"Uh… why did we need goblin corpses for today's lesson?" Lefiya asked shyly, giving the monster corpses they'd dragged with them a very nervous look. I smiled and answered her.

"Before all that, how is everyone dealing with their curses? Any habits or go-to spells? Things that work better or worse than you expect?" I looked over the lot of them, and received my answer.

"I've found these curses you've taught us to be very helpful," Riviera immediately chimed in, surprising no one. "Even despite the fact we haven't had the time to find any particularly difficult opponents to test them on. I've personally found an interest in causing targets to stay still or move in predictable patterns to make it easier to aim."

Ah, definitely the type to hate when her spells missed- which is more than fair, I'm sure having that happen fucking sucks especially with how limiting Mind is when it comes to regeneration. "Try coming up with curses that make them less agile, or even less aware of their surroundings in case you run into something that's naturally fast enough to avoid your spells even if they move predictably."

Riveria nodded intently, while Finn gave her an odd look without speaking up.

"Oh, me and my sister made the goblins act cocky so they let their guards down!" Tiona piped up with a cheer, waving the arm of the dead goblin at me. "I also made them squishier!"

I nodded, suitably surprised. "You lowered their durability already? That's honestly more complicated than I expected at this point. Good job." I praised her without shame or reservation, and because I needed a reminder I was living in an anime her cheeks brightened and she chuckled listlessly at my compliment. Her older sister immediately began staring daggers into me in response, but like the mature adult I am I ignored her.

… Why is Riveria staring at Tiona too-? Actually, no. Not what I'm being paid for.

"We'll talk about durability curses later when I'm sure everyone has the ability to understand what the hell I'm talking about. Now, who else wants to speak up?"

"Um…" The shyest Level Three I'd ever met began. "I've, uh, tended to make the monsters zone trip over themselves or attack each other?"

"Oh? I see." I said, not having considered using the monsters against each other, mainly due to the idle satisfaction I take in murdering every one I see myself. Though it's definitely possible… it was either forcing their emotions towards the caster to another target, or just giving them a Curse of Berserk and leading one into hitting another and watching sparks fly.

"Ais, Gareth, Finn? Anything to add?"

"Pain, agony, suffering, despair, and other things to make them stop fighting back." Ais said, like she hadn't been making monster commit suicide by her for the past two days.

I was in no way qualified to deal with all of that, so I just nodded while Gareth spoke up gruffly. "All this curse-nonsense gives me a headache like those boo-boos you all call hangovers, so I don't really use 'em. When I do I just make 'em miss their swings."

I held off a frown as Mage Voice immediately figured out his issue- most of the negative emotions he's using come more from physical pain than anything. He might just, genuinely, not have the right sort of emotional baggage to use these spells.

It should be a compliment, that his rock-bottom was leaps and bounds above the rest, but in this case I genuinely don't think he'll be able to use these curses. Negativity is a requirement for them to work, and while no one is sunshine and rainbows twenty-four seven (Sayori definitely wants to hang out), emotions aren't created equal.

Physical pain is a good boost, but without a base to build it on he won't be able to go any farther than this. And considering I'm not about to traumatize a Level 6 before giving him more magic that works off negativity, he's kinda fucked.

"I'm sorry to say, but you may just be too put-together to use this magic beyond this point. Personally I'd say it's a sweet handicap to have, but unless you unearth some repressed trauma this is all going to be beyond you from here-on."

"Aye, no hard feelings, gives me more time to practice my alcoholism!" He laughed gruffly, and I couldn't help but chuckle along.

"Alright alright, save you're pregaming for another day, you're still listening to my lecture. Speaking off… Finn?"

The childish-looking Level 6 gave me a look that sent shivers down my back, and asked a question I was practically dreading. "Can you make contracts with curses?"

I opened my mouth and let out a heaving sigh. "What did you promise?"

"... Do I have to say it here?" Oh my fucking-

"Come over here, cup your mouth, and mouth out the words." Fuck me and this 30 million.

'I said I wouldn't be intimate with anyone until I accomplish my goal.'

"... Alright, I'm going to assume you felt a curse try to form while you were doing that, and you immediately stopped what you were doing." Finn nodded, and I rubbed at my temples. Fuck man, I was going to teach them about rituals… fine, I'll adapt.

