The Black Stone Tavern buzzed like a swarm of Glintmoths, the stench of ale and Gromble grease mingling with Bera's fiery smirk that promised trouble. I plopped onto a barstool, my legs sliding across the floor, N'Nazmuz's curse—that 30-kilogram invisible weight—making every move sluggish, like wading through a swamp. Didn't stop me from noticing Bera's curves, how she leaned over the counter, her tight corset barely containing those perfect… well, you know. Lila stood nearby, her hips in that snug tunic like Zenoite forged in a quarry, sharp and damn enticing. Both were throwing glances that could've set the tavern ablaze, and I was the spark.
"Killyaen, you still reek of the minefield," Bera teased, waving a rag like she was shooing me off. "Or is that your ego?"
"Just keep sniffing, fiery curves," I shot back, winking. "Or is that your Fire Qi luring me in?"
Lila snorted, crossing her arms, which only highlighted her figure. "Supreme Idiot, you wouldn't recognize Fire Qi if it scorched you. Stick to your jokes, they hurt less."
Before I could retort, the door slammed open. Janko, still sporting traces of neon feathers from my last prank, stormed in, eyes blazing with hatred. The "Cursed Cat" nickname clung to him like a shadow, and I already had a plan. In my pocket was the "Thorn-Tickle Trap"—a mix of Moonflower thorns, Gromble oil, and Zenoite dust, hidden in a pouch above the entrance. Just needed to lure him outside. But first, training.
Goran waited in the courtyard, his Peak Element Lord Fire presence making the air heavy. "Zenoite swords, Killyaen," he grunted, tossing me the blades Marko forged back in Chapter 8. "Thunder's Edge, focus. The curse slows you, but your strength's growing."
Gripping the swords, I felt the curse drag my shoulders, like hauling sacks of stone. I swung, Thunder's Edge slicing the air, but my moves were sluggish, stamina melting faster than Gromble grease on a fire. Still, the strike split a wooden post in half. Goran nodded but said, "Vuk's talking about wavy relics in Valthorne. Maybe your amulet knows more than you do."
"Ruins? Boring," I muttered, already scheming how to turn Janko into "Prickly Whiskers." I ignored the amulet—jokes were my altar.
Back in the tavern, Janko was ordering ale, oblivious to the trap above the door. Bera and Lila were at each other's throats by the bar, their voices sharp enough to cut Zenoite. I leaned back, savoring the show as their argument heated up."
You think you're some Fire Goddess, Bera?" Lila sneered, her hands on her hips, tunic hugging every curve like a second skin. "Your chest's so overblown, it's a wonder you don't tip over. Those tits must weigh more than Killyaen's ego!"
Bera laughed, tossing her hair, corset straining as she leaned forward. "Oh, Lila, jealous much? Your ass might be carved from stone, but it's flat as a Crestmoore plain. No wonder Killyaen's eyes keep sliding to my assets!"
Lila's face flushed, her Earth Qi rumbling beneath the floorboards. "Assets? Those saggy sacks you call breasts? They're more like Gromble bladders, ready to burst! I bet they flop like Glintmoth wings when you run."Bera's eyes narrowed, a spark of Fire Qi flaring in her palm. "Keep talking, dirt-girl. Your thighs are so thick, they'd crush a Zenoite Krovar. Too bad they're wasted on a prude who can't handle a real man's gaze!"
The tavern went quiet, every drunkard leaning in, ale forgotten. Lila stepped closer, her tunic riding up, revealing a glimpse of those sculpted thighs. "Real man? You mean Killyaen's drooling over my body, not your overripe melons. I'd snap him in half before you could bat those cow-eyes!"
Bera smirked, hips swaying as she closed the gap, her corset creaking. "Snap him? You couldn't seduce a Gromble, you frigid rock-humper. My curves have him begging, while you're just a walking quarry with no spark!"
