9 Chapter:9 A Shot in the Dark

"It's something that all reincarnates have, it's just that the effects vary from person to person. So in your case, your system basically optimizes your physical and spiritual capabilities. Basically like a game."

"Huh, that sounds pretty useful."

Renko thought, as the realization finally hit her.

"So is it some sort of system I can use, like a leveling system or something?"

She raised an eyebrow, expecting the celestial being to launch into another tangent about getting turned on by getting beaten up and choked by a goddess.

"Yep, pretty much. In order to use the system, you need to 'activate' it."

The celestial woman paused as if thinking how to explain everything, as quickly as she could.

"Basically, the system gives you access to an avatar, and you use your physical attributes and special skills to grow stronger. As you make progress, you can unlock 'new' skills; it's kinda like evolving or awakening them."

Suddenly, the celestial woman's face changed to that of a realization.

"Oh, right, I forgot to awaken your curse technique when we first met!"

Renko froze, her eyes widening as she looked at the celestial being, a mixture of excitement and apprehension coursing through her veins.

'A curse technique? What the hell is that?'

"What, wait, now hold on a second."

Renko tried to compose herself, but her heartbeat continued to race at light speed.

"Are you saying you could've awakened my curse technique the whole time!!"

Her voice shook with incredulity as she recalled her latest fight.

"I nearly died because you fucking 'forgot'!?"

"Look, in my defense, I was busy thinking about getting choked by my boss."

The celestial woman said this with a casual grin, as if getting turned into her boss's personal sex doll was a casual affair.

"Hey, it's not like it's that useful anyway."

Renko fought the urge to strangle the celestial woman right there and then and then snap a picture of her dying expression as revenge for her 'forgetting' to awaken her curse technique.

"Anyway, hold out your hand."

Renko held out her hand, reluctantly.

"There? Now I want my goddamn curse technique."

The celestial woman nodded and her expression became serious.

"Sure. Okay, now close your eyes and focus your mind."

Renko didn't trust the celestial woman as far as she could throw her, but she tried to follow her instructions.

'Come on... there's gotta be some good in the world.'

Renko took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

'Focus my mind...'

She tried to relax, trying to focus on her inner being.

Suddenly, she sensed something. It was... strange, but familiar.

She could feel it.

And then it finally clicked.

'Wha--?'

Her eyes shot open as she felt a surge of power flow through her.

"Well, well, well, I would be damned. You awaken quite the useful technique, it seems like you won't die anytime soon."

Renko's expression remained stern, despite the immense delight she felt as her mind registered the incredible abilities she had just unlocked.

"I could've used this earlier?"

She turned to the celestial woman, who shrugged as if to say, 'It is what it is.'

"So, what's this curse technique?"

The celestial woman muttered something for a moment or two before looking up at Renko,

"The thing you feared the most was... guns?"

Renko's eyes grew wide as she processed the celestial woman's comment, her heart racing with dread.

'How? How did you--'

Just as her thoughts whirled about the nature of her curse technique, she realized what the curse technique actually was.

'No...'

She turned to stare at the celestial woman, her expression deadpan as she tried to make sense of the situation.

"Did... did I just get my greatest fear as a curse technique?"

The celestial woman chuckled,

"I mean, as a soldier, you were actually afraid of guns. That's fukin hilarious." 

Renko let out a massive sigh as she processed the irony of the situation.

'It's like the gods are playing a practical joke on me.'

She could only imagine the celestial woman in her celestial realm, chuckling to herself as she watched Renko react to her using this technique.

"How's this going to work? Is a gun going to pop out of my body every time I get really scared?"

"Alright, it's like this. Your curse technique? It runs on curse energy, which pops up when your emotions are all riled up. Now, it's not like you can just summon a whole AK-47 out of nowhere. You gotta level up your control. At the start, I'd say a Flintlock pistol is about your limit."

The celestial woman shrugged as if to say, 'It is what it is.'

*A Flintlock pistol?*

"Are you kidding me?"

Renko was both amused and baffled by the idea of having a Flintlock pistol summonable from emotion.

"I don't know if I'm laughing or horrified."

She couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity of the situation.

"Can I shoot anything with the gun? Or is it like some curse energy gun?"

