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Chapter 27
The Curse of the Blackthrone
The waiting chamber of the Blackthrone mansion felt unnaturally silent.
Heavy curtains blocked the sunlight, casting the entire room in dim golden candlelight. Ancient portraits of long-dead nobles stared down from the walls, their painted eyes watching the room like silent judges.
Alex sat calmly in his chair.
Selena stood beside him, visibly tense.
The silence dragged on for several minutes.
Then—
CREEEAAAK
The door slowly opened.
A young woman stepped into the room.
Her long black hair flowed behind her like dark silk. Her skin was pale and flawless, almost glowing under the candlelight. Her crimson eyes carried a cold, distant beauty that made it impossible to look away.
Alex slowly lifted his gaze.
So this is Elara Blackthrone.
Immediately he spoke in his mind.
System. Scan her.
A blue window appeared before his eyes.
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Status Window
Name: Elara Blackthrone
Age: 22
Title: Beauty of the Empire, Cursed One
Talent: Trend Sovereign (Ability to influence social opinion and noble trends)
Potential: C+ Rank
Current Condition: Shadow Chain Curse
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Alex's eyes narrowed slightly.
Shadow Chain.
The name triggered a memory deep in his mind.
In the original game Chronicles of the Ruined Empire, the first major antagonist arc involved a secret organization known as—
The Eclipse Covenant.
A hidden cult operating in the shadows of every kingdom.
Their goal?
Destroy the current world order.
Revive the Ancient Gods.
Spread chaos across the continent.
And most importantly…
They were masters of curses.
So this is their doing.
Before Alex could think further, Elara stopped in front of him.
Her eyes were cold.
"So."
"You are the merchant spreading fake hope across my empire."
Selena stiffened behind him.
But Alex leaned back comfortably in his chair.
"Fake hope?" he repeated.
Then he chuckled softly.
"No."
"I sell miracles."
Elara's expression darkened.
"You dare mock me in my own house?"
"I wouldn't dream of it."
Alex tilted his head slightly.
"In fact, I came here to help you."
Elara laughed coldly.
"Help me?"
"Do you have any idea how many healers, priests, and royal physicians have examined me?"
"Some of them were considered the greatest healers in the entire empire."
"And yet none of them could find anything wrong."
Her crimson eyes glowed with quiet fury.
"So tell me, merchant."
"What exactly do you think you can do?"
Alex calmly pointed behind her.
"I know about your illness."
Elara froze.
"And I know why no one has been able to cure it."
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"…Explain."
Alex's smile slowly widened.
"Because it isn't an illness."
The candles flickered violently.
The temperature in the room suddenly dropped.
Alex pointed directly at the floor.
"That thing behind you…"
"…isn't your shadow."
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then—
The shadow behind Elara twitched.
Selena gasped.
The shadow stretched across the wall like black liquid.
Then it slowly rose from the ground, forming a tall humanoid figure made entirely of darkness.
Two glowing crimson eyes opened inside the black mass.
A distorted voice echoed through the chamber.
"How… fascinating."
The creature stared directly at Alex.
"For three years I have hidden within this body."
"Dozens of healers examined her."
"Not a single one noticed me."
The shadow tilted its head.
"And yet you…"
"…a mere merchant…"
"…saw through my curse."
Alex crossed his arms calmly.
"Trade secret."
The creature chuckled.
"You are dangerous."
Then its voice suddenly became cold.
"Which means…"
"You cannot be allowed to live."
Dark mist exploded from the shadow's body.
The entire room was instantly sealed inside a barrier.
"No one outside will hear your screams."
Suddenly—
CLANG
Black chains shot from the floor like living snakes.
Alex jumped sideways.
The chains slammed into the floor where he had been standing.
The shadow laughed.
"Your reflexes are impressive."
"But you are still only human."
Alex dusted off his sleeve.
"You talk too much."
The shadow's eyes glowed brighter.
"Oh?"
"Then allow me to show you what true darkness looks like."
The creature raised its hand.
Dozens of shadow spikes erupted from the walls.
They shot toward Alex like arrows.
Alex rolled across the floor, barely dodging the attacks.
The spikes shattered furniture and slammed into the walls.
Selena screamed and hid behind a table.
Alex grabbed a broken chair leg from the floor.
Mana surged into the wood.
Blue energy covered the improvised weapon.
The shadow sneered.
"You think a stick can harm me?"
Alex smirked.
"Let's test that theory."
The creature lunged forward.
A claw made of darkness slashed toward Alex's chest.
Alex stepped forward instead of retreating.
At the last moment—
He twisted his body.
The claw barely missed his shoulder.
Alex swung the mana-infused weapon.
CRACK
The strike landed directly on the shadow's torso.
The creature shrieked.
Its body flickered violently.
"That… hurt."
Alex stepped back.
"So you can feel pain."
The shadow growled.
"INSOLENT HUMAN!"
Dark tendrils erupted from the floor.
They wrapped around Alex's legs.
"Let's see how you escape this."
The tendrils tightened.
Alex frowned.
"Annoying."
He channeled mana through his body.
Blue energy burst outward.
BOOM
The shadow tendrils shattered.
The creature froze.
"That level of mana…"
"…who are you?"
Alex tilted his head.
"Just a merchant."
Then he rushed forward.
The shadow attacked again.
Claws.
Chains.
Spikes.
Darkness filled the entire room.
Alex dodged, rolled, and counterattacked.
Each strike weakened the shadow's body.
Finally—
The creature tried to retreat.
"You…"
"…you are not normal…"
Alex smirked.
"Now you noticed?"
He raised the weapon again.
Mana surged through it.
"Time to disappear."
The strike pierced the center of the shadow.
The creature screamed.
"THE ECLIPSE COVENANT WILL—"
CRACK
The shadow shattered.
Black smoke filled the room.
Then vanished completely.
The barrier collapsed.
Silence returned.
Elara's body suddenly collapsed.
Selena rushed forward.
"Lady Blackthrone!"
At that moment—
The door burst open.
Knights rushed inside with swords drawn.
They froze at the scene.
Broken furniture.
Destroyed walls.
Elara unconscious on the floor.
Alex standing in the middle of it.
Weapons instantly pointed at him.
"DON'T MOVE!"
A tall man stepped forward.
His presence filled the entire room.
Cold.
Dominating.
The Count Blackthrone.
His eyes burned with fury as he saw his daughter.
"You…"
His voice trembled with rage.
"You dare harm my daughter inside my own house?"
The knights surrounded Alex.
Dozens of swords aimed at his throat.
The Count's voice thundered.
"You will not leave this mansion alive."
Alex slowly cracked his neck.
Then smiled faintly.
"Well…"
"It looks like we're fighting again."
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