'I don't know what to think about this situation.'
[What's wrong? Don't you like having girls chasing after you?]
'I don't know. Especially since that girl seems obsessed with my appearance.'
Lamia was staring intently at his back. In fact, Enrico could feel her eyes traveling over his entire body, filled with admiration. To make matters worse, her companions were watching him in exactly the same way.
'I know she and her companions have these preferences, so I don't mind. But why is everyone looking at me like that? I know I look beautiful, but this is already too much.'
Lamia and her team weren't the only ones staring at him that way. Even the members of Elowyn's team were watching him without taking their eyes off him for even a moment.
'I think I can at least put this to some use once the second phase is over.'
[Tsk. Already thinking about using others? You're really hopeless.]
'I'd like to see you say that if you were in my situation.'
Interrupting his movements, Enrico noticed that the people behind him had also stopped, their eyes still fixed on his figure. He let out a sigh and pointed toward a huge door above them, which bore a dark flower symbol.
"Hey, you annoying Boss! Come down already so I can get this over with. I know you've been watching all of us ever since we arrived here."
A few seconds passed before a voice finally echoed from the other side of the door.
"...How interesting. You knew I was keeping an eye on you? Besides your beauty, you also possess intelligence... That's it. I've made up my mind."
A hand passed through the dark door without it even being opened. Judging by its appearance, it belonged to a female Nartheis with six red eyes, wearing something that looked more like a cloak made of smoke. Floating in the air, she slowly descended to the ground, keeping her eyes fixed on Enrico with a gaze full of lust.
Name: Lethara Rank: Faizes Level: Two High Magic: Crimson Mists Unique Ability: Abyssal Lust / ????????
"You're going to be mine."
"You're going to be mine."
Enrico raised one hand in a polite gesture, remaining calm in the face of the unexpected declaration.
"Coming on that strong already? Sorry, but I'm engaged."
"And who said I was asking...?"
Before she could finish her sentence, Lethara was caught off guard by an attack coming from her right. Lamia had charged at her, holding a whip and wearing a terrifying expression filled with contempt.
"A wretch like you doesn't even deserve to stand at her feet!"
Lamia gripped her whip tightly. As she tightened her hold on the handle, water magic emerged around the weapon, and she struck Lethara's stomach at tremendous speed.
"My dear Enrico, don't worry. I won't let her touch you."
Enrico watched Lamia position herself in front of him, his expression remaining blank.
'Dear? This appearance really is appealing to her.'
Elowyn and Elaris appeared immediately afterward, both thinking the same thing: they wanted to get the points before anyone else had a chance to do anything.
'Those points are mine!'
A golden sword struck Lethara's back, while an ice spear hit her arm, causing a mana explosion.
"You're both strong and beautiful, but I'm only interested in one girl."
Taking the three of them by surprise, several claws made of smoke solidified and grabbed them, hurling them away with tremendous force. Lethara charged toward Enrico, who was already in his characteristic stance, with his fist covered by the Crimson Gauntlet.
"Flame Impact!"
With a swift punch, Enrico made Lethara's head disappear completely. Knowing it could be a trap, he jumped backward before her head could regenerate.
A claw emerged from the ground exactly where he had been standing.
"Crescent Slash!"
"Incandescent Ray!"
"Magical Control!"
Three powerful attacks struck Lethara, completely destroying her body. However, just as with all the previous blows, her regeneration activated, allowing her to recover quickly.
"Mist Movement!"
Turning into smoke, Lethara surrounded Enrico as several claws began spinning around him, trying to grab every part of his body.
"Charged..."
Before he could finish, Enrico was surprised to see four girls appear and viciously cut through all those claws.
They were Lamia's companions.
"Let's kill her."
"Yes, she'll regret touching our work of art."
Enrico's expression somehow seemed even more expressionless.
'Why are they going so overboard?'
Lethara moved to the left, dodging the magical attacks from the four girls. As soon as she touched the ground, a large shadow appeared behind her.
Grark, in her female form, was even larger than Grakka, and her strength became evident when she managed to catch Lethara in her arms. At the same time, Deymon, with a vein bulging on his forehead because he had been transformed into a girl, launched a sphere of corruption at the Nartheis's chest.
"Mist Movement!"
Dissolving into smoke, Lethara moved upward, causing Deymon's attack to hit Grark in the waist, corrupting her skin.
"Human, cancel your magic!"
"I already know! So stop giving me orders!"
After making the corruption disappear, Deymon was caught by surprise when Lethara appeared behind him, her hands raised toward him.
"Mist Infection!"
Lethara's smoke invaded Deymon's body, making him writhe in pain and forcing him to crouch down.
Velka and Narisse tried to hit her with their magic somehow, but the only attack that managed to have any effect was the poison, which mixed with the smoke spreading through the air.
"Behind you!"
Grabbing her clothes, Enrico pulled Narisse downward, appearing quickly to get her out of reach of the claws. It seemed Lethara was trying to eliminate everyone who could affect her while she remained in her gaseous form.
"Thank you, consort."
"You're welcome... Wait, consort?"
Dodging more claws, Enrico was forced to move away from her. However, his thoughts were immediately thrown into disarray as he understood the meaning of those words.
'Damn it! Narisse wouldn't say something like that if Elowyn hadn't agreed... This is going to be difficult.'
Liam and Elian were the next to attack. They used their speed to try to hit Lethara whenever she assumed a physical form, but the Nartheis's own speed when doing so was far too great for either of them.
"Caelan, increase my speed!"
"All right!"
At Enrico's command, Caelan raised his hand and focused his magic on him, granting him the desired enhancement. Enrico turned his eyes toward Lethara and prepared to charge at his maximum speed. However, before he could take his first step, everything around him went dark for a brief moment.
The sudden change left everyone confused. Some looked around, trying to understand what was happening, while others assumed defensive positions.
"What is this?"
Enrico, however, already suspected what was about to happen. Recognizing the phenomenon, he wasted no time and warned the others:
"Get back! She's summoning companions!"
Upon hearing his warning, everyone immediately retreated. Shortly afterward, a magical explosion engulfed the area, but no one was hit. As the dust and energy filling the surroundings began to dissipate, four new enemies appeared before them.