"Okay, considering the unintended fuckup your Captain almost put himself through, I'm going to have to start a different lesson. Pen and paper, please?" Lefiya immediately handed me a spare notepad and pencil she brought, considering she tended to take notes while I was explaining more theoretical aspects of curses.

"Okay, first things first. A curse comes in many forms, of which I will simplify into three forms. Remember, these are general, so there will be exceptions to these."

I drew the first example- two stick figures facing each other, and a wispy line from the first to the second. "For the sake of brevity, we'll call these Spells. They're the basic form of curse I've been teaching you, good for combat and little else. We were going to learn about an advanced form today, but I consider training you all to not deepthroat daggers because you were curious slightly more important."

I flipped to a second page and began drawing. When I finished, there was another set of stick figures and wispy lines, though this time there was a blob in the shape of a doll between the target and caster. "This is what we'll be calling Voodoo. Closer to Spells than the last step, except for the fact that it can work through proxies instead of caster to target. It is called Voodoo because Voodoo dolls are the very first example of this- causing harm to another person from an infinite distance away thanks to an item with a connection to them. Not important right now, I'm just telling you for the sake of clarity."

Benevolence - Revivification - Sailor Moon (200)

Roll Success! Purchased! 100 points remaining.

[ Revivification] Your talent with energy manipulation has given you the power to snatch those from death, even if only temporarily. By feeding energy into a recuperating or lifeless body, you can either animate it or accelerate its reawakening. Someone who might take three days to recover from their injuries can be brought back in a matter of hours via a constant flow of energy, for instance. But toeing the line between life and death requires a price. To animate one lifeless body for a day through this method requires the use of energy from multiple people.

Oh, the power to no-sell comas and force the dead to rise again at the price of the living?

Honestly I'll take it. No one is allowed to rest up in this bitch.

Especially me, given the intense look in Ais' usually stony eyes. Fuck me for thinking teaching wouldn't be this soul-taxing.

"And, finally…" I held up a final drawing, this time of a single stick figure surrounded in wispy lines. "There are Binding Vows. Curses we place on ourselves in exchange for something- power, control, health, whatever. That is the power Finn almost stumbled on. And now I am forced to teach you all it, in the dull hope you all don't accidentally kill yourselves because of it.

"Most likely, Finn's conviction to whatever he was asking for or giving up caused the Binding Vow to try and take hold. Which… shouldn't happen. Either way, if I'm going to continue this explanation, you all will not make any contracts without my permission while I am still your teacher. Understand?"

They all nodded. "Good, because you've all just entered a Pact with me, so if you go against it you'll all suffer horrible fates."

I didn't even react when all their weapons were suddenly pointed in my direction. "Y'know, killing me isn't going to undo the contract, so you'll never make a Binding Vow."

"Explain." Finn said with an intensity that was out of place considering his childish voice, sending a shiver down my spine out of pure instinct. I may not bend over backwards at the slightest threat from someone stronger than me, but fuck if this shit isn't terrifying.

"Please, you act like I can't see you fucking salivating at the opportunity to sell your left nut for the slightest chance of getting whatever it is you want." Tione's eyes flickered down at the Pallum at that phrase, but she quickly went back to threatening me. "Considering the fact you had accidentally stumbled across a Binding Vow, which is impossible, I think I'd rather not have you create so many Vows you end up incapable of doing anything at all."

Despite how much shit I've been stealing from JJK, my curses aren't a one to one parallel with the power system from that verse. I've just been using all of that to build off of my abilities as a sort of guide. And considering the most important part of my curses are the intent behind them?

Yeah, no. Red flag, do not pass go, do not give the super-powerful suicidal bastard the ability to turn his 'sacrifices' into profit.

"So you forced all of us into this same deal?" Tiona asked, more curious and annoyed than actively malicious.

"Ah, you specifically cannot force anyone into a Pact. You all agreed mindlessly after I just told you I could force anyone into contracts with me, with soul-frying consequences." I gave them all a pointed look at my point, and Riveria spoke up.

"And explaining the dangers of the magic has already fallen on deaf ears for our Captain, correct?" Finn gave her a sharp look, but I nodded.

"Exactly. Binding Vows have two effects if they aren't followed through. One, they take away the ability they gain. Two, they dish out irreparable harm to the contractors. Tell me, if you did something like swearing off 'company', what do you think would happen if you broke the contract? Would it just affect you, or your partner?"

