It's something I have experienced since I was integrated into human society. No matter where I go or who I meet. Whether they be man, woman or child, regardless of race, gender or even species, they will all betray me in the end. At first, I thought it was just the nature of people. Jealousy of their betters, the desire to tear down any who makes them look inferior by comparison, but then about a year ago.
"WOW! That's some nasty curse you got there, darky my boy!"
"Stop provoking him like that. And stop trying to use me as a meat shield when you do!"
I met a jester spirit and a dark-haired elf mage. They were rather peculiar, fearing not even myself as they bantered and played around the Palace without a care for my status or power. They informed me that I had been cursed by the god of fate to die. At first, I thought they were just pulling my leg as usual, but as they explained their own experiences with another such victim as well as what the god they spoke of really was, everything just clicked into place. Being abandoned in a dangerous forest, the numerous assassins and poisons, and the countless betrayals from even my most trusted subordinates. If such a thing as the fate they spoke of existed, then. It would explain this nagging feeling in the back of my mind that compelled my actions, as well as why I find so many traitors in my midst.
…
*Pow*
"THIS IS FOR SEDUCING XIU!"
*Pow*
"YOU KNOW THAT WOMAN YOU WANTED TO PLAY WITH."
*POW*
"WE HANGED HER OUTSIDE THE CITY."
*POW*
After throwing me into a pile of mud, the traitors took turns beating me as they held me in place while venting their frustrations. This went on for hours as it seemed like the majority of the traitors within the palace was gathered here, though I'm sure even if I make it out alive there will still be many more to come in future. By the time it was that traitor Wangs turn everyone there aside from the elderly man had beaten me to their hearts content as it seems even my enemies were jealous of my looks. The only reason I wasn't dead was thanks to my strong physique and cultivation.
"How does it feel? Being beaten by your own dogs." Wang said as he put his palm on my dantian and prepared an attack.
*BOOM*
Just then, I could feel my cultivation core shattering. The cultivation core is the heart of a cultivator. It forms after training one's body in what is called the body refinement stage. Then they have to familiarize themselves with the elemental energies present picking an element then expelling the rest from the body in what's called the qi refinement stage. Before finally condensing all their qi into a solid ball of elemental energy which will be used to channel qi throughout their body. That is a cultivation core, once it breaks it's impossible to replace it as all the qi in your body will run amok ruining and destroying the qi canals in the body and more often than not, killing the cultivator in the process. Methodes of restoring a broken core are only spoken of in legends and myths, and attempting to advance as a cultivator without one is impossible. Hence from today onward, I, the Dark Lord of the Dark Palace, the number 1 talent under the heavens, and ruler of half the 1st continent and more, is a crippled cultivator.
*BLARGH*
I began to vomit blood as I could feel my qi tear my body apart.
"Hey, you ok?"
I continued to endure the pain as my mind began to play tricks on me.
"WHO ARE YOU!"
"I'm the magic girl here to kick some butt and save some ass. Who the hell are you dipshits?"
I swear I could hear that uncouth woman quipping over my agonized body.
"GET HER!"
*BUZ*
"WHERE THE HELL DID THIS COME FROM! UGH!"
Suddenly I could feel someone pulling me up by the hair. And through my swollen eyes I saw her.
"Nokth?"
"That's right playboy. Also, you look like shit!"
"Pft. HAHAHAH. UGH. HAHAHA"
I was in unimaginable pain, but I still couldn't help myself from laughing. Apparently, Nox had at some point disguised herself as one of the soldiers. Jumped in last minute as they were about to kill me. Erected a barrier made of blue light, and by the looks of the soldier on the ground holding his crotch, kicked commander wang between the legs. Meanwhile, she had apparently caused some chaos outside too as I could hear shouts and screams. It's really too bad my eyes are too blurry to make it out as everything this madwoman does is just so amusing. Still, just imagining those traitors getting a taste of Nox's terrifying weirdness is enough to bring a smile to my face.
…
A few moments ago, from mister Wangs perspective.
I finally. After years of growling at that arrogant kid's feet, I finally got to knock the stuffing out of that snotnosed bastard. Back then, when the Hollow sect approached me and bribed me for information on that brat's advancement time and place, I never thought it would lead to this. I even got to cripple that son of a bitch. I'm so relieved, that I don't mind the fact I wasted all that time outside Kortal, it was all worth it in the end. But just as I moved to finish him off…
"Hey, you ok?"
