Enter and Die

[Eternally Cursed Body] was the trait I gained upon awakening—and at the same time, an inescapable shackle.

A true eternal curse, one that slowly corrupted my mind and body with darkness, gradually erasing who I was.

An awakening that came later than others', a punishment masquerading as opportunity that offered no chance to wash away years of hardship.

'Why the hell did I get a trait like this?!'

Because of its dark attribute, the skills I learned naturally leaned toward black magic.

Utterly vile skills specialized only in killing, corrupting, and controlling others.

Every regression, as time passed and contamination built up, it drove me insane.

And the monstrous skills I mastered in that madness reached unparalleled heights no one could touch.

In the end, what awaited was the world's 'great destruction' brought about by my own hand.

That's right. In every single previous loop, I was the final boss who brought about the apocalypse.

"Feels that good to awaken, huh? Hell, I'd be pumped too. Haha."

Misreading my expression, Chang-seok slapped my shoulder and laughed.

I flashed him a bright smile in return.

"Yeah... you have no idea. It's that good."

The fact that using magic or abilities didn't increase contamination meant I could escape the curse's influence. Of course, it might rise over time or if I learned magic or skills from past loops.

'I need to test if contamination rises from time or acquiring skills—and if so, by how much.'

Lost in thought, I barely noticed the professor bang on the desk to quiet everyone as class ended.

"That concludes today's lecture. The two of you who awakened need to register with the Association tomorrow, so keep your schedules clear. Mages! Congrats on awakening!"

"Wooo!"

The professor gave a thumbs-up and left the lecture hall, unleashing another wave of cheers. Our academy classmates swarmed Seol Yun-ji and me with questions.

"Must be awesome! A mage! Can we see a demo?"

"Hey, hey, Mu-hyuk just awakened—he's wiped! Back off, guys. Haha..."

Chang-seok, grinning like he'd awakened himself, tried shooing them away—but his face suddenly darkened. Kwak Jae-ho, who'd awakened before us and already hit level 5, was cracking his knuckles and approaching.

"Hey~ Kwon Mu-hyuk. You awakened? Don't make me laugh."

"What the hell? What kinda bullshit is that?!"

Chang-seok stepped in front of the sneering Kwak Jae-ho, fuming, but I held him back—I didn't want him getting hurt. A normal person taking a hit from an awakener could end badly.

"The guy who was whimpering after I beat his ass last night suddenly awakens? Hilarious, right?"

"Kwak Jae-ho..."

Ah, right. He'd gotten jumped by this punk yesterday. Come to think of it, this asshole tormented me relentlessly until I left the academy.

So many regressions made pre-regression memories fuzzy.

I'd even forgotten why I fell to the curse so easily.

But Kwak Jae-ho, the first sacrifice to my curse every loop, stuck in my mind. He'd always charge at me on awakening day, only to get devoured by my corrupted self.

'I don't wanna turn into that monster this time...'

I glared at him briefly, then stepped forward with resolve.

"Curious if I really awakened? Let's find out during night duty at 9."

"What?! Why you— we did it yesterday! Tonight's the next dorm over..."

Chang-seok tried to stop me, jumping in panic, but Kwak Jae-ho was already nodding, muscles twitching with excitement.

"Oho! Awakening gave you balls, huh? Wanna feel the gap between level 1 and 5? Fine, 9 o'clock. Late? You're dead. Skip? Still dead."

Kwak Jae-ho drew a finger across his throat threateningly and left. Chang-seok grabbed me, face full of worry.

"Dude, what're you thinking?! That bastard's infamous for beating fresh level 1s! We should avoid him, not volunteer for night duty!"

"Don't worry. I've got a plan."

I grinned at him and headed out to prep for night duty.

'First, level Flame to 5 and check contamination gain.'

In the corridor to the magic training room, lost in memories amid the red-orange sunset, I arrived before I knew it.

These one-person rental rooms—cramped but handy for students—were built with rare trait support. Magic barriers prevented mana leaks and damage outside.

'Flame.'

Whoosh—Boom!

Whoosh whoosh—Kaboom!

I fired ten Flames, watching contamination in real-time during casts. It spiked temporarily, then...

...contamination dropped. I confirmed it with my own eyes multiple times.

Elation surged, but that 'Luck Points deducted' line nagged me.

'Basic casts don't deduct, but other situations might.'

I hit the button by the door to summon a low-level training monster.

