Now completely overtaken by the demonic nature born from her Mystic Eyes, the woman before him had become like a mad hound tracking its prey, her eyes feral, her voice muttering terrifying words as she searched for Alaric's whereabouts.
"Kill… kill… kill…"
All traces of her former divinity had vanished, replaced entirely by a frenzied, chaotic malice.
She now resembled a beast that had fallen into madness, and the sinister aura emanating from her made one's skin crawl.
Alaric wasn't the only one who sensed this presence; everyone on the island could feel it.
From within the temple, Alaric detected two other entities, ones even more divine than the crazed woman, rapidly approaching her location.
'Those must be her two sisters,' he thought quietly.
'In that case, before they arrive, I should subdue this terrifying creature first.'
He raised his staff, brimming with magical energy, and pointed it at the rampaging woman.
"Greater Monster Immobilization!"
The power of magic descended upon her.
Despite her innate resistance to spells, Alaric's overwhelming magical force instantly paralyzed her body. She froze, unable to move a muscle.
Even for one with formidable magic resistance, his spell took effect.
A demigoddess, restrained for even a single second, that was more than enough.
In two swift strides, Alaric closed the distance between them.
He pressed his palm gently against her back.
"Eternal Stasis."
Compared to Monster Immobilization, this spell also bound the target, but only through physical contact. Ordinarily, it was considered a rather impractical spell.
Most mages lacked the physical strength to engage in close combat with monsters or melee fighters.
They preferred to maintain distance to avoid danger, making such a touch-based spell nearly useless in real battle.
However, for those rare individuals who mastered both magic and martial prowess, Eternal Stasis could be an excellent weapon, just one touch to completely incapacitate an opponent.
The problem was that this spell was of the Eighth Circle, a level of mastery far beyond the reach of most mages, let alone those who split their training between spellcraft and combat.
Thus, for most people, this spell was as good as worthless, Those who could use it dared not to, and those who dared could not.
Still, despite its drawbacks, the spell's advantage was immense: its binding power was absolute.
Once ensnared by Eternal Stasis, the target would enter a state of complete suspension, time itself would cease to flow for them.
Their bodily functions would halt; they would not age, nor could any force harm them until the spell was lifted.
In simple terms, it was a magical version of cryogenic freezing.
Under its effect, the woman instantly turned into a living statue.
Like the stone victims of her own petrifying gaze, she stood completely motionless.
The difference was, unlike those brittle victims, she wouldn't shatter upon touch, and she could be restored.
Just as Alaric was about to take further action, two figures appeared before him.
They were not ordinary people. At first glance, they seemed to be two young girls, each barely over four feet tall.
Hmm… two girls?
But these were no mere children.
Their divinity was unmistakable, as was their divine aura.
Like the first woman, the two possessed cascading violet hair that reached below their knees.
Unlike her mature style, however, theirs was tied into adorable twin ponytails, giving them a youthful charm.
Combined with their delicate faces, amethyst eyes, and petite frames, they looked every bit the part of perfect.
Yet that was only their appearance.
The air around them betrayed their true nature, there was nothing childlike about the presence of these two goddesses.
They wore off-shoulder white gowns trimmed with black lace, with matching black-and-white lace headdresses that added an oddly enticing contrast between purity and temptation.
The leading goddess exuded a refined, mature elegance utterly at odds with her youthful appearance, every gesture and glance carried the poise of a noblewoman.
Though the two looked identical, it was instantly clear she was the elder sister.
The other goddess beside her was different, lively, mischievous, her bright eyes glinting with cunning playfulness.
Despite her childish appearance, she radiated the energy of a true maiden.
With one holding the grace of a lady and the other the vitality of a girl, these twin sisters were, to mortal men, the very embodiment of divine temptation.
Yet at this moment, both looked anxious.
Their gazes darted between the frozen woman before them, whose blindfold had come undone, her Mystic Eyes sealed only by Alaric's magic, and the human who had caused it all.
Their expressions brimmed with worry.
Before Alaric could speak, the elder goddess addressed him first.
"Mortal, you dare trespass upon this island and raise your hand against my sister. Have you prepared yourself for divine punishment?"
Though her words carried reproach, her tone remained graceful and measured, like a goddess gently chastising a commoner.
The younger goddess's playful voice followed.
"That's right, that's right! A mere mortal daring to offend a goddess, it's an unforgivable crime!
Hey, you! Yes, you! Even if you… um… look that handsome… bullying my sister is absolutely not allowed!"
Alaric nearly sighed.
'Seriously? She hesitated because she thinks I'm handsome? Are all Greek goddesses this lovestruck?'
Suppressing his exasperation, he responded calmly.
"Even now, you cling to your posture as 'goddesses'? You've already sworn yourselves to the Goddess of the Weave, yet here you are, shouting at her emissary. How willful of you."
The moment his words fell, both sisters paled in shock.
"W–what? The Goddess of the Weave's emissary?"
"You mean… you?"
Their divine eyes swept over Alaric, studying him intently. After a long silence, the elder sister finally spoke.
"My apologies, Messenger. I am Stheno, the 'Lady of Strength.'
It was I and my two sisters who pledged ourselves to Lady Hecate and called for her aid. But forgive my caution, Messenger, how can you prove your identity?"
"You're right, Sister," the younger goddess chimed in.
"I'm Euryale, the 'Lady of Flight.' And the one you've just captured is our foolish little sister, Medusa.
She may be useless, but she's still our beloved sibling! Even if you are… mmm… charming and cute, I can't just forgive you for catching her, you know?"