I Can Copy Curses

He noticed a slight difference in his Fate Core while absorbing mana from the mana crystals using the Devouring Abyss curse.

Previously, when the Fate Core was inside his body, he couldn't feel any connection to it and could only sense it when he delved into the abyss of darkness.

But now, he felt a faint connection with the core. Although the connection wasn't strong, he sensed something from it.

"It seems something changed in the core when it was removed from my body," Orion mused silently.

He couldn't discern the exact nature of the change, but he hoped it wasn't anything significant.

"Young Master, we have arrived at Morse," Butler Rio's voice came from the other side of the door at that moment.

"Coming," Orion replied, standing up and opening the door.

***

In the king's chamber of the Darkwood Family, many elders were seated in two rows of chairs on either side. At the center of the hall sat the Magi King of the Blitz Haven—Barion Darkwood.

At this moment, his brows were furrowed in deep contemplation, his eyes fixed on the entrance of the hall as if anticipating someone's arrival.

Suddenly the door to which he had been staring at for minutes suddenly hung opened and Orion walked in with Butler Rio.

"Orion, tell me everything that happened, and leave nothing out," he immediately asked as soon as he saw Orion.

Orion sighed, observing his father's evident anxiety. It was rare to see him so concerned about anything. Clearly, the matter concerning the deaths of so many people in that place was serious.

"It went like this..." he began, recounting everything that had unfolded in that place, while carefully omitting details about his clone and the voice he had heard.

Barion nodded solemnly after listening to Orion's account, his expression darkening.

"So, many people died, and it was your clone who ordered the other clones to kill them. Is that correct?" he asked Orion.

Orion nodded in agreement and added, "Yes, but those clones were already under someone else's control. It seems likely that whoever summoned us there also commanded my clone to eliminate us."

Barion pondered for a moment before responding.

"I believe there will certainly be some chaotic events at the Emperor Heaven Palace tomorrow," he said, pausing briefly. "The deaths of so many people alone might not force the emperor's hand, but Loren's death is a different matter entirely.

With the Grimwolf family blaming you and the support of so many common people, this situation will be a headache for us, especially with the Silverflame family fanning the flames from the sidelines."

Orion nodded, understanding everything except for one crucial aspect.

"But everyone knows it wasn't me who ordered the killings. It was my clone. So why would they protest and demand justice against me, when I was also a victim there?"

Barion shook his head solemnly.

"The world of politics is cruel, and the people within it are even more so. They've lost many loved ones, many of them young like you. The parents, relatives, and anyone connected to those who died won't just sit idly by, especially when they know the face responsible for those deaths is out in this world."

"Is this really serious?" Orion asked with concern.

Barion nodded gravely.

"The deaths of so many people—it's reminiscent of what happened in Grimshore when a member of the Silverflame family caused an entire shelter to be destroyed by the angel races," he explained, pausing briefly. "Now, with so many deaths again, people won't remain passive. They will protest to the emperor, claiming that you somehow control your clone. It's inevitable."

Orion's expression turned ugly. He felt anger at that moment. Knowing it wasn't him who had killed them and still being blamed for their deaths was disgustingly cruel.

Barion stood up from his throne and patted Orion on the shoulder.

"Don't worry too much. You didn't kill them, and I believe the emperor knows that as well. He wouldn't make a foolish decision regarding this incident. Go and rest now, you must be very tired after what happened there."

Orion nodded and left the king's chamber.

Barion then turned to look at all the elders in the hall.

"Everyone, we will be leaving tomorrow for the Emperor Heaven Palace. I want all of you to accompany me there. The Grimwolf Family and the Silverflame Family will certainly be present, and we must be prepared in case they manage to persuade the emperor to make a decision in their favor."

All the elders nodded before Barion announced an emergency meeting to discuss about the incident.

***

Back in his room, Orion checked the news on his universal bracelet and saw numerous articles regarding the incident.

His image was featured prominently in all those articles as the headline poster.

While none of the articles explicitly stated he was responsible for the deaths, his picture as the poster suggested otherwise.

The articles mentioned clones killing the originals and that the one who ordered the clones was Orion's clone. They also noted how Orion's clone was the only one who talked and appeared lifelike, while the others merely resembled puppets made for killing.

Looking at all these articles, he noticed none of them mentioned anything about him being attacked by his own clone or how he saved the remaining people from the black sun of the clone.

'Is Hyperion Tower under the influence of the Silverflame Family?' he wondered.

From what he remembered, Hyperion Tower was controlled by a different family, though he couldn't recall its name. He did recall, however, that the family was very strange, secretive, and mysterious—even more so compared to the seven magi families.

At least everyone knew where the seven magi families lived, but no one knew anything about that particular family. Everyone only knew that Hyperion Tower was an actual tower on a 1-star planet called Gilotus, and that the entire planet was controlled by that enigmatic family.

Knock! Knock!

At that moment, someone knocked on the door of his room.

"Who is it?" Orion asked.

"It's me," came a pleasant voice he had missed very much.

"Big Sister Emily!" he exclaimed, immediately went to open the door.