I Can Copy Curses

In another building, a white-haired lady sat in a chair, sipping coffee.

Five individuals stood around her—three men and two women.

"Don't target Ray and Mark anymore," Zeref instructed them. "You'll only lower your chances of getting into the top 200 that way." Your next read awaits at empire

None of the five objected; they simply nodded lightly.

"Alright, you're free to go and eliminate as many as you can," she continued. "I just can't wait to have another battle with him."

The five still nodded lightly.

"Now, go!" Zeref commanded, and hearing her, the three men and two women immediately left the building.

"Ray Wiser... I can't wait to meet you in real life," she muttered as she drank her tea.

***

As the sun began to set over the wrecked city, the chaos of battle gradually subsided. The sounds of clashing swords, crumbling buildings, and desperate cries echoed throughout, but with each passing hour, the intensity of the combat waned. Participants fell one after another, either eliminated by their opponents or barely clinging to life.

In just a few hours, the number of contestants dropped drastically, from over three thousand to only one thousand. It was clear that most participants had chosen to fight their way through the assessment, determined to make it to the top.

The constant battles that ravaged the city left little room for those seeking refuge. For every moment someone spent hiding, another dozen were cut down in the streets. Yet, despite the bloodshed, this was only the beginning of the culling process.

As the day dragged on, the rate of eliminations sped up even more. Alliances shattered as survival instincts kicked in. Once-formed bonds between participants dissolved in a frenzy to secure a place in the top 200. Group members turned on one another, all vying for the slim chance at entering Dollas Academy.

Finally, after a grueling day of combat, only 200 participants remained.

An eerie silence fell over the city as the final number was reached, and then, as if on cue, a booming voice echoed throughout the entire city.

[Congratulations to the remaining 200 participants. You have proven yourselves worthy and will get admitted into the Dollas Academy]

For those who had chosen to hide, relief flooded through them. The announcement meant they had succeeded in surviving the chaos without needing to engage in the slaughter.

For others, it was the moment they had been waiting for—the confirmation that they had made it to the final stage. But they knew this was only a brief reprieve, for the real challenge was just beginning.

[With only 200 participants left, the battle royale will take place in an arena.]

[Teleportation in 10, 9, 8...]

Orion stared at the notification and sighed. "Be careful. If the final battle takes place in the arena, we won't have anywhere to hide. It'll be an all-out war—either you die, or you kill others. So, be careful out there," he said to Erza and Tracy before they disappeared.

Not just them—every participant in the city vanished.

***

Orion found himself standing in an arena made of concrete. He looked around and saw nothing but white and blue skies as participants began appearing one by one.

He observed the arena, noting its circular shape with no edges. It seemed to be high in the air, as he could only see the blue sky and occasional clouds.

'The chances of getting eliminated here are very high,' Orion thought, glancing at the outer area where the lack of edges posed a major risk. If a participant were pushed back and failed to stop themselves in time, they would fall off the arena, likely leading to their elimination.

At that moment, a notification appeared before them.

[The rules are simple. If you fall off the arena, you will be eliminated. If you die, you will be eliminated.]

[Flying is not allowed. Anyone caught flying will be immediately eliminated.]

[Now, begin!]

The moment the participants saw the notification, they lunged at each other's throats.

But some stood quietly—Orion was one of them. He didn't plan to help Tracy and Erza here. He believed they no longer needed his assistance, and who knew—his help might even backfire. So, he chose to simply observe their battles.

But things rarely go as planned.

"Ray, shall we begin?" Zeref asked sweetly, looking at Orion.

Orion sighed and drew his sword. "With your talent combined with this arena, you're bound to be the last one standing," he remarked.

"What do you mean?" Zeref asked, approaching him silently amidst the chaos erupting around the arena.

No other participants paid them any attention. They were too busy fighting, and they knew that attacking these two would likely lead to their own elimination, so they chose to play it safe and ignore the two monsters altogether.

"Your talent is Absolute Counter—you can counter anything," Orion said, glancing around. "If I attacked with my full strength and you countered it, the shockwave from your counter would be enough to eliminate almost half of the participants here. Even I might be eliminated if I'm not careful."

He added, "That made me think of a deal. How about you just jump off the arena and give everyone else a chance?"

"What's in it for me?" Zeref asked after pondering for a moment.

Orion shrugged. "Anything you want," he replied casually.

"Anything?" Her eyes narrowed as she asked for confirmation.

"Yup," Orion said, smiling. "So, what do you think?"

Zeref smiled and asked, "Do you take me for a fool?"

"Of course not," Orion replied, still smiling. "I just thought you were a kind lady who helps others in need."

"Don't tell me I'm wrong?" he added with a smirk.

Zeref smiled and swung her sword at Orion.

Orion smiled lightly and swung his sword as well.

Clang!

Their swords collided, sending a shockwave throughout the arena, halting the other participants' battles.

Just then, wings appeared behind Orion's back—light green wings made from compressed wind.

"I'll use my talent now. Be ready," Zeref said with a smile. "Absolute Counter."

Bang!

A powerful shockwave burst from Zeref's sword, the force surging toward Orion with incredible speed. She activated her talent with full confidence, expecting to send him flying just as before. However, Orion was ready.

With a flick of his wings, he created a powerful reverse current of momentum, using the force to counter the incoming shockwave. His wings spread wide, shimmering with energy as they beat against the pressure, holding him steady in place. The ground beneath him cracked from the intense force, but he didn't budge.

Orion remained locked in close combat with Zeref, his blade pushing against hers. Her eyes widened in disbelief. She knew exactly how powerful her talent was—no one had ever resisted it so easily. Yet here he stood, undeterred and calm.

For the first time in their battle, uncertainty flashed across Zeref's face.

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Also, I was hoping you could leave some comments or reviews to let me know your thoughts!

Some gifts would be appreciated as well, but up to you....