I couldn't hold back anymore. This was too good. "Ladies, ladies!" I shouted, jumping onto a table, arms spread. "Clear the center of the tavern, folks! Let's oil up these girls so they shine like true goddesses while they fight for the love of the one and only Supreme Elf!"
The ceiling nearly blew off from the laughter, but Bera and Lila turned on me, their eyes blazing like Fire and Earth Qi. "What did you say, Supreme Pervert?" Bera hissed, while Lila was already lifting floorboards with her Earth Qi. Before I could bolt, the tavern became a coliseum.
Bera struck first, leaping with a grace that made her corset groan, her fist trailing Fire Qi smoke. "Feel this, sleaze!" she yelled, her breasts bouncing, drawing every eye in the room—mine included, naturally. Lila didn't lag, her hips swaying as she hurled earthen spikes from the floor, her tunic clinging to her sweat-slicked body. "This is for your filthy mouth!" she roared, her thighs gleaming like polished Zenoite, sculpted and deadly.
Their bodies clashed above me, Bera's curves rippling as she dodged Lila's spikes, her corset threatening to give way with every twist. Lila's tunic rode higher, exposing those thighs that could crush a man's soul, her Earth Qi sending tremors through the floor. Bera's Fire Qi flared, singeing the air, her cleavage heaving like a forge bellows. Lila countered, her hips rolling as she summoned a dirt wave, her ass flexing like a goddamn masterpiece. I was in paradise—until they turned on me.
Bera's soft, warm hand grabbed my throat, her breath hot against my ear. "Think we're your toys?" she whispered, while Lila's firm, earthy grip crushed my shoulder. "You're done, pervert!" Lila shoved an earthen wave that sent me sprawling. Their curves collided as they fought over me, Bera's breasts nearly escaping her corset, Lila's tunic revealing more thigh than Opeka had ever seen. My "supreme sword" was having a field day, even as their fists rained down.
Rocky, the hulking Zenoite Krovar, stood nearby, his voice booming with laughter. "Go, my allies! Crush this puny humanoid!" He cheered, stone paws clapping, as Bera and Lila pummeled me instead of each other. Bera's Fire Qi singed my cheek, Lila's earthen spike tore my tunic at the shoulder. Bruises bloomed, but I was grinning like a Gromble in grease."Enough!" Elder Mara stormed in, her Earth Qi calming the floor, but not before Bera and Lila landed one last hit on my ribs. "Killyaen, you're Opeka's curse," she muttered, while Rocky chuckled, "Fine warriors, these women!"
As I dragged myself toward the exit, I saw Janko charging me, eyes wild with revenge. The "Thorn-Tickle Trap" triggered perfectly—the pouch exploded, Moonflower thorns and Zenoite dust coating him. But I hadn't counted on so much Gromble oil. Janko collapsed, choking, thorns piercing his skin, dust clogging his throat. The tavern fell silent as he gasped, face reddening, barely breathing. My heart stopped—this wasn't a prank, this was a disaster."
Janko!" I yelled, rushing to him. I tore off my tunic, wiping his face, while Mara used Earth Qi to pull the thorns free. Janko finally gasped, but his eyes held fear, not hate. I felt like Gromble shit. Damn you, Killyaen, this went too far, I thought, but publicly, I laughed. "Behold Prickly Whiskers! Another masterpiece by the Supreme Elf!"
Everyone roared, but Janko staggered up, trembling, and fled without a word. I knew it was over—no more "Cursed Cat" games. He was terrified of me, and I… well, I was scared of myself. I decided to leave him alone, at least until I left Opeka. He clearly felt the same.
Later, sitting in the courtyard, bruises from the Bera-Lila beatdown throbbing, the curse slowly restored my stamina, wounds faintly healing.Goran clapped my shoulder. "Opeka's getting small for you, kid. Crestmoore might have answers." I nodded, but my mind was on Janko—and that look of fear. I didn't want to be that Killyaen. Not anymore. Not here.