Chapter 34 [Esper, Gaara and Alicia]
"Who's that woman?" Leo asked, his voice tinged with curiosity. "She seems familiar."
The other Apostles nodded in agreement, their faces scrunched in concentration. Emma's eyes widened as recognition dawned. "Wait, isn't she the pink-haired girl who took down Aether?" she asked, her voice laced with shock, still trying to shake off the enchanting effects of the music and dance.
Esper's response was accompanied by a mischievous grin, as he spoke, "Yes, they are same, who defeated your Aether, but her name is Akarya, the revered Elven Saintess and Apostle of the Our God. By attacking our Saintess, now, you understand the severity of your member's actions. Attacking our Saintess is akin to attacking the very fabric of our race."
Hearing this, the Apostles remained silent, knowing there was no point in arguing. The strength of the other party was greater, so they had to accept what the other party said. Instead, Kroner asked, "What is this special occasion, and what is its purpose, and what was that black shiny waterfall?"
"This is not an occasion but a festival. We celebrate this festival every 50 years, and it is known as the 'Asoka Worship'. We celebrate it for the 'Beginning of Our Existence' and to worship our Elven God, Asoka. Today is the starting day of the Asoka Worship Festival, and as for the black water, I also do not know what that is. After all, this will be my first time celebrating the 'Asoka Worship Festival'," Esper explained.
Just as the Apostles were about to inquire further, a haughty voice pierced the air, "Esper, you coward, hiding in the shadows as always!" The group turned towards the sound, and in an instant, a golden blur materialized before them. The streak of light resolved into a young elf with short, golden hair, hovering on a sleek, silver flying board reminiscent of the Silver Surfer's iconic vessel. The Apostles' eyes widened as they recognized the newcomer - Gaara, who had a weapon magic, and another member of the group that had bested them in battle. Gaara's confident smirk and effortless flight only added to his intimidating aura.
Gaara's voice dripped with disdain as he sneered, "Esper, what business do you have with these pathetic beings?" The Apostles' faces contorted in rage, their eyes blazing with indignation. They collectively unleashed their aura and mana pressure, creating a palpable tension in the air. Gaara, undaunted, retaliated with his own formidable pressure, directing it at the Apostles. However, just as the two forces were about to collide, a sudden, crushing might descended upon them, neutralizing their energies. The oppressive force was so overwhelming that it left the Apostles gasping for breath, like their lives hanging by a thread. Esper and Gaara, though also affected, managed to withstand the pressure slightly better than the Apostles, but their faces still betrayed their struggle.
The oppressive might was so intense that it seemed to warp the very fabric of the air, making it hard to breathe. The Apostles' faces turned ashen, their eyes bulging as they struggled to withstand the crushing force. Esper and Gaara, though more resilient, were still visibly strained, their bodies tense, and their faces set in grimaces.
As suddenly as it had appeared, the oppressive might vanished, leaving behind an unsettling silence. The Apostles collapsed to the ground, gasping for air, while Esper and Gaara stood panting, their eyes scanning the surroundings for the source of the mysterious force.
Esper, like he had sensed something, looked at the top of the guest house.
There, he beheld an otherworldly vision, an ethereal beauty with fiery red hair. Her eyes, two glittering orbs of wonder, shone with an unearthly intensity - one a deep, burning crimson, the other a rich, mysterious purple. She was none other than Alicia.
The mere whisper of Alicia's name sent shivers down the spines to most of the young elves striking fear into their hearts. It wasn't her physical prowess that inspired dread, but the enigmatic aura surrounding her personality and rumor. Her inscrutable nature had earned her the ominous moniker "little silent psycho-scientist," a testament to the unfathomable depths of her mind in a tender age of 16 years old.
Alicia's intellectual brilliance was eerily reminiscent of her grandmother's, a genius scientist of unparalleled renown. Like her grandmother, Alicia was a prodigious mind, driven by an insatiable curiosity to unravel the mysteries of lifeforms, bloodlines, and the intricacies of special physiques and souls. Her groundbreaking research spanned the birth of extraordinary races, pioneering biotechnology, and the arcane arts of martial art converters and soul receptors. Her mind was a razor-sharp instrument, capable of unraveling the most complex enigmas, and her silence was a testament to the depth of her contemplation.
What's more, Alicia's intellectual and creativity match her grandmother and mother. Her intellect was a force to be reckoned with, a maelstrom of innovation and discovery that threatened to upend the very fabric of their world.
Her grandmother was none other than Ishihara Ori Ravenrose, one of the revered Firstborn Origin Elves.
"Sister Alicia, why have you come? Has the reckoning finally concluded?" Esper inquired, his voice laced with a mix of curiosity and concern.
