The clash of weapons, the distant shouts, the heat of nearby flames—Norian walked into all of it like a shadow dragging itself from a nightmare.
The moment he stepped into the open, all eyes turned.
Not just the villagers.
The attackers, too.
Even the bandits—those six scaled warriors who had been overwhelming the entire village's defenses—paused.
No one knew who he was.
He looked nothing like them.
Pale, scarless skin. No scales. Hair instead of horns. Bare upper body, wearing only torn pants. But that smile—that weird, crooked thing on his face, half-mocking, half-nauseous—froze even the children in place.
For a second, the battlefield paused. Just long enough.
'Good. Now or never.'
He exhaled through his nose, calmly, as if he were taking a stroll. His heart was pounding so hard it rattled his ribs.
'I need them to believe I'm dangerous. That I'm something… different. If they're scared, they won't test me. If they don't test me, I don't die.'
He raised his chin slightly, channeling every smug bastard he'd ever read about in those martial arts novels.
"Leave now,"
He said, voice low and steady,
"or face something you won't walk away from."
The six bandit lizardmen stared at him. One of them blinked. Another tilted his head, confused.
Then, the one in the front—bigger than the rest, eyes burning red like dying embers—snorted.
"Who the hell are you?"
He stepped forward. Slow. Confident.
A head taller than Norian, his muscles were wrapped in tight, dry-scaled hide. He carried a wicked-looking spear with a dull, black blade.
Norian didn't answer.
The leader let out a sharp hiss and charged, spear raised.
Norian's heart dropped into his stomach.
For a second, his vision went white.
'Am I dead?'
The charging bandit was fast—faster than Norian could have imagined. And yet…
Nothing happened.
The lizardman was still mid-charge. Norian blinked. He wasn't dead.
'H-He's slow?'
His mind snapped back to life. A flicker of hope pierced through the fear.
'Wait… maybe… just maybe… I can work with this.'
His crooked smile widened just a little.
To the onlookers, it looked terrifying. Like a predator about to pounce.
But to Norian?
It was the desperate grimace of someone trying not to scream.
The bandit lizard closed in, eyes locked on Norian.
He still didn't move.
'If I move too soon, they'll know I'm stalling.'
'Stay calm. Be the wall. Be the immovable mountain. That's what they do in those novels, right?'
The lizardman leapt forward, raising his spear high above his head.
A wide downward swing. Brutal. Heavy.
At the last possible second, Norian sidestepped.
The spear slammed into the rocky cave floor where he'd been standing.
Crack!
The stone cracked from the force. Dust exploded outward.
Norian stood just beside the crater, his crooked smile still plastered on his face. Internally, he was screaming.
'MmmmhmhmhmhHo-Ho-Holy shit…'
But something about the dust, the cracked stone, the calm dodge—it made the attackers hesitate again.
Then the bandit roared and slashed sideways.
Norian jumped back—barely avoiding the blade. The spear tip skimmed his bare stomach, close enough to feel the edge slide across skin without cutting.
His smile twitched again.
'That was close… Way Too close.'
He took two involuntary steps back. His legs were trembling. Not with fear—no, not just that.
His whole body was on the edge. Overloaded.
'Breathe. Focus. Think fast.'
The bandit growled and pointed the spear at Norian.
"This is it for you,"
He snarled.
"This is as far as you go. Prepare to die beneath—ULTIMATE THIRST!!"
Norian blinked.
'What?'
Before he could even process the name, the spear slashed again.
He dodged by a hair's breadth. Literally. His hair fluttered from the air pressure.
He landed awkwardly, stumbling slightly, heart hammering in his ears.
He was freaking out.
It's not working…! My power—it's not working… It's—'
Ding!
A soft chime rang in his mind.
✧═──〈 SYSTEM NOTIFICATION 〉──═✧
Many Individuals 'Slightly' Believe That you're fast. Conviction Nexus Resonants in accordance. Dexterity temporarily increased Significantly.
༺═─────────────────═༻
Norian froze.
His eyes widened.
The words glowed in his vision for only a second—but it was enough.
He could feel it. Not just as a notification, but as a sensation, spreading through his body like a cool wave.
His limbs—lighter. His balance—smoother. His breath—slower.
It wasn't like those ridiculous, explosive boosts. There was no glowing aura. No flash of power.
It was silent. Precise. Controlled.
Absolute control.
Even the lizardman in front of him hadn't noticed a thing.
