Chapter 195 Using Harem God System Abilities On Saintess

The fiery dragon roared, its incandescent flames licking at the Archdemon’s crimson hide. The wind dragon swirled around it, sharp gusts tearing at its leathery wings.

“Is that all you’ve got, little mage?” the Archdemon bellowed, its voice like grinding stones. It swatted at the wind dragon with a massive claw, the wind dissipating as if it were mere smoke. Then, with a guttural roar, it unleashed a blast of dark energy from its mouth – a ‘Shadow Breath’ – engulfing the flame dragon. The flames flickered and died, the dragon dissolving into wisps of smoke.

Alaric, hovering in the air, gritted his teeth. ‘Its power is immense.’ He channeled his mana, unleashing a barrage of spells. “Inferno Lance!” he cried, a spear of pure flame hurtling towards the Archdemon. “Gale Shredder!” followed, a swirling vortex of wind blades aimed at its chest.

The Archdemon simply stood its ground, its tough hide rippling as the attacks landed. The Inferno Lance left a momentary scorch mark, quickly fading, while the Gale Shredder seemed to barely scratch its surface.

“Foolish insect! Do you think such petty magic can harm me?” the Archdemon sneered, its black eyes fixated on Alaric. It raised a hand, and dark energy coalesced around its claw. “Doom Strike!”

Alaric’s eyes widened. The air crackled with malevolent energy. He quickly cast a defensive spell. “Wind Barrier!” A shimmering shield of wind materialized in front of him, just in time to absorb the brunt of the Doom Strike. The barrier cracked and shattered, the residual force sending Alaric tumbling backwards.

“Master Steele!” Saintess Ceanna’s voice was filled with concern. She unleashed a wave of holy energy, a ‘Radiant Smite’, towards the Archdemon. The pure light struck the demon, causing it to hiss and recoil slightly.

“Insolent light!” the Archdemon roared, its attention now turning towards Ceanna. It lunged towards her with surprising speed, its massive claws outstretched. “Soul Rend!”

Alaric, recovering quickly, saw the danger. “Ice Wall!” he yelled, conjuring a thick barrier of ice in the Archdemon’s path. The demon smashed through it with ease, shards of ice flying in all directions. There wasn’t enough time for another spell.

“Ceanna!” Alaric shouted, teleporting instantly to her side and pulling her into his arms. He felt her slender form press against him, her silver hair brushing against his cheek.

Just as the Archdemon’s claws reached their previous position, Alaric teleported again, reappearing a safe distance away with Ceanna still held tightly in his embrace.

It was in that moment, as he held the Saintess close, her golden eyes wide with shock and a hint of fear, that the notification appeared in his mind.

[Host has initiated physical contact with a Saintess and managed to bypass her divine immunity. As long as Host maintains this physical contact, the abilities of the Harem God System will work on this woman.]

Immediately following that, a series of other notifications flashed before his eyes.

[Passive Ability: Charm Aura activated.]

[Active Ability: Heart’s Whisper available.]

[Active Ability: Seductive Gaze available.]

[Passive Ability: Allure of the King activated.]

‘Yes!’ Alaric thought, a thrill coursing through him. He looked down at Saintess Ceanna in his arms, a lustful yet intensely desirous look momentarily flickering in his ruby eyes. Her body felt incredibly soft and supple against his. He quickly masked his expression with one of calm concern.

“Are you alright, Saintess?” he asked, his voice gentle.

Ceanna blushed furiously, her heart pounding in her chest. Alaric’s handsome face was so close, his ruby eyes intense yet reassuring. “Y-yes, Master Steele. Thank you,” she stammered, her gaze flickering down to his chest.

Alaric kept her close, the ‘Charm Aura’ subtly working its magic. He could feel a slight shift in her demeanor, a softening in her gaze.

The Archdemon, momentarily stunned by their sudden disappearances, roared in frustration. “You cannot escape me!” It unleashed another attack, a volley of dark spikes – “Shadow Barrage!”

