Chapter 4: Blacksmith VS Spider

Within seconds of seeing the madness before him, I got ready to summon my accursed vault.

'My wife and son were unconscious, but still breathing, at least they were still alive. I need to be quick and kill this monster as quickly as possible. Something must have influenced Emma's mind for her to let this happen. She's just as strong if not stronger than me, she wouldn't allow herself to fall this low unless something went wrong.' I thought before I steeled myself for what was to come.

My wife's potions in her room can probably deal with any issues they may be facing. If the potions failed to do anything Emma's grandpa or grandma could probably save the day. I doubt my parents would even lift a finger to do anything after all they did to me.

My hands lit on fire with black and blue flames as my curse energy started raging like a storm with everything I was feeling right now. With this, all I need to do is activate my technique.

"With this move, I summon my Accursed Vault. LET YOUR ACCURSED

TRESSURES FILL THE LANDS!" I yelled as I started moving my hands together.

My hands made a triangle with my thumbs and pointer fingers together. After that, I joined them together in a clasping motion. Finally with all the preparation done my hands formed a bird's shape before my technique fully activated.

"*Domain Expansion, Accursed Vault Of The Inverted Sky.*" My hands were now free as they glowed with black and blue flames. My body got into a boxing position. 

"Welcome to my Inverted paradise." I said trying to taunt the monster into making a reckless first move to active my hidden binding vow that would enhance my attack potency.

With the activation of the domain, a wave of controlled flames filled the area. These gold flames burned all the spiderwebs in the area. They were intent-based flames who only hurt those the owner sought to cause harm. The flames were harmless against my wife and son. They were aimed to destroy these webs, and the white spider behind this all.

Soon enough the entire landscape changed with the domain's completion.

They were all standing on a platform made of rusty old weapons. The sky was a perpetual sunset with a purple sun shining its light down below.

Most of the time my use of his golden flames was deadly upon contact. Most monsters I had faced in the past would instantly, or at the very least, be very injured. From vampires, werewolves, low-ranking beyonders, and even other jujutsu sorcerers in his rank.

The white spider however was completely fine after that attack and didn't have a single burn on them. The spider in question had a creepy smile on its face the moment James saw its unharmed appearance.

"MODE 3, ACT 7 ACTIVATE" I instantly blurted out in shock. Outside the domain, and back inside the house my voice activated the secret defensive magic system. The entire house lit up with blue and purple runes giving off a negative aura.

The magic tattoo of a small black mole under my left eye allowed my voice to bypass the domain and activate the magical systems outside of it. The runes seemed to empower me, but my mind wandered in wonder thinking if I was strong enough to beat this monster. My next move summoned massive black shields with purple runes on them above his head. These shields materialized from the air with my domain's blessing.

'Curse energy reinforcement is such a useful technique. Hopefully, this enhancement will help to further even things between me and this monster... They are without a doubt beyond a 5th-grade jujutsu sorcerer or else they would have been vaporized in that attack. That attack could have destroyed an entire building. Maybe they grade 4 or 3 in terms of power.' I thought as my body's durability and strength went up to another level with his 5h grade curse energy reserves.

. . .

'I never fought a monster of this level before. But, there is a first time for everything. First things first, these shields need to protect my family before I can even think of using them myself.' The Bug's face was so contorted with rage that he might make a demon blush, how cute.

The dark shields flew to instantly contain the Bug's family before the Bug tried to face off against the baseball-sized white spider now turned Arachne.

'Hey, I'll have you know my spider form is glorious, little bug...' I thought while enjoying the story the Bug was giving me inside his head.

'He described me to be about 6 feet tall, but I was closer to 2 meters in reality. He described my lower half as being a spider, while it's true you could word it nicer you bug. (Wow, you just noticed I had eight black eyes were you staring at something else, Mr. Bug?) She had white hair. (Oh now you're staring at my hair too how creative.) She was holding a blank black book close to her large chest that was bandaged up with silk tightly. (Wow... Mr. Bug what would your doll sex...I mean wife think if she knew you were staring at another woman.)' The Bug thought as he looked upon my glorious form.