Finn's eyes widened. "Would that happen?"

"I have no idea. The consequences of breaking a Vow are completely unpredictable aside from the fact they are never worth it. Best case, you just lose whatever you'd gain from it. Worst case, every person whose ever shown the desire to break that Vow would be punished in your stead."

It seems the thought of random, innocent women being punished for his horseshit was what made the Pallum lower his spear. Like a good squad, the rest followed his example. I gave a huff of uneasy as I rolled my neck to deal with the issue of getting held up by the strongest group in Orario.

"Now, to end this entire shitshow, let me remind you of something you all seem to be forgetting. Curses fuck with you. They mess with your head, make you more willing to act on emotions and take risks you'd never do otherwise. The temptation to use it is part of the burden that comes with using it, and Binding Vows are the most insidious of them all. They are shortcuts to power, plain and simple, and you cannot let yourself be allured by easy solutions. Finn," I started, staring daggers into the Pallum, who seemed suitably ashamed of the path he was about to tumble down. "You are a smart man, one of the smartest according to rumors, and you are more than aware of it. Be aware that not every path is worth the blood drawn, especially if it doesn't seem that way. And never trade what you already have for something you barely understand. Dismissed."

Roll Failed. 200 points banked.

Oh, so now you show up? Well, at least it should be a bit before you come to interrupt me again.

Ignoring the fizzling spark within my soul for a moment, I finished carving open the chest of the goblin I'd come across as I walked through the oddly open Eleventh Floor.

I didn't need any distractions as I finally put an end to Bast's nightmare, especially while I'm looting.

Unfurling the Hylian Map, I kept an eye on the Boss Icon and swiftly found my own Icon. Lucky me, it hadn't moved too far while I had been fighting, and it hadn't tried to jump me with the last goblin.

I was immediately suspicious, but mama didn't raise a bitch who'd walk eleven floors down just to puss out in the end. I continued moving as I went over my plan, which started and ended with spamming my Magic Iron Sword along with my curses before finishing it off with the spear.

Huh? Why am I not starting off with the spear?

Well, even beyond the fact the last Infant Dragon I'd fought had been a mutant or evolution, I very specifically hadn't used my spear against it until after using Night Parade. The reason being that unlike my magic 'sidearm', my spear is very much a Level One weapon, and originally used to intimidate other Adventurers into not fighting in the first place.

It wasn't going to do shit against a Level Two monster's defense, and spending a shit-ton of money on a Level Two Weapon unprompted was going to spread way too many rumors, especially since I've barely been Adventuring longer than a month at this point.

Now after I drag this dragon's corpse through the streets, then I won't give a shit about rumors, and Loki will probably have to help me so she can get her money's worth… oh and her kids don't accidentally set their souls on fire when one of them desperately tries to make a Vow when shit gets tough.

Also, in the hopes of not pulling a Potential Man (and the fact that I don't particularly want to be trapped in the Dungeon without my main magic for any period of time) I won't be using Night Parade for this.

Quick, silent steps brought me face to face with the big-ol' monster of the day. Same eye-searing orange, same green eyes, but lacking in wings.

Of course I wasn't literally face to face with the thing, but Moth Voice has never had to deal with being sniffed out by a dragon before, so I was sort of on my own once I got downwind… in a manner of speaking.

Of course, when it began turning in my direction I was already slamming it with as many curses as I could think of, tempting it into not using its fire-breath and instead charging me like an idiot.

It reared its head back and gave a deafening roar that shook the cavernous walls of the Dungeon, bouncing off and making him seem more threatening than he really was.

So, I only did what was natural, and answered with a roar that eclipsed its own- not in volume but in sheer animosity. We both charged at one another, and it was immediately clear that despite not being a variant like the first one it was still a powerful monster that had killed many Adventurers before.

I wouldn't let my guard down around these things, not ever.

Instead of meeting it in an honorable, noble contest of wills, I held out a free hand and fired a Handcannon straight into it's forehead. It screeched in pain despite it's relatively untouched scales- I wanted the bitch as visibly intact as possible so Bast could look it in the eyes as it burned.

So I used the explosive concussion I'd just given it as a distraction, and leaped over it and onto its back. It wasn't an absurd act- despite the danger they pose, the houses I was leaping across were fairly larger than the monster.

