Demonic Dragon: Harem System

"The atmosphere of this place is unlike anything I've ever experienced..." Strax remarked, his voice laced with curiosity and caution as he walked alongside his wives.

Unlike Scarlet's territory, which he hadn't had the chance to fully explore, the vampire capital exuded a unique strangeness. There was a striking contrast: the streets were well-lit by magical lamps emitting a cold, silver glow, yet certain areas remained submerged in deep, impenetrable shadows, as if defying the very concept of light.

Though the environment seemed safe at first glance, Strax could feel the danger in the air. It was almost tangible, as if the walls and shadows were watching, waiting for a single misstep. And it wasn't just the walls; he could feel the weight of thousands of eyes on him. Vampires of all kinds stopped what they were doing to stare. Some watched with curiosity, others with restrained hostility, and a few with a sort of dark fascination.

"The capital really does have a unique charm, doesn't it?" Cassandra commented, glancing at Strax with a smile.

"'Charming' isn't exactly the word I'd use," he replied, adjusting his collar, still feeling the weight of the stares.

The place was an intriguing blend of elegance and antiquity. The architecture was stunningly gothic, with towering spires, intricate stained glass windows, and elaborate arches that seemed to defy time itself. Each stone seemed to carry centuries of history. On the perfectly aligned cobblestone streets, vampires moved with an air of ease. Many wore casual clothing, but it wasn't uncommon to see others dressed in more traditional attire, as if time held no meaning here.

Luxurious carriages pulled by vampiric horses glided silently through the streets, almost as if floating. Shops and taverns bathed in soft light created a curious contrast between tradition and modernity. On one corner, a vampire musician played a violin, the haunting melody filling the air with hypnotic melancholy.

"It's strange," Strax continued, his eyes scanning every detail around them. "Everything feels... perfectly harmonious, yet at the same time, there's this constant sense that something is out of place."

"That's the essence of the capital," Belatrix said, perched on her horse. "Here, everything is a game of appearances. Nothing is as it seems, but everything must seem perfect."

"You're exaggerating," Daniela muttered, rolling her eyes. "But it's true there's a certain... tension in the air. We are in the heart of vampire power, after all. Everyone here has something to prove or hide."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"What are you staring at? Go to hell!" Daniela's voice echoed through the street, sharp with irritation as she glared at a group of vampire women whispering and laughing among themselves. The sudden outburst drew Strax's attention, and he turned to see Daniela standing with her hands on her hips, clearly ready to test anyone's patience.

"Tsk. This is why I hate going out," Cassandra muttered disdainfully as she adjusted her hair. "These idiots keep staring at me like I'm some kind of rare specimen."

Strax let out a low chuckle, but as he looked around, he noticed the palpable tension in the air. The stares came from all directions. Vampires halted in their tracks, fixing their gazes on the group. It wasn't just curiosity; it was a mix of fascination and discomfort. And while the men's focus was clearly on Scarlet, Cassandra, Daniela, and Belatrix, the vampire women seemed even more intrigued by him.

Strax noticed how the vampire women—of all ages and types—whispered among themselves, some blushing lightly while others let out nervous giggles. He could even hear the accelerated heartbeats of some, even from a distance. A few sighed discreetly, while others openly stared, their eyes shining with a mix of excitement and interest.

"Well, it seems our husband's popularity transcends species," Belatrix remarked, a sly smile playing on her lips as she observed the women attempting to conceal their fascination with Strax.

"You ladies may attract attention, sure, but don't forget—I'm irresistible," Strax joked, adjusting his collar with an air of exaggerated confidence.

"Arrogant," Scarlet muttered, rolling her eyes, though a faint smile tugged at her lips.

Suddenly, a low murmur began to spread among the vampires farther away.

"Hey, isn't that them?" one vampire whispered, his voice barely audible, but Strax's keen hearing caught it effortlessly.

"Yeah... it's them," another replied, his voice laced with nervousness. "Vermillion... Looks like they're here for the princess's banquet too."

The mention of the banquet drew even more attention. The whispers grew louder, and Strax realized the stares weren't just out of curiosity anymore. There was a mix of reverence and fear.

"Ah, great," Cassandra huffed, crossing her arms as she glanced around. "Are they going to keep whispering like idiots, or are they going to say what they want?"

"Calm down, sister," Daniela replied with an amused smile. "They're just surprised. After all, it's not every day they see vampires of our caliber..."

While the women's conversation flowed, Strax felt his mood rapidly deteriorating. He could sense the lecherous stares of some of the vampires around them, blatantly fixated on the women in the group. It deeply irritated him. No matter how much they tried to hide it, Strax's sharp aura detected every filthy glance and poorly disguised intent.

"I'm going to kill them all…" he thought, his fists clenching involuntarily as his patience wore thin. A sickening sensation began to well up in his chest—a mix of fury and possessiveness. The very idea that anyone would dare covet what was his was insufferable.

The men, clearly aware of Scarlet's presence in the group, tried to hide, averting their gazes whenever possible. But their intentions had already been noticed, which only fueled Strax's growing displeasure.

