"I heard the Elders are planning to dispatch one of us to suppress Azure because the Grand scheme didn't work as the prophecy said"
A baritone voice of a young man started the meeting of the 7 most talented youths, with only a single candle to illuminate the dim room, the rainy night feels colder than usual.
He and the other 5 sit wherever they want in an apathetic manner, except for the quietest one who is standing by the window watching the heavy rain through it.
"Being older for a mere few hundred years makes those weaklings think of themselves as superior"
"Uriel!"
One of them coldly warns the youth codenamed Uriel who is saying that spiteful remark carelessly.
Even though they are part of the same elite organization but the core members of this group were chosen based on strength alone without any teamwork's existence, and there were never been any situations where all of them are needed to gather as a team.
"What is it, Gabriel?"
Uriel sneered replying to Gabriel with a hint of mockery, obvious enough that there is no solidarity nor unity within the group because each bighead carries their huge ego and pride.
"Stop it, we are gathered here isn't to hear the useless quarrel between you two"
Because all of them found it bothersome, no one wants voluntarily go to Azure and investigate the anomaly which ruined the flow of fate written in the prophecy, therefore they are here to vote for the one who would be sent out to Azure.
"Raphael is right. Let's just vote and leave, I have no time for this"
Thanks to the one codenamed Raphael, the tension between Uriel and Gabriel is lessening, on the other side, the indifferent one who is standing next to the window is still watching the rainfall with his cold eyes without any slight concern about them.
"Those Elders act like superior because they are older, we can apply the same hierarchical seniority system within Seraphim and put all the troublesome things to the youngest among us"
The carefree Uriel uttered another careless word, he just said that haphazardly without knowing the actual age of the other members, it's not like he cares about their age since everyone has been living for hundreds of years and have the same teenage appearance, who would have time to care about such things as remembering other's birthday when they might have forgotten their own.
"Do you know why our leader who stands over there is called the strongest not only among his peers but the entire generations of our prestigious race?"
Uriel frowned at the sudden question of Raphael who is glancing at the indifferent youngster next to the window, the fact that their leader is being dragged into the conversation makes him feel uneasy, and his nervousness was confirmed when Raphael continues to speak.
"It because he reached level 100 long before his 100th years birthday, despite having the highest level among us, Leader is the youngest one here"
Raphael explained to Uriel who is not aware of this old story, it was hundreds of years ago and only God knows the current level of the leader of Seraphim, as someone who is destined to stands above others, his accomplishments are widely known among their race yet Uriel openly exposed his thoughtlessness about it.
Snapped into reality, Uriel hurriedly gets up from his seat and bows down deeply behind the young man who is still watching the droplets of the rain on the window.
"My Lord, please forgive my ignorance"
"..."
Silence creeps into the room, no one dares to speak as the freezing air spreads within this room, for a few minutes only the sound of the downpour can be heard among them.
"Chamuel, go and find the anomaly"
For the first time, the young man who was silently watching the rain speaks, still looking at the window, his voice as cold as his eyes enough to make those around him shiver with his presence alone.
"But it was Uriel-"
Crack!
The youth codenamed Chamuel who was protesting against the order stopped as he heard the crack from the glass windows, the leader turned around to see the other members as his cold gaze landed at the trembling pink-haired man who seems dissatisfied with his order.
"Are you defying my command?"
Boom!
The thunder roared after the tremendous lighting flashed through the window on the back of the cold young man, the sudden release of his terrifying aura changed the calming rain into a storm.
"N-no..."
The shivering Chamuel replied, it was Uriel who speaks carelessly yet he is the one who bears the consequences, he wanted to protest about this unfair treatment but...
Tap-tap-tap!
The icy young leader walks towards him slowly as he speaks.
"Authority comes from power..."
He stopped in front of Chamuel before continuing his harsh words that may cause a mental breakdown for the weak.
"As the weakest who couldn't even reach level 100 in these hundreds of years, do you think you have the right to refuse my order, Chamuel?"
Hearing the cold voice that is piercing through his heart, Chamuel grits his teeth in silence looking down because of the humiliation, reaching level 100 is not as easy as flipping one's hand and many youngsters in their race haven't reached this level either, even if he wasn't deemed to be a failure, as the member of Seraphim, he is indeed far left behind compared to the other members.
As if not enough, the cold young man speaks once again while passing by him to leave the room.
"Even if you die by mistake, we will have no trouble to find a new Chamuel"
-â¢-
Grizel is resting leisurely on her comfortable bed, a luxury that won't happen for Dion and co in the meantime thanks to the troubles she made.
'Athena, show me what I got from this necklace'
Grizel said while caressing her second artifact that was called the artifact of Pestilence.
'Yes, Master. First are your updated status bars and your current level'
'Ah, thanks to the recent events I barely raise my level'
Her Level went up according to the accumulated Exp, there are various ways to gain Exp and the fastest is through monster hunting, but there is also the safe way to level up even if it way far slower, it is to continuously use magic, and she has been experimenting her magic ever since her former personal maid Emma and her colleagues get caught
After all, magic is a new object for the enthusiastic Grizel to research, thanks to that her level wasn't stuck even if she barely has time to hunt for monsters.
'Master, Level 90 is not normal for a 10-year-old girl either, moreover, your status is far higher compared to the ancient awakeners with the same level'
'What if I face someone who has a higher level? Am I simply dead meat?'
Grizel is cautious and always prepared for the worst but it hard to measure unknown things like this secret organization called Seraphim, she can't do anything but strengthen herself and Tartarus, especially her elite subordinates.