'I was incredibly gorgeous to the point I could easily claim to be a supermodel by mortal standards, wow thank you Mr. Bug maybe you aren't so bad after all. He couldn't care one bit about how beautiful this monster(Rude..) was, you're not going to mess with my family and get away with it. He can't move first as that'll be reckless, he needed to learn a bit more before he could even attempt to attack me with its measly attacks.' This is gold, comedy gold I tell you, this Bug sure knows how to keep a gal entertained.

"My name is Arachneras Rachnee, I am a servant of the Witch Of Greed.

James Bellaster, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to go that far with your family." her words were saying she was sorry, but I read her body language like a book. (Are you sure you're not on the Visionary Pathway Mr. Bug... You're kinda acting like one with your poor analysis. Does he think I was hiding my emotions before a mere BUG, why would I hide before someone of your rank.)

. . .

'This fucking spider is treating us as a joke, the bug said internally. Does he think I can't read his mind like his family? Why wouldn't I be relaxed as a bug with a clown outfit giving such wonderful entertainment'

"My master told me to watch your family eight days ago. When your son caught her attention. Having a teleportation ability that can travel anywhere they have been to in the past is incredibly rare for a human. It's even more rare that said ability can bypass magical barriers, just like the ones in your home." I remarked as I gleefully teased the bug in front of me.

James was about to lash out, but his sense of reason overpowered his rage. It made him gather as much information as possible.

'Witch of Greed, a God is looking at my son with interest… A witch cult member is acting on the orders of Greed. That witch loves knowledge and isn't the type to do cruel acts without reason, I need more information right now!' The little clown bug thought as he kept trying to make some pointless plans.

'Oh look at him, is Mr. Bug angry at little old me right now.' My face should look rather sympathetic in the eyes of others. While this was how I looked on the outside I was actually laughing insde at the harmless rage the bug had while trying to control himself. It's so cute I almost want to put him in a little cage to remain as my little Viking pet.

"What the hell is a servant of the witch of greed doing here, what did you do to my family!" The Bug yelled as he tried to control himself.

James's rage blinded him just now as Rachnee just told him the reason behind his son catching the witch of greed's attention.

'My domain summons copies of every tool I ever made buffed with domain and cursed energy. I'm not talented enough to make an instant hit domain so launching weapons at high speeds with my wife's golems attacking is the best I can do.' (Noted, please tell me more oh power Bug)

'My golden flames were created by a binding vow, and can only be used when forging my items, or when my domain is activated. These flames are meant to be a heavy hitter, but they didn't even harm her.

Using them to burn her webs on me earlier was a loophole. The webs counted as a forgeable material.' The Bug thought as the ring around his wrist glowed and hundreds of magical golems appeared.

'Oh is that what his cursed technique does ' I thought.

She did not know she had activated the binding he set up in place long ago where if he tells his enemy about his technique in any form it'll get stronger.

. . .

The golems types ranged from wooden dolls with drawn-on faces to stone golems five meters in height built in a square design. Of the hundreds of golems ranging from wood, stone, and iron were 10 elites crafted from Blackstar metal with purple runes all over them standing 3 meters tall. The elite golems looked exactly like regular human males but with purple runes all over with abyssal black skin.

'I could kill this bug at any time, but it's been so boring just watching these last eight days. Oh look, the bug brought out some brand new toys. Let me see If I can steal control of those golems from the bug, ' I thought as I tried to use my abilities on those new toys Mr. Bug was so kind enough to show me.

Soon enough the false brains and magic systems within the golems started to rebel against Bug's wishes. Even though he knew the golems could help, especially the elite ones, he had to put them back. (Cry me a river why don't you)

Shortly after being summoned, the golems were unsummoned. My idea of fun was trying to steal control from Bug's authority over the golems with my supreme powers.

'It's better to fight alone with the items I can control. Then fight with something uncontrollable that might kill me.' Bug's teeth started grinding against each other in anger. His fists tightened up even more, drawing some blood from the pressure. (Wow, how about you calm down, It's even a big deal.)