Finally, one of the vampires—a nobleman dressed in expensive clothes and over-the-top accessories—couldn't resist stealing another indecent glance at Cassandra. That was all it took for Strax's blood to boil. His eyes locked onto the vampire with devastating intensity, his aura radiating a contained fury that seemed to suffocate the air around him.

The nobleman, feeling the weight of that gaze, froze in place. Time itself seemed to stop. His eyes widened, and he began trembling, unable to look away from the predator staring him down.

Strax stepped forward, moving slowly, his calm demeanor laced with menace. The silence around them became deafening. When he finally stopped just a few meters from the nobleman, he leaned forward slightly, as if evaluating a lesser creature.

"What a disappointment…" Strax murmured, his voice low but dripping with disdain. He straightened, looking down at the vampire as if he were nothing more than dirt on the ground. "Pathetic."

The impact of his words was immediate. The nobleman stumbled backward, completely consumed by fear. His knees gave out, and he collapsed onto the ground, clumsily trying to crawl away. The terror in his eyes was unmistakable, as if he were staring at a beast about to devour him.

"Already causing trouble?" Scarlet asked, though there was a faint smile of satisfaction on her lips.

"Trouble?" Strax replied, not taking his eyes off the trembling vampire. "I'm merely educating a worm who doesn't know where to look."

Belatrix, standing nearby, let out a short laugh. "I think he's learned his lesson, hasn't he?" She glanced at the nobleman, who looked as though he might faint.

Cassandra and Daniela had also taken notice of the situation, but rather than intervene, they simply watched with mischievous smiles. It was clear that none of them cared about the nobleman's fate; if anything, they seemed to be enjoying the spectacle.

"Let's keep moving," Scarlet said finally, shaking her head. "We can't waste time on this kind of scum."

Strax shot the nobleman one last withering glare before turning away. "Consider this a warning," he said, his voice low but laden with a menace that chilled the air around him. "If I catch you or anyone else trying something again..." He left the sentence unfinished, but his sharp gaze was more than enough to convey the severity of his promise.

As he turned his back and resumed walking alongside Scarlet and the others, the silence in the plaza was suffocating. But just as Strax began to calm, he felt something. A subtle tremor in the air. His eyes narrowed, his expression hardening. Something was coming his way with incredible speed, its force tearing through the air and creating small whirlwinds in its wake.

"So predictable," he thought, his instincts sharpening.

Before the object could reach its target, Strax vanished, dissolving into a gust of wind. In the blink of an eye, he reappeared a step ahead, his hand firmly catching the object that had been hurled at him. It was a black sword, dense and pulsating, as if alive, emanating a dark energy that made the air feel heavier.

He held the blade between his fingers, examining it for a brief moment before lifting his gaze to the one responsible for the attack. His expression, initially calm, darkened, becoming almost predatory. The air around Strax began to shift, growing thicker and charged with electricity.

"I tried to be polite," he said, his voice low and icy, carrying a weight that made even Scarlet raise an eyebrow in interest. "Out of respect for my dear Scarlet, I was holding back." He tightened his grip on the sword, the blade beginning to crack under the sheer force of his hand. "But since you insist…"

Strax's aura began to grow in an oppressive surge, expanding in waves that instinctively forced the vampires in the square to retreat. Some fell to their knees, unable to withstand the invisible weight now dominating the atmosphere.

Two of his abilities awakened simultaneously. [Hunter's Presence], the very essence of an absolute predator, spread like an unseen shadow, engulfing the space and flooding the senses of the vampires around him. They felt as though unseen eyes were piercing their souls, analyzing their weaknesses, hunting them like prey.

At the same time, [Progenitor's Aura] emerged, a force carrying the supreme authority of a being destined to rule. It was as if the very world acknowledged his position, bending to his unquestionable will.

The two abilities began to intertwine in a chaotic yet harmonious dance. A crushing power filled the area, blending the lethality of the hunter with the sovereignty of a ruler. A new skill, born from the very core of Strax, pulsed with unprecedented might.

[Absolute Dominion].

This ability made the atmosphere around him hum with energy. It wasn't just an aura or presence—it was a territory that bent to Strax's will. Within it, he was the sole predator, and everyone else was prey. Vampires who had only trembled moments ago now struggled to breathe, crushed by a force beyond comprehension.

Strax's sharp gaze turned toward the source of the thrown sword. A group of noble vampires was huddled on a balcony above, frozen in terror. Their glowing eyes betrayed a primal fear as they stared at the man who now dominated the entire square.

"So…" Strax began, his voice echoing across the plaza like distant thunder. He shattered the sword in his hand as if it were made of glass, letting the fragments fall to the ground with a piercing clang. "Who's going to test my patience next?"

No one answered. There were no whispers, no defiant glares, no signs of resistance. Silence reigned supreme. Even the guards nearby hesitated, unable to move or speak.

Scarlet crossed her arms, watching the scene with an amused smile. "You have a knack for attracting trouble," she remarked casually.

Strax turned to her, his expression softening slightly. "Trouble? I'm just showing them what happens when they dare provoke me."

"And terrifying half the capital in the process," Belatrix muttered, trying to stifle a laugh.

"Most of them deserve it," Cassandra added, clearly satisfied with the spectacle. Read exclusive content at empire