'It's real. It's actually real…'
He rolled his shoulders. Scratched the back of his neck.
Then smiled again—only this time, it wasn't crooked.
It was wide.
The kind of smile that split across your face when the fear melted into madness.
He looked at the bandit lizardman and tilted his head slightly.
"Is that all you've got?"
Norian asked, voice casual.
"All that big talk, and this is it?"
The bandit snarled and swung again.
Norian ducked. Slipped under. Stepped aside.
A blur.
The lizardman's eyes widened.
"Still missing,"
Norian muttered, walking in a circle around him.
"Guess all those muscles just slow you down."
The bandit howled in frustration and gestured.
The five others stepped forward.
Norian's eyes flicked toward them—then back to the leader.
Still smiling.
He didn't flip. Didn't leap. Didn't even pose.
Just dodged. Side-steps, pivots, leaning just enough that attacks missed him by inches.
No flourishes. No grace.
Only survival.
To the crowd, it looked like he was dancing.
To Norian, it felt like he was one twitch away from death.
Still, he kept talking.
"Come on,"
He taunted.
"Don't be shy."
The leader hissed, furious.
"All you can do is dodge!"
Norian shrugged.
"It's been a while since I fought. Can't help it if I'm having fun."
He paused, raised a fist, and smiled—too wide.
"I don't want to kill you all with just one punch."
DING!
✧═──〈 SYSTEM NOTIFICATION 〉──═✧
Many Individuals 'Firmly' Believe that your fast. Conviction Nexus Resonates in Accordance. Dexterity temporarily boosted further.
༺═─────────────────═༻
And just like that, everything clicked.
Movements became second nature.
He was no longer dodging on instinct—he was moving with intent.
Even when surrounded, he flowed between the attacks.
And when a spear nearly caught his shoulder, he twisted just enough that it grazed his skin—but never pierced.
'I'm getting used to this…'
Even though he had absolute control of his increased speed from the beginning, in still took his brain to get used to it. It is like running at full speed after a very long time.
Only in this case it is the brain that is getting used to it not the body.
He wasn't a fighter.
But neither were they.
Just brutes, swinging wildly.
And now… now Norian had something they didn't:
Belief.
And he planned to use every last drop of it.
***
Norian was having the time of his life.
No, more than that—he was soaring.
For the first time since he could remember, he felt completely, wholly, free.
All those years of bullying, of whispers behind his back, of being called cursed in Veltharion... they felt distant now. Like shadows peeling away in the face of a rising sun.
He moved through the battlefield like wind. Like a whisper. Like a spirit no one could catch.
The six bandit lizardmen had nothing left.
They were exhausted, bleeding, barely keeping their weapons raised.
Norian—grinning from ear to ear—stood a few paces away.
"Take a break, will you?"
He said, waving them off.
"Let's continue after a short rest."
They didn't move. Didn't speak.
DING!
✧═──〈 SYSTEM NOTIFICATION 〉──═✧
All the Individuals in the Vicinity 'Firmly' Believes in Your Dexterity. Conviction Nexus Resonants in accordance. The temporary state of increased Dexterity is Now Permanent.
༺═─────────────────═༻
DING!
✧═──〈 SYSTEM NOTIFICATION 〉──═✧
All the Individuals in the Vicinity 'Firmly' Believes that you're a 'Shrewd Person'. Conviction Nexus changes nature of Equanimity in accordance.
༺═─────────────────═༻
'Equanimity?'
Norian blinked.
'What even is equanimity?'
He didn't know. But he'd heard that word once before.
No answer came. Not from the system. Not from within. He'd need to wait until full access was unlocked.
Still, despite the notification, Norian felt no real change. No rush of energy. No new sensation. He felt the same.
So , he did what any normal Person in this situation would do. He ignored it. Then another notification came saying that is Dexterity stat has significantly increased.
He was getting addicted to this ding sound. Because every time it only brought good new and nothing else.
"Hey, you guys,"
He called out to the villagers,
"don't just stand there. Go treat the wounded. I'll handle them."
They flinched when he looked at them, but quickly moved into action.
Norian turned to those injured in the battle, carefully uncorked a water pouch, and began helping them sip the miracle water.
Their wounds didn't close miraculously, but the bleeding slowed. Their breathing steadied.
Across the field, the lizard bandits did the same—each pulling out water flasks to drink.