I quickly landed on top of the scaled beast, idly ignoring its attempts to knock me off due to my frankly insane balance (thanks Nubi, Bast, Moth Voice), I pulled out my debuff sword and proceeded to do my thing.

My Magic Iron Sword's enchantment was a simple thing. Every three hits, the target's offense and defense is lowered. I've been specifically training my Dex by aiming to do three attacks with the shortsword as quickly as possible, since even the most ineffective hits count for the effect. But… I haven't found a limit to how low I can bring a target, considering most would bleed out before the effect can stop.

So, infinite debuff plus exposed blindspot equals…?

"Wassup bitch! Wassup bitch!" I repeated mindlessly as I relentlessly slashed and stabbed at the monster's back, orange scales and red blood flying freely and staining my front. The thing cried out in agony as every six or so hits the blade would sink in farther and farther with less and less effort.

"You thought you were hot shit, making my Bast sad for all these years?! Killing Adventurers like our lives didn't matter?!" It finally threw aside its pride and tried bucking me off like a horse. I slide down the beast's back, carving open a path along its spine as I went as I continued berating the thing. "Fuck you, you reptilian cunt! I'm going to parade your goddamn corpse across Orario, burn you in a funeral pyre, and fuck Bast after putting your empty skull over her bed!"

The burst of blood seemed to spray out slower than it should've as I talked, but I didn't question it as I sheathed my shortsword and summoned my spear before lunging at the beast's side. A single flick of the polearm tore out the flesh of it's leg, enough to send it crashing down beneath its own weight.

Considering what little I know of the thing's biology, I'm assuming a stab to the chest won't instantly pop it, so I went straight between it's ribs. Feeling nothing but bone, and it's agonized cries, I tore out through the chest and watched at the thing collapsed under the sheer agony of its wounds.

Roll Failed. 300 banked.

I immediately dismissed whatever that was to at least pay a final respect to the monster before me. I kind of already fought a much stronger version of it first, so it got hit with the 'Completed all side quests before the Main Story' effect.

Unfortunately for it, one of it's kind traumatized one of mine, so the whole species had to be written off. Sorry not sorry.

Still, that bad feeling I had gotten the other day was still lingering. Hell, it had been raining when I entered the Dungeon, and experience has taught me that rain equals bad shit happening. I sighed and proceeded to stretch.

I don't know how what happened next occurred, all I know is that is the only reason I survived. For some reason I decided to stretch forward instead of backward, like a fucking maniac whose never cracked his spine before.

Fortunately for me, that single act made what was a fatal strike into merely debilitating. I immediately cried out in white hot agony as a blade suddenly appeared between my shoulder and my neck. I screamed out, tears momentarily stinging my eyes before I turned the fuck around and put my spear between me and the enemy. Somehow, someway, my eyes caught the figure as they rushed towards me, and placed my spear in the way to block the attack I knew was coming.

A dagger cleaved through the spear I had killed to gain like butter, and all it had bought me was a scratch on my insufficient armor instead of being gutted like a fish. The spear was severed into uneven pieces, the point barely having a handle, but I snatched it out of the air and stabbed-

The completely cloaked figure was already out of the way almost as soon as I grabbed the weapon, in a way that immediately latched onto my mind. The dagger switched hands- the person was smaller than me, short and slender- and made for my kidney.

I tried to move my left arm, but immediately realized it was completely limp and wouldn't respond in time. So I turned around the assassin, and went to kick her-

She jumped back and away from me the second I had committed to the move. Combat Precognition?

I shift the speartip in my hands so I could point two fingers at-

They immediately ducked before I could even begin to charge Handcannon. Frowning, I tried-

This was the largest leap of all, the very thought of sending a curse their way making them put a massive amount of distance between us with enough speed that I lost focus trying to keep my focus on them.

And then they started throwing knives from within their cloak straight at me, and despite them obviously being a Level 2 they were extremely easy to deflect, meaning they had Leveled Up as soon as they were able.

Which, considering the position I was in right now, didn't seem that bad of an idea. I futilely tried to twitch the fingers of my limp arm, and barely felt anything. No Domain Expansion for me, I guess. Fucking peachy.

