"I apologize for applying 100 curses on you..."
Katara casually apologized to Philip while she was being in danger
*Fyuuuuuiii*
A loud compressed screeching sound in front of her face. The forcefield around her started to wobble and the surface that Philip was clutching was sinking and bending
His fingers then released a dark mist, wrapping his finger and started to eat the forcefield away
"Huh... So, you are actually the God of Darkness... You also have complete control of Darkness Authority! If that's the case, what about Tenebris in this present??? Two Gods of Darkness shouldn't exist in one reality..."
Philip's eyes were bloodshot and he was already gnashing his teeth. His saliva and foam around his mouth has evaporated and the [Blood Wings], [Blood Horn], and [Blood Crown] has manifested
"A curse?"
Katara muttered after seeing the [Blood Crown]
*Fweeeeen*
Philip palm generated a [Blood Singularity] and overloaded the forcefield. The forcefield shattered like glass and he pushed his hand deeper. Another layer of black shield appeared around Katara
"Calm down, why don't you? Only a few beings has scratched me and the beings who have injured are only countable with all my fingers"
That meant three, since she only has three fingers left
Just then, the black shield released straight line cuts around its surface, as if it was cut with great force
Katara widened her eyes and raised her left stump. A curse was immediately placed on Philip
"GUH!"
Everything dissipated away as all of his abilities were dispelled and cancelled. Everything became at peace and it was sunny again. Too bad that the village was decimated and no one was left alive. Only the sanctuary was the last one standing
Philip fell on the ground after he lost his strength and his willpower
"Geez, I get it, alright? I apologize for bringing you pain... Really, I should stop that habit of mine... I always get in trouble for it..."
Katara tried to reason with Philip and genuinely apologize. After seeing Philip capabilities, she seemed to have taken an interest to him, just like Valkarrie and Saykeraborne back then
"So, let's talk, shall we-- Keock ock--"
Katara tried to brush off everything that just happened and talk to Philip, but she suddenly choked on her words after her neck was being strangled
Katara immediately held the arm that was strangling her, trying to pull it away, but the arm is very hard and full of popping veins. Katara was startled and she let her guard down. She wasn't able to prevent this blunder
It was then the Philip rose from the ground, without the curse that removes his strength and willpower being removed from him initially. His face was being shadowed by his hair but his right was glinting with red light
He stood up on his feet and lifted Katara off of the ground
Even if he had no strength or willpower left, his extreme anger remained and the retaliation of his body, not to mention his negative energy. With these three traits combined, he is still a force to be reckoned with, even if he isn't conscious of his decisions
「 God Submission 」
"Keock keock"
Katara kept choking, especially as her body is pulling her body down, further tightening her throat
It was then that Philip lifted his head towards the direction to the right and clutched his entire face with his right hand
"That was extremely painful... I had good intentions and yes, I had trust in you... But you went on ahead and place 100 curses in me... The feeling was incomprehensible and unimaginable..."
Philip hair has already returned back to normal and his eyes weren't glowing with golden and violet light. There were only red glint inside his pupils that glared within Katara's soul
"I could kill you right here, right now... But I won't do that because I'll be needing you... Although, I will let you feel what I felt earlier..."
「 Curse Invocation 」
One of Philip's forbidden abilities is going to be used against a god who governs over curses
Katara shouldn't have been worried or alarmed, but her eyes widened and she mustered all of her strength to lift her left hand. The dark stump on her wrist left a trail of black particles as she drew a symbol in the air
"Plane of Malediction!"
Katara uttered as she kept choking. The black particles expanded and both of them entered her Plane of Existence
Philip's vision turned black and everything went quiet. Though, he could still fell Katara's neck in his left hand and he kept a tight grip with it
It was then that a circular platform grew from his feet and expanded outwards around him while rotating. The circular platform drew what looked like a magic circle on its surface
The magic circle has several segmented parts where there are strange and cursed symbols surrounded by smaller magic circles. There are more shapes that comprises the magic circle and the aura that emanates from the lines are maroon colored
Pillars of bones then rose from the ground just outside of the platform. The bones are different sizes of arms with bits of flesh and veins dangling between the bones. The arms either kept pointing upwards or slammed the hand on the ground, as if it's pulling itself off the ground, but it just stopped there
The atmosphere is maroon colored, similar to Valkarrie's Plane of Existence
It was then that the howls of what seemed like humans or several beings was heard as the ground outside the circular platform were full of rotting heads and crawling arms. Smoke that are shaped as rotting heads also rose from the ground while it was howling
"A Plane of Existence, huh... Why did you bring me her--"
*Smack*
Philip was abruptly interrupted as he was smacked by a heavy object away from Katara. He lost a hold of Katara's neck and she fell on ground
"Khack aahhckk ack"
Katara coughed on the ground while she clutched her neck. Blood and saliva spurted from her mouth and she began to scratch her neck
[Kkkkkrrrrr... Are you alright, Katara?]
A dragon with a long slim body circled around Katara. He has a long tail and several segmented spikes lined up on his spine. He has large claws and a sleek head. His horns looked like branches of trees that has dangling maroon chains. His scales are maroon and black in color with traces of red linings
The dragon looked like a salamander with no wings, so it is unknown how the dragon could fly in high speeds that Philip didn't notice him
"I'm fine Sumpaka... It's just that this is my first time being strangled... Somehow it felt exciting for some reason..."
[...]