“We need to move!” Alaric said, teleporting again, still holding Ceanna. As they reappeared, he made sure their bodies remained pressed together. He subtly activated ‘Heart’s Whisper’. ‘He is so strong and brave. He is protecting me.’ He planted the thought gently in her mind, making it feel like her own.

Ceanna’s heart skipped a beat. ‘He is so strong and brave… protecting me,’ she thought, her blush deepening. She looked up at Alaric, a newfound warmth spreading through her chest.

The Shadow Barrage rained down on their previous location, the ground erupting in bursts of dark energy.

“Tempest Fury!” Alaric yelled, unleashing a massive storm of wind and lightning. The chaotic assault forced the Archdemon to take a step back, momentarily disrupting its attack.

“Radiant Aegis!” Ceanna cried, creating a shimmering shield of holy light around them. The Archdemon’s dark energy slammed against the shield, causing it to flicker but hold.

“He’s too powerful for us to fight head-on like this,” Alaric muttered, his grip tightening slightly on Ceanna’s arm as he prepared to teleport again.

“You think you can hide behind your little tricks?” the Archdemon roared, its gaze burning with malevolent intent. It focused its attention solely on Ceanna, unleashing a beam of pure dark energy from its eyes – “Dark Gaze of Annihilation!”

Alaric reacted instantly. He spun Ceanna around, shielding her body with his own, and teleported away just as the dark beam struck their previous location, vaporizing the ground.

As they reappeared, Alaric held Ceanna even closer, her back pressed against his chest. He activated ‘Seductive Gaze’, his ruby eyes locking onto hers for a fleeting moment before he turned his attention back to the Archdemon. In that brief instant, Ceanna felt a strange pull towards him, her inhibitions momentarily fading. His handsome face, framed by his golden hair, seemed to glow with an irresistible allure.

Ceanna gasped softly, her breath catching in her throat. Her golden eyes widened, and a wave of dizziness washed over her. ‘His eyes… they are so intense… so captivating,’ she thought, her heart hammering against her ribs.

“Are you alright, Saintess?” Alaric asked again, his voice laced with concern. He subtly used ‘Heart’s Whisper’ again. ‘I feel so safe in his arms. He is my protector.’

“Y-yes… just a little disoriented,” Ceanna replied, her voice barely a whisper. ‘I feel so safe… in his arms? Where did that thought come from?’ She looked at Alaric, her blush returning with renewed intensity.

The Archdemon, enraged at missing its target, slammed its fists into the ground, causing tremors to run through the encampment. “Enough of this game!” It roared, its body radiating an even more intense aura of dark power. “I will crush you both!”

It unleashed a series of rapid attacks – ‘Shadow Claws’, ‘Dark Spears’, ‘Void Missiles’ – forcing Alaric and Ceanna to teleport repeatedly, barely managing to evade each deadly strike.

Each time Alaric held Ceanna, whether pulling her close or carrying her, he made sure to maintain contact. He continued to subtly use ‘Heart’s Whisper’, planting more and more positive thoughts in her mind. ‘He is so strong and agile. He is fighting so hard to protect us.’ ‘His touch makes me feel… safe and strangely comforted.’ ‘His determination is inspiring.’

With each planted thought, Ceanna’s admiration for Alaric grew. ‘He is indeed very strong and agile,’ she thought, watching him expertly evade the Archdemon’s attacks while still managing to protect her. ‘His touch… it does feel strangely comforting. And his determination is truly inspiring.’ She found herself wanting to stay close to him, feeling a sense of security in his presence.

The Archdemon, growing increasingly frustrated, unleashed a particularly powerful attack – “Nightmare Eruption!” The ground around them cracked open, and tendrils of dark energy erupted from below, seeking to ensnare them.

Alaric grabbed Ceanna tightly, lifting her into his arms bridal-style, and teleported high into the air.

“Hold on tight, Saintess!” he exclaimed, his voice strained.

Ceanna instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck, her body pressed against his. The ‘Allure of the King’ passively enhanced his charm, making her feel an even stronger pull towards him.

