[Ricky the Lecherous Roach]

  [Cursed Spirit – Purple Grade, Tier 3]

  [Level 41]

  [Species: Human-Cockroach Hybrid]

  [Strength: 30]

  [Endurance: 31]

  [Speed: 27]

  [Intelligence: 16]

  [Perception: 19]

  Skills: [Supreme Tenacity (A) LV5], [Ultimate Reflexes (A)], [Multi-Limb Movement (B) LV3], [Devour Everything (B) LV5], [Muscle Expansion (B) LV3], [Fist Mastery (B) LV6], [Kick Mastery (B) LV3], [Cursed Radiation (B) LV5] ...

  "Damn it. The world really loves surprise attacks," Fethan sneered at the absurdity of his fate. Ever since gaining the power of the Eternal Dominion, peace had vanished from his life. He was just out shopping with his sister on a holiday, and now—bam—a third-tier purple-grade Cursed Spirit.

  Gamo’s book stated that Cursed Spirits are souls corrupted by negative energy. The longer they exist, the stronger they become, losing all traces of their past selves. These spirits devour other souls and siphon human life force.

  They far outclass normal spirits. Even at the same level, their power operates on an entirely different scale—like a pro fighter facing an amateur.

  Ricky the Lecherous Roach wasn’t like the Sewer Rat King. He didn’t rely on an army. His power came solely from himself. If Fethan couldn’t defeat him, he would die—plain and simple.

  The humanoid roach stood on two legs, its black-segmented limbs approaching like a bullet train. Fethan drew his wand and fired multiple Arcane Bullets—but Ricky evaded with ease. His eight limbs provided absolute control over force and balance. As long as he touched the ground, his movement was unpredictable.

  But Ricky wasn’t even focused on Fethan. His human eyes, hidden behind a leather face mask, locked onto the trembling girl behind her brother. Stella’s pale face alternated between paper-white and green.

  ‘Again. Why does this always happen again?’ Despair gripped Stella’s tiny heart. Tears streamed down her face. Every time she felt happy, these monsters would appear and destroy everything—ripping away family, love, hope. Her parents. Her adopted siblings. All reduced to sacks of pulpy flesh.

  ‘No… please… just not Mr. Fethan…’ she prayed, but no sound came from her lips. It was like something clogged her throat. She clung to her brother’s warm back, desperate. The more she loved, the more terrified she became of losing it. Her seven-year-old heart couldn’t handle another loss.

  ‘Please… just spare him…’ Tears rolled down her cheeks.

  But Fethan wasn’t panicked. His expression wasn’t like her late father’s or any of the foster brothers who died trying to protect her. A dense gray aura spread from beneath his coat. His hands formed a triangle.

  "In the name of the King of the Eternal Dominion, my servants, heed my command!" Fethan expanded his awareness. Spirits from Everland poured through the gate into the living world. Hellhounds and weapon-wielding Death Rats arrived on cue.

  "All units, attack with everything you've got!" Fethan roared. Death Rats mounted Hellhounds, brandishing metal spears Fethan had bought from a second-hand shop. A hundred-member undead force surrounded the human-cockroach hybrid.

  But the towering figure used his armored limbs to hurl back the Hellhounds and Death Rats. Their combined strength barely left a scratch. He charged straight for Fethan—but Fethan was ready.

  "Soul Bullet!" A blast of pure soul energy shot forth. At just half a meter distance, it was impossible to dodge.

  Yet Ricky veered abruptly and crashed into a wall, demolishing it.

  ‘What the hell is that thing?! It moves like a freight train but dodges like a cat!’ Fethan aimed at the rubble and fired more Soul Bullets, watching for movement in the smoke.

  It was the first time Fethan, Lumi, and Stella saw Ricky in full view.

  Getting jumped by a regular cockroach is horrifying. But getting leapt on by a jacked, human-sized cockroach in wrestling trunks? Pure nightmare fuel. His very existence made Fethan’s heart skip.

  "In the name of the King of the Eternal Dominion, my loyal servant—the Nameless Werewolf—arise and heed my command!" Fethan bellowed. The massive werewolf emerged from the ground, clashing fists and kicks with Ricky midair. Sparks flew from the impact.

  "Awoo!" the werewolf howled with joy, delivering a punch to Ricky’s abdomen. One of Ricky’s segmented arms countered with a heavy blow—like snapping a pocky stick.

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  "Yip!" the werewolf yelped as Ricky’s fist sent it flying nearly ten meters.

  ‘This bastard. How is he so agile and powerful? You were a beast when you were trying to kill me, but now that you're an ally you fight like a rookie? This isn't a damn shonen manga!’ Fethan cursed.

  "Whine… whine…" the werewolf groaned, acknowledging it wasn’t as strong as in life. But Ricky was just too powerful. The werewolf stood, body trembling.

  "Lemme lick you. Just one lick and I’ll repay you." Ricky’s thick tongue slathered the leather face mask.

  "Oh yeah? How exactly do you repay someone you lick?"

  "If it’s tasty… I’ll eat it."

  "Then I decline with every fiber of my being! Get away from my little sister, you pedo-roach freak! Your tongue’s only good for scrubbing public toilets!"

  "Grrrrrreeeee!!" Enraged, Ricky turned his attention from Stella to Fethan, charging with terrifying speed. He leapt off a lamppost, closing the gap in a blur.

  "In the name of the King of the Eternal Dominion, my loyal servant—Luminus Sterling—arise and heed my command!" Fethan cast. Ricky’s hand reached for Stella.

