Lucius, deeply concerned, was about to leap forward to confront the enemy. Yet, he was immediately restrained by Isolde.
"Stay calm, Lucius. Melina is not a feeble woman who can be easily subdued. Just watch from here," Isolde advised with a serious expression, firmly grasping her younger brother's shoulder.
"Alright, sister." Taking a deep breath, Lucius nodded in understanding, reassured by his sister's calming words.
Hovering in mid-air, the man who had previously unleashed a sonic shockwave punch noticed something peculiar about the remnants of Melina's body, which he was certain had perished.
"Wait a minute, why is there no blood from that wench's remains?!" he muttered lowly, sensing the oddity of his opponent's situation.
His brow furrowed deeply as he observed Melina's body fragments suddenly transform into a cluster of intensely cold ice particles.
Within mere seconds, the ice particles coalesced seamlessly, reforming into Melina's entire body without any missing parts.
This unexpected event left the man astonished and captivated simultaneously, prompting him to comment with pure admiration:
"Elemental Embodiment. I never thought such a legendary power truly existed!"
"I've heard rumors about a high-ranking Combat-Sorcerer from the SSA army who defected to a secretive, global radical organization. You are Frederic Arnault, aren't you?"
Melina exhaled a frosty breath and conjured a pair of massive ice wings on her back. Recalling something, she immediately queried the middle-aged man before her to confirm her suspicion.
"Hmph—you're quite the knowledgeable wench. But unfortunately, you must die now!" Frederic intensified the sonic shockwave around his feet and shot towards Melina at the speed of sound.
"Tornado Burst!" Along his flight path, Frederic spun with high velocity, channeling high-intensity sound waves throughout his body.
The ear-piercing noise, capable of deafening, reverberated across the entire island.
Quickly, Isolde formed an ice spear with an exceptionally sharp and long blade. Utilizing molecular control, she hardened the ice to match the toughness of tungsten.
Thanks to her molecular control, her ice spear also had the capability to conduct energy.
Melina channeled a substantial amount of mana into the entire ice spear. Then, within a fraction of a second, she converted the mana energy into electrical energy.
High-voltage, high-intensity electricity, bluish-white in color, surged from the back end to the spear's tip.
With a forward thrust, Melina unleashed a concentrated lightning wave, resembling a massive laser with a thunderous roar.
"Damn!" Frederic cursed in frustration, sensing the terrifyingly destructive power of Melina's lightning attack.
But having no other choice, he was forced into a direct clash, using his tornado-shaped sonic wave attack.
The two attacks collided, resulting in a massive energy explosion that dispersed the clouds across the vast sky.
"Urrgghh—so strong!!" Frederic grumbled in frustration, his brow furrowing tightly as he felt the immense pressure from Melina's lightning laser.
Melina's face remained cold and expressionless as she spoke to her enemy:
"I've spent too much time on this. Therefore, I will end it now."
Swiftly, the mana embedded in Melina's lightning laser intensified. Then, the lightning laser transformed into a colossal ice lightning dragon, exuding an intimidating presence.
"Polar Lightning Dragon Charge!" Melina shouted, unleashing the massive ice lightning dragon to engulf the sound wave tornado along with Frederic.
"Da—mn," Frederic muttered weakly as he was helplessly overwhelmed by Melina's giant ice lightning dragon.
His entire body charred black from the lightning, and then instantly frozen by the ice power of the colossal ice lightning dragon.
Enveloping her entire body with electrical energy, Melina grasped the ice block encasing Frederic. Then, like a bolt of lightning, she darted downward, landing gracefully before her three masters.
"Excellent work, Melina. Are you alright? You're not hurt, are you?" Lucius stepped forward, offering sincere praise while subtly inspecting her exposed skin, albeit unintentionally.
Receiving such focused attention flustered Melina, who was known for her icy demeanor. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
"I-I am fine, young master. Thank you for your concern," Melina stammered slightly, appreciating Lucius's attentiveness.
Unaware of her reaction, Lucius simply sighed in relief. He then removed his cloak and draped it around Melina's shoulders.
"Wear this; your attire is too revealing," Lucius remarked gently, adjusting the cloak to fit her form.
Witnessing this charming interaction, both Celestia and Isolde smiled warmly, feeling proud of Lucius for his considerate behavior.
"It seems our Lucius isn't as cold-hearted as rumored," Celestia whispered softly into Isolde's ear.
Isolde nodded enthusiastically, agreeing wholeheartedly with her mother's sentiment.
Shortly thereafter, several classic sedans arrived, ready to transport them to the main Manor located on the northern part of the island. Lucius, along with his sister and mother, settled into the back of one vehicle, while Loretta and Melina shared another.
Nyx, meanwhile, was tasked by Isolde with escorting Frederic to a secure location in the island's underground prison for future interrogation.
Half an hour later, after traversing long stretches of asphalt and navigating numerous turns and inclines, they finally arrived at the main lobby of the Duskbringer family manor.
Liora and Eleonora stood side by side at the entrance, awaiting their arrival as though welcoming honored guests.
"Hello, girls! Are you well?" Celestia exited the vehicle, greeting Liora and Eleonora with a cheerful wave.
Isolde followed suit, exclaiming in delight as she ran to embrace the two women.
"Auntie, Leona! I've missed you both so much." Isolde exchanged warm kisses on the cheeks with them, displaying affectionate intimacy.