Ignoring that thought, they again immediately closed the distance between us and lashed out again, and almost instinctively I put the speartip between me and the dagger, and guided their blade down the edge of the spear. As I saw a shaving of metal come off the spear, and the beginnings of an understanding took shape in my mind, a leg slammed into my limp arm at the elbow, and I screamed.

Immediately trying to flood the bitch with curses, they backed away faster than I could, and-

"Abracadabra." I uttered and suddenly everything was back in perspective.

Two things. One, whatever Spidey Sense this bitch has is triggered by intent to harm, considering my curses can't actually do any damage and therefore shouldn't affect the Skill if it was just 'warn of attack'.

Two, she's actually not that good at fighting. I'm down an arm, and can't hit her with a spell to save my life, but I'm still kicking. That's less a compliment to me, and more an insult to her ability to put a blade between my ribs.

Aside from that… she's overwhelmingly easy to read. Like… I constantly spar with Bast, and even she's harder to read, and this asshole's got a Falna.

Their issues may just be an overreliance on their skill- they dodge every time it activates, and because of that she hasn't finished the job because she's afraid I'm going to crash out everytime I try to pull out a spell.

One of two things need to happen for me to win. Either they get sick of dodging seemingly nothing and get hit, or I find a way to hit them without triggering the attack. Basically hit 'em without wanting to hit 'em.

… Plan get, I decided, and let my speartip slip through my shaking fingers.

The Assassin rushed in once more, showing off movements I can now see are excessive and a waste of energy considering I haven't made a single move towards her. Which is a good thing, considering they'd just create distance immediately.

Charging towards me full sprint, I was oddly reminded of something Bast once told me about combat. The best mark of skill for combat is how predictable their attack patterns are. A skilled warrior holds themselves in a way that neither favors nor disallows any potential avenues of attack, and an unskilled one is so obvious you'd need to be blind not to see it.

I could practically see the stab straight for my heart coming a mile away. I wanted to click my tongue- of course I have to gamble my literal heart on this shit. I reached out my hand, intent to stop them from getting closer or reaching me, but they easily ducked down as they committed to the strike.

Abracadabra. I muttered under my breath as I reacted twice in one instant. First, my sword that I had stored was summoned in my hand in reverse grip as I stabbed down into their shoulder. They twisted on their ankle to dodge that, and I accordingly adjusted my second attack- a miniscule Handcannon that I had prepped to explode on command behind the broken speartip.

It did as commanded, and launched the sharp piece of metal like a rocket, straight into the assassin's stomach.

Modus - Sorcery- Fortune (One Dot) - World Of Darkness: Sorcerer (100)

Roll Success! Purchased! 200 points remaining.

[ Sorcery - Fortune (One Dot)] [ Sorcery - Fortune (One Dot)]For good or for ill, this path allows the sorcerer to control the fate of their target, and create both blessings and curses. For reasons unknown, this path also benefits from additional assistance more than other magics would.

[1] One, specifically named target, receives either a mild inconvenience or an equally mild boon, once. Examples include stubbing one's toe, or calling at the perfect time.

Oh thank fuck- I can't use it on me, can I? Ah who cares, just keep it pushing.

Switching my grip on my sword, I went to carve open this bastard's neck, but they instead tumbled backwards on their own. Dead. Suicide?

A noxious scent in the air confirmed they went the way of the cyanide pill. A breath escaped me as I reigned in all the emotions involved with a surprise assassination attempt, and instead ripped the dagger out of my shoulder so I could start downing potions like my life depended on it.

Feeling the red liquids trailing down my flesh, and hastily applying the cream Bast had given me onto my wounded shoulder, I sighed as I examined the corpse of my attacker.

It was a girl, either a Pallum or the ripe old age of fifteen or so. Dead.

Naturally, I looted all of the weapons on her person- the super special Level Two dagger that didn't look any different than a regular dagger. Which was probably the point. A bunch of actual throwing knives so I didn't have to try so hard using regular knives as projectiles. Again, a fuckton of potions.

And a body. You would think I was going to use Revivification on the girl to get my information, but that would be incorrect for two important reasons. One, I'm like 90% sure Anubis would disown me (or worse, ban cuddles) if I tried to force life onto the dead to get my answers. And significantly less important, I needed multiple people to freely hand over their energy to revive a corpse.

But, despite how much I've been focusing on my other magic, I haven't stopped studying the Book of the Dead.

