Demonic Dragon: Harem System

Elizabeth charged like an arrow, her dark aura enveloping her body like a living storm. The ground beneath her feet seemed to wither as she moved, and the air around her grew dense and heavy. Her shadows undulated, as if they had a mind of their own, spiraling chaotically toward Scarlet.

Scarlet remained still at first, a carefree smile on her lips. Elizabeth's shadows formed long, sharp blades that cut through the air toward Scarlet. At the last moment, flames erupted. A sudden explosion of red and gold fire engulfed Scarlet, dissipating the shadows before they could touch her.

"Interesting..." Scarlet murmured as she took a step back, still smiling. "You're starting to entertain me, princess."

Elizabeth didn't respond with words. Instead, her shadows instantly reformed, taking the shape of multiple tendrils that lashed out like whips toward Scarlet. They moved too quickly for normal eyes to track, each one seeking a vulnerable point on the older vampire's body.

Scarlet raised one hand, and her flames swirled around her like a protective barrier. The tendrils struck the fire, but they didn't retreat. The shadows pressed forward, fed by Elizabeth's relentless determination, and slowly began to invade the fire barrier.

"You're using something new... something unstable," Scarlet said, her voice almost maternal, as if scolding a child. "This won't work against me."

Scarlet stepped forward and raised both hands. A wave of fire exploded, sweeping across the field and burning everything in its path. Elizabeth was pushed back, but her shadows curled around her, shielding her from the scorching heat.

"Don't underestimate my control," Elizabeth said, her voice firm but with a slight tremor that betrayed the effort needed to resist Scarlet's flames. "I'm no longer that child you could ignore."

The shadows around Elizabeth began to writhe more intensely, gaining an ominous glow. They became denser, as though materializing physically. Suddenly, a black spear emerged from the darkness, speeding toward Scarlet.

Scarlet dodged at the last moment, the projectile grazing her face and embedding itself in the ground behind her. She raised an eyebrow, visibly impressed. "Not bad. But it needs more power."

Elizabeth wasted no time. With a quick gesture, another spear appeared, followed by a third and a fourth. Each one moved as if it had a life of its own, chasing Scarlet as she moved with supernatural grace, her flames blocking or destroying each attack.

However, one spear managed to get close, tearing the sleeve of Scarlet's dress. The vampire paused for a moment, eyeing the small tear with a mix of surprise and irritation.

"You ruined my favorite dress," Scarlet said in a low, threatening tone. "Now I really have to teach you a lesson."

The flames around Scarlet intensified, becoming brighter and more intense. They began to spiral, forming a cyclone of fire that rapidly expanded, forcing Elizabeth to retreat. But the princess didn't yield. Her shadows solidified, forming a black barrier that blocked the attack, though with visible difficulty.

The confrontation became a chaotic dance of fire and darkness. Elizabeth's shadows moved like serpents, trying to surround Scarlet, while the vampire's flames cut through the air like sharp blades, burning everything they touched. Each attack seemed fiercer than the last, and the battlefield began to reflect the level of power from both sides.

The ground was cracked and scorched where Scarlet's flames had struck, while Elizabeth's shadows left marks of black energy, like scars on the earth. The spectators stood in complete silence, some holding their breath as they watched the duel unfold.

Cassandra looked at him, concerned. "Do you think this is going too far? Elizabeth seems... different."

"Scarlet knows what she's doing," Strax replied calmly. "She's testing Elizabeth. And for now, she's enjoying it."

Daniela, however, seemed to be reveling in the spectacle. "This is amazing. I've always wanted to see Mom really use her flames against someone worthy. Elizabeth is holding up more than I expected."

Belatrix, on the other hand, had a malicious smile on her lips. "My mother is playing with her. That's the scariest part. When she starts taking the fight seriously, it'll be a massacre."

Back on the field, Scarlet finally stopped moving, allowing Elizabeth's shadows to surround her. "Let's see what you're really capable of," Scarlet said, as her flames slightly dimmed, concentrating in her hands.

Elizabeth seized the opening and channeled all her energy into a final attack. Her shadows rose like a massive wave, advancing toward Scarlet with overwhelming force.

Scarlet smiled, her expression as confident as ever. "Time to show who really controls this fight."

