Chapter 192 Developing Protective Armor For Saintess Ceanna

“Well, that’s a load off my mind,” Alaric said, a genuine smile finally gracing his lips as the tension eased from his shoulders. He turned to Lyra and Cassandra, his ruby eyes sparkling with a hint of excitement. “Seems like those arrogant devils really did just want to throw a little tantrum. Commander Baumann doesn’t seem too worried.”

Lyra nodded, her silver hair catching the faint moonlight filtering through the trees. “He did sound rather dismissive of their efforts, didn’t he?”

Cassandra chuckled, a low, throaty sound. “Arrogance can be a powerful weakness, even for demons, it seems.”

Alaric then looked at his mother and aunt, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Why don’t we take our leave from the Commander and go check out the situation at the outer region ourselves? Just to… get a closer look, you know?”

Lyra and Cassandra exchanged a knowing glance, a hint of anticipation flickering in their eyes. “Sounds like a plan, darling,” Lyra said, a playful smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.

“Lead the way, nephew,” Cassandra added, her purple eyes gleaming with a hint of eagerness.

They bid farewell to Commander Baumann, offering a casual, “We’ll just go see what’s happening at the front lines,” before heading towards the sounds of distant clashes and demonic roars. The Commander watched them go, a fleeting thought crossing his mind about sending a discreet escort to ensure Alaric’s safety. However, he quickly dismissed the idea. ‘Nah,’ he thought to himself, adjusting the grip on his sword. ‘If it was a serious attack, they wouldn’t be sending just a handful of low-level demons. The outer defenses can handle this.’

Once they were a good distance away from Commander Baumann, the sounds of battle growing louder with each step, Alaric stopped, turning to face his mother and aunt. “Alright,” he said, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Here’s what I was really thinking.”

Lyra raised a questioning eyebrow. “Oh? And what’s that, Alaric?”

“Well,” Alaric began, a sly grin spreading across his face, “you two have been itching for a real fight, haven’t you? All that sparring with me… it’s good for practice, but it’s not quite the same as facing a genuine demonic opponent.”

Cassandra’s purple eyes widened, a predatory gleam entering them. “You mean…?”

“Exactly,” Alaric confirmed, nodding enthusiastically. “This is the perfect opportunity! A bunch of lower-ranked demons, a few arrogant commanders… you can finally cut loose, test your Grand Martialist skills, and get some real combat experience. You’ve both reached such incredible heights of power after… well, you know,” he trailed off with a suggestive wink, referring to their unique method of reaching that rank. “But you need to get used to unleashing that power against actual enemies. Think of it as… on-the-job training.”

Lyra’s lips curved into a fierce smile. “You know, Alaric, you always have the most… interesting suggestions.” She cracked her knuckles, a faint aura of heat beginning to emanate from her body.

“I have to agree,” Cassandra said, her purple eyes now burning with anticipation. “Sparring with you is… informative, but I do crave a bit of real action.” She took a deep breath, a subtle wind swirling around her.

“Exactly!” Alaric exclaimed, rubbing his hands together. “Mother, time to unleash that Celestial Phoenix Breath of yours! Aunt Cassandra, let’s see that Garuda Wingbeat Breath in action!”

Lyra and Cassandra exchanged another determined glance, a silent understanding passing between them. “Alright, Alaric,” Lyra said, drawing the elegant sword she always carried. “Let’s show these demons what a Grand Martialist can do.”

“Indeed,” Cassandra agreed, unsheathing her own blade, its polished surface reflecting the distant flames of battle. “Time for these demons to face the wind and the fire.”

They reached the outer perimeter of the encampment to find a chaotic scene unfolding. A horde of grotesque demons, ranging in size from small, scuttling imps to larger, muscle-bound brutes, clashed against a line of determined human soldiers, knights in shining armor, and mages unleashing spells of fire and ice. Even a few priests, wielding their holy symbols, were pushing back the demonic tide with righteous fervor. Some of the humans were indeed wielding Alaric’s holy artifacts. A knight with a Divine Ward Amulet deflected a swipe from a razor-sharp claw, while a mage unleashed a blast of holy fire from a Celestial Fire Projector, incinerating a group of charging demons.