I clasped my hands together in prayer around my scarab necklace, asking Anubis' approval for my actions, which were given without hesitation as the sensation of fine sand filling my hand came to life.

Opening my hands slightly, I blew upon the pitch-black sand and sent it scattering over the corpse. But instead of making a magical mess, the Wind of Life and Sands of Death spun into a miniature sandstorm over the corpse, as the remnants of her Ba were drawn out and given shape through the medium freely given.

She looked… like a sandy version of who I had just killed. Despite knowing very well that the Ba should gain the look of life when called upon, retaining the shape the person had when they were most alive, she was just sand.

"Why did you try to kill me?" I asked firmly, knowing the Dead had no desire for deception or hesitation.

"My Goddess had ordered me to, in order to save the world." What?

"... Who is your Goddess?"

"Lady Sekhmet. Goddess of War and Medicine." Ah, it might be beef with Bast I guess.

"Do you still believe her?" She smiled with teeth made of death, an embodiment of how hollow her life was, even if she did not know it.

"Yes. Who else could I possibly believe?" That question was completely genuine- she couldn't think of a single person who could possibly contradict her goddess' words. I…

"I wish you the best, and may your heart be light as a feather." My hands pressed together, and then the apparition was gone. Not like it was really her soul, merely the remains left behind in the corpse.

Still… I wiggled my left arm, feeling it was practically as good as new.

"At least that bad feeling is gone now. But…" I looked back at the massive dragon, and down at the broken remains of my spear. "How the fuck am I going to carry this thing now?"

Strength is fuckin busted and I love it.

After just stabbing the longer end into the corpse's chest and lifting it up like a balloon, completely uncaring of the blood flowing down the things back, I came marching out of the Dungeon like a parade.

Roll Failed. 300 points remaining.

Well, hopefully everyone's too fucking scared to talk about how 'crazy illegal' this shit is, I have a fucking point to prove after all.

And a pussy to pound… Note to self, never say that to Bast's face while you are in nutshot distance.

Totally worth it though.

A/N: I tried writing literally anything else, including A Guiding Hand my personal favorite fic I've ever written (shameless plug), but fuck this shit is like crack.

Also I've found my bad luck is becoming more evident the farther along I am in this fic. I am very afraid.

[ Mini-Hakkero] [ Mini-Hakkero]A magical furnace that takes the shape of an octagonal block, made of wood, with the eight trigrams printed in a circle on its front. The internal components were originally made of mundane steel, but was replaced by the mythical hihi-irokane metal after it became rusted. Despite its small size, being able to fit in a person's hand, it is an incredibly potent source of heat and magical energy. This is the engine that powers the infamous Love Sign Master Spark, but unlike the original, requires little to no physical fuel in order to function, but purely of the user's magical power.

SI: Could've used it as fuel for some really stupid curses I've been getting ideas for, but other than that I don't really have any spells that need a massive generate worth 600 fucking points.

[ Crow] [ Crow]Like Peter himself, you are a clever mimic. Not only are you good at imitating voices, you can successfully mimic (and cast) vocal spells and powers you have heard. However, you can only memorize one spell to mimic at a time, and must rehear a spell you have forgotten in order to cast it once you've shifted to mimicking a different spell. Also, mimicking a spell costs (MP, energy, etc.) twice as much as it would if normally cast (even if the normal spell had no costs, the vocal mimicry will still get an extra cost attached).

SI: … The hell bro, this shit is absolutely A-Tier in this setting. Literally every spell has a chant to it, and one of my students it legitimately the best fucking Mage around! Dammit man, free magic…

[ Familiar Belt] [ Familiar Belt]This is a BIT of a transitional device. After all, your studies will eventually allow you to utilize much stronger and more effective ways of transformation. However, it'll do for now. This belt is 'empty', but can capture and contain a single Phantom with much the same rules as the Faust Driver. However, instead of turning the Phantom into a summon, it simply devours it and uses its body as the 'transformation.' In effect, it allows you to eat Phantoms for a stronger form. However, you may only have one "Familiar" form at a time, so the best bet is to find a form that suits your needs, and stick to it. Don't worry, better times will come soon, as long as you work for them.

SI: … Is this just another fucking Magical Girl Transformation? For 400 points? Fuck it, would rather use the fucking In Another World With My Smart Phone, I'll take the beast I do know.