'It's not impossible to meet a strong opponent but I am certain that you are the only one who possesses 2 artifacts, 4 blessings, and ancient weapon at the same time'
'It's not enough but speaking of which, show me the Bonus Equipment'
'Hhmm...'
'A new title, a new power called [Dark Witch], and 200 points added to all status bars...'
Grizel compares the bonus equipment to her first artifact, besides the amount of the points added to her status, there's no significant difference compared to the first artifact's bonus equipment.
'Alright, how about my new title?'
She asked Athena, she recalled that the title given by the first artifact is The Lord of Avarice because it represents endless hunger and greed, therefore, its power is named Gluttony, the power to devour everything, and the buff of the title is as great as its power which is double Exp, it helps her a lot in leveling up faster than the normal time needed.
'What is this new title? It sounds like a bad omen'
She thought inwardly, The symphony of Woe, she has a bad hunch about it, having powerful blessings already makes her look like a walking disaster thanks to the power of gluttony, and now she gains new ominous title and power.
To some extent, somehow she understands how the naming of an artifact is related to each title and power, just like the artifact of Famine that relates to endless hunger, avarice, and glutton.
Therefore, she can't help but feel uneasy about the artifact that contains the words of Pestilence and Woe, moreover, the name of the new power earlier was written as Dark Witch, anyone would find it as the sign of bad omen.
'Athena, how good is the buff of this new title?'
'Immune to impurities means all kinds of poison, curse, debuff, illness and anything else that shouldn't exist in your healthy body shall be nullified automatically, in short, you won't die unless you get direct hits or of old age'
Gasped!
'What the heck is that half-immortal like buff? Am I even still considered as a human being?'
Grizel blurted out, she knows these artifacts are out of the ordinary but this is more than what she expected, if what she witnessed on that day was true, it seems like these artifacts were being sealed by that enormous terrifying chain, and if the power of the seals adjusted to the power of each artifact, it means the order of the artifact's appearance is from the weakest to the strongest one.
Grizel somewhat worries that she might be no longer can be considered human the moment she possessed the last artifact.
'In the first place, are you even human, master?'
'...'
Before Grizel started to argue, Athena smoothly changes the topic by showing the new power added.
'Tch, I knew it, the total abilities are lesser than the first artifact, but the power is no joke...'
'Control plague? create and remove curse? I am becoming more and more like a personification of doomsday'
Grizel sighed inwardly, this power is too good to be real as she recalled the mysterious black mist that said neither prayer nor wealth halted its power, of course, because both of them won't stand a chance to win against the power to control over the spreading plague and curse.
'Oh, I can't agree more with your honest thought, having an appearance of an angel, minds of a devil, and God-tier disastrous power, you are indeed the Incarnation of destruction, no doubt, Master'
'...'
Grizel remains silent hearing Athena's serious reply as if agreed with her self-consciousness, this talking blessing is invincible as long as she has no physical body and feels no pain, arguing that thing is useless, for now, Grizel just has to think of the omniscient Athena is like a barking dog whenever she talks unnecessarily.
'Master, some information was unlocked when you acquired the second artifact'
'Hoo...'
Grizel responded in amazement, the barking dog is turning back into a useful blessing.
'The information was related to your new abilities, instead of explaining, it better to experience the ability yourself, master'
'Okay, what should I do?'
'Easy, try to focus the power of your necklace on the tip of the fingers and touch the flowers next to your bed'
Grizel was bewildered by the instruction but choose to follow as she gets up from her bed and walks towards the beautiful vase placed on the table next to her large bed.
Since the maids change the flowers every day to keep them fresh, unlike the lavender yesterday, today is the scent of the blooming red roses that filled the air in her rest chamber.
Grizel glanced at the rose that blooms beautifully compared to the others while accumulating the power of the necklace into her fingers as told but...
Tap!
As soon as her fingertips touched it, the beautiful rose started to wither from the petal that was in contact with Grizel then spreads until all of the roses on the vase withered entirely.
"What is this?"
'This is the curse of the Dark Witch, only you or high purification skill can lift the curse and turn the flowers back'
Athena explained that everything that is in contact with Grizel physically will be affected by the curse of the Dark Witch when she activated it and the effects will differ depending on the object's resistance, these roses withered immediately after being touched by Grizel because it has no resistance against the curse if she uses this power to someone who can withstand the curse or possess an item to resist it, the effect may be weaker.
Nonetheless, she needs to control the power of the Dark Witch even though she has both purification and the authority to remove the curse, one mistake and she would instantly injure or even kill anyone who carelessly approaches her.
'Master, now try to concentrate the power of the Dark Witch into your eyes and tell me what you see'
Grizel closed her eyes for a moment gathering the Dark Witch's power into her eyes, her oceanic blue eyes turned into as black as gleaming obsidian as she glance at the withered roses once again.
'The roses is covered by a black nasty aura'
'Yes, that black aura is the proof it was cursed'
Grizel glances at her engagement ring, there is a small faint of black aura as well because it is a cursed ring, though not as thick as the one on the roses, seemingly the curse on this ring is not as strong as the power of the Dark Witch.
But strangely enough, she couldn't see anything from the artifacts, maybe because they are the source of the power so she can not tell if these overpowered artifacts are cursed or not.
'With those eyes try to look at the world outside, Master'
'...?'
Even though confused Grizel is still following Athena's instructions and walked towards the window, it's quite rare to see Athena doing her job as Grizel's guidance properly like this, if only Athena is as serious as this all the time, she would have a perfect life here, but her concerns about Athena's weird behavior stopped as soon as she reached the window.
Gasped!
"You must be kidding me..."
With the power of the Dark Witch concentrated in her eyes, she could see the black thick nasty aura is everywhere filling the entire world.
To be continued...