"To think you'd nearly let her consume you," Avarice critiqued as he started flying for himself.
"How was I supposed to know? Viraa said the spider's bite wouldn't affect me, so I played along. I didn't think she'd actually be trying to eat me."
"You have some nerves, I give you that," Za'Fia complimented. "The building would've already been on fire by now..."
"I had half a mind to destroy it too," I stated as I swiped my clothes, checking for any more spiders. "But I figured that'd start tension between our crest and theirs. Hopefully, the hole in the ceiling won't tick them off too much."
When I glanced back at Avarice, I saw his jaw was set. He wasn't taking the constant reminders of our weakness on this planet very well. To be placed back at the bottom must have been very frustrating for him. I had to admit it was starting to bother me too...
The next biome we visited was unexpectedly vibrant and lively, even outside the city. On the way there, we even saw a glimpse of the Sacred Guardian, a giant bat-winged goat resting along a hillside. It had some pink-dyed hair in its beard, which I found kind of adorable.
Not long afterward, we reached the edge of the city. This place, let me tell you, lived up to its name, Partis. It was a large city designed to lure in those who sought out the "nightlife". Given the evening time of the day, I'd say we were arriving just in time to see what its nighttime vibes were.
According to the brochure, the Succubus Crest consisted solely of women, and Partis had a strict matriarchal governance that placed women's value above all else. It received most of its wealth from the Crest Head's global and interplanetary fans who purchased stuff like merchandise and tickets. There were various musical artists there as well, but the Crest Head was by far the greatest and most popular among them, explaining the Succubus Crest's 1.4 trillion spendil worth. Being a city with nearly 200 million people, Partis was among the largest areas within Pneuma City, which probably explained why the crest was so large, consisting of 2,500 pneumarians and 708 klevonians.
Out in the far distance, I could see a large stadium with a hologram of a succubus projected over it. Tons of people were flocking toward it in celebration of a celebrity. The closer we got, the louder the music from the street speakers grew.
"They really want everyone listening to the music..." I remarked as we flew. I rubbed my temple as I suddenly felt a bit dizzy, but ignored it, because we heard a shriek from somewhere nearby. It sounded angry, yet sorrowful, but also full of frustration. The sound of splashing water also followed it.
When we landed at the source, we saw two klevonian girls sitting at a poolside, except there was sand around and inside the pool, and dead, dried husks of men floating or lying around them.
One of the girls was sitting with her feet dipped into the pool. By Avarice's account, she was a devilish beauty who went by the moniker "Drought Kiss," or, more appropriately, Lovian. She had long, black hair that flowed down her back, pointed ears, a tail, bat wings, and matching black-and-red horns. She wore a revealing bathing suit that showed off her flawless skin. Lovian was a 3-star threat with a transformed EQN of 468,974,500. She had the Suna eutierric cintracy and a temp one called Moisture Absorption. I realized she was likely one of the Crest Head's personal guards.
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Not one. The. She is the only personal guard for this crest. Sebil is known to be very particular about who she wants as her guards, Viraa relayed.
The other was a lower-ranking klevonian whose makeup was runny as she shrieked again and kicked an unconscious male into the water. Her name was Lamia.
Lovian used her power to drain more water out of boredom, turning it into sand that piled higher onto the husks.
"Falling in love with a vakumite wasn't smart. They don't love like us," Lovian said as she flicked some sand off her shoulder nonchalantly. "It also wasn't smart to put a bounty on his head. That's one of the Void Celestial's men. If something comes of it, it could become an incident that puts us in the middle of it."
"I knowww...But, I didn't know what else to do..." Lamia sobbed. "Hopefully, Sebil won't be upset. So long as it doesn't ruin her concert."
"Relax, it shouldn't. Crete's not stupid enough to let any of his members take on the contract. Your biggest concern should be what you'll do once the Neutral Corp comes for you." Lovian sighed and kicked her feet in the water. "That's for Sebil to deal with now. You'll be staying by my side until her concert's over. That way I can make sure you don't do anything else stupid."
What's going on there? I asked Viraa.
I am not certain, but a big name was mentioned. Perhaps it is best we not involve ourselves in the matter.
Yeah, you're probably right, I said before continuing our track toward the stadium, which was also the crest house.
As we flew over the sea of people and landed on the stadium roof, we witnessed the concert below. I felt the dizziness again. Each of us did.
Be careful. Steel your minds. The music is imbued with Sebil's power to draw in the young. Being so close to her, you each will have to concentrate to resist the lull of the music.
"The dizzying migraine aside, I quite enjoy this raw energy," Avarice stated with admiration as he viewed down. "And the Crest Head makes it all the better. She's quite the enchantress. Even more so than the dragon," he said, winking at Za'Fia provokingly.
When we looked over, we both couldn't object. Sebil was stunning in every aspect. Her pink dress glittered with power as she hovered over her fans mid-song. Her skin was speckless, her cheeks flushed, and her pointed ears fluttered in the wind in the cutest way. Even her horns were polished. She certainly embodied the "Idol of Desire" epithet. She had two temp cintracies, which, in combination, made her very dangerous: Succubus' Kiss could force anyone she kissed into servitude, while Vibrant Allure gave her the ability to influence others who were caught in her spirit energy subtly. As a 3-star threat with a high EQN of 518,980,000 and a voice that resonated through you, I could see why she was worshipped.
Za'Fia's natural beauty had always been unmatched, but Sebil had an almost divine elegance about her that made it impossible to look away.
Remember my warning. Steel your minds. Viraa insisted. Her sacred gift, Supernatural Beauty, makes her very captivating. It will only make her other abilities more effective.
When the Sebil noticed us as she performed, she winked, acknowledging us. That was all it took for me to know that it was a bad idea to meet her privately. With great effort, I pulled my attention off of her and looked down at the crowds.
Thankfully, I noticed something that caught my attention. Several creepy, shadowy figures were blurring through the crowds.