Katara began to breathe deeply and catch her breathe after imagining Philip choking her again
*SHING*
Both of their visions suddenly flashed from darkness and returned back to normal as a horizontal white line passed through them and went towards the horizon
They felt that they were just cut, but they were intact. In reality, they were not the ones that were cut, but the arm pillars around the Plane of Existence
「 Null of Magnificence. Form of Godliness. Twin Blades Concept 」
Katara and Sumpaka were stunned after they felt the power that Philip demonstrated. But Katara wasn't stunned to the point that she was afraid. In fact, she was intrigued because such a new god is able to be almost the same level as her and the Dragon of Curses
But of course, she was a little pissed because her Plane of Existence was damaged with just one strike
She lifted her left stump and began to apply curses to Philip. Sumpaka also began to approach him to neutralize him
「 Null of Magnificence: Twin Blades Concept: Curse Seeker 」
His left and right fingers swung in a cross and struck the maledictions that were being hexed on him
Sumpaka then arrived in front of him and brought down his claw to pin him down. Philip raised his left hand to block the claw
「 Perfect Recoiless Technique: Mana Actualization: Body Strengthening 」
A shockwave was generated as the space around them was warped, followed by the swirl of light
Sumpaka's claw and Philip hand collided. Sumpaka wasn't able to push Philip down and Philip managed to stop the strength of a dragon
"Wait..."
Philip muttered. This made Sumpaka jump back behind Katara
"Give me a second to calm down..."
Philip forcefully closed his eyes and he began clutching his face with his right hand again
"Now, you chose to calm down after we reach this point?"
Katara questioned Philip
"If you're angry... You often lose yourself and you can't control your urge to go on a rampage..."
Philip tried to speak as he kneeled down on the ground
"Fortunately, I'm almost exhausted... Plus, I have an unmatched self-control and unparalleled patience... Just give me a second..."
"Hm... Alright then..."
Katara waved his left stump to remove the one curse that she bestowed on him earlier
Philip curled down on the ground with his elbows supporting his balance. He took a big inhale and lifted his right arm. He then forcefully swung his right arm down and smashed the ground
Nothing happened except for the massive cracks that formed across the circular platform. The cracks that formed made it look like it complimented the magic circles on the platform
Katara and Sumpaka's eyes widened after seeing the change. It seemed coincidental, but this was on purpose
「 Was that in purpose? 」
'Yes... I will try to gain her favor... Also, it just so happens that I have relieved myself, so it's all according to plan...'
It was unknown how Philip was able to manipulate the trajectory of the cracks, but as always, according to Philip, nothing is coincidental. So, he might have done it and let fate guide the outcome, which turned to his favor
Philip slowly stood up from his feet and faced Katara
"What did you do???"
Katara asked alarmingly
"Let's cut to the chase..."
Philip spoke confidently
"As you have said, you are Katara, the Goddess of Curses. Based on the several facts that I have gathered... The Plane of Malediction, Sumpaka the Dragon of Curses, and your overwhelming power that rivals Valkarrie..."
Philip pointed a finger at Katara
"You are a part of the Echelon of Divinity and also one of the oldest divine being as you are the second deity of curses! Therefore, I will stand down and respect your authority... I don't want to disrespect you in any way because you'll wipe the floor with me"
"Hm... Smart, smart... But why does that matter? Also, explain why you destroyed my platform"
"It matters because I want you..."
"Eh? You want me? No can do! I don't engage in those type of relationships... Well, if you choke me harder, I might reconsider it--"
*Smack*
Sumpaka smacked Katara into the ground to stop her in her fetish
Philip's jaw dropped and his eyes narrowed and his eyebrows furrowed. He then closed his eyes from being dumbfounded and slowly facepalmed himself
'What are these gods... Did I awaken something in her or she has this trait even before?!'
Philip commented in his head
「 ... 」
"Now, where were we?"
Katara pushed himself off of the geound and stood back up
"The reason that I want you is because I don't want you to put a curse on the individual named Camille"
"Huh, interesting, and why is that? Why would a god take interest on mortal that was ultimately judged by their own kin?"
"I came from the future, right? I was originally a mortal before I took the Divine Soul of Darkness"
"I have so many questions..."
Katara was confused and she's trying to understand the mystery of Philip
"I'll tell you"
Philip went on ahead and told Katara everything that happened to Tenebris, how he killed him, and how he survived with two souls in one mortal body
"I see... I understand now... You're a menace to the Divine Realm and a dangerous being for nay divine beings to be with... You're lucky that you're the God of Darkness since no one will be able to harm or stop you... But if you do cause trouble against other divine beings, the Divine Enforcers will take care of you"
Katara warned Philip
"I'll take note of that"
"But that doesn't explain the cracks on my magic circle!"
"It's because I would like to get on your good side... The moment I saw this magic circle, I figured that it's used on a specific curse... A curse that not even the Goddess of Curses herself can control..."
"Well, you're right... But, how does this help?"
Katara pointed at the cracks on the ground. She seemed to be undisturbed by the fact that Philip inferred that she has a curse that she couldn't control
"Coincidences doesn't exists... All things happens for a reason. Destroying this platform comes with two possibilities, first one is that it will be destroyed and you'll lose progress, second is that it will help in some way shape or form... These cracks may have done the latter"
"What are you trying to get at?"
Katara squinted her eyes
"Katara, Goddess of Curses, I want to enter a contract and bargain regarding the individual named Camille, with the addition of a special request!"