‘He is so close,’ she thought, her heart racing. His arms felt strong and secure around her. She could feel the heat radiating from his body, a comforting warmth in the midst of the chaotic battle.

Alaric, still holding her, unleashed a barrage of spells from above. “Blazing Comet!” “Whirlwind Assault!” “Ice Shard Barrage!” The elemental attacks rained down on the Archdemon, but it simply roared and swatted them away with contemptuous ease.

“You cannot escape from me from up there!” the Archdemon bellowed, leaping high into the air with surprising agility, its claws aimed at Alaric and Ceanna.

“Not good!” Alaric muttered, teleporting again just as the Archdemon’s claws swiped through the air where they had been.

They reappeared on the ground, and the Archdemon landed heavily before them, its gaze fixed on Ceanna. “I will extinguish that holy light first!” It roared, unleashing another Dark Gaze of Annihilation.

Alaric once again spun Ceanna around, taking the brunt of the attack on his own magical shield, which shimmered violently but held. He then grabbed her hand and teleported them behind a large cluster of tents.

“We can’t keep doing this, Saintess,” Alaric said, his voice tight with frustration. “He’s too strong for us to just evade.”

Ceanna looked at him, her golden eyes filled with worry. “But what can we do, Master Steele? His power is overwhelming.”

Alaric looked at her, his ruby eyes filled with determination. He subtly used ‘Heart’s Whisper’. ‘He will find a way. He is strong and resourceful.’

“We need to find an opening,” Alaric said, his gaze returning to the raging battle. “He’s focused on us, which is keeping him away from the main forces. We need to use that to our advantage.”

The Archdemon roared again, tearing through the tents in their direction. “Where are you hiding, little morsels?”

“We need to move!” Alaric said, grabbing Ceanna’s hand and teleporting them to the other side of the encampment.

The pattern continued. The Archdemon attacked, focusing primarily on Ceanna. Alaric would shield her, pull her away, or carry her to safety, each time maintaining physical contact and subtly using his Harem God System abilities.

“Shadow Strike!” the Archdemon roared, its claw narrowly missing Ceanna as Alaric yanked her aside.

“Void Blast!” A sphere of dark energy hurtled towards them, and Alaric teleported them away just in time.

“Doom Wave!” A wave of dark energy washed over their previous location, corrupting the very ground. Alaric held Ceanna tightly as they teleported to safety.

With each near-miss, Ceanna’s reliance on Alaric grew. She found herself instinctively reaching for him, her heart pounding whenever he held her close. The thoughts he planted in her mind reinforced this dependence, making her feel safer and more secure in his presence.

‘He is so brave,’ she thought, watching him face the terrifying Archdemon without flinching. ‘I don’t know what I would do without him.’ Her blush deepened as she recalled the brief moment when his intense gaze had locked onto hers. There was something about Master Steele… something that made her heart flutter in a way she couldn’t quite explain.

The battle raged on around them, a chaotic dance of light and shadow.

~~

Alaric continued to teleport with Saintess Ceanna in his arms, the Archdemon’s furious roars echoing behind them.

“This is getting us nowhere, Saintess,” Alaric said, his voice tight. “He’s too focused on you.”

“But what can we do, Master Steele?” Ceanna replied, her voice trembling slightly. “His power feels… insurmountable.”

Alaric held her a moment longer, the ‘Charm Aura’ subtly working its effect. He used ‘Heart’s Whisper’ again. ‘He is so strong. He will protect me. I trust him.’

Ceanna’s grip on his neck tightened almost imperceptibly. ‘He is strong,’ she thought, her heart beating a little faster. ‘And I… I do trust him.’

Their desperate dance of evasion hadn’t gone unnoticed. The Eloriath Kingdom’s forces, though embroiled in their own fierce battles, had spotted the lone Grandmaster Mage constantly on the run from a powerful Archdemon, a radiant Saintess clutched protectively in his arms.

Two figures, in particular, recognized the blonde-haired youth.

