Chapter 223: High Harpy (2)

Seeing the harpies charging at him, Su Lun dodged swiftly. Two bolts of electric glow shot forth.

—Thunder Strike!

Sapphire lightning instantly struck two harpies. Electricity coiled around them, making their bodies convulse uncontrollably. Ignoring these minor foes, Su Lun charged straight into the cavern.

He passed through an antechamber. Just as he was about to rush in, a sudden ripple of powerful elemental energy surged. A fireball flew toward him. With no time to think, Su Lun summoned a pale golden shield in front of him—the Energy Shield carried by the gold ring.

The orange fireball slammed into the shield and exploded. The shield flickered a few times but held firm. Using the explosion as cover, Su Lun dashed forward, entering the cave. Inside, he spotted a figure with burgundy hair and a strikingly beautiful face. Behind her slender, graceful form spread a pair of broad wings.

Tall and elegant, with pointed ears and dazzling features, she resembled a legendary elf, if not for those wings.

A High Harpy!

Once attendants to the Wind Goddess, divine creatures born in the middle to late Era of Ancient Gods, they were creations of the Wind Goddess’ children, worshipers of the wind god. But since the ancient gods vanished and demigod-level harpies died out, their numbers had dwindled drastically.

Their divine power had waned significantly; some even lost it entirely. Hence, this High Harpy was not at Legendary Tier strength.

By the fireball’s light, Su Lun saw her clearly: an enchanting beauty with delicate features, picturesque brows, and pale red eyes. Her long, burgundy hair cascaded to her waist, and her fair, porcelain-white skin held a faint glow. Just one glance stirred Su Lun with a sudden urge to reach out and touch her skin.

Her slender waist hinted at firm, defined muscles beneath a flawless silhouette—healthy, powerful, and perfectly proportional to her tall frame. From her swan-like neck to her plump, well-shaped chest, then down to her narrow waist, firm buttocks, and straight legs, the curve was impeccable.

Her large, snow-white wings half-shielded her figure. Dressed in woven feathers, without the downy fur of lesser harpies, she watched Su Lun warily.

As he charged in, wind blades materialized around her. With a pointed finger, she sent them all flying toward him.

At such close range, the wind blades moved too quickly for Su Lun to evade. Over a dozen slammed into the Energy Shield, which flickered intensely, sending ripples across its surface.

Without hesitation, Su Lun cast Magic Nullification at the High Harpy.

The High Harpy, still maneuvering the blades, felt a barrier wrap around her, cutting off her connection to elemental energy. Despite her attempts to command it, the energy gave no response. With the flow severed, the blades vanished, and Su Lun’s shield stabilized.

Stunned at losing her abilities, she froze. Before she could react, Su Lun held a sharp sword to her neck. By then, a group of harpies finally arrived. Spotting Su Lun, they surged forward.

“Tell them to stop. I know you understand!” Su Lun nudged her chin lightly with the blade.

“Stop! (Harpy speech)”

Her crisp, melodious voice rang out. The charging harpies halted instantly.

Su Lun eyed them. “Make them leave.”

Though reluctant, the High Harpy found herself cornered. Facing death, she had no choice. She ordered the others to retreat outside the cave.

“Now we can talk.” Su Lun glanced at her. “What’s your name?”

“Alexis Windstrider.” Alexis spoke with barely contained annoyance in her pleasant tone. “Is this how you treat a lady? Storm her chamber and point a sword at her neck?”

“My apologies,” Su Lun shrugged. “But with so many subjects around, it was the only way to reach you without getting captured.”

“We’ll discuss that later. For now, I’m Su Lun, Lord of Zhenbei City. You may not know that name, but I also rule Orlando City. The gray dwarves serve me now. You belong to me too,” he declared.

“I offer two choices: obey willingly, or be forced to obey.” Su Lun grinned fiercely.

“Two choices?” Alexis seethed. Her chest heaved dramatically, her curves expanding visibly from C+ to D.

“Why not?” Su Lun maintained a righteous tone. “One involves you taking initiative. The other is coercion. Two different positions.”

“The outcome remains the same, but the journey changes. Different paths yield different experiences,” he continued smoothly. “If you choose willingly, we’ll synchronize perfectly—a precise fit, very harmonious. If you pick force, well, anticipation heightens. I can try so many thrilling ideas…”

Alexis: ???

“Ahem!”

“Choose,” Su Lun prodded, sword twitching.

Alexis answered flatly. “I surrender.” Inside, she sneered. Without a contract, nothing stops me from escaping later. Free first.

“Ding. High Harpy Alexis Windstrider requests to join your faction. Do you accept?” The familiar System prompt sounded.

“Accept!”

Alexis’s name instantly appeared under “Heroes” in Su Lun’s interface. He checked her stats.

Her Loyalty sat at a wretched thirty points—a clear sign of betrayal’s imminence. But Su Lun expected this. How perfect—a stunning, powerful High Harpy spellcaster, meeting all my needs for a maid: beautiful, efficient, and resilient.

He retrieved the Self-Created Hero Template from his Storage Space—the same one he’d used on Chris, the succubus. Tapping Alexis’s forehead with the glowing orb before she could react, he chose “Use.”

The ball exploded into starlight and fused with her.

“What is this?!”

Alexis tensed, instinctively flinching. But magically suppressed and held at sword point, she was helpless. Starlight engulfed her body instantly.

“Ding. You used the Self-Created Hero Template on High Harpy Alexis Windstrider.”

“Template activating. Choose traits (talents).”

Drawing from prior experience, Su Lun selected immediately. “Elemental Affinity!”

“Template detected target’s affinity for wind. Affinities fused: upgraded to Greater Wind Affinity!”

Su Lun’s eyes brightened. Improved Greater Wind Affinity? Perfect for spellcasters.

“Choose hero skills!”

“Wind Tornado.”

“Target masters wind spells. Possesses Greater Wind Affinity. Wind elemental potency increased.”

“Selection complete. Hero Template locked.”

Starlight merged into Alexis’s body for minutes before dissolving. Looking baffled, she met Su Lun’s gaze.

“How do you feel?” he asked with a smile.

“Stronger,” Alexis murmured, uncertain.

He snapped his fingers, lifting the Magic Nullification. “Test it yourself.”

Nodding, she now obeyed without resistance. She waved a hand, wind blades swirling into existence. On her fingertip’s command, they danced nimbly before flying at the cave walls. With a soft chink, they cut through jagged stone like tofu.

“Such power!” Alexis stared, wide-eyed. The blades’ impact doubled. Summoning, controlling—she felt effortless mastery now.

She tested other wind magic, avoiding intensive spells. Every wind elemental spell surged in strength. Non-wind spells flowed easier, unchanged otherwise.

“Testing complete. Time for the next matter.”

“Yes, Master,” Alexis nodded.

“I depart the Underworld soon. You and all harpies come with me. Keep them obedient.”