Without hesitation, Lyra and Cassandra plunged into the fray. Lyra moved with a fluid grace, her sword a silver blur as she cut down a snarling imp. With a deep inhale, she activated her Celestial Phoenix Breath. A visible aura of fiery energy enveloped her body, her movements becoming faster, her strikes imbued with searing heat. Her sword techniques were precise and deadly, each strike leaving behind a trail of smoke and the smell of burnt flesh.

“For the Kingdom!” Lyra cried out, her voice strong and clear as she cleaved through a larger, horned demon, the flames erupting from her blade leaving a gaping wound in its chest.

Cassandra, equally determined, moved with a powerful agility. Her sword danced through the air, deflecting demonic claws and cleaving through thick hides. With a focused breath, she unleashed her Garuda Wingbeat Breath. A swirling vortex of wind energy surrounded her, enhancing her speed and the power of her strikes. Her sword seemed to whistle through the air, each blow carrying the force of a gale, tearing through the demons’ defenses with ease.

“Feel the wind’s fury, you foul creatures!” Cassandra shouted, her voice sharp as she sidestepped a lumbering brute and with a swift, precise strike, severed its head from its shoulders.

The horde of demons they faced was indeed substantial, a chaotic mix of imps, horned devils, and larger, more powerful brutes. They fought with a savage ferocity, their claws tearing, their teeth gnashing, and some even wielding crude, dark weapons. Mages among their ranks hurled bolts of shadow and streams of corrupted energy, while the larger demons relied on brute strength and thick hides to withstand the humans’ attacks.

“Die, human scum!” a hulking demon roared, swinging a crude, spiked club at a knight, the force of the blow sending the knight staggering back.

“Not today, demon!” a mage retorted, unleashing a bolt of pure energy that struck the demon in the chest, causing it to shriek in pain.

The battle was fierce and unrelenting, the human forces slowly but surely gaining the upper hand, especially with the aid of those equipped with Alaric’s Holy Artifacts. A knight wearing the Divine Ward Amulet deflected a blast of dark magic, while a priest wielding the Holy Energy Amplifier unleashed a wave of purifying energy that forced a group of demons to recoil. Commander Baumann’s earlier assessment seemed accurate; the demons were fighting with more rage than strategy.

However, they were still dangerous. One particularly large demon, its eyes glowing with malevolent green light, unleashed a wave of necrotic energy, causing several nearby soldiers to collapse, their life force draining away. Another demon commander, wielding a wicked-looking scythe, moved with terrifying speed, its blade leaving trails of dark energy that withered anything they touched.

It was into this chaotic scene that Lyra and Cassandra plunged, their Grand Martialist strength immediately making a noticeable difference. Lyra’s flaming sword cut through demons like butter, her movements a whirlwind of fire and steel. Cassandra’s wind-enhanced strikes tore through demonic armor, her agility allowing her to dance around her opponents, striking with lethal precision.

“Insolent beasts!” Lyra roared, her Celestial Phoenix Breath intensifying, the flames around her burning even brighter as she incinerated a group of charging imps with a single sweeping strike.

“You will not defile our land!” Cassandra declared, her Garuda Wingbeat Breath creating miniature tornadoes around her, deflecting demonic attacks and enhancing the speed of her sword strikes, allowing her to take down multiple demons in quick succession.

The human soldiers fighting nearby were initially surprised by the sudden appearance of these two incredibly powerful women, but their shock quickly turned to awe and renewed determination as they witnessed Lyra and Cassandra effortlessly cutting down the demonic ranks.

Meanwhile, Alaric had taken to the skies, hovering above the battlefield, his eyes constantly scanning the area, keeping a close watch on his mother and aunt. He wanted to be ready to intervene instantly if they encountered any truly dangerous opponents.