“Lilliana, look!” a voice called out over the din of battle. Professor Maelis, her toned physique moving with practiced grace as she deflected a demonic claw strike with a swift kick, pointed towards Alaric. Her dark hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail, revealing sharp, focused eyes.

Professor Lilliana, her fiery red hair flowing behind her as she unleashed a torrent of flames at a group of imps, turned her attention to where Maelis was pointing. Her emerald eyes widened in disbelief.

“Alaric?” Lilliana breathed, momentarily faltering in her spellcasting. A stray imp lunged, but she incinerated it with a flick of her wrist. “Is that really him?”

“It has to be,” Maelis replied, her expression a mixture of shock and concern. She parried a demonic sword thrust with her forearm, the magical energy imbued in her body deflecting the blow. “But… he’s fighting an Archdemon? And… is that Saintess Ceanna he’s holding?”

“And… Maelis, did you see the aura around him?” Lilliana asked, her eyes narrowed. “That’s… that’s the mana signature of a Grandmaster Mage.”

Maelis’s eyes widened further. “A Grandmaster? But… it’s only been a year and a half since the academy fell. He was a talented student, our best in fact, but reaching Grandmaster in such a short time… it’s unheard of!”

They both stared at their former student, their minds reeling. The seventeen-year-old boy they remembered, while exceptionally gifted, was now radiating power that rivaled their own, standing just one rank below their Archmage status.

As they watched him move, a subtle yet undeniable feeling washed over them. Alaric, even amidst the chaos of battle, seemed to exude a newfound aura of confidence and strength. The ‘Charm Aura’ and ‘Allure of the King’ worked their subtle magic, making them perceive him as more mature, more… appealing than the young boy they had taught.

“We have to help him,” Maelis said, her voice firm. “He can’t hold out against an Archdemon on his own, especially while protecting the Saintess.”

“Agreed,” Lilliana nodded, her emerald eyes blazing with determination. “Let’s go!”

With a burst of speed and magical energy, the two professors began to cut through the ranks of demons, their movements coordinated and deadly. Lilliana unleashed waves of fire and bolts of lightning, while Maelis moved with the fluidity and power of a seasoned martial artist, her fists and feet imbued with magical energy that shattered demonic bones and armor.

Meanwhile, Alaric and Ceanna teleported behind a crumbling building, catching their breath.

“We need a new strategy,” Alaric said, his eyes scanning their surroundings. He subtly used ‘Heart’s Whisper’. ‘He is so worried about my safety. He is so kind.’

Ceanna’s heart warmed. ‘He is worried about me,’ she thought. ‘He is truly kind.’

Suddenly, a voice called out, tinged with both concern and familiarity. “Alaric! What in the blazes are you doing fighting an Archdemon on your own?”

Alaric’s head snapped up. He saw two figures approaching rapidly, their movements easily identifiable even amidst the chaos.

“Professor Lilliana? Professor Maelis?” he exclaimed in surprise.

Lilliana and Maelis reached them, their expressions a mixture of relief and astonishment.

“Alaric, you’ve grown!” Lilliana said, her eyes widening as she took in his appearance. “And a Grandmaster Mage? We are… impressed.”

“Indeed,” Maelis nodded, her gaze sharp. “But this is no time for pleasantries. That Archdemon is far too dangerous for you to handle alone.”

Saintess Ceanna, who had been quietly observing the exchange, stepped forward slightly. “Professor Lilliana, Professor Maelis. It’s good to see you both.” As the Saintess, she knew most of the high-ranking protectors of the kingdom.

“Saintess Ceanna,” Lilliana acknowledged with a respectful nod.

But the Archdemon was not one to wait. With a deafening roar, it smashed through the remaining section of the building, its black eyes burning with fury.

“More insects to squash!” it bellowed, its gaze fixed on the newcomers.

“Stand back, Alaric,” Maelis said, her stance shifting into a combat-ready pose. “We’ll handle this.”

“But…” Alaric began, hesitant to let go of Ceanna. He was still receiving the benefits of the Harem God System’s effects. He subtly used ‘Heart’s Whisper’ again. ‘I feel so safe when he holds me. His presence is comforting.’

