My Dragon Devouring System

"What... Really?" Justin muttered, disbelief painting his features.

 "But according to all the teachings I've inherited from this body, it's completely impossible for a human to possess both types of energy—so how can this be?"

{It is only possible because Master has two souls dwelling within this body. Your soul is of Mana energy, while the original owner's soul is of Aura energy.} 

"Two souls..." Justin's mind raced, the pieces slowly falling into place. He placed a hand over his chest, as if trying to feel something.

 "When you explain it like that, I guess it makes sense now."

{However, Master, there is an unfortunate complication: you cannot use either of these energies.}

Justin's brow furrowed, and he felt a surge of frustration. 

"What do you mean I can't use them?" His voice came out sharper than intended, his fists clenching. 

{Master, your body is under a Curse that blocks the use of any kind of energy.}

His eyes widened in shock. "What?! A curse?!" he blurted out, disbelief mingling with a sense of dread. 

"Who could have placed a curse on me? And when?"

{As for the person responsible, I do not know, as I was not in existence at the time. However, after analyzing the level and age of the curse, it was placed upon you at birth.}

Justin's fists clenched instinctively, fury swelling in his chest. 

'So, this kid had energy all along, but the divine stream couldn't detect it because of a damn curse?' He grinned his teeth in frustration. 

'Who in their right mind would place a curse on a child the moment they were brought into this world?' His mind raced with thoughts of vengeance. 

He had attempted to move on, to focus on his new life in this unfamiliar world. But the past lingered, refusing to be forgotten. The memories of his previous body's owner still seared his mind - the pain, the anguish, and the devastating knowledge that his mother had died believing her beloved son was worthless.

A burning anger ignited within him, more angry than he should have been.

'Whoever you are, I'll make you pay.'

A thought flickered through his mind, and he turned inward, speaking to the presence in his head. 

'So, Great Sage, can you break the curse?' His voice trembled with his heart pounding as he waited for the answer.

{Yes, I can—provided the necessary requirements are met.}

Justin's heart leapt in his chest. 

"R-really?" A sudden wave of joy washed over him, a rare glimmer of hope in an otherwise bleak situation. 

"What are the necessary requirements?"

{To break a curse of this nature, I require a substantial amount of Mana energy. However, since you currently possess none…}

Justin groaned, cutting off the explanation.

 "Yeah, yeah, I know I don't have any yet. Just skip to the important part," he snapped, feeling like the Great Sage was subtly mocking him, even if he knew it was all in his head.

{There are three possible methods for breaking a Mage's curse. The first option is for someone to directly infuse Mana into your body while I simultaneously utilize it to dismantle the curse.}

Justin frowned. 

{The second option requires a sacred item imbued with divine power, something potent enough to channel and shatter the curse.}

He scratched his head. "Okay, what's the third option?"

{The final option involves being in a place rich in Mana energy, where I can absorb and redirect the energy to break the curse.}

"Hmm... so those are my options." Before Justin could ponder any further, Gilly barged into the room, carrying a tray of different delicacies in her hands. The aroma wafted through the air, instantly making his stomach growl.

"Gilly!" Justin exclaimed, startled by her sudden entrance. 

"You should knock! What if I was naked?" He raised an eyebrow, though his tone was more playful than scolding.

"Ah, I'm sorry, Master," Gilly responded, an apologetic smile tugging at her lips. 

"I guess I'm not used to you being awake just yet." But then her expression shifted, a mischievous glint sparkling in her eyes. 

"Besides," she teased, "I've been the one cleaning every inch of your body with a towel for the past five years."

"E-every inch?!" Justin stammered, suddenly feeling very self-conscious. His hands instinctively tugged at his pajama top, as if to shield himself from her playful taunts.

"Every inch," she repeated with a sly grin, clearly enjoying how flustered he had become. Setting the plate in front of him, she chuckled softly. 

Justin glanced down at the food—a feast of delicacies spread out before him. Some of the dishes were entirely foreign to him, but the memories embedded in this body recognized them as favorites. Without hesitation, he dug in, devouring the food as if it might vanish at any moment. 

It had been so long since he tasted something genuinely good—his previous life had been filled with coffee and barely edible junk food. Now, with each bite, he felt a rush of joy, a strange mix of nostalgia and gratitude. Tears welled up in his eyes as he ate, savoring every morsel. Not a single crumb was left on the plate when he was done.

Once the meal was over, Justin wiped his mouth and decided to use this rare moment of connection with Gilly to probe for information. 

Since, based on his memories, Gilly didn't possess any energy of her own and there was no one he could trust enough to infuse him with Mana. 

So theory number one—infusing Mana—was off the table. 

"Hey, Gilly," he began cautiously, wiping his mouth. "you don't happen to have any sacred items lying around here, do you?"

"N-No, Young Master," she replied, blinking in surprise. "The only place where sacred items can be found is in the Grand Armoury." 

'Tsk… I figured as much. No harm in asking,' He had hoped for a miracle, but that ruled out the second option. 

That left him with only the third and last option.

He leaned forward slightly, his tone more serious now. "Is there any place nearby that's rich in Mana energy?"

Gilly hesitated for a moment, her eyes narrowing as she considered his question. 

"Within the clan grounds? No..." She paused, her expression growing tense. 

Justin sighed. 'Of course not. That would've been too easy.'

"But... there is a place. Though I've never been there myself, I've heard stories from the warriors. It's said to be a place where Mana and Aura energies flow endlessly."

Justin's eyes lit up. 'A jackpot! The third option is actually viable!' He could feel a smile tugging at his lips. 

"So, where is this place?" 

Gilly's face paled, her lips trembling, and for the first time, Justin noticed a trace of fear in her expression. 

 "The Black Forest."

Justin's heart skipped a beat. He had heard whispers of that place, fragmented memories of warnings, and fearful tales. 

"W-what... the Black Forest?" He shivered involuntarily, the name alone sending a chill down his spine. The place was legendary, and not in a good way.

"Is it... really that dangerous?" he asked, his voice wavering despite his efforts to remain calm.

Gilly nodded, her expression grim. "The Black Forest is not just dangerous, Young Master. It's a forbidden place—shrouded in mystery and fear. No one enters willingly, and those who do rarely return." 

Justin gulped, his thoughts spinning. He needed to break the curse. But could he really face the Black Forest, a place so feared that even hardened warriors hesitated to speak of it?

His resolve hardened. 

'If that's the only way to break the curse, then I have no choice.'