Gathering Wives with a System

Chapter 500: New Skills, Incarnation of Lust

Celia’s skin had become soft, so soft that it almost looked fragile. A faint glow lingered over her pale skin. The longer Isaac looked at her, the more he felt he was being pulled in.

There was now a small beauty mark below her eye. Her lips had turned pink and full, carrying a strangely dangerous charm that hadn’t existed before.

Two black horns curved upward from her head. Unlike Alice’s horns, Celia’s looked sharper and ”demonic.”

Before, she had looked fresh and energetic, like an unripe fruit full of life.

Now she looked mature, like a fruit ripe for taking.

Isaac stared at her in silence.

”No matter how many times I see that reaction, it still feels good.” Celia covered her mouth and giggled.

Isaac finally let out a slow breath. ”You changed a lot.”

”I know,” she replied proudly before suddenly grabbing his arm. ”Come on. Let’s take a bath first, then we can check the skills properly.”

Before Isaac could say anything else, she dragged him toward the bathroom.

The two quickly cleaned themselves before returning to the room.

Isaac sat cross-legged on the bed while Celia comfortably settled herself on his lap as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

Since Isaac was Celia’s Lord, he could directly see her Status Screen.

The two immediately checked the first skill.

Infernal Brand

Rank: SSS (Level 1)

Effect: The user can mark a target with a burning infernal sigil. Upon being marked the target will:

a. Take increased fire damage by 20%.

b. Have healing effectiveness reduced by 20%.

c. Have Devil-type skills deal bonus damage to marked enemies.

The sigil can be stacked five times. Each stack increases the performance of sigil by 5%.

Duration: 15 seconds. (Applying a new stack resets the duration)

Cooldown: 6 seconds

Cost: 50 Mana

Isaac raised an eyebrow after reading it.

The skill itself was not absurdly overpowered, but it was extremely practical. The Mana Cost was low, the cooldown was short, and the stacking effect made it dangerous during long fights.

”You can basically maintain it forever during combat,” Isaac muttered.

Celia nodded while reading the description again. ”This has really good synergy with Hellfire Wave. And if I fight together with fire mages, their damage will increase too.”

”Especially against Bosses. A healing reduction alone makes this skill hard to deal with,” Isaac added.

Celia looked satisfied as she leaned back against his chest.

Then they checked the second skill.

Demon King Vessel

Rank: SSS+ (Level 1)

Passive Effect 1: Performance of all stats are permanently boosted by 20%.

Passive Effect 2: Damage from all species born within Hell is reduced by 20%.

Isaac and Celia stared at the screen for several seconds in stunned silence. The description was short, but the effects were ridiculous.

A twenty percent increase to all stats might not sound unbelievable at first glance, but for apex-rank beings, even a small increase could drastically change combat ability.

And this was a permanent boost.

Isaac immediately remembered how Alice had overwhelmed the Thorn Tyrant by linking multiple enhancement skills together. The boosts she gained were terrifying, but they were temporary. Once the skills ended, her stats would return to normal.

But Celia’s boost would remain active all the time.

And the skill could still level up.

”This skill is insane,” Isaac said.

Celia’s eyes were shining. ”Right? Passive stat skills are already rare enough. A permanent percentage boost to every stat is completely absurd.”

”Maybe I can finally fight Alice properly now,” Celia added with mumble.

Isaac looked down at her with a strange expression.

The last time this girl obtained a Legendary-grade weapon, her first thought had been fighting her brother.

Now she gained a monstrous passive skill, and her first thought was fighting Alice.

Isaac honestly did not know whether she wanted to see how much she had improved, or just wanted to triumph over others so she could brag.

Celia noticed his stare and narrowed her eyes. ”What?”

”Nothing,” Isaac replied while trying not to laugh.

He focused on the second passive again.

That effect was even more terrifying.

Hell was not some small region. It was an entire world like the Mortal Realm itself. Countless races and species existed there.

And all of them would automatically deal twenty percent less damage to Celia.

That kind of resistance in large-scale wars would be monstrous.

Isaac could already imagine how valuable Celia would become in future Hell-related missions.

Finally, they moved to the next skill.

Burning Soul Armor

Rank: SSS+ (Level 1)

Active Effect: The armor can store damage and use it to either cause a giant explosion or boost the user’s stats.

Passive Effect: Reduces incoming Physical Damage by 30%. Fire Resistance +30%. Gives partial resistance to weak debuffs. Causes Minor Soul Scorch damage to enemies when they hit the armor.

Cost: 100 Dark Mana

Cooldown: 3 Hours

Duration: 10 Minutes

Isaac’s brows lifted.

