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Chapter 748: The Changed Curse
"Oh? I have the ability to lift the curse on you.
As a price, you will pledge your eternal loyalty to the Tartaros Royal Family.
Can you accept this?"
Looking at the Grum Clan members kneeling on the ground, Dexiu didn't show too much kindness.
Subduing the Grum Clan would be of great help in increasing the strength of the Kronos Kingdom.
These few thousand people were all powerful warriors, with battle blood flowing within them and possessing extraordinary talent.
Since he was going to subdue them, he had to do it thoroughly, firmly grasping this strength in his own hands.
This was to avoid any upheaval in the future.
More importantly, it was to strengthen the Tartaros Royal Family.
The Kronos Kingdom was developing rapidly, with the Royal Family controlling everything.
Only an absolutely powerful Royal Family could suppress all dissenting thoughts.
These warriors, who had grown and engaged in fierce fighting in the darkness, could play a huge role whether they joined You Ming, Hell, or the Military.
With their already excellent foundation, their average strength would rapidly increase under the good cultivation of the Kronos Kingdom.
Among the outstanding individuals, there were not a few with the potential to become a Top Tier Combatant.
The initiative was in his own hands.
The Kingdom was not so kind; it would maximize its interests as much as possible.
"In a sense, this can also be considered a new curse."
Dexiu viewed this matter entirely from the perspective of the Kingdom and the Family.
There was never such a thing as a free lunch for them.
Beside him, whether it was Jörmungandr, Kazu, or Zoro, their expressions remained unchanged.
The interests of the Kingdom and the interests of the Family were absolute.
The Tartarus Family held supreme status in the Kronos Kingdom, and Hades was the supreme god of the entire Kingdom!
After Hades' succession, the entire Kingdom developed at an even faster speed, and almost everyone benefited from it.
The control over the Kingdom also reached its peak.
Being able to control such a powerful force, like controlling an elite unit hidden in the shadows, why wouldn't he?
"Is that the only requirement? Then let the new curse descend upon us!
We are willing to pledge loyalty to the Royal Family, to the great savior, for all eternity!"
The patriarch of the Grum Clan said with excitement.
This requirement was nothing to them.
They craved freedom, wanted to live under the sun, and wanted to survive on the vast Great Sea.
The description of the Great Sea left by their earliest ancestors a thousand years ago – that kind of life was something all Grum Clan members intensely craved.
This was the hope for which they had always survived, struggled hard, and engaged in fierce fighting.
They had craved it for far too long.
They were almost numb to life on Night Island.
They knew there was a wider world in the Outside World, but they saw no hope at all.
How many times had they organized people to try and leave this island?
But they all perished in the Great Sea, unable even to leave.
The harsh environment around Night Island was like a Natural Barrier, impossible to cross.
Strong conviction, unyielding quality, and thousands of years of bitter persistence had completely integrated into their blood.
Therefore, their genes continuously optimized over the long time, becoming stronger and becoming the powerful race they are today.
They possessed battle genes, powerful physique and vitality, excellent hearing, and owl-like eyes.
They were born in darkness, conquered darkness, like kings in the darkness.
Pledging loyalty to the one who rescued them, wasn't that only right?
The requirement Dexiu proposed was something they were already willing to do.
Even if the conditions were more stringent, they would still accept them.
"Since it's settled, let's begin."
Seeing this, Dexiu began to use his ability.
In his heart, he was still very full of expectation.
After all, this was the strongest curse he had ever seen, and developing the Curse Fruit to its true peak would also be his target.
He wondered what kind of price he would have to pay.
After all, an overly powerful curse could not be generated out of thin air.
Simple stamina consumption, reduction of lifespan, or direct sacrifice.
Over the years, the Kronos Kingdom had also been helping Dexiu collect cursed items.
And relevant information.
There was once a person who was cursed and gained the undying ability.
No matter what method was used, he would not die.
Eventually, his body was chopped into countless pieces, placed in a sealed box, and sunk into the Great Sea.
When he was found years later, he had already turned into white bones.
Undying did not mean immortality; lifespan would still flow away.
Over the years on the Great Sea, related legends were also rare.
In the end, he only collected two "cursed gold coins," also known as Aztec Gold Coins.
Their specific origin was unknown, but they carried countless legends, making people crave them, fear them, and feel fear towards them.
Aztec Gold Coins were stained with countless blood and would bring disaster, but similarly, they would also bring luck.
Countless people benefited from them, but the final outcomes were not good.
After obtaining the Aztec Gold Coins, Dexiu quickly learned the secret of the curse contained within them.
It would bring good luck to the owner.
The price paid was absorbing the luck of everyone around them, thus bringing disaster.
There were a total of eighty-eight such gold coins.
