The birth of the strongest being on Arcana Continent made every faction watch him greedily. Some sought to recruit him; others aimed to kill him.

His arrival shook powerful factions to their core. The entire continent trembled—except one place stood firm.

This place was the Church.

A unique entity no one could shake. Even if the Bloodline, Elves, Wolfen, and Infernal Dragons conquered all human lands, they’d still bow respectfully to it.

It belonged neither to humans nor the Dark Races. They called themselves “subservient to the gods,” blessing humanity or casting curses upon the world.

Sky Qi slung the Soulsever Sacred Sword on his back. The church’s walls gleamed with creamy white plaster. Its sharp spire pierced the heavens, shimmering against clouds and mist. Holy aura filled this place, untouched by worldly filth.

“Is this the Church?” Sky Qi stroked his chin thoughtfully. “They say wishes to the gods here come true?”

Skeptical, he stepped through the pointed archway.

At the church’s center stood a ten-foot-tall god statue. Its form was odd: pure white wings sprouted from its sides, but only half-formed—as if deliberately broken. A chain lay at its feet.

This statue looks strange, Sky Qi thought, but he didn’t dwell on it.

He sat on a pew, closed his eyes, and prayed.

Spirits of heaven and earth, heed my call! Grant me amazing luck with women! I’d sacrifice my S Rank luck for it!

Eyes shut tight in prayer, he didn’t notice a hooded figure hidden behind a massive pillar.

The black-cloaked man blended seamlessly with the shadows.

“Are you sure this is him?” he murmured to no one visible.

“Absolutely. Cast the two curses you found.” A voice echoed in his mind through the magic orb in his hand.

“Wait—why curse him? Killing him outright would be faster.”

“Fool. The Church can’t act openly.”

“But will his sister agree?”

Silence from the orb. Then: “The Holy Maiden knows nothing.”

“Oh. Understood.” His tone was utterly indifferent.

“Hurry. Even as the strongest, he won’t survive days with these curses.”

The Church, humanity’s faith, never struck openly without cause. Sky Qi threatened its authority.

No faction wanted such a king without a crown. The Church forbade his existence.

Humanity’s survival meant nothing. Anyone shaking the Church must be eradicated.

The hooded man sighed softly. As a curse caster, he hated this—it felt immoral.

He took the Church’s coin; he had to obey.

Yet he didn’t resent Sky Qi. The youth never acted arrogant, never saw himself as superior.

Only nobodies envied such nobility. These curses might truly kill him.

One was the Succubus Death Curse: contact with the opposite sex meant instant explosion.

The other was the Misfortune Curse, flipping luck from S Rank to F Rank.

He sighed inwardly. The Church was ruthless. These curses were rare—one from the Succubus King, one from the Child of Misfortune.

He pitied the boy. No power could break them. Crossing the Church was fatal.

He dared not defy the Pope. From his cloak, he pulled two items: a succubus’s heart and the Child of Misfortune’s eye.

But he could alter the first curse to the Succubus Love Curse.

It’d only drain his strength on contact with women—and make them crave him intensely.

He wouldn’t kill the youth. Secretly changing this curse might go unnoticed; even the Pope knew little of such arts.

The cloaked man sighed, chanting silently.

The lifeless heart began beating fiercely. The Misfortune Eye rolled, fixing on Sky Qi.

Two crimson beams shot into Sky Qi’s body. The hooded man vanished like mist.

Your survival now depends on fate.

Sky Qi grunted, sensing strangeness. Two crimson threads drifted over his Sea of Magic—then plunged in and vanished.

Wha… what the hell? He stood, puzzled. Did my prayer work? A flicker of excitement sparked in him.

He slung the Soulsever Sacred Sword and left. As he passed the gates, a brick perched above wobbled—then fell straight for his forehead.

He glanced casually. Sword Intent flared from his eyes. The brick shattered to dust mid-air.

The hooded man watched Sky Qi’s back, sighing heavily. So powerful… yet futile.

The curse had already taken effect.