The celestial woman thought for a moment before answering,

"Your curse technique is, in a way, 'Creation'. But with the limitation of only being able to create firearms, sure you can create daily necessities when you have better control over it but the requirement is quite high to switch between firearms and a toothbrush."

'Creation?'

"So now you're telling me that I got 'Creation' which only creates guns, at least for the meantime. Great..."

Renko rubbed the bridge of her nose, her expression filled with disbelief and annoyance.

"That's just great..."

The celestial woman simply stared at her, amused by Renko's reaction to getting her cursed technique.

"Yeah, yeah, I deserved that."

Renko mumbled half-heartedly, her gaze downcast as she tried to suppress her mounting frustration.

"Well..."

The celestial woman began,

'Your ability is a fuel guzzler. The curse energy required for it to properly operate is immense in the later stage. But... ya' have the system so you should do just fine.'

Renko frowned, her mind reeling as she tried to process everything the celestial woman had told her.

"Curse energy... I need a lot of that stuff to use my ability properly."

Renko felt herself go pale, her frustration fading away, replaced by a sense of dread.

'That's not good news...'

The celestial woman suddenly looked at her wrist, where there was nothing, and shouted,

"Oh, would you look at the time! I really gotta go now!"

And with a snap of her finger, Renko found herself lying on the living room floor, covered in blood and wounds. She groaned as she slowly opened her eyes and surveyed her surroundings. Her mind was filled with a sense of dread as she realized that she had been returned to the exact moment from which the celestial woman had taken her.

She sat up and looked around the room, confirming her suspicions when she noticed the bloodied knife lying on the floor. It took her a moment to process everything that had happened while she was away, and when she did, her heart sank.

"No..."

She breathed a heavy sigh before slowly standing up, leaning on the sofa while staining the cushions with her blood, and turning to the bedroom door. 

The two bug-like creatures were still hovering around the door, twisting and flickering in the dim light. Renko clenched her fists, anger, and frustration welling up inside her.

"Alright, you little bastards. Let's try this again."

Despite her injuries and the weariness in her body, Renko refused to back down. She was determined to face these creatures and, this time, she was going to make mince meat out of them.

Closing her eyes, she focused on the sensation she felt earlier—the strange but familiar power coursing through her veins. The concept of curse energy flowing through her body like a torrent of water and the Flintlock pistol flashed in her mind. With a deep breath, Renko channeled her emotions, allowing the curse energy to surge within her.

Renko's senses heighten significantly. She felt as if the walls and floor around her were vibrating, the air was alive with energy. It was as if she could see the very air, an interconnected web of invisible power flowing throughout the room. 

She could sense the presence of the bugs, their ethereal forms vibrating with cursed energy. But just as she attempted to focus on her cursed technique, she felt all that overwhelming energy drain out of her body in a single instant.

An overwhelming sense of fatigue assaulted her body and she nearly collapsed, however, she held on to the cushion with her intact left hand and noticed the creation of her technique.

There, in her hand, was a flintlock pistol, a relic from a bygone era. Its polished wooden stock and the slick metal barrel with intricate engravings gleamed under the dim light of the room.

Which was all fine and dandy except for the fact that she felt like someone just drained the life right out of her body. The celestial woman's words echoed in her mind, 'fuel guzzler' she had called it, well, that sure was an understatement.

"Here goes nothing."

Renko aimed at the nearest bug-like creature and pulled the trigger. The hammer came down on the flint with a sharp clink, creating sparks that illuminated the surroundings. The frizzen snapped open, revealing the primed pan, and in an instant, the ignited spark raced towards the waiting touchhole. With a muffled boom, the gunpowder in the barrel ignited, propelling the lead projectile toward the bug-like creature.

As the acrid smell of burnt powder filled the air as Renko watched the outcome of the shot, and to her surprise, the creature disintegrated into a cloud of dark energy.

"Huh, not bad."

Renko smirked, gaining confidence. She turned her attention to the second creature, raising the flintlock pistol once more with newfound assurance.

The second bug-like creature skittered menacingly, its otherworldly chittering echoing in the eerie silence. Renko focused, her eyes narrowing as she aimed at the approaching threat. The hammer cocked back again, and with another decisive pull of the trigger, the process repeated—the sharp clink, the cascade of sparks, and the ignition of gunpowder.

*BANG*