Episode 3. Damn Regression (2)
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“A curse…”
Lloyd, standing behind the skeletons, eyed me warily.
Of course he would. Even for him, this spell would be unsettling.
It’s ironic for me to say it, but in truth, most curse-type black magic isn’t very practical in stand-offs like this.
There are generally two classic ways to cast a curse on an opponent:
Either by performing a ritual at an altar or similar site…
Or by preparing a curse in advance and luring the target into the area.
Honestly, both methods require lengthy preparation.
But—
If you strike the opponent directly with a cursed object, that changes things.
And it was the Bayonel family that proved the practical use of curse-based black magic.
I’m part of the Bayonel family myself.
Naturally, I mastered their curse techniques long ago.
Ordinary weapons can’t carry a curse.
But if the weapon is created with the caster’s mana, it’s a different story.
Like the shadow dagger in my hand now.
A violet aura shimmered violently along its blade.
Szzzzt…
Curse Enchant.
A specialized mana technique that embeds curses into shadow weapons.
I infused the dagger with a curse.
Curse Enchant.
Curse of Durability.
I gripped two daggers tightly in both hands and crossed my arms behind my back.
Just like before, the target was the skeleton’s forehead.
Ping!
The dagger pierced the forehead of the nearest skeleton.
The curse embedded in the blade seeped into the skull, and violet cracks began spreading through its bones, radiating out from the impact.
“Tsk.”
With a flick of Lloyd’s hand, the skeletons’ movements changed.
They no longer charged at me in a straight line—instead, they spread out to the sides.
A maneuver ordinary skeletons could never pull off.
“How about it, Aaron? Not even you can curse them all, right?”
Lloyd smirked confidently.
He was issuing precise commands to each of the 20 skeletons individually.
I opened my hands again, summoning more shadow daggers.
Two skeletons are already cursed.
‘That leaves 18.’
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Shadow Crafting Technique.
Shadow Daggers, Six in Succession.
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Clatter.
In each hand, three cursed daggers materialized.
I wanted to throw more, but my physical strength wasn’t quite there.
For now, hitting six at once was my limit.
Crossing my arms, I launched the daggers in graceful arcs.
Thunk-thunk-thunk!
Each dagger struck a skeleton squarely in the forehead.
“What the—?!”
Lloyd’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Can’t blame him.
Ten years ago, I didn’t have this level of control over shadow weapons.
But ten years is a long time.
‘Twelve down.’
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Shadow Crafting Technique.
Shadow Daggers, Six in Succession.
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Thwip-thwip-thwip!
Do you know how many times I’ve thrown cursed daggers over the last ten years?
‘Six more.’
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Shadow Crafting Technique.
Shadow Daggers, Six in Succession.
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Even if my physical body is still that of a teenager, my senses for handling shadow weapons haven’t dulled.
Throwing them feels as natural as breathing.
Thwack-thwack-thwack!
I nailed the last six skeletons right in the head. Lloyd flinched as I glared at him.
“When did you learn that kind of weapon skill…?”
“That’s none of your business.”
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Shadow Crafting Technique.
Shadow Spear, Solo Crafting.
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I grabbed a two-meter-long shadow spear with both hands and crouched low.
Rumble…
Even with daggers embedded in their heads, the skeletons kept charging.
But it was fine. The curse had definitely taken hold.
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Curse of Durability.
A curse-type black magic that weakens the target’s defense.
Skeleton bones are no exception.
Whoosh!
I thrust the spear horizontally toward the skeletons.
Then grabbed its center and spun.
CRACK!
Though I hadn’t swung it with full force, the bones of the skeletons shattered on impact.
Each swing split three to four skeletons in half, dropping them to the ground.
Soon, only fragments of unmoving bones lay at my feet.
“You said earlier that I wouldn’t be able to curse all of them, didn’t you?”
Crunch!
I stepped on a pile of bones, crushing them underfoot.
“Doesn’t look that way to me.”
“Grrk!”
Grinding his teeth, Lloyd clapped his hands together and began preparing his next spell.
A complex magic array spread from his palms across the arena, and the ground trembled.
BOOM!
A massive arm burst from the earth in a cloud of dust.
As the dust cleared, a giant figure emerged before me.
Grooooooh…
Green skin, thick muscles, and jagged teeth.
The monster stood taller than four grown men stacked together.
Gasps rang out from the cadets and instructors watching the match.
“An Orc?!”
“He can summon mid-tier undead now?!”
“When did he reach that level?”
My eyes narrowed.
‘No way… he brought that out here?’
This wasn’t an ordinary orc.
Its skin, which should be taut, was dull and decaying. Parts of its bones were exposed. The smell of rot clung to it.
Undead Orc.