  The shade that always clung to Fethan’s back moved forward—shielding the girl. A radiant woman, like a princess from a fairy tale, appeared.

  For the first time, Stella realized the ghost following her brother wasn’t an evil witch—but a guardian angel.

  Ninetails appeared in Lumi’s hand, blue flames igniting. Her crimson eyes locked on the monster.

  Eastern Guardian Sword Style: Form One – Demon Cleave.

  A basic slash—lacking finesse, yet brimming with power. Lumi aimed for the neck. Ricky felt the burn.

  ‘Too shallow!’ Lumi pressed forward, but Ricky retreated. His hand smoldered. She hadn’t made a mistake—the cut should’ve decapitated him. Her power simply wasn’t enough.

  "SKREEEEEE!!" Ricky shrieked, rage flaring. He glared at Lumi, hatred in his eyes.

  "What’re you looking at, you roach perv? Let me be clear—I am the only one allowed behind Fethan!" Lumi declared proudly.

  "Is this really the time for dirty jokes?!" Fethan shouted.

  Ricky’s neck wound began to regenerate. His red eyes bulged as he launched another attack.

  Lumi readied her sword. But he dodged easily—mocking her.

  "Heavy… like getting hit with a sledgehammer. My noodle arms can’t tank this! Where are the buff guys when you need them?!"

  "Awoo!" The werewolf leapt in from afar—aiming a double-leg dropkick at Ricky.

  But Ricky dodged. The kick hit Lumi square in the chest.

  "Ack!" She hit the ground.

  "Whimper! (I'm screwed!)" The werewolf froze in horror.

  “PUPPY! CHARGE WITH ME!” Lumi didn’t hold a grudge.

  "Woof!" They attacked together. Ricky faced them head-on. Muscles bulged. Six arms smashed the duo aside.

  BANG!

  Lumi blocked with Ninetails. The werewolf wasn’t so lucky—its chest caved in.

  “Ugh!” Lumi slammed into a streetlight, breaking it. The entire sidewalk went dark.

  “Let me lick you… just a little…” Ricky stalked toward Fethan. He bent low, channeling power in his legs.

  “Fethan!”

  “Arcane Shield!” Fethan conjured a magical barrier.

  CRASH! Ricky punched straight through. Fethan scooped up Stella and leapt onto a rushing Hellhound.

  “She’s mine! MINE!” Ricky howled.

  He lunged—but Lumi and the werewolf blocked his path.

  Her eyes blazed. Her expression hardened.

  “I’ll kill you—just like I killed all your little rat friends!” Blue flames surged.

  Lumi, the werewolf, and multiple Death Rats engaged again. Ricky ignored them, chasing Fethan.

  “Damn it!” everyone thought. The bastard was impossible to kill.

  “Pant… pant…” Fethan clutched his chest. A dark energy pulsed there—he’d been cursed. Not physically touched—but marked.

  ‘Damn… I am cursed.’ His body weakened. He wanted to escape—but there was no exit.

  The Hellhound stopped. They'd reached the edge of the curse field. Fethan looked back.

  Lumi was fighting madly. Ricky’s fury exploded. He banished all of Fethan’s undead and battered the werewolf to pulp.

  “Fethan! He’s too strong—we can’t win in a power match! We’ll die!” Lumi yelled.

  “I know.” Fethan chugged a potion. The power gap was vast. Waiting for a level-up wouldn’t cut it.

  ‘He’s not invincible—just hard to kill. He dodged my Soul Bullet—even rammed a wall to avoid it. He fears spirit attacks.’

  ‘But I’ve never landed a hit. Even if I maxed Speed, he’d still dodge.’

  ‘Change tactics. Lumi’s right—we need to think outside the box.’

  Then it hit him.

  The second thing Cursed Spirits feared after holy power—was curses themselves.

  Gamo’s book listed useful curses.

  But…

  ‘It’s a curse.’ Fethan had sworn never to use them. Curse magic warps the soul. All dark mages who mastered it went insane.

  ‘Is this the only way?’ He loathed curses. They had killed his mother and Lumi. He didn’t want to become a bloodthirsty lunatic.

  But as he wrestled with the decision—

  A small hand tugged at his cloak.

  “Don’t go… Don’t take Mr. Fethan away… I’ll skip school… I’ll stop eating… I’ll live with anyone else, just don’t take him…” Stella sobbed.

  Fethan hadn’t noticed her cries over the battle. She pleaded to some unknown power.

  “This… isn’t the first time, is it?” he asked. She nodded. She’d kept it secret—fearing rejection.

  “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have stayed. I caused you trouble. I’m a bad girl. I’ll leave… just don’t get hurt. Hate me if you must… just stay alive…” she wept.

  ‘Damn it…’ Fethan froze.

  ‘I’m pathetic. What the hell am I doing?’

  ‘Curses? Side effects? Prejudice? Useless.’

  ‘My ego? Worthless.’

  ‘I need to throw away the noise. Destroy the frame. Toss my morals to the dogs. This is life or death. I have a little sister to protect.’

  “I’m sorry, Stella. But I can’t find a single reason to hate you.” He grinned bitterly. Then he looked toward Lumi, the werewolf, the Death Rats—all fighting to buy him time.

  “One day, I’ll prove it to the world. That my curse isn’t born from hatred—but from a pure heart.”

  Fethan reached for the old leather-bound tome he carried.

  The stench of malevolence seeped out as he turned its yellowed pages.

  Gamo J.K. Hedison’s Book of Dark Arts.

  “Tell me, King of Dark Magic… if I use a curse—will my heart become a demon’s?”