Chapter 153 - A Controlled Mind
If he hadn\'t intervened, hat last attack Violeta launched would have most likely killed her.
"A-Apollo! Thank you…" Xineen said, giving a weakened nod. In her eyes was immense gratitude. Although she put up a strong front, she was truly scared. She understood she wasn\'t Violeta\'s match. Throughout the whole ordeal, she prayed someone would come to her aid.
"There is no need for thanks, it is simply within the description of what I signed up for," Apollo shrugged. At the same time, Typhir appeared, taking a look at the scene. When his eyes fell on Violeta, a trace of disgust entered his eyes.
\'This disgusting wench gives me the same vibe as Claire. She is no good,\' Typhir surmised, shaking his head.
Subsequently, he approached Xineen. Based on what he saw, he understood there was some relation between Apollo and this girl. So, he offered his assistance, "Take this pill and recover some of your energy. You\'re at a level that\'ll damage your body. If you\'ve never run out of reserves, it\'s no surprise you\'d be oblivious to this fact."
However, Xineen was hesitant. This unfamiliar face was handing her a strange pill. How did she know it wasn\'t poisoned? Alas, Apollo interjected, "It\'s okay to take, he is trustworthy."
On the other hand, Violeta didn\'t appreciate the fact she was being ignored. She was being treated as if she was air, "Hello, don\'t you see me standing here? Also, that gir- Oh wait, did she say, Apollo? Aren\'t you the boy I\'m looking for," Violeta giggled.
Now that she realized who Apollo was, she took a step forth with a half-coquettish aura. She walked with a sway of her hips towards Apollo, however, once again, Typhir stepped forth but this time with a hostile posture.
With his hand placed on the hilt of his blade, he peered at Violeta, "I advise you to take a step back, distasteful woman. I can tell from your aura there is nothing good about you. I suggest you leave this place before it becomes your grave," Typhir threatened.
For a moment, her expression fell but quickly recovered, "Oh? I don\'t have any business with you, what I want is him. You wouldn\'t come between him and me, now would you?"
As Violeta spoke, a pinkish gleam flowed from her eyes. Like her aunt, she was using the Carnal Eyes of Bewitchment to sway Typhir. Although it could be used on the same sex, if their orientation wasn\'t obscure, then it wouldn\'t be as effective as it was on the opposite sex.
At first, it seemed Typhir was unaffected but then something changed. Despite having an unfavorable opinion of the girl before him, he couldn\'t deny the state of her body. While her curves weren\'t the best he had seen, they were still pleasant to the eye.
Not to mention, even though he was a Spirit Cultivator, his mind wasn\'t exactly his strong suit. Hence, unsurprisingly, he stepped aside allowing her to proceed toward Apollo.
\'This technique is just as Aunty said. If you dress in a way that stimulates the lust of the opposite sex, then the chances of hypnosis increase drastically. This young man has a strong aura yet he still fell victim to my bewitchment. I like this feeling of power; of dominance,\' Violeta smirked, licking her lips in an unsettling manner.
Meanwhile, Apollo spared her a fleeting glance. Although he wasn\'t very amused by the situation at hand, he was surprised to find someone of Typhir\'s stature stuck in what seemed to be an emotional haze. Unlike an illusion technique, the ocular technique Violeta allowed the one affected to retain their senses, however, their mind would fall under their control.
Therefore, instead of an illusion technique, this was more along the lines of mind control. Additionally, it was one that preyed on the emotions of the victim. As such, it wasn\'t a very easy situation to remedy nor was it easy to avoid. There was only one way to do so—to become emotionless.
Unfortunately, that was easier said than done. To be human was to be a creature of emotion. A good example of this was Typhir\'s current situation. His hand previously grasping his blade fell to his side. Afterward, he looked at Violeta with both a subservient as well as lustful gaze.
"Madam, what is it you need me to do? After I do so, you will reward me right?" Typhir questioned, locking his sights on Violeta\'s body. Under the control of the technique, even his speech patterns changed.
\'Hoh? Very interesting, his aura seems to have turned irregular. It has reached a point that even my Tainted Temple finds satisfactory. I should look into this matter further,\' Apollo thought, glancing at the subtle actions between Typhir and Violeta.
"Yes, do me a favor and seize that boy. Once you finish that task, I will reward you handsomely," Violeta gave a coquettish giggle, flaunting her feminine appeal.
"Consider this matter accomplished," Typhir answered with a confident smile. As he turned and met Apollo\'s gaze, he unsheathed his sword, before continuing, "I suggest you surrender for my mistress, lest I lob off those limbs of yours. That way, your escape will be sealed!\'
In response, Apollo remained silent, pushing Xineen behind him. \'I don\'t have time to deal with this...it\'s a waste of time.\' Apollo thought, signs of aggravation appearing on his features. The whole point of him coming here was to fulfill his commissioned task and continue on his journey.
This current situation was far outside his estimation. When it came to the information of his peers and their techniques, he was more than lacking. Before he left, he should have sought information from Kayn to make ample preparations for an ordeal like this. After all, while stronger than he was before, he wasn\'t impervious.
"No, I suggest you lower your weapon and break free from her grasp. Is your mind so weak that a subpar female can control it with a trivial technique? If so, you\'re a letdown," Apollo retorted with vicious words.
As a result, Typhir\'s aura seethed. Immediately after, he dashed forth at an incredible speed. However, Apollo responded in kind, sprinting towards him as well. But, as far as Apollo\'s actions went, while moving forward, subtle signs of the Dark Mind technique festered in his eyes.
If her mental technique was capable of affecting Typhir, then in his eyes, so could his. Regrettably, there was a conflict. Not only did his attempts fail, it only served to further incense Typhir.
He rose his greatsword and performed a horizontal slash that caused a distortion in the atmosphere. Even though it was a simple physical force, it was so great it caused this phenomenon. Upon witnessing this, Apollo crossed his arms before his body, absorbing the blow.
Although he retreated a few steps as a result and lost some feeling in his arms, Apollo stamped his foot, advancing once again.
"Stand down. Don\'t needlessly throw away your life. You can\'t defeat me," Typhir bellowed. In light of his changing pressure, strange markings appeared across his arm. Once again, he swung his sword, but this time, a thunderous sound rang in everyone\'s ears. An eerie silence followed after albeit only for a moment.
The thick obstructive cloud formed by his attack was cut in half. Behind it, an infuriated Apollo stood. Much like him, strange markings originating from Apollo\'s heart stretched down his arm. Furthermore, his eyes blackened instead of turning a deeper shade of purple.
In addition to this, if one looked closely, they\'d realize Apollo\'s arms experiencing unsettling growths. A guttural voice escaped his lips, "Since you can\'t solve this situation on your own, allow me to pummel some sense into you."
\'Fwoosh!\'
An afterimage was left in place of Apollo\'s previous position upon making his move. An instant later, a harrowing explosive sound resounded followed by an obscenely large formed in the ground but a shocking scene remained inside it.
Different from what Apollo expected, Typhir didn\'t just remain standing after that blow, he completely blocked Apollo\'s powerful blow fueled by Hellfire. Around his blade was an obscure aura that seemed both formless and rigid!
"To think you\'d make me wield my Intent...you shouldn\'t have done that," Typhir uttered with a daunting smirk.
\'BOOM!\'