Philip spoke the mysterious language whenever he uses the ⟨⟨ Curse Invocation ⟩⟩ ability
The way he spoke was extremely creepy that it can send shivers down anyone's spine
Sai couldn't help but take a few step backwards while covering her ears. It was the same for Tenshi as both of their faces crumpled from disgust and worry
Tenshi's eyes and hair were flickering back and forth from blue-white to black as the Cursed Angel form is being activated
But even if both of them are hearing vile and repulsive words and language, Katara and Sumpaka showed very different reactions
It's almost as if they were fearful and they were about to kneel down
[The Ancient Language of Hexful Malediction! How?!?!]
Sumpaka's voice reverberated in the area
But before anything further happened, the [Plane of Malediction] suddenly manifested and the usual domain was erected
~~~
Katara's completed Cursed Magic Circle platform, a sea of vengeful souls and rotting flesh, and towers and pillars of rotten arms and skeletal arms of varrying sizes manifested and grew within a maroon filled world
Tenshi and Sai were nowhere to be seen as Philip is standing at the center of the platform with Katara being several meters away from him
*FLAP*
A powerful gush of wind broke from above as Sumpaka forcefully flapped her small wings. She moved quickly and circled the platform until she stopped several meters behind Katara
Sumpaka was stunned and stopped as she watched Katara when a cloud of miasmatic smoke spread around her. The color is similar to the stump of her left wrist and the trail that's created when she moves it to invoke a curse
*Fwit*
Philip flicked his right hand forward and pointed two of his fingers at Katara
At this point, Katara levitated a few feet above the platform and arched her back as she rolled her eyes upwards
It was then that the cloud formed tendrils, tentacles, or strings that shot out and aimed for Katara and Sumpaka
The strings wrapped around Sumpaka's legs and neck as it pulled her down into the ground. More miasmatic strings began to wrap over her back and tied her completely
It was the same for Katara as the strings shot towards her wrists and ankles as it pulled and spread her limbs. Katara looked like she was crucified or some sort
More strings shot towards Katara and wrapped more of her limbs, then her torso and chest, then her neck
It looked like she is in BDSM, also known as bondage, discipline and dominance, submission and sadism, and masochism. But in this situation, it's bondage and probably masochism since Katara is one
On the other hand, Philip didn't intend this since he's half unconscious and it has been the actions of the cloud of miasmatic smoke
「 Fate Control (Level 2): Hand Control... 」
In this moment, Philip regained his full consciousness and his eyes shone in golden light once more
He opened his right hand and reached for something in front of him
*Clang clang clang clang clang*
The strings made clanging sounds as several number of strings shot towards him in an arc from several directions
"..."
Philip didn't flinch and only bit his lower lip. All the clanging strings missed him and began wrapping around him in an orbit with very loud clanging noise
As the strings continued to revolve like a tornado, the rotational axis of the strings began to converge in front of Philip's hand
"...!"
He didn't miss this chance and quickly closed his hand into a monstrous grip
The strings quickly came into a stop like it lost its life
At this moment, the true nature of the strings were revealed and as to why they are making loud clanging sounds
"Chains..."
The strings were actually chains that are linked together. Not only that, at the ends of the chains, there are spikes or pointed blades attached to a heavy ball
The chains looked almost ethereal and dark. They are of the color as the miasmatic smoke and they emit a very dense aura, similar to the feeling of being heavily cursed, almost like being sick to the point of dying
As the chains seem to have lost its life, it quickly regained its fervor and began to spin around Philip's fist
The chains then began to wrap around his arm in a spiral until it almost reached his shoulder. Fortunately, the spikes didn't cut him nor stab into his skin
"..."
Philip closed his eyes and focused his intent on the chains
'Scan!'
One of Philip's abilities that's not being used too much. An overpowered ability that can almost identify anything, as long as the Omega System allows it. Now, he can freely use it, even if he has the Variable of Logic, since he also caught a glimpse of Singularity and Omniscience, concepts that are almost infinity
「 Linked Curse of Chains 」
"..."
Philip deepened his intent even further until the chains unravelled itself away from Philip's arm and continued to wriggle inside his hand
「 You tried to obtain a third weapon mastery again, didn't you?? 」
'Teehee'
「 Haaah... 」
Philip then raised his left hand in a snapping gesture
「 Fate Control (Level 1): Snap... 」
"Linked chain weapon... You have Chain Potential!"