'Oh, the Bug is demanding an answer... Fine, I'll tell him, but only because I'm being nice.' I thought

"I didn't do much. I just gave your son a spiritual hint to want to become a god instead of a hero, I also gave one to your wife to support his dreams. Sadly, it seems it was a little too strong, as they made that simple spiritual hint, their entire life's purpo—" I said with a relaxed tone since it wasn't even a big deal in the first place.

Before Arachneras Rachnee could finish her complex explanation behind why she mind-controlled James's entire family into a maddening state. James stopped holding back after that.

. . .

" *Binding vow* I sacrifice 50, No, I sacrifice 75 years of my lifespan to be converted into a temporary source of unlimited cursed energy for this one fight against Rachnee Arachneras within my domain. *Binding vow* I can't use any armor from my accursed vault except my helmet. In return, my body will adapt partially to all the attacks I face in this fight.*" I declared to the sky above.

'Hmm, this bug is acting up, I just uplifted his family to strive for a worthy goal. Maybe my master will be lenient if I kill him, my lady did say leave them unharmed physically.' she thought ignoring the serious nature of her situation.

'The Bug even took away my golems, my lady would have loved those oddly designed golems. They even had some revolutionary designs, and ideas imprinted within them.' She thought.

Rachnee looked around the area admiring its unique view as she looked upon the purple sun in the sky in wonder. These cursed techniques with their domain expansions are truly impressive for bugs. All her webs were destroyed by the activation of the bug's domain.

'It's sex doll and the target is kept safe right now in that little shield box thing. Not like it matters if I can kill them all at any time, I can instantly rush him in a single attack. Even his shields are super fragile as my hands could instantly pierce them to get the target out instantly. My master had warned me against playing with her food or toys... But these bugs were too weak, it's not like they can do anything to me.' She thought as she started to weave a white blanket for her master while she was relaxing and enjoying the show the clown so graciously provided to her.

Suddenly a massive tower of cursed energy appeared engulfing everything in the domain, only the shields protecting Emma and Lucas were safe.

To handle the massive influx of cursed energy gotten from sacrificing 75 years of his lifespan his body adapted. James didn't know the reverse cursed technique or ever experienced it himself. But, to handle this pressure his body used the energy in reverse to heal and strengthen his body to beyond its limits, and beyond those limits, and so on.

With the binding vow's gift of unlimited cursed energy and minor adapting throughout this fight, James was theoretically immortal.

'I heard of the legendary abilities of the ten shadows in Japan in the past. I know these binding vows can only imitate what is already possible in another cursed technique. But the divine general is the only creature I can think of imitating at that moment.' I thought as my body was filled with a maddening amount of pain, my family was the only thing that kept me going along WITH MY RAGE AT THAT BITCH.

James's rage fueled his willpower, and overpowered any sense of pain he previously felt.

"Sequence four…. HOW. HOW. HOW. HOW!!!!! THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE HOW DID A BUG LIKE YOU GAIN THAT MUCH POWER? Sequence four levels of power…" Rachnee backed up as she was only sequence five in the visionary pathway under her master's influence.

'I am a servant of the Witch Of Greed, why must I..I...I fear a bigger bug. James, yes James doesn't know how to handle that level of power and cursed energy doesn't have the advantages of the pathways.'

I ca…can win this, yes I can win this as Arachneras Rachnee servant of the witch of greed.' She thought.

Rachnee had instantly regained her composure by using her abilities on herself. But by that point in time James had already adapted to the sudden changes within the body. All of the scars he had on his body faded as he grew more muscle.

The rusty floor below them faded as the ground made of rusty weapons revealed its golden form. The sun in the sky turned dark blue with golden flames. The sounds of a blacksmith hammering away at a weapon at a steady pace could be heard throughout the domain every three seconds. 

A massive array of golden weapons appeared in the air over James's head. From spears to axes, swords, hammers and more appeared in the sky. Golden guns could even be seen from the crowd of weapons in the sky. They instantly launched at the spider before she used her magic to counterattack.

