Demonic Dragon: Harem System

The silence was absolute, an unsettling peace that felt impenetrable yet suffocating at the same time. Strax found himself in an undefined space, where the ground was as soft as clouds and the sky appeared like a canvas of deep gray and blue, without stars, without any reference to time. The air was thick with an energy he couldn't comprehend, yet it pulsed around him, as if the very space he was in were alive. He was there, but he didn't know how, and a strange sense of not belonging overtook his body. He tried to move, but his steps were light, as if the space around him absorbed his actions.

Before him, a large table was formed, made of glowing stone that reflected a soft light. Majestic and imposing figures sat around it, discussing something urgently. Strax, as if in a state of distant observation, could only catch fragments of their words. He didn't know where he was, but his instincts told him he was in a place of great importance. He could feel the authority of those present, a force that seemed to transcend any power he had ever faced.

The figures at the table didn't seem to acknowledge his presence. They continued speaking as if he were invisible, and the words flowed between them like a powerful current.

"We can't wait any longer. Tartarus is opening once again, and its strength grows with each passing day," a deep voice said. The energy emanating from the figure who spoke was terrifying and enveloping, but Strax couldn't identify the person. He did, however, recognize the name that the voice uttered.

"Tartarus… once again?" Strax thought, trying to understand, but something was preventing him from fully grasping it. He didn't know what it was, but there was a strange force in his chest that seemed to pull him toward the scene.

The next voice was softer, feminine, but carried an authority that cut through the air.

"We need a solution, and quickly. The mortal world is vulnerable, and we can no longer rely on our immortality to save us from the horrors to come," said the woman, and Strax, even without knowing why, felt a deep sense of familiarity in her voice. Her tone was filled with concern, and he realized that the conversation was taking a much more serious turn. He tried to understand what was happening, but the feeling of not belonging in that space was growing stronger.

The woman stood up, and though Strax was still unable to clearly see their faces, he noticed the shine of her hair, pink as the petals of rare flowers. Her beauty was overwhelming, but more than her appearance, there was an aura surrounding her, an aura of purity and strength.

"We need vessels, mortals who can carry our essence, our powers. We need them to protect ourselves. Only then can we fight against the growing darkness of Tartarus," the woman said. Her voice carried a deep sadness, as if she already knew that her words would not be enough to calm the fears her followers felt.

"And the humans?" asked a male voice, with an impatient tone. "They are nothing more than tools. What kind of resistance can they offer?"

"Their bodies are fragile, but their souls… can be molded," the woman replied, a hint of hope hidden in her words. Strax didn't know why, but something in that moment gave him a sense of connection to her. She seemed to understand what was happening, as if she were at the center of a much larger battle than anything he had ever experienced.

"We can't wait any longer," the deep voice spoke again. "If the vessels aren't found, if the apostles aren't made, it will be the end of all of us. Tartarus will not forgive weakness."

Strax, feeling the growing weight of their words, tried to focus, but dizziness overtook him. His vision blurred for a moment, and the scene around him began to distort. He tried to hold on, but the sensation of floating and drifting away from reality was immense. Yet something kept him there, as if he were a mere observer.

The woman with the pink hair seemed to now be looking directly at him, or perhaps beyond him. Her eyes were closed, but Strax could feel her energy, as if she knew he was there.

"The humans don't know, but they will have to make choices. We cannot wait, but they may have the power necessary to help us," the woman said, her words sounding like a soft spell.

But then, a deep voice cut through the tension. "We need a plan. We can't just choose who will be worthy. We need trials, tests. Who will decide this?"

"I..." The woman with pink hair hesitated before replying. "I... will choose the most worthy. And we will create the tests, we will make these humans strong enough to fight."

Strax heard the words, but they began to distort as a sense of inevitability surrounded him. He didn't know why, but something inside him resonated with the idea of choice. It was as if he knew, in some way, that he was connected to it, in a way he couldn't fully understand.

And then, amidst the sound of voices continuing to discuss, he heard a word that made him stop, as though an invisible string had been pulled in his chest.

"Persephone," the woman with pink hair whispered softly, her voice almost inaudible amidst the conversation. But to Strax, that name echoed in his mind like thunder.

"Persephone?" He murmured, after all, she was the only goddess he had met during his journey... The only one who seemed to care enough to try to save him during a moment of weakness... And then against Kryssia... It had been a long time since he had seen her...

He realized... He was seeing Persephone's vision... but her voice could not be heard...

"I understand," the woman responded, as if speaking to someone. Once again, her words became clearer. "So you already have an apostle, I understand. As for the others... we need to find capable people."

Those words floated in the air, like a revelation. Strax, though confused, understood one thing clearly: Persephone shared her vision with him. Not him, but the woman to whom he had become connected, the one with whom he had made a contract.

And the instant this crossed his mind, the environment around him began to dissolve, as if it were a dream coming to an end. The voices began to fade, and he felt as if he were being pulled back into reality, to a place far away, to a time he did not yet comprehend.

"Persephone..." he murmured, as the emptiness began to take over him, until finally, everything disappeared.

Strax woke with a start, his heart still racing from the intensity of the dream he had just experienced. His mind was foggy, and the images of Persephone and the gods discussing Tartarus still echoed in his thoughts. He felt a pressure in his chest, as if something big was about to happen, but for a moment, he didn't know what. His body was warm, covered by a thin layer of sweat, as if the very dream had infiltrated him more physically than he had imagined.

When he opened his eyes, he realized he was lying in his bed, surrounded by an environment that felt incredibly familiar. Beside him, Xenovia was deeply asleep, her arms wrapped around his waist as if seeking comfort in the proximity of his body. Her lavender hair fell gently over the pillow, and her calm breathing seemed to anchor Strax to the real world. He felt the softness of her presence and the familiarity of her warmth against his own, bringing him back to the present moment.

The room was dark, but the soft light of the morning was beginning to creep through the curtains, bringing with it the peace of the day.

Strax looked around at the environment, the other women lying nearby, each in their own space, but all sharing the same bed. Beatrice was resting her head on Tiamat's chest, both still deeply immersed in a peaceful sleep. Monica, with her long light-colored hair, was curled up in the blankets, apparently in a tranquil slumber. Samira and Cristine were further away but equally comfortable, in what seemed like a well-deserved rest.

He looked at Xenovia's face once more, and something in his chest tightened.

Strax slowly moved his hand to touch Xenovia's silver hair, feeling the softness of the strands between his fingers. The momentary peace he was experiencing seemed almost antithetical to the storm he knew was about to unfold. The dream he had, the conversation among the gods, the choices that would be made—all of it still weighed on him, as if it were a shadow hanging over his future.

But for a moment, he allowed the tranquility of the moment to envelop him. The feeling of being surrounded by those he loved, of being in his home, with his wives and the woman with whom he shared a deep connection, gave him a rare sense of security, almost comforting.

Xenovia, still asleep, tightened her embrace around Strax, and he smiled gently, even though his mind was distant, far from the warmth of the room.

'I need to reset the system...' Strax thought.