Philip snapped his left fingers and an audible sound reverberated across the [Plane of Malediction]
"Congrats! You now have a weapon mastery! Your stage would be-"
『 Alert!!! 』
『 Katara Sumpa's mastery stage couldn't be identified with her level of Chain Potential! 』
『 Unraveling mastery records... 』
『 Requesting elevated access... 』
Granted
『 A new mastery stage has been discovered!!! 』
『 Judge Stage has been discovered! 』
『 Katara Sumpa's Chain Potential has reached the Judge Stage! 』
『 Katara Sumpa achieved Chain Judge mastery stage 』
'Judge???'
「 The Judge mastery stage is a branch on the same level of Saint Stage, just like how Spirit Stage is a branch from the Angel Stage, just after Saint Stage 」
'Interesting... So, there's going to be like that from now on... Does the system have the full mastery records?'
「 It only has the records of the permitted ones 」
'I see'
It was at this moment that the chains managed to break free from Philip's grip
It wriggled violently and swiped around Katara's body like some kind of spining blade or top
Of course, as it swiped and spun around Katara, it quickly wrapped around her body to the point that she's completely covered by chains
'But why a Chain Judge?
「 There is a reason why she's the Goddess of Curses, a few of her fingers and a hand are missing, and a Super Masochist... 」
'Ah! I think I understand...'
Philip made a complicated expression, but a welcome one after understanding the reasoning behind Katara becoming a Chain Judge
Eventually, the wrapped chain around her body unravelled and disappeared into mist as a single chain wrapped around her arms and into her shoulders. Her right hand is holding a chunk of the chain and the chains on her left wrist extends into the sharp end of the chain
Her body slowly hovered down and he rfeet touched the platform. Her body bent into a rather extremely bad posture with bent back, knees, uneven shoulders, and elbows
Though, this wasn't caused by her obtaining the Chain Judge mastery. It is because of the overwhelming power coursing through her body from the Linked Curse of Chains
He body emanates a sinister but clear miasmatic smoke and her eyes shine with bright tainted white light, almost like a color of dirty white or white-gray
She began to breathe heavily and glare at Philip with wary eyes
Along with her empowerment, Sumpaka finally broke free from the chains and her dragon eyes also shone in tainted white light as she glared at Philip with wary eyes
『 A Story is being consolidated... 』
'Story... Is this the Story System??'
「 Yes. This should be your first story. Whatever story might form in your Storyline, there will be a specific effect that will be applied in specific scenarios. These stories will also create a specific status that will elevate your own status among beings 」
'So, it's kind of like titles?'
「 Yes, although titles gives effect on oneself, stories gives effect in specific scenarios 」
'I understand... Scenarios, you mean like when certain situations in correlation to that story happens? Stories won't just activate anytime anywhere'
「 Yes, exactly... Let's see what story you'll consolidate and I can explain further 」
'...'
『 You have earned an Apex Story! 』
『 The Story [Weapon of Mastery Provider] 』
「 Damn, that's a powerful story... 」
'What is it?'
「 As the name implies... It's a story that takes effect when you provide mastery weapons like what you did to Katara, Celine, and to some extent, Tenshi. The effect is a more powerful and potent weapons that can be summoned 」
'I see... Why's it called an Apex Story?'
「 There are five kinds of stories in the universe... An Ordinary Story, Apex Story, Great Story, Star Story, and Singular Story. An Apex Story is a story on the level that affects causality itself 」
'The other ones?'
「 We can talk about it another time. You have a more important matter to handle 」
Philip's eyes shifted towards Katara and Sumpaka. Katara's body started to straightened up and her posture became better
"H-how can you bestow mastery weapons?? Especially to me???"
Katara asked with a trembling voice
"It's not like I chose a weapon and forcefully gave you the mastery for it... It's your personal weapon bound to your fate and signature. You had it locked away in your soul and existence all this time. It's also your Godly Component, so congratulations, you're one step in attaining True Godhood"
"..."
[...]
Both Katara and Sumpaka were silent and kept breathing heavily
"..."
