Demonic Dragon: Harem System
Chapter 202: I faced her, alone

Two women stood in the center of a scene of devastation.

An open field, once green and peaceful, now transformed into a grim landscape of mutilated bodies, shattered weapons, and blood. The wind blew gently, but the air was heavy with the metallic scent of iron, the distant sound of laments, and the deadly silence that follows destruction.

Their bodies were covered in wounds, yet they remained standing, breaths ragged, shoulders tense. Their hands trembled slightly, not from fear, but from exhaustion threatening to overtake them.

"It's over..." Cristine murmured, surveying the scene around them.

Her clothing was torn, bloodstains—both hers and her enemies'—decorated her slender frame. Her blue eyes gleamed with fatigue, despite the violence they had just witnessed. Yannifer, her twin, stood beside her, leaning on a short, bloodied sword, her face drenched in sweat, hair disheveled.

"Finally," Yannifer muttered, a tone of relief mixed with exhaustion. "We found it."

"It's here. Finally," Cristine said, breathless but with unwavering determination in her gaze.

Yannifer nodded, her fingers hesitating slightly before finally brushing over the lid of the first chest. She knelt slowly and, with effort, lifted the heavy top. A cold, strange air escaped, as if the chest had been sealed with some kind of mystical ice.

Inside the first chest, wrapped in black cloth with glowing arcane patterns, lay the Dragon's Heart.

Contrary to what they had imagined, it was not a gem or a carved artifact.

What rested inside was literally a heart—a robust, massive organ, gently pulsing, even outside of a living body. Its dark, thick veins glowed with a crimson hue, and its texture appeared alive. With each slow pulse, the Dragon's Heart emitted a soft, warm glow, filling the surrounding air with an overwhelming energy.

Cristine stepped closer, remaining silent for a moment, awed by the power emanating from the heart. She could feel the blood of ancient dragons flowing through its aura, as if the heart was ready to unleash its power at any moment. "It's even more powerful than I thought," she whispered, her hand hesitating before touching the pulsating surface. "It's as if it's... alive."

Yannifer stood beside her, her eyes fixed on the heart, a shiver running down her spine. "That power... It could be catastrophic if it falls into the wrong hands. Now I understand why so many died to protect this."

As the two twins reflected on the artifact, Lyana and Rogue stood guard, scanning the area. Their instincts kept them on high alert, aware that others could still be nearby. They knew the mission wasn't over until the items were safely delivered to Strax.

Carefully, Yannifer covered the Dragon's Heart again with the cloth, closing the chest. "Let's see what's in the second one."

She moved to the second chest, slightly smaller than the first but equally sturdy and wrapped in protective sigils. With a swift, practiced motion, she undid the locks that held it shut and lifted the lid.

Inside, encased in magical glass, was the Mythic Ginseng. The ancient, rare plant shimmered with a vibrant, almost ethereal green, radiating a restorative energy. Its intricate roots were intertwined harmoniously, and the long, slender leaves seemed to glimmer slightly in the light. The air around the chest was refreshing, like a spring breeze, a stark contrast to the ravaged scene around them.

Cristine stared at the Mythic Ginseng, noticing that her minor wounds were already beginning to heal simply by being near the plant. "This could heal legions," she said, her voice tinged with admiration.

Yannifer nodded, her eyes scanning the battlefield before turning to their companions. "But now isn't the time to use it. We need to get out of here and take these items to Strax as soon as possible. He'll know what to do with them."

Rogue, who had been watching from a distance with her arms crossed and a skeptical look, finally approached. "Are you sure there are no more surprises hidden around here? This convoy was willing to die to protect this. Who knows what else could be coming?"

Lyana, ever the meticulous one, twirled a blade in her hand before sheathing it. "She's right. We need to move fast. If they sent scouts ahead, reinforcements can't be far behind. And we're all exhausted. If there's another ambush, we won't be ready."

Cristine, still gazing at the invaluable relics, carefully closed the second box and stood up. "Let's go. We have no time to waste."

With that decision, the four warriors began preparing to leave the battlefield.

Rogue, always alert to her surroundings, spoke in a low voice while scanning the area. "Strange... No signs of movement. I thought we'd be surrounded again by now."

Lyana nodded but kept her guard up. "If there's more to come, they won't attack us directly. They know what we're carrying. And if we do get attacked, it won't be with the same force as before."

Minutes passed, and the tension lingered. Their hearts raced with the urgency to escape the cursed field and bring the precious items back to safety. Every sound, every breeze, seemed threatening.

