Demonic Dragon: Harem System

The ground was still smoking where Tiamat and Ouroboros had collided. Broken rocks, charred trees, and even reality itself seemed cracked, bleeding splashes of wild mana. It was as if the world was still trying to remember how to hold itself together after the presence of the two ancient dragons.

Now, in human form, they walked side by side.

Tiamat wore ceremonial robes forged from golden scales and ethereal fabric, which floated around her body like a living halo. Each step seemed to shift the air like waves on a sacred lake.

Ouroboros, in stark contrast, was barefoot. Her black hair snaked around her head, as if it had a will of its own, and her cloak seemed to be made of night itself - shadows sewn with the light of stars that had already died.

Strax took a few steps forward, his eyes still shining with the remnants of the Draconic Gaze. His muscles were tense, his body vibrating with resonant mana, but his mind was already drifting away from the battlefield.

He took a deep breath.

"The Spirit Realm... is no longer a problem." His voice cut through the silence like a clean blade. "We've finished what we came here to do. Time to go home."

Scarlet narrowed her eyes, suspicious. "Are you sure? Is everything really settled?"

"Yes... for now." Strax replied, raising his eyes to the sky, where translucent veils of spiritual energy still floated like fragments of a forgotten dream. "With the restoration of the Spirit Realm, we have gained the support of the Elf Realm. And despite the internal conflicts, we now have a real ally."

Daniela crossed her arms, pondering, "What about the problem with your ancestor? He's the one who sealed the spirit realm, are the spirits okay with that?"

"It's contained." Strax replied firmly. "But don't think that makes us allies of the Spirits. They're too old to trust... and too proud to forgive. At most, they'll remain neutral. And frankly, that's what I prefer. Avoiding interfering directly with them is already a form of respect."

He let out a long sigh, his gaze turning to the east. "Now... it's time to get back to the plan. We need to free Nyx. And then Kallamus and Lithara."

Beatrice stepped forward, her voice carrying a weight of caution. "I agree. Counting on them in the war against the gods would be a dream... but unlikely. Better to focus on what's within our reach. Although..." She hesitated, "I'm still afraid of one thing."

Strax arched an eyebrow, anticipating. "Nyx."

Beatrice nodded. "She's never been reliable. Even as Xenovia's hired spirit, she's always given me the creeps. There's something about her that escapes comprehension."

Strax smiled, one corner of his mouth curving up in an almost resigned expression."I have my doubts too. But so far, she hasn't done anything to warrant real suspicion. During all those years serving Xenovia, she acted loyally... even when it was unnecessary. That says something."

"Or it says that she's waiting for the right moment." Cassandra added, crossing her arms with a somber expression. "What if that moment is now?"

"Then we'll deal with it." Strax replied firmly. "If she breaks trust, she'll pay the price. But... if she's sincere, as I hope she will be... then Nyx will be a powerful ally. And now, more than ever, we need all the allies we can trust."

A heavy silence fell over the group after Strax's words. It was the kind of silence that required no explanation - everyone there knew what was at stake. Each breath seemed to measure the weight of the next step, the risk of the next decision.

It was then that Daniela arched an eyebrow, letting out an almost bored murmur, but loaded with irony:

"Are we going to pretend there isn't a stalker goddess listening to all this?" she said, pointing with her thumb over her shoulder, without even turning her face.

All eyes followed the gesture - and there, half-hidden among the shadows of a partially burnt tree, with the subtlety of a wildcat stalking its prey, was her.

Artemis.

The Goddess of the Hunt. The Silent Huntress. The one who dared to spy on a circle of ancient dragons as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

She didn't even try to disguise it.

He just leaned his body slightly to the side of the tree, with a bow resting on his shoulder and an audacious smile on his lips. As if to say: Yes, I was listening. So what?

Bellatrix let out a low whistle, amused. "You've got to admit... you've got to have some balls to snoop around a bunch of dragons."

"Or no survival instinct." Cassandra added, crossing her arms and looking at Artemis like someone assessing a curious insect.

Beatrice just rolled her eyes. "Is someone going to do something or is she going to keep acting like a shadow in the corner of the room?"

Strax sighed, massaging his temple. "Artemis... do you want to join in or are you going to keep pretending you're invisible?"

The goddess took two steps forward, stepping out of the shadows with the grace of a feline, her expression still light - but her eyes, as always, as precise and cold as blades.

"Just observing." she said, her tone calm and full of ulterior motives. "I confess it's... fascinating to see up close how you talk about freeing forbidden entities like someone choosing spices for dinner."

"Do you want to have a say too?" Scarlet asked with a slight growl in her voice, the scales on her neck rippling like embers about to ignite.

Artemis raised his hands slightly, as if admitting to trespassing - but without a hint of regret in his eyes.

"D-Sorry..." he said, although his tone sounded more teasing than truly contrite. "I was curious when you mentioned Nyx. That primordial bitch is like me. A traitor to Olympus. A former goddess with a thirst for freedom... I couldn't help but eavesdrop."

Bellatrix let out a dry laugh. "Calling Nyx a whore... it's going to rain blood today."

Strax crossed his arms, watching Artemis with an indecipherable expression. Then he replied in a firm, direct voice:

"She's become a Spirit. And she's being treated like a familiar," he said, looking the goddess of the hunt in the eye. "But I intend to give her a body soon. Something stable, free, and with access to the mortal world."

He took a step forward. "What do you think of that, Artemis?"

The goddess arched an eyebrow, staring at him for a moment in silence. The wind played with her silver hair, and her eyes shone with a mixture of defiance and veiled admiration.

"I think you're playing with dynamite in a temple of gunpowder," he said without hesitation. "But I also think... that no one has ever dealt with Nyx the way you are. Maybe she'll respect you for it. Or devour you whole."

She shrugged, as if accepting either option.

"Or both."

Scarlet growled something incomprehensible under her breath. Cassandra just watched, arms crossed.

"Oh, good. Another woman with authority issues taking an interest in him." Daniela muttered.

Beatrice raised an eyebrow. "Shall we queue up?"

Artemis smiled with that dangerously charming air of someone who knows they've stepped onto forbidden ground, but doesn't intend to back down.

"I'm not interested, if that's what you're thinking," she said lightly. "I just want to see where this story ends... And if it ends with the world still existing."

Strax took a deep breath, his gaze returning to the horizon. "What the fuck have I gotten myself into?"