”That’s honestly ridiculous for a defense skill. Especially the passive effects,” he said.

Celia nodded repeatedly. Her excitement was obvious.

Then she suddenly froze while staring at the cost.

”I need Dark Mana?” she asked with confusion.

Isaac thought for a moment before speaking, ”It’s probably that strange energy you gained access to after eating the fruit from the Tree of Abyss.”

Celia immediately understood what he meant.

After consuming the fruit earlier, she had gained access to a strange dimension filled with dark and malevolent energy.

”Yes... it does seem like it was Dark Mana. But I still don’t know how to absorb it properly,” she admitted.

”Didn’t you ask Sword Empress about it?”

Celia immediately frowned. ”I tried, but I couldn’t even find her. She avoided everyone after a certain someone said something to her in the Trial.”

Then she elbowed Isaac lightly in the ribs.

Isaac smiled wryly.

That incident really had caused far more chaos than he expected. How was he supposed to know she would be the one retaining her memory of all people?

”We’ll ask her later about how to absorb and use Dark Mana,” he said.

Celia nodded.

The two then checked Hellfire Wave skill.

The skill had evolved from SS rank to SSS rank.

Hellfire Wave

Rank: SSS (Level 5)

Active Effect 1: Unleash a wave of corrupted fire that deals soul damage. The skill is especially effective against divine entities, dealing 45% increased damage against holy-type opponents.

Active Effect 2: Unleash a wave of True Hellfire, dealing soul and fire-type damage. The skill is effective against divine and living entities, dealing 45% increased damage to both.

Cost: 300 Mana (Active Effect 1)

Cost: 100 Dark Mana (Active Effect 2)

Isaac’s eyes narrowed slightly after reading the second effect.

True Hellfire.

Even in myths, that flame was feared. It was said to be capable of burning divine beings themselves.

Celia looked both excited and frustrated.

”These Dark Mana skills are too good. But they all need Dark Mana,” she muttered.

Isaac nodded slowly.

If she could solve that issue, Celia’s combat power would rise explosively.

The two exchanged a glance before turning toward the next skill.

Infernal Sovereign Transformation

Rank: SSS+ (Level 1)

Active Effect 1: Allows the user to unleash their True Devil form. During this state, all stats and devil-type skills would be boosted considerably.

Active Effect 2: During the transformation, user can use skills:

a) Infernal Maw (SSS Rank)

b) Chains of Gehenna (SSS Rank)

Active Effect 3: All species from Hell who have lower bloodline purity than the user gain the [Fear] debuff when in the user’s presence.

Passive Effect: Mana, stealth, and health regeneration are boosted by 100%. Damage against divine entities is boosted by 100%.

Cost: 500 Dark Mana

Cooldown: 1 Day

Isaac and Celia both sucked in a sharp breath.

The skill looked so absurd that Isaac checked the rank again to make sure it was SSS+ rank, not Transcendent.

Yet the skill already looked powerful enough to belong in the higher category.

Isaac’s expression slowly changed as his eyes lingered on the first Active Effect.

A memory surfaced in his mind.

During Selene’s Trial, the Saint of Hell they had encountered had used this exact transformation. Even now, Isaac could remember the suffocating pressure that had spread through the battlefield when the Saint transformed.

It had not simply been strength.

It had felt like the appearance of a superior lifeform.

The Saint’s mere presence had crushed weaker beings mentally before the battle had even started.

And now Celia possessed a similar skill.

’Celia really is royalty. These skills are ridiculous,’ Isaac thought inwardly.

The second Active Effect was even more outrageous.

The transformation did not merely strengthen her existing abilities. It directly granted two additional SSS-rank skills during the transformed state.

That alone could change the flow of an entire battle.

Then there was the third Active Effect.

Bloodline suppression.

Against creatures born in Hell, Celia would naturally dominate anyone beneath her in purity. A fear debuff during combat was no joke. Once fear took root, reaction speed, judgment, and even courage would weaken.

Some weaker enemies might not even be able to fight properly.

The passive effect was equally terrifying.

Double regeneration for mana, stealth, and health meant Celia could maintain prolonged combat far more easily than before. The damage boost against divine entities was even more dangerous.

Saints.

Saintesses.

Angels.

Holy beasts.

All of them would become targets of that bonus damage.

”Maybe I really can defeat Alice now,” Celia muttered under her breath as she imagined herself winning gloriously.

Isaac looked down at her with a strange expression.

This girl really loved challenging people who had once defeated her in the past.

He could practically see her imagining herself standing victoriously over Alice already.