Norian raised a brow. That won't help you much, he thought. His own pouch had been taken, but he didn't mind. There was still more to be gained from this.
Garuda, barely upright but no longer bleeding, looked at Norian.
"Human… were you this strong from the beginning?"
He asked.
Norian looked at him—eyes glinting.
He smiled kindly,
"Of course. Like you just saw now. If I wanted, I could have ended it all from the start."
It was a bluff. But it was a test too. A test of how far belief could be pushed.
Garuda's eyes changed. He reached out suddenly.
"Look out!"
Norian didn't turn. He didn't blink. He simply leaned backward.
A spear shot past and buried itself in the ground where he'd been.
"I told you,"
He said, still smiling.
"No need to worry. And also… look closely. This is the kind of power you'll receive, the kind of opportunity, if you believe in the benefits Veltharion can offer. Feel it in your soul."
Then he turned.
The bandit leader had recovered and was getting ready to charge again.
Norian dashed.
The leader tried to react. Tried to step back. But Norian was too fast.
His fist connected.
CRACK!
The sound was like a bone snapping in a quiet room.
The lizard leader—twice Norian's size—was lifted off the ground. His scaled stomach broke open, and he flew backward, crashing into the ground and skidding.
He coughed blood and bile.
His subordinates rushed to him, trembling.
And Norian? He trembled too.
But not from fear.
From sheer excitement.
He could barely keep himself from throwing his head back and screaming into the sky.
He wanted to.
But he restrained himself. Just barely. A few moments ago a notification popped up and informed him that his strength has temporarily been increased to match his dexterity.
People believe that his physical strength is just as strong.
He scratched his neck and stood there, still in the same pose as when he punched.
"Hah… that was hard,"
He muttered.
"Look at how much I'm shaking. I had to hold back so much that I'm trembling."
He laughed. Trembling. Smiling. His facial muscles ached from the constant grin. And then came the real bomb. Bomb of ecstasy and euphoria, in form of system notification.
Ding!
✧═──〈 SYSTEM NOTIFICATION 〉──═✧
All The Individuals in the Vicinity 'Firmly' Believes in Your Strength. Conviction Nexus Resonants in accordance. Temporary state of Strength stat is now Permanent.
༺═─────────────────═༻
Now, for the first time—he wasn't bluffing.
Now, he had actual strength to back it up. Shortly after another notification informed him that his strength has Significantly increased.
He turned to the lizards again.
"My fellow friends,"
Norian called out as he strolled toward them,
"I've finally figured out how to control my power a little better. I can hit you now without killing you. Are you ready?"
They weren't.
He punched another.
The lizard's face crumpled like paper. Teeth, blood, and tears flew through the air. He spun mid-air before slamming into the ground, unconscious.
Norian didn't stop. He moved. He hit. He broke.
And all the while—he smiled.
Not because he enjoyed hurting them.
But because he was finally free.
Because no one could look away now.
He reached the leader again.
But this time, he didn't punch.
He slapped. Then again. And again. And again.
The leader's jaw broke, bent downward. Half his teeth gone. Blood and saliva flew. His muscles twitched under exposed flesh.
Green blood dyed the ground.
And Norian stood amidst it all—unflinching.
'I thought I'd feel guilt. I thought I'd vomit. I thought I'd feel something.'
But I feel nothing.
Just freedom.
When it was done, the five lay unconscious. The sixth—the first victim—was in the best shape.
Norian looked around.
The villagers trembled. He gave them a soft grin.
"If I meant harm,"
He said,
"I wouldn't have done all this to help you, right?"
They nodded, slowly.
He led them to the miracle pond. One by one, they tossed the unconscious bandits into its glowing water.
They wouldn't drown. But whether they'd recover? Up to fate.
Norian turned to Garuda.
"Do I still need to take the test?"
Garuda took a breath.
"No. The villagers will hear you out."
Norian rubbed his cheek, awkwardly.
"Well… I'm no prophet or anything. Just a messenger sent to Xerion. "
"…Xerion?"
"The name of this planet."
Then he stretched and turned.
"Well, I'm going back to my prison cell. Need some rest. Goodbye."
He walked off, humming.
The villagers stared. Then someone chuckled nervously. Others followed.
And they got to work—rebuilding. Cleaning. Healing.
And Norian? He was smiling. He didn't care how they looked at him.
Because for the first time in his life—
He was not cursed.
He was free.
-To Be Continued