As Gaara and the Apostles gazed upward, their eyes landed on Alicia, and they were immediately entranced by her ethereal beauty. The Enchanting Elf stood transfixed, her gaze lost in the vast expanse of the horizon, as if beckoning the stars themselves to align in her presence. Her fiery red hair danced with the wind, a mesmerizing spectacle of crimson tendrils that seemed to defy gravity's embrace, as if the very essence of fire had been woven into her tresses.
Alicia's eyes, those two glittering orbs of wonder, shone like celestial bodies in the fading light, radiating an otherworldly allure. One eye burned with a fierce crimson intensity, a spark of inner fire that seemed to pierce the very soul, while the other gleamed with a deep, rich purple, a mysterious void that drew in all who dared gaze upon it. Together, they formed a gaze of hypnotic power, as if the very fabric of reality had been woven into her eyes.
Initially, Alicia wore a mask when they had met, but now she stood revealed, her beauty unmasked. She didn't resemble a goddess; instead, she seemed a celestial being, as if the creator of this world had personally sculpted her to embody the pinnacle of perfection.
Her presence was so captivating that even the most stunning beauties, like Emma and Blaze, felt eclipsed, their confidence wavering in the face of Alicia's ethereal charm. Alicia's charm was arousing, as Emma and Blaze felt irritation in their nether region like never before.
Alicia's allure was so potent that it left even the strongest wills bewitched, their senses entranced. The corners of Leo, Karl, and Aether's mouths began to drool, their eyes glazed over in wonder, as if they were under a spell.
Alicia's gaze swept across them, her expression a mixture of annoyance and disgust, as if their reactions were beneath her. She clicked her tongue, a subtle gesture that conveyed her displeasure at their antics.
This was not the first time she had seen this type of look. Whenever she went outside the world to travel, while disguising herself, she always got jealous, lustful, or greedy expressions from people of various races. It was not the fault of the Apostles because Alicia's charm was so high that no one could resist. She was born with 'Natural Charm'. Everyone would get attracted to her when they saw her face; it didn't matter who he/she was or what he/she was.
Alicia only found solace in the warmth of her kin's gazes. Her friends, family, and fellow elves beheld her with affection and tenderness, their eyes untainted by the weights of desire, lust, or envy.
The elves' aesthetic standards were exceptionally high, their own beauty, a benchmark that rendered them immune to the allure of charms. Yet, even among the Origin Elves, Alicia's beauty stood unparalleled, a masterpiece that surpassed the already lofty expectations of her kin.
As Esper and Gaara beheld the Apostles' flabbergasted and stupefied expressions, they shared a silent understanding. They knew that if they hadn't endured the trials of the Skyscraper and had grown up alongside Alicia since childhood, they would have slightly succumbed to her fully enchanting presence as well.
Alicia, however, felt a tinge of disgust toward the Apostles. Their inability to resist even her subtlest charm was almost... pathetic. Normally, she took great care to minimize her allure when interacting with others, toning down her radiance to avoid overwhelming those around her.
In fact, she had deliberately presented herself to the Apostles with her charm dialed down to its lowest setting. Yet, despite her restraint, they still fell under her spell, their eyes glassy and their minds entranced.
Esper and Gaara, having witnessed Alicia's controlled demeanor, recognized the effort she put into masking her true allure. They understood that her reserved nature wasn't weakness but rather a testament to her strength and consideration for others.
Alicia retrieved a black and white mask from her storage ring and donned it with a subtle smile. Instantly, the Apostles' entranced gazes faltered.
Aether's mind cleared first, his thoughts racing with alarm. "Did I just succumb to her enchanting beauty?" Horrified, he realized he had been unwittingly bewitched.
But his dread deepened as he struggled to recall Alicia's face. "System! What's happening? Why am I forgetting her?" he demanded, panic creeping into his mental voice.
"I think it's the mask," the system replied calmly. "It's interfering with your nervous system, erasing this girl images face from your mind."
Aether's mental scream echoed through his consciousness: "System, stop this process now!" But it was too late. A cold, gentle sensation washed over his mind, and Alicia's face began to fade.
As he struggled to recall her features, Aether's memories yielded only a blurry, indistinct image. "System, why is she appearing vague in my memory?" he demanded.
"Host, I underestimated the mask's power," the system admitted. "I thought your strong soul would resist its influence, but it seems I was mistaken."
Aether's inner turmoil deepened. He felt helpless, unable to defy the mask's effect. With a heavy sigh, he relinquished his struggle, setting aside his frustration for now.
Meanwhile, Karl grasped for Alicia's face in his mind, desperate to retain the memory. But despite his best efforts, her image blurred, distorted, and ultimately vanished.
The same fate befell the other Apostles. One by one, they forgot Alicia's face and her charm, their minds cleared of her enchanting presence.
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(Donated some power stone; creation is hard)
(Comments me, Who's Origin ability you like the most.)