Demonic Dragon: Harem System

Scarlet raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the chaotic fusion of auras now emanating from him. The flames around her danced, reflecting her cruel smile, but deep in her eyes, there was a spark of something else...

Respect? Curiosity? Perhaps both.

"Interesting..." she murmured. "You really want to die in style, don't you, boy?"

Strax's swords vibrated in his hands, reacting to his growing strength. His aura, though unstable, pulsed with an intensity that seemed to defy logic itself. The ground began to crack beneath his feet, and the wind swirled around him like a chaotic whirlwind.

"You're going to explode, you idiot!" Ouroboros screamed in his mind, but the voice was drowned out by the adrenaline roaring in his ears.

"Shut up!" Strax shot back mentally, gritting his teeth. "I need this! If I don't go beyond, I'll never even touch her!"

Scarlet, now visibly excited, pointed a finger at him. A fireball began to form, spinning like a miniature sun. The temperature around them skyrocketed, and even the nearby vegetation began to char.

"Then come, pup," she challenged, her scarlet hair floating under the growing pressure. "Prove to me you're more than a stubborn survivor."

[Double Assimilation]

Strax didn't wait any longer.

"Ahhh!!!" A primal roar escaped his throat as he shot forward, his swords slashing through the air in a motion that blended desperation and technique.

"Channel all the energy into the final strike!" Tiamat instructed, her voice echoing with an imperious tone.

"I'm already doing that!" Strax shouted back, feeling his blood pulse fervently through his veins. His body burned, the pain was nearly unbearable, but he didn't stop.

BOOM!

The impact between the two was devastating.

Scarlet brought down her fire-wreathed hand, meeting Strax's swords, which gleamed red and blue—like ice and fire fused into a single weapon. The collision created a shockwave, obliterating the ground in a radius of dozens of meters. Stones flew like bullets, trees were torn from the ground, and the very air seemed to vibrate with the force of the clash.

"Is this the best you've got?!" Scarlet shouted, pushing him back with brutal strength.

"Urgth..." Strax grunted, feeling the bones in his arms threaten to crack under the pressure. But instead of retreating, he used her strength as momentum.

"IT'S NOT OVER!" he roared, channeling everything he had left into one final attack.

With a swift, unexpected movement, Strax dispelled the force from one of his swords, releasing a concentrated burst of energy. The blade momentarily disappeared, allowing him to use his free hand to grab Scarlet's arm.

Her eyes widened briefly, surprised by his audacity.

"Got you!" Strax murmured with a wild grin. His aura exploded once more, forcing her to take that moment seriously.

"Tsc..." Scarlet muttered, the fire around her rising like a furious wall. "Then show me, Strax! Show me you deserve to live after this!"

The battle, which had once seemed like cruel training, was now a true duel between master and challenger.

And, for a brief second, Scarlet smiled genuinely, like someone who had finally found what they were looking for.

Strax was breathing heavily, every fiber of his body screaming in agony, but his determination burned as fiercely as Scarlet's flames. He knew he didn't have the time or strength for a prolonged fight, so he had to be bold, use everything he had... including his cunning.

Scarlet advanced like a meteor, her flaming aura distorting the air around her. Her strikes, effortless as they seemed, were overwhelming... but Strax was adapting. He dodged as much as he could, his swords deflecting her attacks just enough to avoid fatal blows.

"You're still standing?" Scarlet asked, with an almost proud smile, like a lioness watching a cub daring to show its fangs.

"I told you..." Strax panted, his sharp fangs gleaming as he glared at her with malice, "... that I wouldn't stop until you acknowledged me."

Scarlet narrowed her eyes, the smile fading slightly.

'Now's the time,' Strax thought, the plan forming in his mind.

He charged forward again, spinning his swords in a frantic motion. His blades shone brightly, creating a rain of sparks as they collided with her defenses. Scarlet blocked the strikes with ease, but this time, Strax was forcing something different. He varied the rhythm, used feints and unpredictable movements, like a dancer teetering on the edge of exhaustion.

"You think this is going to work?!" Scarlet roared, dodging another strike and preparing her next attack.

'Now!' Strax thought, throwing the Ouroboros sword at a completely unexpected angle. The blade spun through the air, momentarily catching Scarlet's attention as she blocked the projectile with a quick gesture.

It was in that instant that he lunged forward, ducking beneath her guard.

'This is going to be a problem if it goes wrong…' he thought.

When Scarlet realized it too late… Strax wasn't aiming for a fatal blow.

His free hand moved quickly, taking advantage of the smallest opening.

"Here I go!"

With a provocative grin, he firmly grabbed her left breast, like the most audacious of thieves.

Time seemed to stop.

Scarlet's face froze in pure shock, her eyes wide as she processed what had just happened.

"You…" she murmured, her voice nearly faltering.

"Got you!" Strax shouted, completely exhausted but wearing a victorious smile. "I told you I'd cause significant damage!"

The silence lasted only a second before the world exploded.

Scarlet stepped back, her face now a mixture of surprise, indignation, and something almost close to laughter. But amidst her flaming aura, Strax saw her face flush for just an instant.

"YOU BASTARD!" she roared, and an explosion of flames hit him so hard that he was sent flying backward, crashing through three trees before finally stopping.

