Kyle just closed his eyes and burned every target in the city.
Ironically, the burning headache annoyed Kyle, and when someone was annoyed, it was easier to commit cruel acts.
As soon as the targets died, something about Kyle changed again.
Kyle noticed that a bloodred hue had appeared around him.
It was almost like the world was highlighting that he was dangerous.
"This is the third Karmic Curse," Magic Lady said. "This is the Minor Sin Aura. Beings significantly weaker than you can not perceive the Minor Sin Aura consciously, but their subconsciousness still notices."
"Beings weaker than you will instinctively perceive you as a dangerous threat. In Earth-terms, you could say that everyone believes your vibes are off."
"Beings in your Realm can actively perceive your Minor Sin Aura. People in your Realm feel disgusted to be in your presence and are more prone to hating you. Additionally, people of your Realm are familiar with Karmic Luck, and they know what this represents."
"Killing someone who has a Minor Sin Aura significantly increases your Karmic Luck. Beasts can sense that killing you will be very beneficial to them, and they will do their best to harvest these rewards."
While Magic Lady was explaining all of these things, Kyle dealt with ten more towns.
"Luckily, beings of a higher level can not perceive your Minor Sin Aura. To them, you will be just like everyone else, assuming they do not have major achievements in the Karmic Laws."
By now, Kyle reached the next major city.
This one had over 2,000 people who had undergone a ritual.
This was one of the biggest cities in the northern half of the world.
Kyle just gritted his teeth, and flames appeared all over the city.
The city fell into pandemonium.
After Kyle killed another 2,000 people, he expected Magic Lady to talk about the fourth level, but surprisingly, she remained silent.
Kyle also felt like nothing had changed.
It seemed like it became progressively harder to receive Karmic Curses.
After Kyle dealt with another 20 towns, he stopped.
His eyes were suddenly focusing on nothing in particular.
At least, that was what it looked like from the outside.
Yet, to Kyle, it seemed like he saw ethereal figures catching on fire before their loved ones started to scream in terror.
If Kyle really focused, he could still see the real world, but that genuinely took a lot of focus.
As soon as his focus waned, the visions returned. "This is the fourth Karmic Curse," Magic Lady said. "You will see visions of the deeds you have committed. These visions will be ever-present. We believe the purpose of these visions is to show the sinner the pain they have caused."
"Most people will commit horrible acts by dissociating and just ignoring the pain they cause. These visions force them to confront their actions."
"Statistics show that 80% of people who received the fourth Karmic Curse have a change of heart and try to get rid of their Karmic Curse by doing good deeds."
"Furthermore, 50% of the ones who improve their behavior do not stop and continue to do good deeds. The remainder is fine with keeping the third Karmic Curse."
"We have chosen you due to your mindset. These visions should not have a big impact on you. The only negative impacts you should experience are difficulties understanding Laws due to interference and less vigilance when it comes to danger."
By now, Kyle had dealt with 20 more towns and two more cities.
He was not the biggest fan of the visions, but he had to admit that Magic Lady was right.
This didn't seem nearly as bad as the other Karmic Curses to him.
After Kyle killed over 20,000 people, he still hadn't reached the next level.
So, he kept going.
Although he would keep going regardless.
He didn't really have a choice.
Kyle reached the third biggest city in the northern half of the world.
Over 5,000 people who had undergone a ritual…
Flames roared through the city, taking people out in waves.
Kyle couldn't focus on so many people at the same time, which was why he had to kill them in waves.
After he finished, Kyle's body started to shake.
The bloodred aura around him started to transform into bloodred flames.
Kyle's entire body felt like it was surrounded by fire.
"You just received the fifth Karmic Curse," Magic Lady said. "Only very few people manage to reach this level of negative Karmic Luck."
Kyle rammed his fingers into his upper arms, tearing his skin off with his fingers as a look of terror appeared on his face.
His skin was so hot!
He was burning so intensely!
It was less painful to simply get rid of his skin!
Yet, instead of his skin, his flesh felt like it was burning now.
"Injuring yourself does not help," Magic Lady said with a friendly tone. "The pain is constant and bright."
Kyle stopped injuring himself, but his hands continued to shake. It took all of his self-control to stop himself from instinctively tearing the burning skin off.
"If I may say so, you seem to take the fifth Karmic Curse surprisingly well," Magic Lady. "Most people fall into a panic, and quite a number of them commit suicide after just a couple of minutes."
Kyle just kept looking at nothing as his arms trembled.
'It hurts.'
Kyle gritted his teeth as he lowered his head.
'It hurts so fucking much.'
The headache from earlier was not even perceptible anymore.
"Since the fourth Karmic Curse hasn't deterred you, it means that you are someone who is not susceptible to empathy and kindness," Magic Lady said. "The fifth Karmic Curse is designed to hit you where it hurts. Yourself."
"An astounding 99.9998% of people who have gained the fifth Karmic Curse vow to get rid of it and to never return to it, assuming they don't commit suicide first."
Kyle needed some time to acclimate to his new reality.
Yet, just at that moment, an unfamiliar Transcendent flew towards Kyle.
"Stop!" the Transcendent shouted.
This was the ruler of these lands.
He had noticed that a powerful Transcendent was killing his people, but he also felt that the Transcendent was far too powerful.
Luckily, the problem should soon solve itself.
When that Transcendent realized the horrors of Karmic Punishment, he would stop.
But he didn't.
He just kept going.
So, the Transcendent was forced to intervene.
He couldn't keep watching.
Kyle barely noticed the new Transcendent.
The only thing that entered his mind through the burning pain was Magic Lady's voice.
"Mr. Freeman, we have to get rid of all of the false Transcendents anyway," she said. "They rule with false power and motivate people to follow their broken path."
"You may start with this one."
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