Chapter 216 Alaric Develops Groups To Hunt Magic Monsters

The afternoon sun bled into the warm hues of near evening, casting long shadows across the opulent chamber. The air, once thick with the scent of raw exertion and mingled sweat, had cooled slightly, leaving behind a stale, heavy reminder of the marathon debauchery.

Alaric stood near the large window, looking out over the sprawling Steele family estate. He was dressed now, immaculate in fine trousers and a silk shirt, his blonde hair perfectly styled, betraying none of the savage activity that had consumed him for nearly twenty-four hours.

Behind him, the room bore silent testament. Torn remnants of expensive clothing lay scattered like fallen leaves. Furniture was askew. Cushions bore damp patches.

And on the massive bed, nestled amongst the rumpled, stained sheets, lay the spoils of his relentless campaign.

Fiora. Lyra. Cassandra.

Three generations of stunning blonde beauties, utterly unconscious, limbs tangled together in exhausted repose. Their magnificent bodies, marked with the evidence of his possession – red handprints, love bites, faint bruises – were lax, surrendered finally to the absolute depletion he had inflicted upon them.

He had pushed them far beyond any conceivable limit. He had taken them relentlessly, switching between them, using their bodies in every way imaginable, orchestrating scenes of degradation and ecstasy until their minds and wills shattered, leaving only raw, primal need and absolute submission.

Fiora had succumbed first after her eleventh climax, somewhere midday. Lyra and Cassandra, fueled perhaps by deeper reserves of stamina, desperation, or sheer competitive need for his attention, had lasted longer. He’d continued to use them, pushing them through countless more orgasms, more humiliations, until finally, near dusk, their bodies gave out completely, one after the other, slumping into the oblivion of total exhaustion.

Alaric turned from the window, surveying the scene. A slow, deeply satisfied smile touched his lips. His ruby eyes gleamed with triumph.

‘Perfect,’ he thought, the single word echoing the satisfaction he felt after conquering Queen Margaret and Royal Consort Josephine. ‘Absolutely perfect.’

His goal hadn’t just been carnal release, though the pleasure had been immense, bordering on divine. No, the true objective had been achieved.

Fiora. His sweet, devoted little cousin. She now knew the truth.

She knew about his secret, ongoing affair with her own mother, Cassandra.

She knew about his even more taboo, utterly controlling relationship with his own mother, Lyra.

And she hadn’t just learned about it. She had participated. She had been the catalyst, unwittingly or not, and then she had become part of the dynamic. An orgy involving mother, daughter, aunt, and nephew. It was deliciously depraved.

‘The pretense is over,’ Alaric mused, his gaze lingering on the three unconscious forms. ‘For months, I had to be careful. Sneaking moments with Lyra, clandestine encounters with Cassandra, always ensuring Fiora remained oblivious.’

It had been an exhilarating game, juggling his relationships, maintaining the facade. Lyra, his powerful mother, reduced to his secret slut, obeying his every whim behind closed doors. Cassandra, his stunning aunt, equally enslaved, her pride crumbling piece by piece with each secret rendezvous. They had become addicted to his touch, his dominance, his cruelty, months ago.

‘But Fiora seeing… Fiora knowing… Fiora joining…’ That changed everything. The secrecy within this particular trio was no longer necessary. He could be open with them, about them. They shared this dark, intimate bond now.

He walked closer to the bed, looking down at their faces. Peaceful in unconsciousness, yet even in sleep, their bodies seemed attuned to his presence.

A new thought, a delicious possibility he’d entertained before but now saw as truly feasible, sparked in his mind.

‘Pregnancy…’

He had always been meticulous, using subtle magic, almost reflexively now, to prevent conception during his myriad encounters. His network of lovers, mistresses, and willing slaves was extensive. Unwanted complications like unplanned heirs were simply inconvenient. His official heir would come through his wife, Griselda, when the time was right.

‘But these three…’ His gaze softened slightly, possessiveness flaring hot and bright. Lyra. Cassandra. Fiora. Members of his own core family, powerful figures within the Steele clan, now utterly bound to him.

‘Having them bear my children…’ The thought sent a jolt of possessive thrill through him. Marking them not just with his seed temporarily, but permanently. Binding them to him through blood, through offspring. His offspring, carried in the wombs of his mother, his aunt, his cousin.

‘Yes.’ The decision solidified instantly. ‘The contraceptive spells stop. At least, for them.’

He considered the logistics. Getting all three pregnant simultaneously might raise too many awkward questions, even within the often-decadent Steele family inner circles. It required finesse.

