Harem Master: Seduction System-Chapter 237: Fight Against Seventh Order Sea Monster

The rhythm of the hunt settled upon Alaric's team. Days bled into a cycle of cautious scouting, brutal, targeted engagements, and efficient harvesting, punctuated by periods of rest, training, and Brita's steady consumption of Sixth Order cores.

They moved like ghosts along the ravaged coastline of the Suntouched Confederacy, appearing seemingly out of nowhere to obliterate Sea Monster patrols, then vanishing back into the desolate landscape before any significant retaliation could be mustered.

Their actions, though focused on resource acquisition, inevitably brought them into contact with the scattered, terrified remnants of the human population. Near the ruins of a place called Tidal Crest village, they intercepted a large Merrow raiding party attempting to drag away a dozen captured families. The fight was swift, decisive. Lyra's sunfire sword and Cassandra's azure wind blades carved through the Merrow ranks, while the mages provided overwhelming supporting fire.

Afterward, as Ceanna's clerics tended to the freed captives, Alaric oversaw the distribution of more supplies.

"You can't stay here," Alaric advised the village elder, a woman whose face was etched with sun and sorrow. "More will come. Head inland. Avoid the coast."

"Inland?" The elder shook her head wearily. "Demons encroach from the north, stranger. The Confederacy legions fight near the Sun Temples in the south against… him. Now the sea attacks from the west. Where is safe?"

It was a question Alaric had no easy answer for, nor was it his responsibility to provide one. "There are passes held by Confederacy remnants," he offered vaguely, recalling the tales of Borin Stonefist. "And pockets of resistance. Seek them out. Staying here is death."

He left them with supplies and protective blessings from Ceanna, turning his attention back to the harvested cores. His actions weren't driven by altruism, but the terrified gratitude in the humans' eyes served a purpose – it ensured they wouldn't hinder his movements, might even offer useful scraps of information willingly. They saw his group as powerful protectors, angels of vengeance, unaware they were merely predators targeting a different kind of prey.

His reputation, or rather the reputation of the mysterious, powerful group annihilating sea monsters, began to spread in hushed whispers among the coastal survivors. A flicker of desperate hope in an otherwise hopeless situation.

This growing notoriety, however, also reached the ears – or appropriate sensory organs – of the abyssal invaders.

Deep beneath the waves, in his temporary command cavern, Lord Volnaxx received the reports. Another patrol vanished near Tidal Crest. Another harvesting site cleaned out near the Shattered Reef. Always the same energy signatures reported by the few terrified Merrow scouts who escaped – fire, wind, ice, earth, shadow, lightning… and that strange, warm light that felt like poison.

"They mock me!" Volnaxx roared, the pressure wave flattening several lesser attendants against the cavern walls. His bioluminescent lure pulsed erratically, casting shifting, angry shadows. "They treat my hunting grounds as their personal larder!"

His elite guard, the Abyssal Reavers and Pressure Hulks, stood ready. The Reavers were larger, faster, more heavily armored than standard Merrow, wielding crackling abyssal energy tridents. The Hulks were like smaller, denser versions of Grok'nar, nigh-impenetrable living siege engines.

"They move north-east from Tidal Crest," reported a Reaver captain, its voice a series of clicks and pressure shifts translated by Volnaxx's magic. "Towards the Sunken Grottos. Another known harvesting area for the lesser broods."

"The Sunken Grottos…" Volnaxx's vertical maw stretched in a terrifying grin. "Excellent. A contained area. Cliffs on three sides, deep water access on the fourth. A perfect place to corner rats."

He turned to his assembled elite. "Prepare yourselves! We intercept them at the Grottos. No survivors this time. No escape. I will crush their bones myself and feast on their insignificant cores!"

A ripple of savage anticipation went through his guard. They were eager to avenge their fallen kin and demonstrate their superiority over these audacious surface dwellers.