The impact was brutal, and Strax felt every bone in his body protest… but he laughed. A rough, victorious laugh.

"I told you… I'd cause significant damage, Scarlet… I never said it was physical…" he panted, that stubborn smile still on his face.

Scarlet approached slowly, the fire around her diminishing, though her eyes still burned with fury.

"You are the most shameless man I've ever met…" she said in a low, dangerous tone. "And now… I'll make sure you pay for that."

Even lying on the ground, Strax smiled once more.

"If it's… to get… to you… it's worth it…"

For a moment, Scarlet stood still, observing him. Then, to his surprise, she smiled—a true smile, though still a wicked one.

"You're completely insane, boy…" Scarlet said, crossing her arms. "Perhaps… even more insane than I am. 'Significant damage,' yet you used my reaction as the attack."

Scarlet remained motionless for a moment, analyzing Strax with an indecipherable gaze. She was flawless, not a single scratch or sign of exhaustion on her body. Meanwhile, Strax, on the other hand, looked like a corpse on the brink of its final breath. His skin was pale, smeared with blood, his eyes barely managing to stay open, and his body… too drained to even move.

Slow, steady footsteps echoed as Scarlet began to approach, each of her movements carrying an overwhelming authority. The sound resonated like a funeral bell inside Strax's head, making him grit his teeth in frustration.

When Scarlet stopped in front of him, her shadow loomed over his fallen body. Her gaze, cold and sharp like a blade, bore down on him.

"Open your mouth." Her voice was an absolute command. It wasn't a request, nor a suggestion. It was an order.

Strax furrowed his brow, trying to gather the strength to stand, but her demonic and relentless aura hovered over him, crushing any remnants of resistance. He saw her gaze… those glowing red eyes silently saying: Don't make me repeat myself.

With no choice, and with a frustrated sigh, Strax obeyed, slowly opening his mouth. His eyes, though half-closed from the pain, still held a provocative and curious glimmer.

Scarlet said nothing. With a deliberately slow gesture, she raised her arm, revealing her pale, delicate wrist… before tearing it open with her own nails.

The sound of flesh splitting was small, but to Strax, it echoed like thunder. Her blood… thick, dark red, and vibrant… immediately began to flow. The sight of that pulsating liquid awakened something primal within him, something he could barely control.

Scarlet tilted her arm over his mouth, letting the blood drip directly onto his parted lips.

The first drop touched his tongue.

It was as if the world around him exploded into colors and sensations. The taste was indescribable—hot, metallic, yet filled with a power that seemed supernatural, burning like the fire that Scarlet commanded. Each drop felt like it was coursing down his throat like liquid lava, burning unbearably, but at the same time, healing his body, cell by cell.

Strax's eyes widened, feeling a searing pain in his chest as her blood spread through his system. It was a different, intense pain, but addictive.

"Drink, boy," Scarlet murmured with a wicked smile, watching him writhe.

Strax could no longer control himself. His body moved on its own, his lips closing around her wrist. He felt the blood flow more strongly, as if she were intentionally releasing more. The power surged like a torrent, invading him mercilessly.

"This... this is incredible…" he thought, his eyes beginning to glow a deep red, similar to hers.

The transformation, which had once been incomplete, intensified. Dark veins appeared on his face, pulsing like serpents, while his body burned with pure energy. Aching muscles regenerated, broken bones reset, and deep cuts vanished in an instant.

Scarlet watched everything with a sharp gaze, testing his limits once again.

"You should ask before you start devouring someone's blood," she whispered, slowly pulling her arm away.

Strax gasped, reluctantly releasing her wrist, the blood still staining his lips. He felt like he could destroy mountains, but at the same time… there was something different. Something dark inside him, awakening.

"What... was that...?" he murmured, his words coming out in a hoarse tone.

Scarlet smiled, licking her own wrist, which began to heal almost instantly.

"That, boy… was a gift." She leaned closer to him, her red eyes glowing dangerously. "But it was also a test. If you want to survive my training, you'll need to learn to control this."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

[You have obtained Vampire Essence (SSS)]

[You have earned Scarlet's Approval]

[Mission advanced]

Strax stared at Scarlet, still lying down, as a smile curved his bloodstained lips.

"I... could get used to this," Strax said...

Scarlet laughed, a low and cruel laugh. "Be careful what you wish for, Strax. Now... get up."

"Huh?" Strax said, confused.

"You're dirty, let's take a bath. Isn't that what you wanted?" Scarlet asked.

"Wait, what?"

Scarlet didn't repeat herself. Instead, she half-turned, her scarlet hair flowing in the air as she began to walk slowly out of the battlefield. Her presence was still overwhelming, and each step seemed deliberately slow, just to provoke.

Strax stood there, stunned. Had he finally succeeded?!

"Is she serious?" he thought, feeling a chill run down his spine. However, when the extremely demonic smile appeared on her lips, Strax was certain of one thing:

"She's not going to make it easy for me, not even in the bath, is she?" he murmured, a nervous smile forming on his face.

Scarlet glanced over her shoulder, her eyes sparkling with a dangerous mix of amusement and dominance.

"What's the matter, boy? Are you going to just stand there? Or are you too scared to face this?"

Strax swallowed hard, his nervous smile turning into something more determined.

"Hah! As if I'd refuse an invitation like that!"