Due to their large number, they had stirred up countless troubles over the years, and the legends about them could even fill a collection of stories.
Also because of the value they contained, they were collected by many people.
At the auction on Sigri Island five years ago, an Aztec Gold Coin appeared and was auctioned for a high price of 34 million Beli.
Such curses provided great help to Dexiu's ability development.
An unsettling deathly gray aura spread from around Dexiu.
Instinctively, all members of the Grum Clan felt a special strength within their bodies, seemingly summoned, uncontrollably emerging.
On everyone's body, on their brow, a blood-red sun mark appeared.
They felt it; this was the curse hidden within their bodies.
It was exactly the same as the curse power on Dexiu.
Dexiu extended his hand, and the curse power flowed along his arm, spreading to all the Grum Clan members, connecting with the curse within them.
Now, Dexiu could control the curse on them and could easily erase them.
However, Dexiu would not do this.
If he erased the curse, Dexiu would not be able to reapply a curse of the same strength on them.
Because he currently lacked that ability.
So what he had to do was to tamper with the curse, using the power left behind by the former Curse Fruit user as a base to change the curse into the form he wanted.
This way, he would only be using his Devil Fruit ability and wouldn't have to pay any price.
The only required medium was on his own body.
A drop of blood belonging to the Tartarus Family, following Dexiu's curse power, flowed into the bodies of all Grum Clan members, merging into the changed curse.
Visibly, the blood-red sun mark on the brows of the Grum Clan members gradually changed.
It formed a purple dragon mark of nine intertwined dragons.
At the same time, the position of the imprint changed, moving from the brow to the chest, or rather, to the heart, also manifesting externally.
The difference was that this imprint would not disappear; it would subtly change their thought, essentially acting as an innate thought imprint.
Dexiu had actually considered everything that needed to be considered.
This kind of curse was far inferior to the curse that caused death when exposed to sunlight.
One involved the sun, while the other only involved the Tartarus Family.
The gap was obvious.
Therefore, using the excess curse power, Dexiu also added some things.
Reducing part of the pain sensation, adding a certain aura, and being able to controllably reduce their presence.
Dexiu could, of course, control their life and death, but there was no need.
This was also influenced by Hades, who generally did not adopt overly extreme methods.
He preferred to subtly gain the trust of others, using a kind of boiling frog strategy.
Some overly forceful stances were actually unnecessary.
(end of chapter)
"Oh? I have the ability to lift the curse on you.
As a price, you will pledge your eternal loyalty to the Tartaros Royal Family.
Can you accept this?"
Looking at the Grum Clan members kneeling on the ground, Dexiu didn't show too much kindness.
Subduing the Grum Clan would be of great help in increasing the strength of the Kronos Kingdom.
These few thousand people were all powerful warriors, with battle blood flowing within them and possessing extraordinary talent.
Since he was going to subdue them, he had to do it thoroughly, firmly grasping this strength in his own hands.
This was to avoid any upheaval in the future.
More importantly, it was to strengthen the Tartaros Royal Family.
The Kronos Kingdom was developing rapidly, with the Royal Family controlling everything.
Only an absolutely powerful Royal Family could suppress all dissenting thoughts.
These warriors, who had grown and engaged in fierce fighting in the darkness, could play a huge role whether they joined You Ming, Hell, or the Military.
With their already excellent foundation, their average strength would rapidly increase under the good cultivation of the Kronos Kingdom.
Among the outstanding individuals, there were not a few with the potential to become a Top Tier Combatant.
The initiative was in his own hands.
The Kingdom was not so kind; it would maximize its interests as much as possible.
"In a sense, this can also be considered a new curse."
Dexiu viewed this matter entirely from the perspective of the Kingdom and the Family.
There was never such a thing as a free lunch for them.
Beside him, whether it was Jörmungandr, Kazu, or Zoro, their expressions remained unchanged.
The interests of the Kingdom and the interests of the Family were absolute.
The Tartarus Family held supreme status in the Kronos Kingdom, and Hades was the supreme god of the entire Kingdom!
After Hades' succession, the entire Kingdom developed at an even faster speed, and almost everyone benefited from it.
The control over the Kingdom also reached its peak.
Being able to control such a powerful force, like controlling an elite unit hidden in the shadows, why wouldn't he?
"Is that the only requirement? Then let the new curse descend upon us!
We are willing to pledge loyalty to the Royal Family, to the great savior, for all eternity!"
The patriarch of the Grum Clan said with excitement.
This requirement was nothing to them.
They craved freedom, wanted to live under the sun, and wanted to survive on the vast Great Sea.
The description of the Great Sea left by their earliest ancestors a thousand years ago – that kind of life was something all Grum Clan members intensely craved.