Philip looked around inside the [Plane of Malediction] and he could see all the improvements of Katara's Plane of Existence once again
He turned his head towards Katara and Sumpaka with a worried gaze
"Alright, I think what I need to do is done. Both of you can take a rest"
"Y-yeah... I feel like shit... Ahhh..."
[This procedure of awakening the weapon mastery is unprecedented, especially to a second generation divine being... Katara used a lot of her energy to stay conscious, but it's still too much currently]
"Alright. Rest well both of you"
[Thank you...]
Philip waved his right hand and let both of them rest
Katara heard this and her eyes slowly closed and she fell on the platform floor. The Linked Curse of Chains shrunk down and wrapped around her neck like a choker necklace
She fell asleep soundly
Philip's vision started to darken as he prepared to leave the [Plane of Malediction]. Before he could do so, he momentarily saw gigantic linked chains emerge from the sea of screaming souls and rotten flesh until it linked and connected towards the sky
~~~
After the [Plane of Malediction] faded away inside the blanket of reality, Philip found himself back on the roof of the mansion. Tenshi and Sai was also there and they wete surprised to see Katara laying down on the floor
"What happened???"
Sai asked and Tenshi already knew what happened
"Her weapon mastery was successfully awoken. We were in the her Plane of Existence just now as a reaction to what happened to me"
"Wait, it's just that easy??"
"What?! No, not at all!"
Philip waved his hand in front of his face and shook his head left and right
"I had to do something extremely dangerous to achieve this result after all..."
Tenshi's expression was solemn. She knew what ⟨⟨ Curse Invocation ⟩⟩ is capable of and what price Philip has to pay to use such a powerful and forbidden ability
It was feared by the Goddess of Curses and Ancient Universal Dragon of Curses of after all
"Also, I had Fate Control! I think I pushed myself too far..."
Philip continued as his expression seemed exhausted
"Of course you did..."
Tenshi walked forward and approached Philip. She extended her arms and caressed his cheek with her right hand and held his right shoulder with her left hand
Philip looked awful and his body is bending down, like he couldn't carry himself as his knees are giving up
"..."
Sai looked at Philip with confused eyes as it curved outward from worry
"Sai... Please take care of Katara... Her bedroom would be in Camille's room. She will understand. Unless you want to have her in your room with Alucard, it's your choice"
"Alright, leave it to me... You go rest and such. I know it has been a very long day for you"
Sai avoided Philip's gaze and crouched next to Katara as she started poking her sleeping cheeks
"Thank you... I'll be going now..."
Tenshi moved her body and placed Philip's arm over her shoulders to support his weight. He began trembling and his knees were shaking
Tenshi flew into the air and towards the balcony of Philip's room. She doesn't have a hard time carrying his large body since she has the innate strength and power of a Totality Catalyst after all
They landed on the balcony and opened the glass door. Both of them entered the bedroom
Philip was about to use what's left of his strength to jump on his bed across the room, but both him ans Tenshi was stunned as they halted their steps
"Hm, welcome back... What should I call you? Husband?"
A girl was sitting on the edge of his bed with her right leg over the other and crossed arms. Her back is straight qnd she's exuding extreme confidence
She slightly turned her head towards Philip and her eyes were cracked, as if they were dry and happened to crack on itself
The girl is Ariii and she's very wide awake, different from her predicted time of awakening after fighting against Philip and Tenshi
A month hasn't even passed yet, not even a week or a day, yet she's already wide awake in just a few hours
Ariii being awake is not the only strange thing in the room. There was a reason why she seemed like she's giving a sermon at someone. After all, she wasn't facing Philip and Tenshi initially. She was facing something on the floor
It was Amare's corpse
Philip slightly looked above her corpse and saw something ethereal
It was Amare's soul, or rather, the ghost or spirit of Amare. She wasn't a wisp of her soul, but she's in a humanoid form. She also doesn't have the squiggly tail that animated and cartoon ghosts have
"This individual seemed important to you since you were trying to liberate her soul... I tried to liberate her myself. I was successful... Then I discovered that this individual is extremely dangerous... What is she?"
Ariii's eyes glowed white, as well as her white eyelashes. Even more cracks formed across his eyes, on his sclera, and the surface began to chip away and hover just above the sea of her sclera