‘A staggered approach,’ he decided, his mind already plotting. ‘Who first?’

His eyes settled on Fiora. Young, devoted, now initiated into his darker world. Her body was still developing, adaptable. Impregnating her first seemed… appropriate. A reward, perhaps, for her loyalty, for bringing her mother and aunt to him.

‘Yes, Fiora first. Tonight. Or rather, this cycle.’ He made a mental note. The seed he’d spilled within her during their final rounds today would be allowed to take root.

‘Cassandra…’ His gaze shifted to the stunningly curvaceous form of his aunt. ‘Her turn can come later. Perhaps in three months? Let her recover fully, let her enjoy being my slut a little longer without the… encumbrance.’ He smirked inwardly. He wanted many more nights like the last one with Cassandra and Lyra, and pregnancy, especially in the later stages, could complicate the more… acrobatic activities he favoured.

‘And Lyra…’ His mother. The ultimate taboo, the ultimate conquest. ‘Two months after Cassandra. Five months from now.’ That felt right. A culmination.

‘Fiora, then Cassandra, then Lyra.’ A perfect sequence. Three children, born close together but not too close. His secret heirs, carried by the leading women of his generation within the family.

He knew, of course, he couldn’t simply announce he was the father. That would cause chaos, scandal beyond even what the Steeles might tolerate openly.

‘Cover stories,’ he mused. ‘Unique ones for each. Plausible deniability.’ When Fiora’s belly began to swell, months from now, a suitable tale would need to be spun. A brief, secret affair with a visiting dignitary? A tragic story of a fallen knight who perished on a mission? He had time to craft the narratives. The key was that he would know the truth. They would belong to him, utterly.

He felt a surge of power, of godlike control over their fates, their bodies, their lineage.

Lyra, Cassandra, and Fiora slept on, blissfully unaware of the future he was already meticulously planning for their wombs.

With a final, lingering look at the scene of his triumph, Alaric turned and quietly left the chamber, sealing the door behind him. He needed to present a different face to the world now. The face of the diligent heir, the loving husband.

He made his way through the opulent corridors of the Steele mansion towards the wing where his wife, Griselda, resided. He adjusted his clothes, smoothed his hair, and schooled his features into an expression of calm focus, tinged perhaps with a little fatigue.

He found Griselda in her private sitting room, overlooking a tranquil garden. She was reading, bathed in the soft light filtering through the tall windows. She looked up as he entered, her expression brightening immediately, though a flicker of concern crossed her features.

“Alaric! There you are!” she exclaimed, setting her book aside and rising to greet him. “I was beginning to worry. You were gone all night… and all morning, and afternoon…”

She came closer, peering at him. “Are you alright? You look a little tired.”

Alaric smiled warmly, taking her hands in his. Her touch was soft, innocent compared to the desperate clutches he’d felt hours ago. “I’m perfectly fine, my dear. Just… preoccupied.”

“Preoccupied?” she asked, tilting her head. “With what? You missed breakfast, and lunch…”

He feigned a weary sigh, running a hand through his hair. “Ah, yes. Forgive me, Griselda. Time… it rather got away from me.” He guided her towards a comfortable sofa, sitting beside her, keeping her hand in his.

“I was training for a while,” he began, offering a partial truth, “pushing my limits. But then… inspiration struck.”

Griselda’s eyes lit up with interest. “Inspiration? For an artifact?”

Alaric nodded, allowing a look of genuine enthusiasm to enter his expression. “Exactly. Something… significant. Ever since the events at the Demon Fortress… witnessing their power, their tactics… it sparked an idea.”

He leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice conspiratorially. “A new kind of holy artifact. One that blends potent defensive capabilities with devastating offensive power, specifically tailored against demonic energies.”

He proceeded to weave a believable narrative, drawing on actual concepts he had been contemplating. “Imagine, Griselda, a mobile bastion. Something that could project a sanctuary field, purifying demonic corruption within its radius, while simultaneously being able to unleash focused beams of consecrated light or eruptive holy fire.”

He described intricate runic arrays, power source challenges, material stresses. “The core concept is sound, I believe. But the blueprint… translating the theory into practical schematics… it’s proving incredibly complex. The power balancing, the energy flow synchronization… I got lost in it. Scribbling equations, sketching components… I completely lost track of time.” He shook his head as if frustrated with himself. “Unfortunately, I haven’t cracked it yet. The blueprint remains incomplete, stubbornly resisting refinement.”

Griselda listened, utterly captivated. Her eyes shone with admiration. This was the Alaric she knew and adored – the peerless genius, constantly striving, pushing the boundaries of magic and artifice.