As he surveyed the scene, his gaze fell upon a figure moving with surprising speed and efficiency through the demonic horde. It was Noah. The young alchemist, the possessor of the Ultimate Alchemist System, was wielding a long, silver spear, its tip flashing as he expertly thrust it into the hearts of demons. He moved with a quiet focus, his face grim, dispatching the creatures with practiced ease. Occasionally, he would reach into a pouch at his side and hurl a small, brightly colored pill. Upon impact with a demon or the ground, the pill would explode with a surprising force, showering the area with shrapnel and a strange, acrid smoke that seemed to weaken the demons it touched.

Alaric watched Noah for a moment, a flicker of curiosity in his ruby eyes. The young alchemist was surprisingly adept at close combat, and those exploding pills were certainly effective. ‘Ultimate Alchemist System, huh?’ Alaric mused. ‘Looks like it grants more than just potion-making skills.’ He continued to observe the battle, his primary focus still on ensuring the safety of Lyra and Cassandra, but with a newfound interest in the unexpected combat prowess of Noah.

~~

A few hours later, the last of the demonic stragglers in the outer region had been dealt with. The ground was littered with their grotesque corpses, a testament to the combined might of the Eloriath Kingdom’s forces and the surprising effectiveness of Lyra and Cassandra’s Grand Martialist abilities.

“Well, that was… invigorating,” Lyra said, wiping a smear of demon blood from her sword with a satisfied sigh. “Definitely a different experience than sparring with you, Alaric.”

Cassandra nodded in agreement, her chest heaving slightly. “Indeed. Those creatures are far more… persistent than you are during our training sessions, nephew.” A playful smirk touched her lips.

“I told you it would be valuable experience,” Alaric said, sheathing his own sword, which had remained mostly unused. He had kept a watchful eye on his mother and aunt, ready to intervene if needed, but they had handled themselves with remarkable skill. “And it was relatively safe here, compared to the main battlefield. A good way to get your feet wet, so to speak.”

“I must admit, it did feel good to finally unleash our full power against a real enemy,” Lyra conceded, a newfound confidence radiating from her.

“Agreed,” Cassandra added. “We should do this more often.”

“Perhaps,” Alaric said, a thoughtful look on his face. “But for now, I think we should go and speak with Saintess Ceanna.”

“Saintess Ceanna?” Lyra asked, her brow furrowing. “Why?”

“I need to inform her of my progress with the holy artifacts,” Alaric explained. “And I have… another proposition for her.”

They made their way towards Saintess Ceanna’s tent, the encampment slowly returning to a state of uneasy calm after the brief demonic incursion. They found her reviewing reports, her expression still troubled.

“Saintess Ceanna,” Alaric said, stepping into her tent, Lyra and Cassandra following close behind.

Ceanna looked up, her golden eyes widening slightly at their arrival. “Master Steele, Lady Lyra, Lady Cassandra. What brings you here?”

“I wanted to update you on the holy artifacts,” Alaric began, his tone businesslike. “The upgrades are complete. They now possess a greater amount of holy energy, can recharge autonomously, and the commander versions have the ability to utilize the resonance energy for powerful attacks or barriers.”

Ceanna nodded, a hint of relief in her eyes. “That is excellent news, Master Steele. Your ingenuity is truly a blessing to our kingdom.”

“Indeed,” Lyra chimed in. “They proved quite effective even in the hands of the regular soldiers tonight.”

“Speaking of tonight’s… foolishness,” Alaric continued, a slight edge to his voice, “it’s clear that these demons are becoming more desperate and unruly. I intend to ramp up the mass production of these artifacts. We need to make sure every soldier and mage has access to them. We will make them pay dearly for their arrogance.”

“That is a wise decision, Master Steele,” Ceanna agreed. “The more of these artifacts we have, the better our chances will be on the main battlefield.”

Alaric then shifted his stance, his gaze becoming more earnest. “Saintess Ceanna,” he said, his voice softening slightly, “I also wished to offer my assistance in developing a protective artifact specifically for you.” He reached out and gently took her hand, his touch surprisingly warm and sincere. “You are the linchpin of our forces. If anything were to happen to you… if an Archmage were to target you directly… the Eloriath Kingdom would have little hope of victory.”

His genuine concern seemed to catch Ceanna off guard. A faint blush touched her cheeks, and her eyes softened slightly as she looked at him. “Master Steele… that is… very thoughtful of you.”