"Kieee—"

A small green-skinned goblin with slit snake eyes appeared.

These bio-puppets mimicked real monsters' patterns without full power—essential for aspiring hunters. They even gave points on kill, letting you hit level 5 in-school.

Most struggled with even one early on, though. Except special cases like me.

Whoosh—Boom!

"Kiek..."

My Flame smashed it—no resistance, instant down.

Status check: no change.

'Magic attacks don't raise contamination or deduct points either.'

To confirm, I summoned ten at once.

Whoosh boom! Whoosh boom!

Whoosh whoosh—Kaboom!

'Hmm, level up boosted stats—no contamination change. One thing left...'

Time to check that.

Kept summoning goblin puppets till level 5, then headed to the school gate for night duty.

Three shadows gathered at the darkening academy gate.

The academy had students handle security as hunter class credit; dormers took shifts patrolling the grounds.

But where shadows and dark power lurked, fools eager to flaunt easy strength always appeared. Night duty gave them free rein.

"When that punk shows, we hit first! Mages beg once ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you snap their wrists."

"Yeah, heh heh... We'll pin his arms—you snap the tendons! Turn his spell hands into chicken feet."

"Kwon Mu-hyuk... acting all high after awakening. Doesn't know his place."

Recalling class, Kwak Jae-ho snapped the grip trainer in his hand.

"That cocky attitude... better kill him clean, no loose ends."

"Sounds good! My Blood Sword's thirsty. Kuhahaha!"

"Relax, Jae-ho. We got this. Kekeke..."

Kwak Jae-ho seethed murderously; the two nobodies cackled excitedly.

Yeah... that's you. For 998 loops, obsessed with killing me.

After his death, his gang's murders surfaced, sparking scandals that weakened the Hunter Association—paving apocalypse's path.

I watched briefly, then slipped into shadows, entering a small warehouse 500m from the gate.

'Around here...'

Shoving aside a cabinet revealed an old wooden door unfit for modern buildings.

Fiddling the handle from memory, I realized I'd never entered nicely—always smashed, blasted, or burned it.

'Well, same diff this time...'

As I lit it with Flame, the warehouse door slammed open behind.

Kwang!

"Hey! Kwon Mu-hyuk! When'd you slink in here?!"

"Rat bastard! Thought we'd miss you hiding here."

Kwak Jae-ho cracked his neck, rolling shoulders pointlessly, then nodded to his goons—they closed in from sides.

I stared blankly till they lunged, then blasted the back door with Flame.

Level 5 evolved it to fireball—massive boom, warehouse exploded.

Kwakwakwang—

"Gah! Cough cough— that psycho!!!"

Ignoring them flailing in smoke and flames, I entered through the blasted door—narrow stairs descended underground.

I split a door shard, lit it with small Flame as a torch, and trudged down, illuminating the dark.

How far? Finally, a massive underground dungeon entrance. I lit the flanking torches.

Fwoosh—

Torches blazed; the sealing door creaked open, exhaling chill air.

Long untouched, the dungeon welcomed me—torches flared in unison; gargoyle statues lining the entrance cast flickering shadows.

'Here, I think.'

At the circular center, hand to floor, infused mana.

A magic circle glowed; message appeared.

Death Terraforming—the skill that crowned me black magic's apex multiple times.

Ultimate power, unique to me. The skill that doomed worlds... so I learned it first in most loops, save those defying fate.

Inheritance levels varied wildly.

'Inherit.'

Light from floor intensified, sucked into me.

Dark mana coursed through, coiling snake-like by my heart. Inheritance complete. Mild dizziness aside, no issues—relief.

Dark skills were double-edged: mighty, but risky. Could steal mind or rot body.

My Eternally Cursed Body was perfect for them—why I always ruled as supreme black mage.

'Knew it—skills deduct Luck.'

I quickly opened my status.

Luck from level ups dropped from (+5) to (+2). Acquisition deducted -3, so level-up gains covered first—makes sense.

And Death Terraforming at 999?! Unheard of this early, even in long loops.

All thanks to 999 Luck... must keep it from dropping below.

'To inherit more past skills, level ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠up first to stock Luck buffer.'

Luck doesn't always rise per level, so aim for level 20+ for safety.

Register as awakener tomorrow, then grind official dungeons.

As I resolved this, Kwak Jae-ho and his two ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠goons groped in, reaching the entrance.

"Kwon Mu-hyuk, you crazy sh—"

"Stop. Step further, and you die."