“Oh, Alaric,” she sighed, squeezing his hand. “That sounds… incredible! A mobile holy bastion! Such a thing could change the tide of the war!” She looked at him with pure awe. “You truly are a once-in-a-generation talent. To even conceive of such a thing…”

Alaric smiled, basking in her innocent adoration. It was a refreshing contrast. “It’s merely an idea for now, my love. A challenging one.” He lifted her hand, pressing a gentle kiss to her knuckles. “But your belief in me is… encouraging.”

“Of course, I believe in you!” she insisted earnestly. “You can do anything you set your mind to!”

He spent the next hour with her, shedding the persona of the dark master and effortlessly slipping into the role of the attentive, brilliant husband. They talked, they shared a late meal brought by servants, he listened to her thoughts on managing household affairs, a task she was surprisingly adept at. He was charming, affectionate, ensuring she felt loved and valued. The perfect picture of marital bliss, a stark contrast to the reality hidden away in another wing of the mansion.

As evening deepened into night, he excused himself, claiming the need to clear his head after the intense design work. Griselda accepted readily, urging him to rest, completely oblivious to his true plans for the night.

Alaric didn’t seek rest. Instead, he made his way to another, more secluded part of the estate – the workshops and private quarters of Iridelle Noctua.

Iridelle. Elder sister of his friend Natasha. A woman whose beauty was matched only by her intellect. And, crucially, a genius artificer whose talent rivaled his own. Their relationship was complex – colleagues, rivals, confidantes, and intensely passionate, secret lovers. He could fuck her whenever he desired, and she willingly submitted, but their connection ran deeper than mere lust. It was forged in the fires of shared intellect and ambition.

He found her in her main workshop, surrounded by holographic projections, half-assembled devices, and scattered tools. She looked up as he entered, her expression shifting from intense concentration to a welcoming, intimate smile.

“Late night, Alaric?” she asked, her voice smooth as velvet.

“The mind never rests, Iridelle,” he replied, closing the distance between them, his earlier fatigue seemingly nonexistent. He bypassed pleasantries, pulling her into a firm embrace, kissing her deeply. She responded with equal fervour, their mouths melding, tongues dancing a familiar rhythm.

After a long moment, they broke apart, slightly breathless.

“Business or pleasure?” Iridelle asked, a knowing glint in her eyes.

“Both. Always both with you,” Alaric smirked. He gestured towards her projections. “But tonight, primarily business. Holy artifacts. Defensive arrays.”

Her interest piqued instantly. “The fortress incident weighing on your mind?”

“Heavily,” Alaric admitted. “Thaleon’s likely dead. The kingdom is vulnerable. Eryndal will fall eventually. We need to ensure this place,” he gestured around them, encompassing the Steele territory, “is impregnable.”

They spent the next few hours immersed in discussion. Alaric shared his genuine ideas – not the elaborate lie he’d fed Griselda, but his actual concepts for large-scale protective barriers. Holy-infused energy shields, demon-repelling wards, curse-breaking fields, integrated offensive systems that could target demonic signatures.

Iridelle listened intently, her sharp mind quickly grasping the complexities. Her own skills had grown immensely, particularly in adapting traditional enchanting techniques for larger, more stable constructs, including holy magic applications – an area she’d delved into partly due to her association with Saintess Ceanna, facilitated by Alaric.

“The multi-layered resonance field is promising,” she mused, sketching rapidly on a data slate. “But synchronizing the holy energy matrix with the arcane power grid without harmonic interference… that’s the bottleneck.”

“Precisely,” Alaric agreed. “But what if we use phased mana conduits, buffered by stabilized quintessence?”

“Possible,” Iridelle conceded, tapping her chin. “Costly, but possible. It would increase stability, but the power draw…”

They debated schematics, energy sources, and runic sequences. Iridelle offered brilliant insights, pointing out flaws in Alaric’s initial designs, suggesting alternative pathways, refining the concepts with breathtaking speed. Together, they roughed out blueprints for several powerful barrier systems – artifacts on a territorial scale. Barriers capable of restraining demons, repelling invaders, purifying corruption.

“The materials,” Alaric noted, reviewing their combined projections, “are manageable. Between my family’s resources and our… external acquisitions,” he smirked, thinking of the treasures Margaret and Josephine would soon bring, “we can source the necessary metals, crystals, and reagents.” Their existing network of companies and trade routes ensured a steady supply for most arcane construction needs.

