Demonic Dragon: Harem System - Chapter 686
Chapter 686: Look Who’s Back
Ouroboros, still leaning against the wall, spoke for the first time in a low, almost hissing tone:
“Or perhaps her body recognizes something even older than authority… something primal. Predator and prey. The instinct to submit to power.”
Kali stepped forward, her gaze cold and assessing. “Hm… That would explain why her cult has survived for so long. They don’t follow an ideology—they follow fear.”
Samira snapped her fingers, amused. “So, the same principle our husband has used for centuries.” She winked at Strax with a mocking smile.
He merely arched an eyebrow. “Fear is effective.”
Scarlet laughed. “And addictive.”
Lilith looked from one to the other, trying to understand the conversation. Still pale, she gripped the chains attached to her wrists. “What are you…?” she asked hesitantly.
Tiamat snorted, a puff of smoke escaping her nostrils. “Something you couldn’t possibly understand.”
Strax, however, responded calmly. “We’re just very powerful, think of it that way.”
Lilith shivered, unable to hold his gaze for long. “You sound too strange… for someone powerful…”
“I’m just fooling around.” The answer came firm, cutting. “Everything that has power can be destroyed. You’re quite easy… are you trying to die with those phrases?”
The silence that followed seemed heavier than before. Scarlet played with a strand of hair, but her gaze was fixed on Lilith, evaluating every breath.
Beatrice was the one who broke the moment. “Stop playing with that child, you’ll end up killing her before she’s ready, she’s almost pissing herself with fear… Speaking of which, do we really need her?”
Strax nodded. “Of course, she’ll be a great help.”
Lilith lifted her head in surprise. “I…?”
“You’re the key.” He stepped closer again, until the distance between them was only a step. “You know where they are. The hierarchies. And more importantly… you know their fears.”
She shook her head slowly. “They won’t come for me.”
“Who said I’d need to lure anyone?” Strax smiled, and the air seemed to vibrate with energy. “I’m going to the main headquarters. Absolute Power conquers anything, right? I have… some dragons ready to destroy anything I ask.”
Scarlet rested her chin on her hand, enchanted. “I love it when he talks like that.”
Samira laughed. “Oh, me too. You know he’s already decided, right? The poor thing just hasn’t realized it yet.”
Lilith looked from one to the other, her eyes wide. “Are you… planning to destroy them?”
Strax replied calmly, “Are you deaf? I’ve told you several times that we’re going to overpower the demonic cult and take them all as soldiers.”
Ouroboros moved closer, his voice low as the rustle of wings. “She’s quite silly.”
Strax sighed. “That’s just how a lack of intelligence is.”
Kali smiled, a smile of pure approval. “Stop mocking a child.”
Tiamat leaned against one of the columns, bored. “She’s over thirty, what’s childish about her? Strax is even younger.”
“And stronger,” Samira added, amused. “Anyway, are we going to give her to Cristine and Yennifer? They must already have information.”
Lilith swallowed. “G-give me to someone?!”
Strax looked at her with a calm gleam in his eyes. “Quiet.”
As soon as Strax uttered the word “Quiet,” the air seemed to vibrate with silence. Lilith stood still, her lips parted, but without making a sound. The command was subtle, almost invisible—a wave of authority that crushed any impulse to resist.
But before anyone could comment, a distant crash echoed through the city.
Glasses rattled. An animal roar—low, savage—pierced the walls of Kaelthur, followed by the sound of screams and steel clashing against steel.
Scarlet, who had been relaxed in an armchair, raised an eyebrow.
“Was that… a tiger?”
Samira turned toward the window. “Or a demon with a sore throat.”
Strax sighed, already feeling the weight of familiarity in the sound. He walked to the large window in the hall and opened it in a single movement. The morning wind rushed into the room, bringing with it the metallic smell of fresh blood and the muffled roar of angry creatures.
From the balcony, he had a sweeping view of the city. Dust rose on the horizon, and in the distance, near the central square, a chaotic scene unfolded—dozens of men mounted on massive tigers, clad in tribal armor, advanced through the newly rebuilt streets.
He frowned, recognizing the emblem on their spears.
“Ah… no. Not again.”
Tiamat approached curiously. “Who are they?”
“The Beast Monarch’s warriors,” Strax replied, closing the window. “And if I know their kind well, they didn’t come to negotiate.”
A crackle of irritation ran through the room.
Samira stretched her arms lazily. “So… who’s going to kill more of them this time?”
Strax crossed her arms, glaring at the group. “Good question.”
He looked at each of the women—and one by one, the answers came.
