Demonic Dragon: Harem System

The forest enveloped them in a dense silence, broken only by the rustle of leaves stirred by the wind and the distant echo of creatures roaring in the wild heart of Danthelion. The air was heavy, charged with ancient energy, as if each tree had witnessed eons of blood and glory. The thick roots, emerging from the soil, resembled sleeping serpents; the ground was covered in moss and exotic flowers that glowed faintly in the diffuse sunlight filtering through the canopy.

Strax kept his draconic, colossal form, his wings folded and his flaming eyes fixed on Scarlet. His presence filled the clearing with an unquestionable authority. The others—his wives and daughters—were scattered throughout the space, each reacting differently to the weight of the moment. Some kept a watchful eye on their surroundings, assessing dangers. Others, like Cassandra and Bellatrix, still had their focus fixed on Scarlet, awaiting explanations that seemed to come in drops, never in streams.

Strax took a step forward, his claws leaving deep grooves in the ground, and his voice echoed low and full of challenge:

"You spoke of this continent... but tell me, Scarlet, where should we go?"

The tone wasn't one of simple curiosity. It was the voice of a leader testing whether the other party was truly ready to share the burden of decision.

Scarlet looked up at him. The red glow of his irises reflected the sun barely piercing the forest canopy. For a few moments, she seemed to struggle with herself, as if every answer she had were also a blade against her own skin. Finally, she took a deep breath and replied:

"First, we need to know where we are."

Strax frowned, his nostrils releasing hot smoke.

"Know where we are?" he repeated, as if the concept were a distraction. "We're in Danthelion. That's enough."

Scarlet shook her head slowly.

"No." Her voice now held the hardness of iron. "This continent is vast, Strax. The size of all the others combined. Endless forests, deserts that swallow armies, inland seas larger than the ocean we came from... It's not enough to set foot on Danthelion. We need to understand where we've fallen. If we get it wrong, we'll attract too many enemies, too soon."

The words hung heavy in the air.

Strax watched her silently. He didn't doubt the power he carried, nor the strength that flowed from each of his companions. But even he understood—albeit reluctantly—that dominating an entire continent couldn't be done with mere brutality.

He turned his gaze to the invisible horizon beyond the trees, thoughtful.

"Then we must walk, explore, crush anyone who crosses our path until we find that ideal place."

Scarlet sighed, a low sound, thick with weariness.

"You speak as if the path were unknown..." she murmured, more to herself than to the others.

Cassandra listened, narrowing her eyes.

"As if"...?" she repeated, biting off each word.

Scarlet held her daughter's gaze for a moment before turning back to Strax.

"I know this continent. Not all of it... but I know enough. And I know where we should go."

The words made Daniela's eyes widen. Bellatrix clenched her fists, silent, but the tension in her body betrayed her pent-up anger.

Strax leaned forward slightly, the colossal shadow of his body covering Scarlet as if daring her to retreat.

"Then speak."

Scarlet lifted her chin, undeterred.

"First of all, we need to confirm the region we're in. Then... we'll go to the capital."

The silence that followed was immediate, heavy.

"The capital?" Frieren murmured, surprised.

Scarlet nodded.

"Yes. The Divine Tournament is held there."

Strax frowned, his narrow pupils glinting with suspicion.

"Divine Tournament? What is that?"

Scarlet took a deep breath, and when he spoke, his voice sounded like an ancient chant, thick with memories.

"Danthelion is ruled by the law of the fittest. No king, no council, no religion maintains order. Only power. The Divine Tournament is the embodiment of this law. It is held every cycle... and warriors from every land on the continent participate. Tribes, empires, monster clans, isolated mages—all send their champions."

She walked slowly across the clearing as she spoke, the leaves crunching beneath her boots, and the eyes of the others followed her as if each step were a revelation.

"The winner of the tournament earns the right to challenge the Emperor."

Strax lifted his head, the shadow of a fierce smile playing on his draconic lips.

"Emperor...?"

Scarlet nodded.

"The Emperor of Danthelion. The strongest being on the continent. The only one who truly rules. Whoever wins the tournament can face him... and if they win... they can rule."

The words echoed like muffled thunder through the forest.

The silence that followed was thick, until Bellatrix couldn't contain herself.

"You... you knew this all along. And you never told us."

"Bellatrix..." Daniela tried to interrupt, but her sister ignored her.

Scarlet turned to her daughter, her gaze hard.

"What if I had told you?" Her voice was cold, incisive. "Would you have understood? Would you have accepted it? Danthelion isn't like the world you know. There are no heroes here, no bloodline kings, no protectors. There are only the strongest. And even the strongest can fall on a bad day."

Bellatrix opened her mouth to retort, but Strax cut her off with a low roar, not of anger, but of authority. The sound reverberated like a wave, silencing the entire clearing.

He turned his draconic eyes on Scarlet.

"And you think this tournament is our path."

It wasn't a question.

Scarlet stood her ground.

"It's the only way. If we want a kingdom, if we want to build something here... we must face Danthelion by his own rules. And the only rule that matters is the Divine Tournament."

Strax remained motionless for a few seconds. Then a ferocious smile appeared on his lips.

"Challenge the Emperor..." His laugh echoed, wild and dark. "Sounds perfect."

Monica crossed her arms, frowning.

"But isn't that suicide? If he rules this entire continent, he must be a monster beyond comprehension."

Scarlet looked at her.

"Yes. He is." Her voice held neither irony nor drama. Just truth. "But so is Strax."

The words caused a silence to fall over the group.

Strax laughed again, low, and his colossal form seemed to pulse with energy.

"Then let's go to the tournament. Let's crush all the champions. Let's challenge this Emperor."

Cassandra snorted, crossing her arms.

"Easy to say... but we're lost in a forest without even knowing where the capital is."

Scarlet didn't take her eyes off Strax.

"First, we need to confirm our position. Then, I'll guide you there."

Strax inclined his head, satisfied.

"Then do so." His voice sounded like a decree. "Show us the way, Scarlet."

She closed her eyes for a moment. Memories returned—of blood, of screams, of battles in never-ending arenas, of watching empires rise and fall in a matter of months. She knew the way. She knew the capital. She knew the Divine Tournament.

And now, she would lead them straight to the heart of Danthelion.

The wind blew strongly through the trees, as if the forest itself had heard and accepted their fate.