Alaric's team approached the Sunken Grottos cautiously. Mateo, the old fisherman from Porto Pescar, and subsequent encounters had described this area as a network of sea caves and submerged tunnels known to shelter large numbers of diverse, mid-to-high tier sea monsters, especially during certain tidal cycles. A perfect location for a concentrated harvest.

"Scanners indicate high energy readings within the main grotto complex," Rosalind reported, consulting a divination tool Alaric had provided – a modified scrying orb attuned to potent life forces. "Multiple Sixth Order signatures. Possibly dozens. No single overwhelming presence detected, though."

"Standard procedure then," Alaric decided. "Mages initiate with area denial and control. Soften them up. Mother, Aunt Cassandra, you lead the charge once they're disorganized. Secure the entrance, prevent escape into the deeper tunnels."

He looked at his trainees. "Kara, Ulriya, Brita – stick to the plan. Follow Rosalind's lead. Don't overextend. Remember your defensive spells."

"Yes, Master/Young Master/Alaric!" came the chorus of replies.

They moved into position along the cliff edge overlooking the main grotto entrance – a wide, arching cave mouth opening onto a churning pool of seawater connected to the open ocean. The tide was receding, exposing muddy banks teeming with activity. Merrow patrols, lumbering Deep Crushers, several multi-headed Abyssal Hydras sunning themselves on rocks, and stranger, more serpentine shapes moving beneath the water's surface. It was indeed a rich hunting ground.

"Brita, initiate," Rosalind commanded.

Brita stepped forward, channeling her power. Not a wide-area freeze this time, but something more insidious. Tendrils of pure darkness seeped down the cliff face and into the water of the grotto pool, spreading like ink. It wasn't an attack, but a disorienting, sense-dulling field. Simultaneously, she whispered a curse of lethargy, aiming it at the sluggish Hydras.

The effect was subtle but immediate. The Merrow patrols seemed confused, clicking uncertainly. The Hydras shook their heads, looking suddenly drowsy.

"Kara! Rockslide! Block the deeper tunnels!" Rosalind ordered.

Kara slammed her staff down. The cliff face above the rear of the grotto shuddered. Rocks and earth tumbled down, sealing off the smaller, deeper cave openings further back, trapping the inhabitants in the main chamber.

"Ulriya! Blizzard pulse! Disorient!"

Ulriya unleashed a swirling vortex of freezing wind and ice shards into the grotto mouth, not aiming for kills yet, but for chaos, obscuring vision, chilling the air, further confusing the already disoriented monsters.

"Now!" Rosalind yelled, unleashing a barrage of chain lightning from her own hands and a searing blast from her Nova Gauntlet simultaneously. "Engage!"

Lyra and Cassandra leaped down the cliff face, landing gracefully on the edge of the churning pool. Lyra erupted in solar fire, charging the nearest group of Merrow commanders. Cassandra became an azure blur, targeting the sluggish Hydras before they could fully shake off Brita's curse.

The battle erupted in full fury.

Alaric watched from above, flanked by Ceanna and her clerics who began casting long-range buffs and protective fields. 'Good opening. Well-coordinated. Brita's use of subtle darkness is improving. Kara's terrain control is faster.'

The mages rained down spells from the cliff edge. Fireballs, ice lances, earth spikes, shadow bolts. Their combined firepower was formidable. The monsters in the grotto, caught between the assault from above and the two Grand Martialists carving through them at the entrance, fell into disarray.

But just as it seemed the Steele force would achieve another swift, clean victory, the atmosphere changed.

A sudden, immense pressure descended upon the entire area. The air grew unnaturally heavy, making breathing difficult. The water in the grotto seemed to compress, churning violently. A chilling cold, far deeper than Ulriya's or Brita's magic, seeped into the very rock.

"What is this?" Kara gasped, stumbling slightly under the sudden weight.

"Incoming!" Cassandra yelled, her Azure Gale Method allowing her to resist the pressure better than most, but even she felt the strain. She zipped back towards Lyra, abandoning her attack on a wounded Hydra.

