Spear and Playful Cloud (1)
AN: Can someone please remind me what exactly Hephaestus' curse was because I don't remember all the details. Trying to re-learn, and I don't remember exactly where or when it was mentioned. I just remember its existence or something about it.
Also, as this is a fanfic I of course am going to switch some things about the plot. Most of you are aware of this but for those who might not be a heads up 17 chapters late I guess XD!
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Thankfully, not much was different. My status was nothing special, but I was different than others as I had an incredible foundation to run off of. My attention became more focused on the shop as I saw a peculiar item that piqued my interest! It was a staff, but not just any normal staff, a three-section staff with flame patterns at the ends, which were near the chains that connected the three parts together.
[Playful Cloud:
Effects: Pure solid power; Base strength is special-grade level.
Improved effect: The more cursed energy put in, the stronger the output and reinforcement, but this is only if desired.
Cost: 1,000 Mastery Coins]
'Only 1,000 mastery coins? Actually, that's the equivalent of 10 mastered skills, so I guess that's expensive.'
I saved the Playful Cloud in my mind and checked some of the other items.
[Cursed Glasses: 50 MC]
[Dragon-Bone: 1,500 MC]
[Sword of Extermination: 5,000 MC]
[Slaughter Demon: 1,500 MC]
[King of Curses Armament: 10,000 MC]
[The Honored One Armament: 10,000 MC]
These items are all worth it; I'm going to have to save for a while, though, especially for the clothing sets. Not something I should worry about right now! I need to go get a weapon forged, and I think a spear would be the best, but I want a weapon like Bell's but also unique. That leaves me with only one woman to go to, but she's going to charge a hell of a price!
If I could find something to cure her curse, though...
She would definitely give me whatever I wanted for free, and I wouldn't have to worry about a billion-plus bill!
If I could find something to cure her curse, though... Could there be anybody in Jujutsu Kaisen that could potentially cure her? Perhaps Getou's Cursed Spirit Manipulation might be able to, but his ability to cure her is a stretch. However, curses share the same definition here and in JJK! The only thing is that in JJK, curses could gain a will, unlike here.
I opened the skill tree and searched for Getou's ability!
[Cursed Spirit Manipulation: 9 SP]
Effect: Allows for the control of vagabond cursed spirits. Can also absorb other sorcerers' curses as long as your will is overwhelmingly stronger than the target!
Requirements: Dominated curses are absorbed into small black orbs that must be ingested orally in order to use. If the difference in grade is more than two levels, you can absorb a curse with no consequences.]
'Damn!'
I don't think this will work...a god's will versus mine? Hell no, am I gonna come out on top! Maybe...if I purchased Suguru's entire path, then I would undergo the same process as I did with Sukuna just not as drastic since Sukuna is a different kind of existence. More accurately, my innate skill boosted my resistance to experiencing any drastic chance. Anyways, the whole process would strengthen my will!
Then that might be enough to challenge hers. Now if I am able to get her unconscious then I'd have an even better chance, but let's be honest, what are the chances she'll accept becoming defenseless in front of a mortal she's never met? Also, I need to practice with the skill in order to understand what I'm doing better so I don't make any mistakes that will cause more problems than the loan could ever cause!
We'll let me not act like I won't level it up anyways since I want the Mastery coins for Playful Cloud but still the point stands that I need to level the damn thing up regardless for either weapon (Custom or Playful Cloud) to become mine.
I'll wait before choosing to spend so many skill points (sp), in total I would have to spend 45 just to get Cursed Spirit Manipulation then another 10 to max out the path of all the known skills; The last one being his ultimate attack with the combined power of all his Cursed Spirits, Maximum: Uzumaki.
"Hah~" I let out a sigh and to clear my head. A decision as costly as this one wasn't going to be decided in a few minutes nor a few hours! There is a massive skill tree at my disposal so I can't waste an opportunity where I can bulk buy, on something that might not even work.
The moon reached its zenith, casting its silvery glow, before I turned back inside, only to encounter an unexpected visitor. Her blue hair flowing down instead of her normal braided hairstyle and green eyes; It was Artemis! She was dressed in casual light clothes ones typically not worn to sleep but more to walk around in.
"I didn't expect you to be here. I didn't even hear you enter!" I wasn't scared nor was I expecting anything strange. I figure she is being led by that connection she feels and her own curiosity enhancing that feeling.
"I-I... Ha~, I wasn't planning on sneaking up on you, but you looked so serious. Seeing that, I didn't want to disturb you."
"You could have. Trust me, what I was thinking about was just some goals and potentially getting a weapon! However, both require me to spend an exorbitant amount of time and money." I told her a little bit of the truth; it wasn't anything serious so there was no reason to hold back.
"Do you need a loan? You're making it seem like the million Valis isn't enough!" Artemis offered support but if only she knew...I might as well tell her!
"Artemis, the cost of this weapon...I'm estimating over 1 billion!"
"W-WHAT?! Yeah, I'm sorry but I can't help with that! Who are you trying to commission, Hephaestus herself?!" Artemis ran up towards me and grabbed my shoulders peering deep into my eyes with her own. I didn't think she could ever be so domineering, instead of a shy cat now she seemed more like a fierce cat!
"Yes actually."
Artemis continued to stare at me which gave me more time to enjoy the beautiful view in my eyes but more importantly I took in the height difference.
'I'm about 6'0-6'1, she's 5'5-5'6. She really is like a small cat to me, pfft!'
I didn't dare to let out of my laugh as it would clearly piss off the little blue-haired cat and she seemed to be thinking about something which might be of help to me! So, I obviously can't risk anything yet until I hear her thoughts.
"I can come with you and maybe we can work something out. Do you have anything that she might like to exchange for-actually nevermind I doubt that." Artemis went back to thinking however I interrupted her.
"Can I ask if Hephaestus is suffering from anything? Illness or something?" My words made Artemis's face scrunch up and it took her a few minutes to even respond with just a single nod.
"Is it perhaps related to a curse?" My voice was completely calm but Artemis's hands on my shoulders strengthened.
Crack~!
'Damn! She's strong! If I didn't train my base foundation to its peak my shoulders would have been paste!'
"S-Sorry, I was just scared on how that got leaked!" Artemis let go and backed away from me. She looked frightened almost like she was scared that she screwed up however an injury like this was inconsequential to someone like me who could just heal it easily. Which, I did and in a few seconds my shoulders were back in prime condition! I reached towards the sorrowful goddess and pulled her back close to me.
Nothing weird, just back to the distance we were before, enough to where she could grab my shoulders and enough where I didn't have to move to grab her! Her face flushed red a little bit but until I knew of the effects of the "Connection" I didn't care as it could all just be forced onto her.
"It wasn't leaked, I just heard about her wearing an eyepatch, so I figured something was up since it's strange for a divine being to have such problems." My answer was bullshit, but it was enough.
"Then yes. Wait, oh I shouldn't have said that! You think she'll get mad at me?!"
"If it was to someone random then yes but you are telling someone with a possible means to lessen or even remove it from her entirely." Speaking with Artemis actually helped me think of another branch of skills that could help.
Mahito's Idle Transfiguration. I quietly and without any signals opened the skill tree and looked for Mahito's branch. Not taking very long I found it and there were only two skills. One being the Idle Transfiguration and his domain both way too many points!
'30 points each?! Is it because there are only two skills? I don't need the domain right now as I haven't trained Sukuna's but 30 points...this skill does have a higher chance of working over Suguru's. Fuck it!'
[65->35 SP]
[Idle Transfiguration Obtained!]
Now, I just need to train it to an acceptable level.