This Cursed Technique is based on the idea of leveling up in a video game by collecting points. Specifically, it’s based off of a “rouge” progression system, where by taking harder paths that give better rewards, the user can more quickly get stronger. While also, they are able to lose it all at a moment’s notice.

To activate the ability, the user must attack an opponent with a cursed energy infused attack. If that opponent then recognizes the user, a marker is placed above their head for as long as they continue having the user in their mind/as an opponent.

Once atleast 1 opponent has been marked, the ability begins, with “LV: 1” and 3 red hearts appearing above the user like a neon sign. Every time the user is hit with ANY cursed energy from a marked opponent, instead of taking damage from the hit, they will lose a heart. That damage is then stored, and if the user goes down to 0 hearts, the ability is stopped and they take the damage of all attacks done to them since they last activated the technique. 

While the technique is being used, the user gains points that fill up a bar above their head. The points are arbitrary, as what’s more important is the fact that every time the bar is filled, the user levels up and the bar resets to be empty, with it requiring 1.5x more points then last time. Points are gained by attacking a registered opponent, dodging attacks, defeating opponents, and basically anything that would be considered a positive in battle. These points are fixed.

They also gain a point multiplier that multiplies all points they get. This multiplier starts at 100% and every 5 seconds the user goes without being hit, it goes up by 1%. This stacks for every opponent, so if the user has 10 registered opponents they will gain 10% every 5 seconds. This multiplier too can be increased by “parrying” or “perfect dodging” opponent attacks. Parrying is when the user uses cursed energy reinforcement at the moment of impact, making the damage so minimal that they don’t even lose a heart. A perfect dodge is when the user is attacked and cuts the dodge so close that they are skimmed by the attack’s cursed energy but not harmed. These add 50% each time it’s performed.

The user starts at Level 1 with 3 hearts. 

Every 1 level grants a buff to a random stat, either strength, speed, or crit rate.

Strength increases the output of CE, Speed increases the speed of the user, and Crit Rate is a special bonus that can apply a 1.5x multiplier to an attacks CE BEFORE BLACK FLASH. Whenever they level up, an arrow pointing up above their head shows what they got, Red for Strength, Green for Speed, Blue for Crit Rate. The ammount of arrows they gain, aka how much that stat increases, is based on the one’s place of the user’s level, with 0=1. So once they hit level 20, they will gain the equivalent of 2 boosts every level up, level 30 3, ect.

Every 5 Levels, the user restores half a heart. So every 10 levels they regain a full heart, meaning they can take another hit and the ability won’t stop.

Every 25 levels the user gains a choice of 1 of 3 “Perks”, useful ability that assists them in keeping their combo up. One of the most important, and one that’s guaranteed to be part of their first selection, is Combo Negation, which means the user will only take 1 hearts of damage when they are hit with consecutive attacks until they are released from the combo. (Like the ability from Kingdom Hearts)

And at every 50 Levels, the user gains a full refresh. All hearts are restored, CE is restored to their normal levels, and any damage that was being stored for when the technique ends is negated, meaning they must make it to a multiple of 50 before a fight ends if they took lethal damage, or else the user is a dead man walking until the fight ends.

When there are no more “opponents”, first the combo multiplier will rapidly begin to fall to zero. Once it does, the user will begin to rapidly lose levels. The user only loses the stat boosts from leveling down, any Perks or health regeneration stays unless he hits level 1.

If the user hits level 1 with no enemies around, the technique is automatically cancelled.

The technique will not accept a friend as an opponent. Only enemies with true intent to hurt or kill the user will register, so no farming of stats is allowed pre-fight. The only exception is a true rival, someone who is on your side but wants to fight you at their and your best, that qualifies as an opponent. A friendly who lets you hit them just to keep the technique going does not count.

Cursed Technique: Level Up!