One of my soldiers had moved up to the brat as his head began to morph into that of a masked silver haired woman.
"WHO ARE YOU!"
"I'm the magic girl here to kick some butt and save some ass. Who the hell are you dipshits?" She said in a monotone tone while spinning around to face me while doing some strange pose.
I just realized who she was. It was the woman that tried to molest that kid a couple of days ago. I don't have any gripes about it myself, but many of my men were jealous of how easily women fall for that kid. Some going so far as to say he uses some form of martial technique to bewitch them. I originally just thought that was just guys being jealous, but if that woman really followed us all the way here to throw away her life, then I might be willing to believe there to be some truth to that rumor. I digress.
"GET HER!"
*BUZ*
Just as I commanded my soldiers to get her, the ground began to buzz and shake as an array enchantment lit up from under the mud and a half transparent blue barrier made from pure energy enveloped me, the strange woman, and that brat. Shortly after, chaos ensued as golems of varying elements and shapes sprung up from the ground and started attacking the others.
"WHERE THE HELL DID THIS COME FROM! UGH"
Just then I could feel that lunatic of a girl kick me between the legs. As I fell to my knees in the mud I swore in my heart I would have my revenge against this girl.
…
"Pft. HAHAHAHUGHAHAHA"
"Crap, did they knock something loose while whooping your ass"
"No. I'm jusht glaid youre hear."
"Ok, so you definitely have brain damage. Hang on, I'll fix your ugly mug… for a price that is."
"HAHAHAHAUGH.*cough*cough*Huff* Fine, I'll pay whatever."
"Ok, that's ten more to your tab then." She said, as she stabbed her finger into my face.
"OUCH! Whatch the hell!"
Just then I could feel the swelling in my face go down, as the bruises and broken bones in my body began to heal. Even my rampaging qi was calming down as the excruciating pain from earlier began to fade.
"So. was that thing right over your junk important or?"
"Yeah, but it doesn't matter." I said, as the delight from before was fading away, the depression from having my core broken began to weigh heavily on my heart as I realized that my life as a cultivator was over.
"YOUNG MISS!"
Hearing the elderly voice snapped me out of my reverie. It was the Hollow sect elder, apparently they had finished destroying the horde of golems outside and was now standing right outside the barrier staring at us.
"What do you want old man."
"You might be fooled by his appearance, but the man before you is a ruthless demon who slaughtered countless women and children as he burned many great empires to the ground. Please, if you do n-"
"Not undo this barrier so we can vanquish this evil blah blah blah. I've heard enough hero speeches in my life to know where this is going and the answer is, no!"
*giggle* (dark lord)
"Please young miss, I do not know from where you hail, but I do not wish to create any enmity between us should it come to blows. What would it take for you to turn to the righteous path. Our backer is of rather high standing I'm sure we could come to an agreement."
This is not good. The only thing that this woman seems to listen to is money. If they offer a high enough sum she might actually turn on me.
"Hey Nox y-"
*Stab*
I looked down to see Nox. Her hand stabbed into my stomach as I could here a scream in the distance.
"You betrayed me to, huh."
To think even she would betray me over this curse. Though something feels off. I should have been dying, but for some reason I could feel energy welling up inside me as a warm and soothing sensation spread from my dantian. I could see a blue flame burning Nox's arm that was spreading with that strange feeling as I could feel my body changing. My qi canals were healed, restructured and reinforced as I could feel more qi than ever before flow through my body. I could feel my muscles and organs shift and reshape as they started operating more efficiently. I even felt the shattered fragments of my core fuse back together, condensing into an even purer one than before.
"What is… NO STOP HER!"
*CRACKL*
*BOOM**BOOM*BOOM*
I could hear the old man's screams as lightning rumbled, but I couldn't care less, as I could feel my very soul was shifting and changing while connecting to my core. And with a burst of energy my body emitted a rainbow-colored shockwave that leveled the entire landscape, leaving only me standing as the only survivors were lain scattered across the ground. The only ones who survived was the old man, Nox, one of my fanatics who showed up at some point and the passed-out traitor Wang. A group of individuals could also be seen heading this way in the distance