The Path of None — Book II
The Curse II
A Dark Spiritual Fantasy Graphic Ballad
"Pain is a forge. The soul, raw metal."
The Path of None — Book II
A Dark Spiritual Fantasy Graphic Ballad
"Pain is a forge. The soul, raw metal."
The Story
As the Dark One continues his quest for Truth, doubts begin to rise. The pain and suffering he unleashes upon the world grow heavy — too heavy even for his own eyes to bear. Burdened, he turns south to seek what was lost, to discover whether his steps are true — or false.
Meanwhile, in the world burnt and cursed — the world he left behind — a child is born. A child like any other, yet unlike all. He enters a realm where the fear of the Dark One's return shadows every thought of the future. Yet few dare to fight their fate.
To save him from that dark destiny, his father carries him into the mountains, entrusting him to six hidden sages — keepers of ancient disciplines and inner alchemy. Enduring silence and fire, Dræven is tempered through years of brutal training, haunted visions, and revelations that cut deeper than steel.
But when the Dark One returns, will he be ready to face the Truth that waits in the deepest of darks?
Brought to life in stark, breathtaking gothic art, The Curse II is a haunting symphony of despair, transformation, and desperate hope. Dark, immersive, and achingly poetic, it pulls readers into a dreamlike labyrinth where every step echoes with rage, sacrifice, and the fragile possibility of redemption.
Perfect for fans of Berserk, The Crow, and grimdark masterpieces by Joe Abercrombie and Mark Lawrence.
Series
The Path of None
Order
Book II — Direct Sequel
Format
Graphic Ballad
Editions
Kindle · PB · HC
Peek Inside
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Souls in the Shadow
The Returning
No longer untouched by the weight of his own quest. He turns south, seeking what was lost — uncertain whether his steps are true or false.
The Hidden Child
Born into a cursed world. Carried into the mountains by his father. Tempered through silence, fire, and visions sharper than blades.
The Keepers
Hidden masters of ancient disciplines and inner alchemy. They forge what the world burned away — one trial at a time.
From Readers
★ 4.7 / 5 — 72 ratings on Amazon
"A truly magnificent tale that leans in hard on its dark themes and horror. The Curse II improves on its predecessor in every way."
"A stunning continuation of Drakko's journey. The art is detailed and haunting — the narration has a hypnotic rhythm that pulls you in."
"A wonderfully dark picture book for adults with a very poetic style of language. A great work."
Inside the Pages
The Curse II takes the despair of Book I and bends it toward initiation. Dræven does not become strong by escaping the fire — he becomes himself through it. The mountain training is not metaphor. It is the architecture of every awakening.
Even the wielder of darkness is changed by the weight of his deeds. For the first time, the Dark One questions his own path. The book asks: when even the guide doubts, who chooses the way?
Drawn from years of spiritual practice and the teachings of Vladimir Vojen Kocurek, the sages embody real disciplines — meditation, breath, the silence that reveals what the noise cannot.
If you love stories where the line between justice and destruction dissolves, where suffering forges character, and where the reader bleeds with the protagonist — The Curse II is the next page.
Continue the Path
Next in the Core Trilogy
A new world, a new pilgrimage, the same restless search for Truth. The first novel of The Path of None.
Expand the world — Deep lore
Every villain was once a dreamer. The origin of darkness — the Path of None's third graphic ballad.
III
2026
Coming 2026
The direct continuation of Dræven's path and the Dark One's reckoning. In development.
In DevelopmentQuestions
Yes. The Curse II is a direct sequel — the continuation of Drakko's story. The emotional weight is best experienced from Book One forward.
Dræven Tarânov is a child born into the world the Dark One left burnt and cursed. To save him from a dark destiny, his father carries him into the mountains, entrusting him to six hidden sages — keepers of ancient disciplines and inner alchemy.
The Amazon paperback and hardcover editions are in black and white. Exclusive full-colour collector hardcovers on premium 150 gsm art paper are available only via the author's Payhip store.
The Curse II is a full-length graphic ballad — read in poetic verse and gothic imagery. The sample reader on this page contains 72 pages. The full book is significantly longer.
The Curse II is recommended for readers who love Berserk, The Crow, and the grimdark masterpieces of Joe Abercrombie and Mark Lawrence — stories where pain becomes initiation and the line between justice and destruction dissolves.
About the Author
Author of dark spiritual fantasy, graphic ballads, grimdark fiction, and mythic stories of transformation. His work explores the place where the sacred meets the abyss — where suffering becomes initiation, and the soul is forced to confront both its darkness and its hidden light.
Drawing from years of spiritual practice, sacred texts, mythology, martial sciences, and the guidance of his teacher Vladimir Vojen Kocurek, ZoderoT writes worlds of demons, seekers, warriors, cursed bloodlines, reincarnation, and broken souls searching for wholeness.
Read more about the author →Continue the Path