"*Fura*" She screamed as a gust of wind gathered in her right hand to form a massive wind blade.

James was able to summon a shield in time to protect his head and chest, but the blade still cut off his left arm entirely.

James needed two arms to activate his domain's weapons attack system as a binding condition to buff his attacks. Soon enough all the weapons floating above him fell from the sky to down below.

A crashing sound was heard as all the golden weapons fell to the floor. James used his right arm to pick up the golden shield that protected him earlier. 

The infinite cursed energy was still flooding all his items so the shield was essentially unbreakable.

Before long Rachnee was casting spells one after another trying to kill James. Yet every time she landed a hit he survived.

Even with his abilities useless due to their harsh conditions, he was still alive and adapting.

James mostly focused on protecting his head and chest as he faced waves of fire, wind, shadow, water, earth, and many other magical affinities from the endless stream of magical attacks from Rachnee.

The infinite cursed energy acted like a divine shield, making it impossible to spiritually attack James's mind or soul with Rachnee's abilities. Rachnee would have simply mind-controlled him and been done with it, but her spells were one of the only ways to attack.

'HOW THE HELL CAN HUMANS BE THIS STRONG!' Rachnee's internal voice was screaming as she kept blasting the monster of a man in front of her with magic. 

Yet it was all useless, as he kept regenerating and her spells kept doing less and less damage over time. It was almost like his body was developing a resistance to magic, and he was even getting faster like he was getting stronger every time he healed.

It was almost like James was adapting with every wound inflicted upon him.

'I need to end this now and fast, but how? Oh, that's certainly a way to finish this.' Rachnee thought as she smiled.

Soon enough she was inflicting both magic and spiritual attacks into her spells. But, the spiritual attacks weren't meant to harm, they were merely going to alter his perception when activated.

. . .

Ten minutes had gone by like that. James's regeneration and resistance had grown to the level where spells that blew off limbs only broke off his skin.

With both hands intact James clapped his hands as his fallen golden weapons rose again.

"I've had enough of your bullshit you fucking spider. Die in pieces you web-slinging piece of shit." Soon My weapons started firing off like crazy targeting Rachnee.

Yet Rachnee was smiling this entire time while James's weapons launched at high speeds.

"Once a bug always a bug." She said as she started laughing like crazy.

"*Love & protect*" Rachnee whispered in a loving tone. her form started to shift and James's eyes started to widen in shock as he looked between the shields and the sudden change before his eyes.

It worked like a charm as the weapons being launched at high speeds turned away at the last minute and missed her. The bullets warped around her, from swords to spears they all turned away with James's precise control.

'I can't even hurt my wife even if I know it's fake.' My love for my wife was turned into a weakness via mental manipulation or transformation spell from that spider.

The most she could do currently was to make herself look like a loved one and imprint the feeling of wanting to protect instead of harm. She couldn't even take a hostage as the shield boxes protecting his wife and son got incredibly strong with the infinite amount of energy flooding them. It would take five hours of constant attacks to make a dent in the shields.

The instant the gap in attacks was noticed by Rachnee. 

"*Accelerate*." She said as her speed quadrupled instantly due to activating her blessing of the wind. As a gift from her lady, she should use it well.

She instantly rushed the opening James made unknowingly while trying to shift the weapons away from her, due to her mental guidance powers making her impossible to hit on purpose.

Rachnee's human hands turned into dragon hands as they gained scales and claws as she rushed James. James's back grew a new clawed limb that very instant. In the palm of that dragonic hand laid James's, fleshly ripped-out heart that still was beating every so often.

'I guess my cursed energy reinforcement technique was useless after all, her hand still ripped out my heart just easily. Even the physical resistance my body built was like butter to her claws.' I thought as my body started to grow colder and colder.

"A bug is still a bug James, you did pretty well, but that half-ass conviction of yours killed you." Rachnee laughed as she started eating the heart in front of James before his blood-filled eyes.

With her bloodied hand treating his heart like an apple. She savored every bite as James's body fell to the ground.