From the ocean entrance to the grotto, the water bulged upwards, then parted violently. A colossal figure rose from the depths, water sheeting off its armored, segmented carapace.

Lord Volnaxx had arrived.

His multiple bioluminescent eyes pulsed with cold fury as they scanned the scene – the ongoing slaughter of his kin, the powerful energy signatures of the attackers. His dangling lure glowed with hypnotic intensity. Flanking him, rising from the water or dropping from unseen ledges above, were his elite guard – a dozen Abyssal Reavers crackling with energy, and five massive Pressure Hulks, their stony forms radiating immense defensive power.

"Surface insects!" Volnaxx's voice boomed, not as sound, but as a pressure wave that slammed into everyone, staggering the mages, forcing even Lyra and Cassandra to brace themselves. "You dare hunt the children of the Abyss? You dare trespass and steal?"

Alaric's eyes narrowed. 'Seventh Order. Definitely. And strong. That pressure field alone is potent.' His gaze flicked to the elite guard. 'Reavers look like enhanced Merrow. Hulks… mobile fortresses. This is the real deal.'

He saw Brita tense beside him, her eyes fixed on Volnaxx, then darting towards Alaric. He gave a subtle, almost imperceptible nod. This was the target she needed.

"Team!" Alaric's voice cut through the sudden tension, calm and commanding. "New primary target! Engage the guards first! Mother, Aunt, handle the Reavers! Mages, focus fire on those Hulks – aim for joints, sensory organs! Ceanna, maintain defensive wards, focus buffs on Lyra and Cassandra!"

His orders snapped everyone back into focus. The initial shock of Volnaxx's appearance gave way to battle readiness.

Lyra and Cassandra didn't hesitate. With twin battle cries, they launched themselves at the Abyssal Reavers. Lyra's sunfire clashed against abyssal tridents, golden light searing scaled flesh. Cassandra became a whirlwind of azure blades, dodging energy blasts, her wind-enhanced speed allowing her to weave through the Reavers' attacks, seeking openings. The Reavers were fast, skilled, and radiated a chilling energy that seemed to dampen Lyra's flames slightly, but they were facing two peak Grand Martialists wielding Royal techniques.

"Hulks!" Rosalind directed the mages. "Concentrate fire! Nova Gauntlets first volley, then specialized spells! Brita, slow them! Kara, hinder their movement! Ulriya, find weaknesses in their carapace!"

The mages unleashed hell. Seven bolts of explosive lightning-flame energy from their gauntlets slammed into the five Pressure Hulks. The impact staggered the rocky behemoths, scorching their thick hides, but didn't punch through.

Brita followed up instantly, enveloping the Hulks in fields of clinging shadow and freezing mist, slowing their already ponderous movements. Kara sent ripples through the ground beneath them, creating fissures and obstacles, trying to trip them or lock their feet. Ulriya focused intense lances of ice, probing for thinner sections of armor around joints or eye-slits. Rosalind directed focused arcane blasts, trying to overload their innate magical resistance.

The Hulks absorbed the punishment, their stony forms regenerating slowly from minor cracks, and retaliated with slow but powerful shockwave stomps and by spitting globules of high-pressure, corrosive slime.

While his team engaged the guards, Volnaxx focused his attention solely on Alaric, recognizing him instantly as the leader, the strongest energy signature among the group still on the cliff edge.

"You lead these gnats?" Volnaxx boomed, his lure pulsing hypnotically. "[Abyssal Gaze]" – an attempt to dominate Alaric's will, cloud his mind.

Alaric felt the mental pressure, cold and invasive, but his own spiritual energy, fortified by the System and his inherent willpower, flared. He met Volnaxx's multiple eyes, his own ruby gaze burning with cold fire. The mental assault washed over him, leaving him unaffected.

'Mental attack? Weak.' Alaric smirked inwardly.

Seeing his Gaze fail, Volnaxx shifted tactics. He raised a massive pincer. "Deep Crush Pincer!" The pincer glowed with compressed abyssal energy and shot forward with surprising speed, aimed directly at Alaric.

