I Can Copy Curses

Orion quickly flew out of the city and headed straight for the forest ahead.

"I guess I can't fly here."

He thought as he decided to move on the ground once he reached the forest's entrance. He figured that if Tracy and Erza were inside the forest, he might not be able to spot them if he flew through the air. Enjoy exclusive chapters from empire

Moreover, he saw smoke rising from different parts of the forest, fallen trees scattered about, and landslides all around. Seeing this, Orion was sure the forest had become a battlefield, just like the city he came from.

"This whole Dreamshore is a battlefield, I guess."

Orion ran through the forest at high speed, constantly searching for Tracy and the others, but luck seemed to be against him. After running for half an hour, he hadn't encountered anyone—not even a single human.

"It's strange. From outside, the forest looked like complete chaos, but now that I'm inside, it's so peaceful all of a sudden."

Orion felt something was wrong. It was too peaceful. He couldn't hear the sounds of battle or the roar of beasts. It was as if he was the only being left in the world.

"Let's see from above."

Orion was about to take flight to get a better view of the situation when suddenly the ground beneath him and the surrounding area began to wobble.

"Is this some kind of illusion?"

He exclaimed in shock as he attempted to fly, only to find himself landing back on the ground. He was confused. He was sure he had taken off, so how had he suddenly landed?

"Wait a minute! This isn't a forest."

After looking around, he realized he was no longer in the forest. He saw many other participants standing around him, some appearing just as confused as he was, while others seemed excited.

[Welcome to the Trial of Heart, Ray Wiser.]

"Trial of Heart?"

Orion was confused about what was happening.

"Wasn't this assessment supposed to be a battle royale?" he muttered, not understanding what was going on.

Just then, a notification appeared before his eyes, detailing the Trial of Heart.

[Trial of Heart—One of the three trials spread throughout Dreamshore. Successfully passing this trial will grant a compass directing you to the other two trials. Most importantly, the reward for passing the Trial of Heart is a chance to comprehend the true name of your Divine Soul.]

Orion was shocked. The reward for passing the trial was astounding—a chance to comprehend the true name of one's Divine Soul.

"Damn, this trial is overpowered!"

Orion's eyes gleamed with excitement. The trial seemed amazing.

"But wait... We still can't summon our Divine Souls in the Gold Rank in this world, right? You need to be Platinum Rank to do that."

Orion didn't understand how they would achieve the reward, but he wasn't complaining. He figured that if they planned to offer such a reward, they must have thought it through.

[To enter the trial, pass through the mist surrounding this place. You will find yourself in the first of the three tests of the Trial of Heart.]

Orion understood. He looked around and noticed that many participants were already passing through the mist, while others stood or sat, seemingly pondering something.

"What's with them?"

He didn't understand what had happened to them, nor did he care. After reading the description of the Trial of Heart, Orion didn't waste any time and entered the mist surrounding the area.

The mist was a mixture of white and blue, and it felt like he was passing through clouds.

Soon, Orion found himself standing in a modest room. The space was small, containing only a bed, a simple study table, and a computer. The walls were plain, giving the room an unremarkable appearance, save for the quiet, emotional atmosphere that filled the air.

Beside the table, a man of thirty year sat in a chair, his shoulders trembling as tears streamed down his face.

His gaze was fixed on the computer screen, eyes filled with gratitude and joy. He smiled, though the expression was one of relief, as though the sight on the screen was the answer to a long-held hope.

Each tear that fell seemed to carry a weight, a mixture of sorrow and overwhelming happiness, as he continued to silently cry, unaware of Orion's presence.

"This... this scene..."

Orion's heart began to race as he observed.

"I passed! I passed the exam! Now I can finally get a stable government job and live a happy life," the man muttered through his tears, feeling that all his hard work had been worth it.

Orion's expression became serious as he watched.

Soon, the scene shifted, and Orion found himself in an office. There were tables and chairs arranged everywhere, with many people working at computers and documenting files. However, Orion's attention was immediately drawn to a familiar figure in the distance.

It was the same man who had just passed the exam and landed a job.

The man worked happily, chatting with a woman seated beside him. He happily laughed and talked with his colleagues as he worked and chatted even more happily with the woman who sat beside him at work.

After work, the man returned home, cooked a simple meal, ate in the quiet comfort of his solitude, and went to bed with a sense of satisfaction. The routine might have seemed mundane, but he relished it.

The next day, he returned to the office, maintaining a cheerful attitude while developing a close relationship with the woman. They chatted as they worked together.

As time passed, his excitement grew. He began arriving early at the office, waiting eagerly for her. It wasn't long before their colleagues noticed the bond between them, but no one interfered. They were both dedicated workers, admired for their passion and commitment. The growing relationship only seemed to enhance their performance.

Five years slipped by. The man was now thirty-five, his features showing signs of age, yet the fire in his eyes burned with the same intensity. His energy hadn't waned; if anything, the years had deepened his passion for both his work and the bond he'd built. The connection he'd forged over time, steady and unspoken, had become the most important part of his life.

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