Lucius, witnessing his sister's unexpected display of warmth towards others outside their immediate family, was momentarily taken aback, his eyes widening in surprise.
Feeling somewhat overlooked, Lucius stood quietly, observing the quartet of women as they conversed animatedly before inviting all the guests inside, including Melina and Loretta.
In the spacious living room, four women sat facing each other on two sofas, with the mothers sharing one sofa, and Eleonora and Isolde occupying the other.
Meanwhile, Lucius found himself wedged between Celestia and Liora, feeling the warm, smooth, and soft sensation of the mature women's thick thighs pressing against him on either side.
"Why do I have to sit here?" Lucius wondered, slightly perplexed by the situation.
However, having grown accustomed to living with uncertainty, Lucius felt no awkwardness, even in such a seemingly inappropriate setting.
"Oh, you possess such firm and strong quadriceps, my dear. Besides, you're far more handsome in person," Liora remarked, rubbing her thigh against Lucius's in a playful and somewhat sensual manner, as she offered her sincere compliment.
The woman even winked at him flirtatiously, teasing Lucius.
Observing Liora's behavior, Lucius merely smiled and replied softly, "Thank you, beautiful auntie. You also have soft and supple thighs." He winked mischievously, following the flow of conversation that Liora had set.
Feeling a strong flutter in her heart, Liora unhesitatingly offered her praise. "Wow, now that's the kind of man I like. Straight to the point, without beating around the bush." She nodded enthusiastically, then continued, glancing sideways. "Celestia, I've slightly changed my decision. How about I become your son's secret lover?"
Hearing Liora's declaration left everyone utterly shocked, except for Celestia.
Caught off guard, Eleonora accidentally sprayed the tea from her mouth onto her mother's face.
Taking the initiative, Lucius raised his right hand and snapped his fingers, enveloping the splattered tea in a violet aura before it reached Liora beside him.
In an instant, the entire spray of tea vanished without a trace.
Liora's eyes sparkled with admiration as she witnessed Lucius's swift action to protect her. "You're so thoughtful, darling," she exclaimed enthusiastically, flashing a sweet smile. "By the way, have you ever dated anyone?" she inquired curiously, gazing directly into Lucius's eyes.
"Not at all. However, I have often engaged in relationships with numerous high-ranking noblewomen from other worlds to secure various types of support," Lucius explained in greater detail, meeting Liora's gaze with ease.
Liora was about to speak, but was abruptly interrupted by Eleonora, who was growing increasingly exasperated. The shocking revelation from her mother had left her reeling.
"Mother, why have you suddenly changed like this?" she retorted, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Am I really expected to be engaged to your clandestine lover? Isn't that a violation of societal norms?" Her words were assertive, yet her face betrayed a deep-seated frustration.
"Fufufu—don't be so irritated, my dear. I understand this might seem somewhat wrong if we were ordinary people. However, all of us here are direct descendants of ancient Sorcerers and Sorceresses, beings who possess exceptionally long lifespans, or can even achieve immortality if they can transcend the limits of time and space," Liora explained calmly, her voice exuding authority and composure. Her posture was upright as she addressed Eleonora, whose stern expression began to soften.
Raising her teacup, Liora took a delicate sip before continuing her explanation with a convincing demeanor:
"That is why the laws and norms of ordinary humans do not apply to people like us. Fundamentally, ancient Sorcerers and Sorceresses are superior in every aspect compared to mere humans."
Celestia, who had been silent until now, joined the conversation with a gentle tone. "What Liora says is the truth, and it is something you must accept, my dear." She sighed softly, continuing with a serious expression as she gazed directly into Eleonora's eyes. "Even incestuous relationships are considered acceptable among high-ranking Sorcerers or the descendants of the highest-ranking Sorcerers, who have transcended the physical limitations of the mortal realm."
"That is why the ancestral residence of the ancient Sorcerous family is situated far from the settlement of ordinary humans," Liora continued, her timing impeccably precise. "Even so, the forbidden liaisons among high-ranking Sorcerers and Sorceresses have become an open secret, more readily accepted as they are not bound by the absolute restrictions that ordinary humans face."
Noticing Eleonora lost in thought, Isolde took the initiative to steer the conversation towards more engaging topics, discussing the latest trends and events.
For over half an hour, the four women engaged in lively gossip, covering a myriad of subjects both within and beyond the context of the engagement.
Feeling a tad restless, Lucius excused himself to unwind. Liora promptly instructed a servant to guide him to the manor's upper-floor balcony.
Upon reaching the top, Lucius seated himself in one of the chairs, gazing at the breathtaking view of the white sandy beach, where the turquoise waters intertwined with patches of bright blue along the shore.
With practiced efficiency, a nearby servant presented a cup of tea and an assortment of premium snacks for Lucius to enjoy while admiring the surrounding beauty.
∆∆∆
At the heart of the Duskbringer family's private island stood a grand altar, lined with pure silver and adorned with exquisite ornaments. At its center lay a massive pale blue egg, perched upon a low pedestal with a soft cushion beneath it.
The egg emanated a brilliant glow, casting a blue light that was paradoxically both hot and warm, capable of freezing and melting the solid materials around it.
Suddenly, the pale blue aura surrounding the egg intensified. Moments later, the light concentrated on a single point atop the egg, erupting into a broad-beamed laser of pale blue that shot skyward with lightning speed.
Every Sorcerer and Sorceress on the island felt the immense energy radiating from the pale blue light. Some of them immediately darted toward the epicenter where the laser originated.
---