This was the hope for which they had always survived, struggled hard, and engaged in fierce fighting.
They had craved it for far too long.
They were almost numb to life on Night Island.
They knew there was a wider world in the Outside World, but they saw no hope at all.
How many times had they organized people to try and leave this island?
But they all perished in the Great Sea, unable even to leave.
The harsh environment around Night Island was like a Natural Barrier, impossible to cross.
Strong conviction, unyielding quality, and thousands of years of bitter persistence had completely integrated into their blood.
Therefore, their genes continuously optimized over the long time, becoming stronger and becoming the powerful race they are today.
They possessed battle genes, powerful physique and vitality, excellent hearing, and owl-like eyes.
They were born in darkness, conquered darkness, like kings in the darkness.
Pledging loyalty to the one who rescued them, wasn't that only right?
The requirement Dexiu proposed was something they were already willing to do.
Even if the conditions were more stringent, they would still accept them.
"Since it's settled, let's begin."
Seeing this, Dexiu began to use his ability.
In his heart, he was still very full of expectation.
After all, this was the strongest curse he had ever seen, and developing the Curse Fruit to its true peak would also be his target.
He wondered what kind of price he would have to pay.
After all, an overly powerful curse could not be generated out of thin air.
Simple stamina consumption, reduction of lifespan, or direct sacrifice.
Over the years, the Kronos Kingdom had also been helping Dexiu collect cursed items.
And relevant information.
There was once a person who was cursed and gained the undying ability.
No matter what method was used, he would not die.
Eventually, his body was chopped into countless pieces, placed in a sealed box, and sunk into the Great Sea.
When he was found years later, he had already turned into white bones.
Undying did not mean immortality; lifespan would still flow away.
Over the years on the Great Sea, related legends were also rare.
In the end, he only collected two "cursed gold coins," also known as Aztec Gold Coins.
Their specific origin was unknown, but they carried countless legends, making people crave them, fear them, and feel fear towards them.
Aztec Gold Coins were stained with countless blood and would bring disaster, but similarly, they would also bring luck.
Countless people benefited from them, but the final outcomes were not good.
After obtaining the Aztec Gold Coins, Dexiu quickly learned the secret of the curse contained within them.
It would bring good luck to the owner.
The price paid was absorbing the luck of everyone around them, thus bringing disaster.
There were a total of eighty-eight such gold coins.
Due to their large number, they had stirred up countless troubles over the years, and the legends about them could even fill a collection of stories.
Also because of the value they contained, they were collected by many people.
At the auction on Sigri Island five years ago, an Aztec Gold Coin appeared and was auctioned for a high price of 34 million Beli.
Such curses provided great help to Dexiu's ability development.
An unsettling deathly gray aura spread from around Dexiu.
Instinctively, all members of the Grum Clan felt a special strength within their bodies, seemingly summoned, uncontrollably emerging.
On everyone's body, on their brow, a blood-red sun mark appeared.
They felt it; this was the curse hidden within their bodies.
It was exactly the same as the curse power on Dexiu.
Dexiu extended his hand, and the curse power flowed along his arm, spreading to all the Grum Clan members, connecting with the curse within them.
Now, Dexiu could control the curse on them and could easily erase them.
However, Dexiu would not do this.
If he erased the curse, Dexiu would not be able to reapply a curse of the same strength on them.
Because he currently lacked that ability.
So what he had to do was to tamper with the curse, using the power left behind by the former Curse Fruit user as a base to change the curse into the form he wanted.
This way, he would only be using his Devil Fruit ability and wouldn't have to pay any price.
The only required medium was on his own body.
A drop of blood belonging to the Tartarus Family, following Dexiu's curse power, flowed into the bodies of all Grum Clan members, merging into the changed curse.
Visibly, the blood-red sun mark on the brows of the Grum Clan members gradually changed.
It formed a purple dragon mark of nine intertwined dragons.
At the same time, the position of the imprint changed, moving from the brow to the chest, or rather, to the heart, also manifesting externally.
The difference was that this imprint would not disappear; it would subtly change their thought, essentially acting as an innate thought imprint.
Dexiu had actually considered everything that needed to be considered.
This kind of curse was far inferior to the curse that caused death when exposed to sunlight.
One involved the sun, while the other only involved the Tartarus Family.
The gap was obvious.
Therefore, using the excess curse power, Dexiu also added some things.
Reducing part of the pain sensation, adding a certain aura, and being able to controllably reduce their presence.
Dexiu could, of course, control their life and death, but there was no need.
This was also influenced by Hades, who generally did not adopt overly extreme methods.
He preferred to subtly gain the trust of others, using a kind of boiling frog strategy.
Some overly forceful stances were actually unnecessary.
(end of chapter)
