Chapter 224: The curse domain {224}
Keitaro looked thoughtful as he began writing something down on his notes; this could prove useful for his research.
Deciding to guess what her Domain Expansion could probably be, he came up with something like this.
Domain Expansion: Judgment by Fire and Stone.
If he were to guess, the inside of the domain would look like a grim, twisted recreation of the infamous Salem Witch Trials. Upon activation, the surroundings would shift into a bleak, mist-shrouded mock courtroom, the wooden walls would crack and smoke as if from fire, and an oppressive silence would hang in the air.
As the Domain closes in, the cursed spirit assumes the role of a prosecutor and judge, and a warped jury of shadowy figures looms behind her, their forms barely visible.
He would guess the jury would be all of her 14 or so soul judging him or whoever they chose their target to be.
Sure-Hit Effect:
The moment the Domain is activated, the opponent is "accused" of witchcraft, and any attempt to leave or resist only strengthens their "guilt." The opponent's cursed energy is instantly constrained, suppressing their techniques by forcing them into these "trial" rules. They are labeled as guilty unless they survive each trial, an increasingly desperate scenario where every action seems to affirm their guilt.
This was just a guess but it was a pretty accurate guess, after all, if the opponent was a sorcerer and had access to their power, if they were strong enough they could walk out of it with ease.
So his guess was an educated one.
And from the stuff that Akane told him about the curse, he could further add on to info he already possessed.
Trials within the Domain:
Each trial reflects a historical method used in witch trials, with supernatural elements that twist the historical punishments into deadly scenarios:
Trial by Water:
A large stone or weighted noose is magically tied around the opponent's ankle, pulling them underwater. The water appears as a deep, bottomless lake beneath the courtroom floor, and the sure-hit effect prevents them from breaking the restraint or using cursed energy to escape. The rule: Float to prove innocence, drown to prove guilt. The opponent must either hold their breath impossibly long or find a loophole within the Domain to escape without affirming "guilt."
Considering how unjust the trials were, the water will probably drain your energy the longer you stay in it.
So no matter how he looked at it, it was the definition of unfair.
Trial by Fire:
Flames surround the opponent, and the only means of escaping them is to confess to "witchcraft" and renounce their cursed energy – a setup that could negate their power within the Domain. The cursed spirit controls the flames, which grow hotter the longer the opponent resists, burning away at any protection.
The rule: Burn without resistance to prove innocence, or try to defend yourself and prove your guilt.
Trial by Stones:
Huge rocks begin stacking onto the opponent's body, creating an unbearable weight designed to crush their chest and break their resolve. This weight forces them to their knees, a symbolic act of "submission," meant to test their endurance.
The rule: If you beg for mercy, you're admitting guilt. If you withstand, your silence condemns you further.
Trial by Blood:
This trial mimics "spectral evidence" used to prove a witch's guilt. Hallucinations of the cursed spirit's false witnesses appear, screaming accusations and striking at the opponent with nails or needles. These apparitions attack their "soul," inflicting mental and physical pain as they whisper damning statements meant to break their resolve.
The rule: Remain silent or resist the visions, and you're guilty. Defend yourself, and the jury sees this as violent guilt. Final Stage – "The Hanging Courtroom":
After surviving the four trials, if the opponent has somehow endured, they face the final judgment. A spectral noose dangles before them, glowing with cursed energy. The cursed spirit, now embodying both the judge and executioner, declares the final sentence.
Judgment Rule: The accused must either "confess" and willingly step into the noose, or refuse and face immediate execution within the Domain.
Sure-Fate Activation: If they try to avoid the noose, the Domain automatically constricts, binding their soul and tightening around their throat.
Domain Rules and Loopholes: Rigged from the Start: Any attempt to use cursed techniques or forceful resistance strengthens their "guilt" and hastens the punishment.
Unbreakable Defense: The Domain's binding effect is almost inescapable, as every trial reinforces the judgment if the accused breaks the rules.
Loophole for Freedom: However, if the opponent can identify and undermine the rules by proving the trials' inherent injustice – much like historical witch trials – they can cause the Domain to crack, giving them a brief window to break free.
With every choice weighted toward the "guilty" verdict, this Domain is designed to wear down both body and spirit.
The curse forces the opponent to endure, manipulating them into seeing themselves through the eyes of the condemned girls whose hate fuels their relentless need for judgment.
So the domain was rigged, there was no fair an average person could escape the domain. Keitaro sigh a bit.
He would have to do so much fucking work when he gets back, but first, his goal is to get the mayor to apologize for the curse.
He sighed a bit, this shouldn't take him long, if he was lucky all of this could take place before he even had a meeting with Shoko.
"Mind just telling me your life story, I will probably threaten to release it to the public, the mayor apologized to you and that should be fine right"
"No...What I desire is for something far greater"
"And that is?" Keitaro said tilting his head to the side a bit.