"How odd... Where did they all go?" Cristine wondered aloud, knowing there were more enemies unaccounted for. The Black Association wouldn't pull back this easily.

"The General's attack did more than just destabilize the Association," Rogue said, glancing toward the distant city. "We got lucky... Really lucky."

"Or it was fate," Lyana remarked, her focus unbroken.

Suddenly.

KABOOOM!

The deafening sound of an explosion tore through the air, and the ground beneath their feet shook violently. The horizon, once eerily quiet, was now marred by a thick, chilling column of smoke rising from the direction of the city.

"Why do I feel like this is him?" Yennifer asked, her eyes fixed on the explosion. "Damn it..."

As they stared, Cristine's gaze froze, and her expression shifted to one of shock. Before her, a system message appeared:

[Danger! A much stronger enemy is attacking your Husband!]

Her heart leapt into her throat, and for a brief moment, her mind went blank. An overwhelming wave of fear and urgency gripped her body, the dread of losing Strax weighing heavily in her chest like an anchor. She barely heard Yennifer's incredulous words beside her, who was now looking at the distant city of Eldoria and muttering:

"Damn it…"

Cristine didn't respond. Her eyes were locked on the city, where explosions and thick black smoke continued to rise into the sky. Her mind raced. Strax is in danger. The words repeated in her head like a relentless mantra. Before she could fully process the situation, her legs were already moving.

"Damn it!" With an involuntary scream of pure determination, Cristine bolted toward Eldoria, the battlefield now a blur around her. "STRAX!" she yelled with all the strength she could muster, even though she knew he couldn't hear her from this distance. But adrenaline fueled every step, pushing her to move faster and with purpose.

Yennifer, Rogue, and Lyana stood behind, momentarily stunned by Cristine's sudden burst of speed, but they understood.

"He screwed up again…" Lyana muttered bitterly. "That's just how he is… unfortunately," Yennifer added, shaking her head.

Cristine ran as if her life depended on it—and in a way, it did. The path to the city was littered with debris, but she didn't stop. With every beat of her heart, only one word echoed in her mind: Strax.

The scene around her unfolded in chaos. The streets of Eldoria lay in ruins, buildings crumbling, and an eerie cold smoke clouded the sky like a shroud.

After what felt like an eternity of running, jumping over rubble, and avoiding lost soldiers caught in battle, Cristine finally reached the city's center. And there, before her eyes, was the sight she had dreaded.

In the midst of the destruction, on a patch of scorched and broken earth, lay Strax. He was on the ground, collapsed on his knees, his body exhausted and breathless. His breathing was heavy, his chest rising and falling with difficulty. His armor was in tatters, covered in dust and blood. His hands were pressed into the ground, as if using the last of his strength to remain conscious.

Not far from him, Samira was being tended to by some of Strax's other wives. Beatrice and Monica knelt beside Samira, trying to stem the bleeding from her arm. Samira appeared gravely wounded, blood streaming from several deep cuts across her body. Her face was pale, but her eyes were half-open, fighting to stay alert.

"Ah, crap!" Cristine shouted, rushing over to him. "Strax!" she called out, her voice trembling with worry. Her hands shook as she tried to cradle his face, looking deeply into his eyes. "What happened? Who did this to you?"

Strax slowly raised his eyes to meet hers. There was a mix of pain and exhaustion in his gaze, but also a lingering flame of determination. He forced a weak smile, which only made Cristine's heart ache more.

"Hey..." he murmured, his voice raspy and uneven. "I... tried... but... this enemy... they're...

different..."

"Don't talk. I'll get you out of here," Cristine said, her eyes brimming with tears. She couldn't bear to see him like this. "We'll heal you, and then we'll deal with this enemy."

Strax shook his head weakly. "No... it's more complicated than that... she... she's powerful, stronger than anything we've ever faced."

"Hey... why are you..." Cristine mumbled, trailing off as she noticed his body beginning to heal... and then, without warning, he stood up as if nothing had happened.

"You little shit..." she muttered, and Strax grinned. "Gotcha," he said, standing up fully as Samira also began to heal.

"She let me live because I'm... interesting," Strax commented, and Cristine raised an eyebrow. "I faced Kryssia... alone," he added.

"But that doesn't matter. Did you get it?" he asked, laughing slightly.

"Of course I did," she replied, still trying to wrap her head around the situation.

"Good, because if I don't absorb that dragon heart, I might actually die for real," he said, sounding far too relaxed.

[You have 30 minutes to consume the dragon heart.]