Dungeon King: A Lady Knight Offered by My Goblins

Chapter 455 453-The Ultimate Curse

Ethan, trapped in a deep slumber, remained oblivious to the events unfolding in the outside world.

The space he now occupied resembled a dreamlike realm, a construct of the God of Curses within the Shadow clan's territory.

Here, Ethan would undoubtedly face a series of challenges orchestrated by the God of Curses.

Aware of his presence in this illusory space, Ethan paid little heed to the apparition of Sherry, who had already met her demise.

She was but a mirage in his perception.

Ethan's primary objective was to swiftly locate the exit from this surreal dimension.

He understood that every illusion, regardless of its complexity, would inevitably have a way out.

None but the Primordial Deity possessed the ability to craft a flawless, flawless space.

The illusion created by the God of Curses must surely contain various flaws and vulnerabilities.

Ethan believed that if he could identify even a single chink in the illusion's armor, he would have a chance to break free.

He followed a narrow path leading toward Shadow Moon Lake, sensing that this direction held a significant threat.

He was certain that the exit from the illusion lay in a perilous location.

Along the way, Ethan traversed the expanse of the Shadow clan's territory.

Within the illusory realm of the Shadow clan's devastated territory, there was no trace of living beings, and it appeared that complete destruction had taken hold.

Ethan could discern the remnants of the Shadow clan's existence, yet there was no sign of any Shadow clan members, implying their utter annihilation.

Upon reaching the entrance to the Shadow clan's territory within the illusion, Ethan spotted a familiar figure - Eck.

The Eck within this illusion was an exact replica of the one in the real world.

Eck stood with his back to Ethan, facing the direction of Shadow Moon Lake.

Ethan chose not to utter a word, simply observing the illusory Eck.

Suddenly, Eck turned his head and, with hollow, lifeless eyes, stared at Ethan.

"You should never have come here! You've killed every single Shadow clan member! Most importantly, you directly murdered Sherry, our High Priest!" 

Eck's voice was raspy and devoid of emotion, confirming that the illusory Eck had also met his demise.

Ethan could infer from Eck's words that he had been the one to kill this illusory version of Eck within the illusion.

In response to this revelation, Ethan's expression remained largely unchanged.

Having recognized the illusory nature of this world, he felt no need to dwell on its circumstances.

"If that's the case, I have no regrets. I never held any fondness for you, and don't think I'm unaware of your past actions." 

"I had to consider Sherry's stance. Once she awakens, I'll reveal everything to her."

"She, as the High Priest of the Shadow clan, will decide your fate when the time comes," Ethan retorted calmly, his words laced with unwavering determination.

After delivering his response to the illusory Eck, Ethan continued his journey, pressing forward until he reached the shores of Shadow Moon Lake.

At the lakeside, numerous Shadow clan members stood in the same manner as the illusory Eck he had encountered earlier.

"I understand, mighty God of Curses," Ethan spoke aloud, addressing the unseen deity.

"Your intent is to curse me to the extreme by making me believe that I've killed all the Shadow clan members within this illusion, as if that would profoundly affect me. Do you truly believe I care about these Shadow clan members? My sole concern is Sherry; I've only aided these Shadow clan members to assist her."

Ethan's mindset remained remarkably resilient in this surreal dimension.

He believed that the God of Curses' constructed illusion had little to no impact on him.

Ethan even began to discern the true intentions of the God of Curses.

The deity sought to use a series of events within the illusion to shatter Ethan's psyche entirely.

Once his mind crumbled, the God of Curses would seize control of him.

The ultimate curse within the illusion was designed to compel Ethan to destroy everything he cared about.

Within this illusory realm, Sherry's demise at the entrance to Valhalla, along with the deaths of all Shadow clan members in their territory, were portrayed as consequences of Ethan's actions.

Yet, Ethan's determination remained unyielding.

He recognized the immense psychological pressure he faced during this ordeal but managed to maintain his composure.

He understood that he must not succumb to the manipulations of the God of Curses.

"Do you truly think this is just the ultimate curse?" 

A voice, ancient, deep, indescribable, and terrifying, emanated from the midair above Shadow Moon Lake.

Ethan raised his head, and there, in the half-lit sky, he beheld a colossal blood-red moon.

This crimson moon shone brilliantly amidst the dim firmament.

Ethan needed no further confirmation—the voice belonged to the God of Curses.

The deity had materialized within the illusion, signifying that Ethan was about to face his most formidable challenge yet.

"Are you certain you've prepared the ultimate curse for me? If what came before wasn't the ultimate, then what, precisely, is the epitome of a curse? Can you enlighten me on that matter?" 

Ethan's tone remained resolute in the face of this Second generation Deity.

He harbored little fear, having gained considerable insight into the nature of Second generation Deities from Primordial Light.

He understood that these Second generation Deities, unlike their Primordial counterparts, lacked intrinsic power.

They were merely incarnations of various attribute forces.

The God of Curses, for all his might, could never surpass the fundamental essence of curses themselves.

"In that case, I shall grant you a taste of the ultimate curse right now," declared the God of Curses, his voice in the sky remaining as unchanged as ever.

The deity appeared unfazed by Ethan's defiance.

Ethan, of course, understood that the God of Curses, as a deity, would not be swayed by the challenge of a mere mortal.

Although Ethan ranked among the most elite mortals, he recognized that he still fell short of the caliber of a Second generation Deity.

As the God of Curses's words resonated, Ethan felt a flood of memories rushing into his mind.

These memories encompassed words he had once spoken and experiences he had lived through, many of which he would rather forget.

Ethan found himself recalling his failures, the comrades he had lost, and the most painful episodes he had endured.

He revisited the time before his crossing, remembering the things he had cherished most, all of which he could never reclaim.

These memories painted a vivid picture of his irrevocable past.

"This is the true epitome of a curse! A mortal is bound to experience a series of unchangeable events. These events can only be forgotten over time. When a mortal has let go of these burdens, they are free from curses."

"The ultimate curse, however, is the inability to forget anything, the eternal life of endless regret, eternal sorrow. This is the genuine ultimate curse I have bestowed upon you."

"You have no hope of overcoming these ultimate curses. Not you, nor any mortal.

If you were to conquer this curse, you would already be deemed worthy of becoming a deity."

The voice of the God of Curses echoed within Ethan's mind, but he paid little attention to the deity's words.

Instead, Ethan remained immersed in a deep sense of remorse.

Despite his considerable efforts and numerous successes, he couldn't shake the memory of past failures.

Ethan had faced setbacks he couldn't undo, and the weight of these unchangeable circumstances left him feeling desolate and disheartened.

As the cumulative weight of his disappointments bore down on him, his mental state began to falter.

Ethan found himself struggling to muster the strength to carry on, convinced that the ultimate curse was insurmountable.

Yet, in this critical moment, a memory of Sherry surfaced in Ethan's mind.

He recalled the string of achievements and successes he had earned.

These thoughts served as a lifeline, restoring some semblance of reason.

Ethan realized that he couldn't linger in the shadow of unpleasant memories; he had to summon his resolve.

With renewed determination, Ethan understood that succumbing to despair was not an option.

He resolved to confront the ultimate curse head-on, drawing strength from his past accomplishments and the memory of the one he cared about most.

In this pivotal juncture, Ethan readied himself to face the God of Curses with unwavering resolve.