Samira raised her hands. “I’ll pass. I’m going to bathe.” She shrugged and left the room, leaving the sound of light footsteps behind.
Tiamat let out a soft yawn, her scales glinting in the golden light. “I have more interesting matters to attend to.” And she disappeared in a flash of mana.
Scarlet stood, smoothing her hair with a lazy smile. “Men of the Beast Monarch? Insects.” She walked toward the stairs. “Not even worth getting your nails dirty.”
Ouroboros was already fading into the shadows, and Beatrice closed the book with a soft click. Kryssia simply nodded and left without a word. One by one, Strax’s wives found an elegant—or lazy—excuse not to get involved.
Only one remained.
Kali.
The necromancer let out a heavy sigh, leaning her weight against one of the columns. “Tsk… You’re all spoiled cowards.” She looked at Strax with a weary look. “I’ll go with you.”
Strax arched an eyebrow in amusement. “What an honor.”
“Don’t get used to it,” she replied coldly, picking up the staff that rested beside the door.
Strax glanced one last time at Lilith, still motionless in the center of the room, and made a brief gesture with his hand. The chains dissolved into sparks of mana, but she remained silent, obeying his earlier command.
“Let’s go,” he said to Kali, leaving the mansion.
The air outside was hot and vibrant. Kaelthur teemed with people, and the sound of drums and roars echoed from the streets closest to the square. As they walked, the two seemed oblivious to the commotion.
Strax walked with his hands in his pockets, his gaze calm. Kali walked alongside, her steps light, her staff tapping rhythmically on the ground.
“You know this city has barely been rebuilt, right?” she remarked. “And you’re already going to let it become a battlefield again.”
“If someone came seeking death, it’s polite to welcome them,” he replied without emotion.
“Yes.” Kali smiled sideways. “Kindness is a rare virtue.”
The walk to the main square was short. As they approached, the sound of battle grew clearer—screams, bestial neighs, the slashing sound of swords and spears. The crowd dispersed in panic, making room.
And then the scene unfolded before them.
Agnes stood in the center of the square, her white robe stained with dust and blood, her brown hair loose in the wind. In front of her, a dozen warriors mounted on enormous tigers formed a semicircle. The creatures roared, their claws raking the stone floor.
And behind her, her daughter tried in vain to conjure a magical shield, her hands trembling.
The Beast Monarch’s warriors wore leather and bone armor, their golden eyes glowing with fury. The one who appeared to be their leader—a tall man with tanned skin and a deep scar across his face—pointed his spear directly at Agnes.
“Where is the man who killed our people?!” he roared, his voice reverberating through the square.
Silence fell for a moment.
Agnes, wounded, looked at him with a mixture of anger and weariness. “Are you still at this…? Isn’t the destruction you caused last time enough?”
The man spat on the ground, his teeth bared. “You speak as if you don’t have blood on your hands, woman. We have come to seek justice!”
Behind him, the other warriors roared, striking their spears against their shields. The tigers roared, eager for the command to attack.
Agnes took a step forward, trying to maintain her composure, but her body trembled. The girl ran to her and tugged at her tunic. “Mother… let’s go. It’s not up to us this time! Let’s just leave.”
Before she could answer, the ground shook slightly.
Heavy footsteps echoed through the street.
People moved aside, making way when they saw who was approaching.
Strax.
His presence alone was enough to silence part of the square. Kali walked beside him, her dark eyes glowing amber.
The leader of the warriors frowned. “Who are you?”
Strax answered calmly, but his voice rang like thunder. “The man you were looking for.”
The silence was instantaneous. Even the tigers stopped growling.
Agnes turned her head quickly, relief and dread mingling in her eyes. “Strax…”
Kali, beside him, smiled slightly. “Looks like the party started without us.”
The warriors pulled their tigers back a step, and the leader gritted his teeth. “So you’re the… bastard who stopped our men from recalling Agnes?”
Strax stopped a few feet away, his golden aura beginning to emanate like a palpable heat. “Men is a generous term. After all… they died pretty easily, right?”
“Hahaha, you’re funny. Right?” He said, looking back… and seeing that he was the only one in front… the others were trembling…
“W-what?” He didn’t even have time to speak before… his tiger died instantly and fell to the side.
“I found it amusing,” Strax said, holding a rock in his hand… when the man looked… he saw the tiger’s head blown off… by a tiny pebble…
“Now, unlike before, I’m not just going to kill, I’m going to learn a little. How about you give me knowledge and take me to your Monarch? I’d love to have a few words with him.”