”I’m saying this just in case, but don’t provoke Alice” Isaac began carefully,

Celia blinked and turned toward him. ”Why?”

”Because she won’t hold back against you the way Vale does.”

Celia puffed her cheeks slightly. ”I still think I can win if I use this skill properly.”

Isaac hesitated for a moment.

Part of him wanted to let her dream peacefully.

But if Celia seriously challenged Alice carelessly, she might end up hurt.

”Alice hasn’t even used thirty percent of her strength in this competition. She’s saving her real abilities for the Boss Monster and the other teams,” Isaac said honestly.

Celia froze.

”Not even thirty percent?” she asked slowly.

”Yes.” Isaac nodded.

Celia stared blankly ahead for several seconds.

Alice had crushed the Thorn Tyrant head-on.

That monster could overwhelm entire groups by itself, yet Alice had destroyed it directly without even appearing exhausted afterward.

And that had not even been thirty percent?

Celia’s expression gradually became strange.

Then she nodded wisely as if she had suddenly reached enlightenment.

”Thinking about it carefully, I don’t think fighting Alice is a good idea. We are family. It’s important to live harmoniously together,” she said in a calm voice.

Isaac almost burst out laughing hearing that shameless change in attitude.

Just moments ago she had been imagining victory.

Now she was preaching family harmony.

He lightly drummed his fingers against her waist.

”Don’t think too much about it. Your skills are genuinely monstrous. If you keep leveling them up, you can definitely fight Alice in the future. I’m only saying you shouldn’t provoke her right now,” Isaac said.

Celia relaxed slightly and nodded.

”That makes more sense.”

Then they moved toward the next skill.

Sweet Madness

Rank: SSS (Level 1)

Effect: Releases a pink-red mist. Once inhaled, the target gains a Confusion stack. Targets will struggle to distinguish allies from enemies, while concentration and precision sharply decrease.

Range: 50 Meters

Cost: 200 Mana

Duration: 10 Minutes

Cooldown: 30 Minutes

Isaac read the description twice before nodding slowly.

”That’s an extremely dangerous crowd-control skill.”

Celia agreed immediately.

Against monster hordes, the skill would be devastating. Once confusion spread among enemies, they would begin attacking each other, disrupting formations and reducing pressure on Celia.

Even organized human groups would struggle if several members suddenly lost the ability to identify allies properly.

”A fifty-meter range is huge too. You could control an entire battlefield section with this,” Isaac added.

Celia seemed satisfied.

The skill fit her fighting style surprisingly well. Unlike Alice, who preferred overwhelming destruction, Celia’s abilities leaned more toward manipulation, pressure, and battlefield control.

Then they looked at the next skill.

Heartfire Lash

Rank: SSS (Level 1)

Effect: Creates a flaming whip made of scarlet energy that ignores 10% of the target’s defense. Can apply Agitation stacks.

Max Stack: 10

Cost: 50 Mana (Per Stack)

It was simpler compared to the previous skills, but Isaac immediately understood its value.

”A medium-range pressure skill,” he muttered.

Celia nodded.

With her Legendary-grade weapon, Sanguine Thorns, she already possessed strong battlefield control. The floating crimson petals could hinder movement, interfere with enemy attacks, and create openings.

While the enemy was occupied with avoiding the petals, Celia could continuously strike with Heartfire Lash.

The Agitation effect made the skill even nastier.

Agitation reduced movement speed and interfered with casting speed. Against mages or agile enemies, that debuff would become increasingly troublesome over time.

”It’s a good combo skill. Once the enemy gets trapped by your petals, escaping will becomes harder and harder for them,” Isaac said.

Celia looked happy hearing that.

She clearly enjoyed the idea of slowly cornering enemies until they could no longer resist.

Then the two moved to the final skill.

Queen of Desire Transformation

Rank: SSS+ (Level 1)

Active Effect 1: Increases charm resistance penetration by 100%.

Active Effect 2: Movement speed of enemies within 30 meters is reduced by 30%.

Active Effect 3: Upon activation, enemies will focus on the user with tunnel vision and often ignore their surroundings.

Active Effect 4: Reveals the True Form of the user as the incarnation of Lust.

Passive Effect: Passive Skill [Fatal Attraction] will activate. During this skill’s activation, all targets in the user’s vicinity and those who can see the user will be swooned by the user. The swooned targets cannot launch attacks capable of killing the user. Targets with weaker willpower may become completely unable to attack the user and may even follow the user’s orders. The passive skill strengthens if the targets already possess feelings of attraction toward the user.

Cost: 1000 Mana

Cooldown: 1 day