Her ability can ruin the flesh and make it a part of her own storm. Even though the undead flesh would resist her pull. Later it will bend to its knees and surrender to the flesh storm.
The zombie maker could've spread all over the West world. Then other dead dungeons would've been in danger too. So the sacrifice of those hybrid didn't seem like a big deal to Steel. But now he feel irritated.
How could've there been a hybrid or another creature that could use curses? There are complex soul abilities that could make curses or blessing but a hybrid shouldn't been able to do it. There souls are a mess, there are only few hybrids that could use their soul ability. Most of the hybrids fight with there own physical strength.
But who says that Coiled sanctuary only consist of hybrids? Steel doesn't know much about the political events of that time. That incident is almost five years old. There could've been someone who could've sent there from another dead dungeon or world.
Steel's head hurts by just thinking about such a thing. How can he be so unlucky to come across something like that?
That curse [Spite's spite] can make uncommon events occur more often. Like it can make the chances of them happening higher. But how much higher?
And if that is the case, then all that happened to him in these two months was pathed by a curse?
He remembers the time when he tripped from River's mind attack. Was it also the result of that curse?
Steel had to face devil spawns that raided the death zone. The massive fissures that happened due to that towering devil. Not to mention, that ugly slug that become so much hungry for his flesh and soul.
He also encountered that Man, War, in that chaos too. After surviving that chaos he had to kill that ugly slug with his own hands.
But he was so unlucky to not even get a soul weapon and that luck continued for so long. He tired killing devil spawns but he couldn't kill even one.
Then he got trapped in that human camp cause of that demonoid blade. Later when he tried to escape. Some cunning darkness came out of nowhere and started hunting him.
And then things that happen just recently. Meeting Shining reach and that crazy man, War, again.
Were all of these are cause of [Spite's spite]?
Why is his actions are always being manipulated by others? First by that Dead God, Mother. And now, by this creature named Spite.
Is Spite dead?
'I hope Spite is dead? No, it is guaranteed. Nobody can survive River's influence. Her ability is absolute.'
Even if that creature is dead. It doesn't change the fact that he is still cursed by something so disgusting. Is this curse manipulating his fate? Or it is doing something else entirely?
'So are my future actions too?'
Steel sighs.
He had thought about making a deal with that woman, Shining Reach. About what? Well, he was gonna offer his information about the Demonoid blade. In return, he wants to either get information about crossing the boundaries between the worlds or be involved with them.
Steel has come to realize that his position isn't enough. He can't get what he wants by being away from the sight.
He is aware that they're gonna fight that demonoid blade cause of War. From the surface, it looks like they just wants to protect the Boneyard. But he is sure that after defeating the demonoid they're gonna move deeper into the West world in search of something big. Like a living dungeon.
That just gives him the creeps. As living dungeons are just huge demons.
If he can reach that place. Maybe he can acquire something overpowered or something?
His room has a lot of those comics and video games. He has seem so many stories where the main character gets something so overpowered that he can do anything. Of course, that is just fiction. He doesn't believe that he would get anything like that.
But he can get information. What information? Well, information about crossing the worlds.
Living dungeons appear around the world without any reason. In all the four worlds, there are living dungeons and dead dungeons. There dungeons appeared by crossing that boundary.
So if he can reach that place. Maybe he can get something that could help him travel to the East world.
Even if he doesn't.
He would still be involved with the humans. It would be like infiltrating the lair of you enemy and he is already like a secret agent of demons. So why not grow even more undercover and infiltrate the ranks of these top humans.
But now that he has discovered the existence of that curse. He is really worried. Are these thoughts that he is planning are even his own? The curse says that it makes uncommon event occurs more often. But what does it even mean? It can't just manipulate the world, right? so it had to manipulate his action?
Is he even him anymore? What if this person 'Spite' has already made a home inside of him and now it is controlling his actions.
He is paranoid. So much paranoid than before. And this paranoia has made him tired.
'this is giving me a headache. I am gonna take a nap.'
Maybe he is dreaming or something. So maybe when he will wake up then this nightmare will be over.
***
Steel stares at his clean and mostly empty room. He has stored River back into the cupboard and this time he even tied her hands.
He has accepted that it isn't a dream, it is reality. That curse is still being shown in his stats and he can't do anything.
There is no proper way to remove a curse. it can only be removed by powerful beings and who would help him? Nobody.
He is all alone. But so what, he has always been all alone. Nobody is with him, nobody cares about him and nobody will care if he dies. His life holds no meaning at all.
But he can try to make a mark on this world. So he will make that deal with Shining reach. But how would he find her to make a deal with her?
Last time, his meeting happened out of coincidence. Or was it cause of that curse? It doesn't matter.
He has an idea. Shining Reach is special. He has heard that she can come contact anyone whose flesh she has manipulated once. It is a creepy thought to know that your body is marked by someone else. But it isn't like she can contact them without permission. There is a trigger. That name.
If someone who is marked were to call her name. She would be able to talk with them.
He isn't sure if it is true or not.
But he can try. Cleaning his room and hiding River wasn't out of cleanliness. He needs to deal with her now.
So he calls her name, Shining Reach.