With a swift motion, Scarlet launched her flames upwards, forming a pillar of fire that pierced through Elizabeth's wave of shadows. The impact was so intense that a shockwave spread across the field, forcing the spectators to shield themselves.

As the smoke began to clear, Scarlet was still standing, her aura glowing with renewed intensity. Elizabeth, though clearly exhausted, didn't retreat.

"You did well," Scarlet said, her tone more serious. "But it's still nowhere near enough."

Elizabeth clenched her fists, her determination shining in her eyes. "I won't stop... until you acknowledge my strength."

Scarlet laughed, a low sound full of satisfaction. "Then come, princess. Show me what else you've got."

The moment Elizabeth launched into another attack, the ground around them suddenly shook with a deafening roar. An explosion reverberated through the castle corridors, echoing through the foundations and causing the floor to tremble. Dust and small fragments of stone began to fall from the ceiling, and many of the guests watching the fight instinctively looked around, alarmed.

Scarlet immediately halted her movement, her sharp eyes narrowing as she gazed at the castle. Elizabeth also hesitated, her attack faltering as both tried to discern the source of the disturbance.

"An explosion?" Elizabeth murmured, confused, her shadows still swirling around her.

Scarlet slowly lowered her arms, the energy around her dissipating, though still visibly active. "Interesting," she said casually, though there was a dangerous gleam in her eyes. "It seems we have more spectators than we expected."

Strax, who had been watching the duel with apparent amusement, immediately turned his attention to the castle. He squinted, focusing on the muffled sounds of screams and hurried footsteps now coming from within. "This is new," he said, his voice tinged with curiosity but also caution.

Cassandra was the first to react, her expression serious. "Something's happening in the lower floors. This isn't an accident."

"Clearly not," Belatrix added, smiling slightly, as if she found the situation amusing. "Someone had the audacity to cause a commotion in the middle of a party full of powerful vampires. Brave... or extremely stupid."

Daniela, on the other hand, seemed more irritated than worried. "I knew this party was going to be a pain. Now we have to deal with this? What a waste of time."

Strax, arms crossed, smiled faintly as he watched the fight. "Elizabeth is showing something new... and Scarlet is loving it," he murmured, almost to himself.

As the guests murmured among themselves, the king, who had been watching the duel with moderate interest, rose from his makeshift throne on the field. His expression was dark, and he raised his voice for everyone to hear. "Guards, investigate immediately! I want answers now!"

Scarlet cast a glance at Strax, her lips curling into a dangerous smile. "It seems the fun will have to wait. Let's see what's happening down below."

"You're going to leave the fight unfinished?" Elizabeth asked, trying to mask the irritation in her voice.

Scarlet laughed, stepping toward the princess. "Oh? You want to continue?" She smiled at Elizabeth.

In the heart of the destruction, a hooded figure stood, rising like a dark specter, surrounded by an oppressive aura heavy with dark energy. In its hand, a pulsating blade made of pure dark magic seemed to breathe, emitting an unsettling vibration that filled the air around it. Debris still fell from the recent explosions, and the scent of blood and dust hung thick in the atmosphere.
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"Proceed with the plan," the figure ordered, its cold, authoritative voice cutting through the silence between sporadic explosions. Around it, other hooded figures moved swiftly and precisely, positioning magical seals along the stone walls. Each seal glowed with a sinister light, as though drawing in the very essence of the environment.

"We're almost done," one of them responded, their voice filled with tension. "The structure won't hold for much longer."

The main figure turned slowly to face a large iron door at the end of the corridor. Its eyes, hidden beneath the hood, were fixed on the destination, and its expression was a mix of determination and urgency.

"We need to find the artifact before they catch up to us," it murmured, more to itself than to the others.

Sensing the increasing instability around them, it raised the blade, and the dark aura surrounding it intensified. "Activate the final seals and begin the next stage of the plan," it ordered, its voice echoing like a death sentence.

The hooded figures nodded in unison and quickly dispersed, while smaller explosions continued to shake the castle's foundations. Each seemed to know exactly what to do, moving with lethal precision toward their shared goal.

The main figure walked up to the door at the end of the corridor and ran a hand across its weathered surface. Ancient symbols were etched into the door, pulsing with energy that seemed to resist its presence. It pressed its lips into a thin line, furrowing its brow.

"Finally," it whispered, a note of macabre excitement in its voice.