Ceanna felt a warmth spread through her chest. ‘He feels… safe,’ she thought, a faint blush rising on her cheeks. She noticed Alaric hadn’t put her down, and while a part of her knew it might look improper, another part… didn’t want him to. It was surprisingly comfortable in his embrace. She kept her gaze averted, hoping he wouldn’t notice her lack of protest.

“Don’t worry, Alaric,” Lilliana reassured him, her eyes focused on the Archdemon. “We taught you well, but this calls for Archmage-level power.”

As Lilliana and Maelis stepped forward to engage the Archdemon, Alaric remained holding Saintess Ceanna. The Archdemon, momentarily distracted by the two new powerful mages and martial artist, turned its attention towards them.

Lilliana unleashed a torrent of fire, a blazing inferno that engulfed the Archdemon. “Infernal Wrath!” she cried.

The Archdemon roared in pain as the flames licked at its hide, but it quickly retaliated with a blast of dark energy. “Shadow Nova!”

Maelis moved with lightning speed, dodging the expanding sphere of darkness and delivering a series of powerful, magically enhanced strikes to the Archdemon’s legs. “Dragon Strike!” “Tiger Claw!” Each blow landed with a resounding thud, causing the Archdemon to stumble.

While his former teachers kept the Archdemon occupied, Alaric continued to hold Saintess Ceanna close. He subtly activated ‘Seductive Gaze’ again, his ruby eyes meeting hers for a brief, intense moment.

Ceanna’s breath hitched. His gaze was so piercing, so full of an unreadable intensity that sent shivers down her spine. Her heart pounded in her chest, and her cheeks flushed a deep crimson. She quickly looked away, feeling utterly flustered.

Alaric then used ‘Heart’s Whisper’ once more. ‘His arms feel so strong and protective. I don’t want him to let go.’

‘His arms…’ Ceanna thought, her blush intensifying. ‘They do feel… strong. And… I don’t… I don’t really want him to…’ She bit her lip, feeling a strange mix of embarrassment and… something else she couldn’t quite name.

The fight between the professors and the Archdemon was fierce. Lilliana’s elemental magic clashed against the demon’s dark power, creating explosions of fire, lightning, and shadow. Maelis’s martial arts prowess allowed her to exploit openings in the Archdemon’s defenses, her strikes landing with surprising force.

“You dare attack me, lesser beings?” the Archdemon roared, swatting at Maelis with a massive claw. She narrowly dodged the blow, using the momentum to launch a powerful kick to its side.

“We won’t let you harm our student, demon!” Lilliana declared, unleashing a bolt of pure lightning. “Thunderbolt Fury!”

The lightning struck the Archdemon, causing it to convulse, but it quickly recovered, its rage growing.

Throughout the intense exchange, Alaric remained holding Saintess Ceanna, occasionally shifting his grip to ensure she was comfortable, all the while subtly utilizing his Harem God System abilities. He used ‘Heart’s Whisper’ repeatedly, planting thoughts of safety, admiration, and a growing sense of comfort in his presence within her mind.

‘He is so brave to stay here, even while his teachers are fighting,’ Ceanna thought, feeling a surge of admiration for Alaric. ‘He hasn’t left my side.’ She glanced up at him, noticing the determined look on his face. A strange feeling bloomed in her chest, a warmth that had nothing to do with the heat of battle.

The Archdemon, despite the combined efforts of Lilliana and Maelis, was proving to be a formidable opponent. Its raw power and relentless attacks kept them constantly on the defensive.

“This is tougher than I thought,” Maelis grunted, narrowly avoiding a swipe of the Archdemon’s claws.

“Its dark magic is potent,” Lilliana agreed, conjuring a shield of fire to block a blast of shadow energy. “We need to find a weakness.”

As the battle raged on, Alaric continued to hold Saintess Ceanna, a silent observer for the moment, but his mind was racing. He was absorbing the fight, analyzing the Archdemon’s movements and attacks, while simultaneously working on solidifying his connection with the Saintess.