I Awakened A Divine Curse - Chapter 14: Shackles Of Depravity

“Corpse Processing” is over, but the lord has a lot to write, so this is it.

A person is a mage.

Three people are a team.

A group of people is a territory.

A group of people is the rise of an era.

I, Karen Heise, want to lead an era. If you think you are young and self-motivated enough, send your resume here.

My address: Gold Flash Town, the center of the world.

- Description from novelbuddy

Fujimoto Tōma is born in the Hidden Leaf Village with nothing to make him special.No famous clan. No inherited kekkei genkai. No dead legend waiting to be praised.Reincarnated into the world of shinobi, Tōma quickly realizes that wishing for bloodline luck is pointless. Talent exists, chakra exists, and effort exists. If he lacks the first advantage, he’ll sharpen the latter two until they draw blood.While other children dream loudly of becoming Hokage, Tōma trains quietly, treating every day at the Academy as an investment. Faster hands. Cleaner chakra control. Sharper judgment. He doesn’t chase glory; he builds foundations.Set in Naruto’s era, alongside familiar faces like Uzumaki Naruto, Tōma walks a harder road. An ordinary background means every step forward must be earned, and every mistake will cost more than it would for those born blessed.This is the story of how far a “normal” shinobi can climb in a world ruled by bloodlines, legends, and monsters and whether discipline and talent, honed without shortcuts, can stand tall among them.

In a tyrannical world, what is evil? What is benevolence? All living creatures are brutal. Passing through the heaven road to find one’s purpose in life. Struggles to be stronger is not an easy path. The whole journey thistles and thorns, one blade chops open a path, I alone will be supreme!

- Description from Novelupdates

The story follows Matt, a young man planning to delve the rifts responsible for the monsters that destroyed his city and killed his parents. His dreams are crushed when his Tier 1 Talent is rated as detrimental, and no guild or group will take him.Working at a nearby inn, he meets a mysterious and powerful couple. They give him a chance to join The Path of Ascension, an empire wide race to ascend the Tiers and become living legends.With their recommendation and a stolen skill, Matt begins his journey to the peak of power.