“But the power core,” Iridelle stated, echoing his earlier thoughts. “Sustaining arrays of this magnitude, especially under assault… it requires something potent. Something… continuous.”

“High-level magic cores,” Alaric confirmed grimly. “Preferably elemental or pure energy, untainted.”

“Quantity and quality,” Iridelle murmured. “A single Sixth Order beast core might power the primary shield for a few weeks, perhaps a month under light load. But against a sustained demonic siege? It would drain in days, maybe hours.”

“A Seventh Order core,” Alaric stated. “That’s the goal. Based on my calculations, a prime Seventh Order core, properly integrated, could sustain the full array – defensive and offensive capabilities active – for nearly six months. It would repel attacks up to the peak Archmage or Martial King level indefinitely.”

Iridelle nodded slowly. “Seventh Order… those beasts are practically natural disasters. Hunting one is perilous.”

“Perilous, but necessary,” Alaric said firmly. “And not just one. We’ll need a stockpile. Both for sustained operation and for redundancies.”

He fell silent for a moment, considering. The forests bordering the Steele territory were vast, largely untamed. Dangerous, yes, but also teeming with potential resources.

“We hunt,” Alaric declared decisively. “I’ll organize expeditions. Clear the nearby forests, establish safer zones, and harvest the cores we need.”

Iridelle looked at him, sensing his resolve. “Who will you take? You can’t strip the mansion’s defenses entirely.”

“I’ve considered that,” Alaric replied. He began outlining his plan. “The primary hunting party needs firepower, utility, and reconnaissance.”

“Myself, naturally,” he stated. ‘Grandmaster Mage rank ensures I handle any truly unexpected threats.’

“Rosalind,” he continued. ‘Peak middle stage Grand Mage. Reliable firepower, knows my tactics.’

“Saintess Ceanna.”

‘Grandmaster Cleric. Her holy magic is indispensable against potential demonic encounters in those woods, and her healing is unmatched.’

He paused, a thoughtful expression on his face. “And Brita Kuusk.”

Iridelle raised an eyebrow slightly but said nothing. She didn’t know of Brita’s affiliation with the Phantom Assembly and of Alaric’s connection with her.

‘Brita’s Master Mage rank is decent and she is quite skilled,’ Alaric thought, ‘but her true value lies in her infiltration skills, sensory magic, and… ruthlessness. Useful for tracking and dealing with hidden threats. Plus,’ a faint smirk touched his lips, ‘keeping her close allows me to monitor her.’ He pictured her long dark hair, emerald eyes, and stunningly seductive figure. ‘A useful, dangerous, and very hot asset.’

“For muscle,” Alaric continued, “Guard Captain Valerius – he’s a solid early stage Grand Martialist – will lead a detachment of our best Master level Martialists. Ten of them.”

“A strong group,” Iridelle acknowledged. “And the mansion?”

“Remains well-defended,” Alaric assured her. “Mother,” he used the term clinically, “is peak late stage Grand Martialist. Aunt Cassandra is early late stage. Fiora has reached early stage Grand Martialist recently – They have had impressive progress.”

‘Their combat prowess is significant,’ he reflected. ‘My mother Lyra especially is a force to be reckoned with.’

“They will oversee the defense,” he continued. “Supported by Guard Captains Marek and Titus – both mid-stage Grand Martialists – and the bulk of the remaining guards. Plenty of Master and Expert ranks among them.”

“It seems balanced,” Iridelle agreed. “But are the ones staying truly safe if a powerful entity does slip through?”

“For contingencies,” Alaric said smoothly. “Before I leave, I will provide key personnel – Mother, Aunt, Fiora, the remaining Captains, Griselda, even yourself – with emergency artifacts.” He tapped the blueprint they’d been working on. “Single-use scrolls, each capable of unleashing a peak Sixth Order spell. Equivalent to one of my own full-power attacks.”

He met Iridelle’s gaze. “Enough to deter or cripple almost anything short of an Archdemon, buying time for retreat or reinforcement. It should prevent anyone from being easily targeted while the main combat strength is away.”

Iridelle nodded, satisfied. “A prudent measure.”

They spent another hour finalizing the immediate steps, delegating tasks for material preparation, and refining the initial hunting routes. By the time Alaric finally left Iridelle’s workshop, the sky was beginning to pale towards dawn.

He returned to his own chambers, not the room where his exhausted lovers slept, but his official suite. He felt energized, his mind buzzing with plans – for conquest, for defense, for progeny.

The Eloriath Kingdom was falling, but the Steele Star was rising, powered by his ambition, his intellect, and the utter devotion of the women he controlled.