The cursed leveler

Chapter 5: Unraveling the Mystery

Riku stood still, surrounded by the intense gaze of the hunters and technicians in the room. Sung Jin-Woo's words echoed in his mind, but Riku refused to show any sign of weakness. He wasn't about to let anyone see how much the uncertainty of his situation bothered him.

"I'm not some experiment," Riku said, his voice steady, though his thoughts churned beneath the surface.

Jin-Woo regarded him for a moment, then glanced at the technicians. "The results are clear. His cursed energy isn't just raw—it's evolving. The question is, why?"

Riku narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean, evolving?"

"We've never seen cursed energy fluctuate like this," one of the technicians spoke up, his voice trembling. "It's almost like it's… adapting to the user. The energy isn't stable, but it's getting stronger by the second."

Riku frowned, trying to make sense of it. It made sense that his cursed energy was different from others—his past life wasn't ordinary, after all—but this? This was a new level entirely.

"You said it's evolving," Jin-Woo continued, his tone thoughtful. "That's not something that happens naturally. Not unless…"

"Unless what?" Riku asked, unable to keep the impatience from his voice.

Jin-Woo paused for a moment before continuing. "Unless someone… or something, is forcing it. Whatever caused this, it's more than just an accident. This is deliberate."

Riku's mind raced. Deliberate. He thought back to the dungeon, to the cursed relic that he'd touched. The orb had felt unnatural—almost as if it were waiting for him, calling to him. It wasn't just a normal relic.

But how did that tie into this strange surge in his cursed energy?

Jin-Woo stepped closer, locking eyes with Riku. "You've been through something. I can tell. And I can also tell that you don't have the full picture yet. Whatever is going on inside you, it's bigger than you think."

Riku clenched his fists, suppressing the urge to lash out. The last thing he wanted was to be treated like a puzzle.

"I'm not interested in your theories," he said, his voice sharp. "I want answers. What exactly are you trying to do with me?"

Jin-Woo's smirk returned, though it was tinged with something more serious now. "Nothing yet. But you'll have to come with me. There's more to you than what you're showing."

Before Riku could protest, Jin-Woo gestured to the technicians, who began adjusting the equipment. The screen on the monitor flickered, showing a complex series of graphs and data streams that meant little to Riku, but the looks on their faces said everything.

"Prepare him for further analysis," Jin-Woo instructed.

"Wait a minute!" Riku exclaimed. "I'm not some lab rat! I don't care what your tests say; I'm not—"

Jin-Woo raised a hand to silence him, his gaze unwavering. "You're not in any danger. We're just gathering information. If you want answers, this is the only way."

Riku's body tensed. He hated the feeling of being trapped. But the frustration of not knowing what was happening to him—of not knowing what had happened back in that dungeon—kept him from walking out.

Hours later, Riku sat in a sterile white room, the air around him humming softly with the sound of machinery. His mind still swirled with confusion, but his resolve had solidified. He was done being pushed around by people who had no clue what he was dealing with.

The door to the room slid open, and Woo Jin-Chul entered, his serious expression giving away nothing.

"Riku," Jin-Chul said, taking a seat across from him. "We've gone through the initial scans. The data confirms what we suspected: your cursed energy isn't just powerful. It's unstable, and that instability is increasing."

Riku crossed his arms. "What does that mean for me?"

"It means you're a danger to yourself and everyone around you if it isn't controlled," Jin-Chul replied bluntly. "We need to figure out what's causing this surge and how to stabilize it."

"What's causing it, then?" Riku asked, trying to suppress the frustration in his voice.

"We believe it's tied to the relic you encountered in the dungeon. The curse surrounding it is highly volatile—possibly even linked to a much greater force."

The words hit Riku like a punch to the gut. The relic. He had suspected something like this. But a greater force? He needed more answers, and Jin-Chul wasn't offering them.

"You're going to have to stay with us for a while," Jin-Chul continued. "We need to run more tests and see if we can isolate the source of your power. If we can figure it out, we may be able to help you control it."

Riku stood abruptly, his frustration flaring. "I didn't ask for your help. I don't need it!"

Jin-Chul's eyes hardened. "You don't get it, do you? Your power is growing uncontrollably. If it's not dealt with, there's a chance it could consume you—and anyone around you."

Riku clenched his fists, his cursed energy flaring instinctively. The temperature in the room seemed to drop as his energy radiated outward, but he reined it in, feeling the power surge under his control.

"I've survived worse," he said, forcing himself to calm down. "I'll figure this out on my own."

"You're not alone anymore," Jin-Chul replied. "Whether you like it or not, you've attracted attention. And there are people out there who won't care about your control. They'll just see power—and they'll want to take it for themselves."

Riku's eyes narrowed. "You're telling me this to scare me?"

"No. I'm telling you because it's the truth. And you'd better start listening."

Before Riku could respond, the door slid open again. Sung Jin-Woo entered, his expression unreadable.

"You should listen to him," Jin-Woo said, his voice low. "You can't afford to ignore what's coming for you."

Riku locked eyes with him, silently challenging the older man's words. But deep down, he knew they were right. His power was growing, and sooner or later, it would attract someone—or something—that would want to control it.

"I'm done here for today," Riku said, turning to leave. "I'll be back when I'm ready."

Jin-Woo didn't stop him, but his gaze lingered, as though he knew something Riku didn't.

Riku stepped into the hallway, but as the door slid shut behind him, a familiar sensation crawled up his spine. He wasn't alone.

Someone was watching him from the shadows.

To Be Continued…