Alaric didn't dodge. He raised his own hand, palm outwards. "Sovereign's Aegis!" A shield of shimmering azure light, patterned with regal symbols, materialized instantly. The pincer slammed into the shield. A deafening CRACK echoed through the grotto. The Aegis held, though faint fissures spiderwebbed across its surface before repairing themselves.

"Impressive shield, insect," Volnaxx growled, surprised by the resilience. "But can it withstand this?"

He inhaled deeply, his body swelling slightly. "Abyssal Pressure Wave!" A visible wave of crushing force radiated outwards from him, slamming into the cliff face, into Alaric's shield, into the ongoing battles below.

Alaric reinforced his Aegis, gritting his teeth against the immense pressure. Ceanna screamed a reinforcement ward, bolstering the shields around the clerics and the fighting women below. Kara's earth walls groaned, cracking further. Ulriya and Brita staggered, their spellcasting faltering for a moment.

'This pressure… it affects everything,' Alaric noted. 'Constant environmental hazard.'

He decided it was time to stop observing. He needed to engage directly, both to secure the core for Brita and to prevent Volnaxx from overwhelming his team with area attacks.

"Time to dance, fish-face," Alaric muttered under his breath. He deactivated the Aegis and gathered his power. Azure light began to shimmer around him, brighter, more intense than before. The faint, ethereal outline of a majestic, winged lion appeared behind him – the 'Azure Spirit Lion Beast Essence' activated!

His speed, his power, his mana regeneration surged. He felt the connection to wind and lightning deepen.

"My turn," Alaric declared, leaping down from the cliff edge, landing lightly near the churning pool, directly confronting Volnaxx.

Volnaxx regarded him with cold curiosity. "A beast soul? Pathetic mortal tricks." He swung his other pincer in a wide, crushing arc.

Alaric blurred, enhanced speed making him a streak of azure light. He easily evaded the clumsy swing, appearing beside Volnaxx. He thrust his hand forward, palm open."Archon's Judgment!" Fueled by his enhanced mana and the Lion Essence, the beam of arcane force was thicker, more potent, striking Volnaxx's armored side.

BOOM! The impact sent Volnaxx stumbling sideways, cracking several segments of his thick carapace. He roared in pain and fury.

"You DARE?!" Volnaxx bellowed. His lure pulsed violently. "Hypnotic Lure Pulse!" Waves of disorienting psychic energy washed outwards, aimed at Alaric.

Alaric felt the mental static, but the Lion Essence seemed to sharpen his focus, cutting through the confusion. He retaliated instantly. Winter King's Grasp]! A wave of intense cold radiated from Alaric, meeting the psychic pulse, causing the very air between them to crackle and freeze. Volnaxx recoiled, surprised by the potency of the cold, his lure flickering uncertainly.

"Your tricks are useless!" Volnaxx roared, charging forward, abandoning ranged attacks for brute force.

Alaric met the charge, not with force, but with agility. He wove around Volnaxx's lumbering attacks, his movements enhanced by the Lion Essence, appearing almost like Cassandra in his speed. He struck repeatedly with smaller, faster arcane bolts and conjured blades of solidified wind, chipping away at Volnaxx's armor, targeting joints, eyes, the base of the lure.

Meanwhile, the battle against the guards raged on. Lyra and Cassandra, working in perfect sync now, had dispatched half the Abyssal Reavers, their Royal techniques proving superior. The mages, however, were struggling against the Pressure Hulks. The creatures' defense was incredible, their regeneration annoying, and their slime spit corrosive. Kara's walls kept crumbling, and Ulriya's ice lances seemed to barely scratch them.

"Brita! Focus on one Hulk! Deep freeze!" Rosalind commanded, blasting another with her gauntlet.

Brita complied, pouring her dark ice magic into a single Hulk, trying to freeze it solid from the inside out. The Hulk slowed, frost covering its form, but it resisted fiercely.