This was Lloyd’s hidden trump card.
He never summoned that thing even back when we were at Necropia.
Back then, he didn’t need to. He was already good enough to be top of the class without using it.
‘And he’s summoning it here?’
The skeletons were one thing, but this was dangerous.
In this teenage body, taking even one hit from that orc could shatter my bones.
He must know that, and yet he’s still using it in the arena?
‘…This is odd.’
The presence of all these instructors and cadets—this match clearly wasn’t just for show.
‘I didn’t want to use these yet…’
I hesitated, knowing how many eyes were watching, but I had no choice.
I opened my palm and summoned mana.
In my student days, I could only use curse-based black magic.
But now?
After mastering all kinds of black magic and returning through regression?
‘No need to explain.’
I shaped the mana into a new spell.
The same black magic Lloyd had just cast.
Come forth.
As the instructors, cadets, and Lloyd looked on in stunned silence—
I knelt, placing my left palm against the ground.
Skeleton.
Rrrrrumble…!
Dust burst into the air around me.
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✦
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“What… is this…?”
Lloyd couldn’t comprehend what he was seeing.
“What the hell happened?”
Twenty skeletons had emerged to stand between me and the Undead Orc.
And there was no mistaking who summoned them.
Aaron Bayonel.
He had summoned those skeletons.
“How can you use summoning-type black magic…?”
The cadets and instructors watching the duel began murmuring, then gasping.
“I thought Cadet Aaron could only use curse-type black magic?”
“Y-Yes, but that’s definitely summoning-type…”
“Then… has he already reached ‘Double Class’ at that age?”
The grizzled instructor overseeing the match held his breath.
Double Class—a title given to those capable of using two distinct branches of magic.
It sounds simple, but it’s not easily achieved.
Each magic type has different principles and formulas.
‘…Typically around age 20.’
That’s the age most people can even begin to comprehend and cast in two branches.
Some prodigies might shorten that time…
‘But for someone to handle both curses and summons… and wield weapons like that?’
The complexity is beyond short-term study.
Could it be—
‘Was he hiding his full hand for this graduation duel?’
This wasn’t an ordinary match.
It was being watched by active black mages—an evaluation for Necropia’s graduating class.
Had he prepared specifically for this spotlight moment?
‘Cocky as it may seem… the talent is undeniable.’
To think such a prodigy was among us.
But that alone didn’t mean Aaron would win.
At his signal, all the skeletons charged at the Undead Orc.
Boom boom boom!
Lloyd’s orc barreled forward as well, shaking the ground.
They clashed at the center of the arena, the impact sending tremors through the air.
‘No matter how many skeletons he has, they’re still just skeletons.’
Physically, they were no match for an orc.
Crack!
With every swing of its arms, the orc shattered three or more skeletons, their bones flying apart.
At this rate, they’d barely slow it down, and the orc would reach Aaron and strike a devastating blow.
‘Still, it was impressive.’
The grizzled instructor turned to watch Aaron.
Would he raise his hands and surrender? Or keep fighting?
But when he looked at Aaron’s face—
‘…What?’
The instructor lifted an eyebrow.
Aaron looked calm.
Not like someone who had given up. If anything, he looked composed—confident.
…Swoosh.
Aaron drew his shadow spear behind his back.
A violet light shimmered at its tip.
‘Is he planning to curse the orc with that spear?’
Foolish.
Even if cursed, an orc wouldn’t fall from a single hit. And it takes time for a curse to fully spread.
‘But he’s from Bayonel—the house of curses. He must know that.’
Despite his skeletons being crushed, his expression remained utterly steady.
There was even a hint of… control.
As though this was all intentional—
When the instructor realized it—
“…Hoo.”
Aaron took a deep breath. From his right arm, violet heat haze began to rise like mist.
“……!”
The instructor gasped.
And he wasn’t the only one.
“No way…”
“Th-That’s…!”
Some instructors, meant to remain impartial, stood up in shock.
Even the grizzled one was speechless this time.
The violet haze enveloping Aaron’s right arm—
There’s only one kind of black magic that creates that effect.
“Magic Warrior-Type?”
Aaron Bayonel.
He had already demonstrated curse and summoning magic.
And now, if this was indeed magic warrior-type black magic…
Then at his age, he could wield three types of black magic?
“…Not Double Class—Triple Class?”
Finally, the instructor understood Aaron’s intent.
It hadn’t been about holding back.
He was deliberately pacing himself—to make sure his overwhelming talent was seared into the eyes of every witness.
“Heh heh heh…”
The instructor chuckled darkly.
Talent? No—
That couldn’t explain this.
A monster.
A monster was finally showing its fangs.
Szzzzzt…
The violet haze around Aaron’s right arm grew darker and thicker.