“You already possess many protective artifacts and enchantments, I am aware,” Alaric continued, his grip on her hand remaining gentle but firm.

“Yes,” Ceanna confirmed. “The Church has provided me with numerous safeguards.”

“I have observed them,” Alaric said, his gaze direct and unwavering. “And while they are undoubtedly potent against lesser threats, I am not certain they would be sufficient to withstand a determined attack from an Archmage. You know this to be true, Saintess.”

Ceanna’s expression turned serious, her gaze dropping slightly. She did indeed know that. While her divine power was immense, even her protective measures had their limits, especially against a foe of Archmage-level strength, which Principal Bartolmew now likely possessed. The thought of the dangers she would face on the main battlefield, where the demons would undoubtedly target her first, was ever-present in her mind. She wasn’t afraid, but she was also not foolish enough to underestimate the enemy.

“If you could indeed develop protective artifacts or armor for me, Master Steele,” Ceanna said, her voice quiet but sincere, “I would be… grateful.”

Alaric smiled, a genuine, warm smile that reached his ruby eyes. “It might not be simple, even for me,” he admitted. “But I have an idea. I will need your assistance, however. I envision creating a core for a protective, illusionary robe armor. This core would be imbued with your own Holy Energy, Saintess. It would have a self-repairing feature, drawing upon your divine power to mend any damage, along with an automatic absorption of ambient Holy Energy to maintain its strength.”

Ceanna’s eyes widened in surprise. “My Holy Energy… infused into an artifact? That is… quite an ambitious undertaking, Master Steele.” She considered his words for a moment, a thoughtful expression on her face. The idea of having such a powerful and self-sustaining protective armor was undeniably appealing. “If such a thing were possible… it would be invaluable.”

“With your help, Saintess, I believe it is possible,” Alaric said, his confidence radiating outwards.

The next couple of days were a whirlwind of activity. The mass production of the upgraded holy artifacts was put into full swing, with Alaric overseeing the process and the thirty beautiful artificers working tirelessly under his guidance. At the same time, Alaric began working closely with Ceanna, as well as Tabitha, Clotilda, Mette, Rebekka, and several other of the talented women, to develop the theory and blueprint for the illusionary protective robe armor.

Ceanna, initially hesitant, found herself increasingly impressed by Alaric’s knowledge and his ability to translate complex magical concepts into practical designs. She willingly contributed her Holy Energy, carefully channeling it into the prototype core that Alaric was meticulously crafting.

As the days passed, Alaric’s Harem God System seemed to be… stuck. His experience bar remained stubbornly at the peak of Level 59, with that tantalizing sliver still unfulfilled before reaching Level 60. No matter what he did with Lyra, Cassandra, or any of the other women he had previously been intimate with, not a single experience point was added.

Then, beneath the experience bar, a new line of text appeared:

[Number of Women Slept With: 7/20]

Alaric’s eyes widened in understanding. So, that was the condition for breaking through to Level 60. He needed to… expand his horizons. A wry smile touched his lips. Well, he was certainly looking forward to fulfilling this new requirement.

His gaze drifted towards the thirty beautiful women working diligently around him. He mentally began to select the thirteen who would help him reach his next milestone. He naturally gravitated towards those with the most captivating appearances. Tabitha’s delicate beauty, Mette’s quiet allure, Rebekka’s fiery charm… they all made the list. And with a mischievous glint in his eyes, Alaric realized that he had a particular fondness for the mature beauties among them, the ones who carried the subtle confidence of experience. The married women, the mothers… they held a certain irresistible appeal.

He began to formulate his plan. He would have each of the chosen thirteen visit him in his tent, one by one, under the guise of discussing important aspects of the artifact development. And then… well, then he would utilize the full arsenal of his Harem God System abilities – the subtle influence of his Charm Aura, the persuasive whispers of Heart’s Whisper, the captivating power of his Seductive Gaze, and perhaps even a touch of Dreamwalker to truly earn their affections and ensure their willing participation in his… endeavors. Alaric had a feeling the next few nights were going to be very interesting indeed.