Seeing the mages struggling and needing to focus Volnaxx away from area attacks, Alaric decided on a riskier maneuver. He disengaged briefly from Volnaxx, letting the enraged Lord charge past him.

Then, Alaric turned, drawing upon his spiritual energy, focusing his intent. He combined the principles of several spells, pushing his Grandmaster limits. "Lion's Roar Soul-Shock!"

An invisible, intangible wave of pure spiritual force, carrying the faint echo of a lion's roar, slammed into Volnaxx's back. It wasn't a physical attack, but a direct assault on his consciousness, his Beast Will.

Volnaxx staggered, letting out a gargled roar of confusion and pain. His movements faltered, his connection to his immense power flickering for a crucial second.

"NOW!" Alaric yelled. "Mages, concentrate fire on the Lord! Brita, bind him!"

Seizing the opportunity, Rosalind redirected the mages. Ulriya unleashed her most potent Glacial Heart Lance. Kara sent jagged earth spikes erupting beneath the stunned Volnaxx. Rosalind hit him with her strongest lightning bolt.

Brita acted instantly. Ropes of solidified shadow erupted from the ground, wrapping around Volnaxx's limbs, his torso, his snapping pincers, binding him tightly as his mental defenses wavered. "Umbral Constriction!"

Volnaxx roared, thrashing against the bonds as the spells impacted him, cracking his armor further, drawing ichor. He was wounded, restrained, furious.

Alaric moved in, his own spell ready. Not Archon's Judgment – too destructive. He needed something to incapacitate, to paralyze, to allow for a clean core extraction. He channeled his mana, weaving a complex matrix learned from the Royal Archives, modified with his own understanding. "Sovereign's Seal of Sundering!"

This wasn't a destructive spell, but one designed to sever the connection between a being's physical form and its core energy source, inducing temporary paralysis and power suppression. Usually used on rebellious subjects or captured beasts by royalty.

He slammed his palm, glowing with intricate azure runes, onto the center of Volnaxx's chest carapace, right over where his core should be.

Volnaxx bellowed, a sound of utter rage and sudden, terrifying weakness. The abyssal energy radiating from him flickered violently, then dimmed drastically. The shadow binds held firm as his struggles weakened. His multiple eyes rolled back, the bioluminescence fading. He slumped, held up only by Brita's magic, effectively paralyzed.

Silence fell over the grotto, broken only by the sounds of Lyra and Cassandra finishing off the last few panicked Abyssal Reavers, and the mages finally shattering the immobilized Pressure Hulks.

Alaric stood before the paralyzed, bound form of Lord Volnaxx, breathing slightly heavily, the azure aura of the Lion Essence slowly fading. He had done it. Subdued a Seventh Order Sea Monster Lord without destroying its core.

Brita stared, wide-eyed, at the subdued behemoth, then at Alaric, awe and disbelief warring on her face. He had promised her a core, and he had delivered, incapacitating a being of immense power right before her eyes.

"The core," Alaric stated calmly, turning to Brita. "Is yours for the taking. Extract it carefully. We need to leave before its master," he glanced towards the ocean, "realizes his lieutenant is missing."

Miles away, trekking relentlessly across the harsh desert landscape, Shaila Bloomwater paused. Her connection to the earth, to the subtle flows of life and energy, felt a sudden, distant tremor. A spike of immense power, clashing, then abruptly suppressed. It came from the direction of the Sunken Grottos.

Her hand tightened around the pouch of potent paralytic toxins she carried. Vengeance burned in her gut.

'Volnaxx…' The name wasn't known to her, but the feeling of that specific abyssal cold, the memory of the glowing lure that hypnotized her people before the crushing pincers fell… she knew that energy signature. It was the beast that had destroyed her home, her oasis, her life.

'Someone is fighting him? Now?' Hope warred with fear. Could they succeed where the Confederacy failed? Or were they just more victims?

She broke into a run, pushing her lean frame harder, desert plants seeming to bend out of her way, the sands whispering encouragement. She had to reach the Grottos. She had to see. She had to ensure the monster paid for what it did.