Demonic Dragon: Harem System

"Then..." Strax murmured, narrowing his eyes as he observed the creature before him. His facial expression carried a mix of curiosity and skepticism. "Is this a..."

"Vampire Horse," Cassandra finished casually, completely unfazed by the bizarre nature of the situation.

The creature was indeed something peculiar. Its skin was as black as the night, with an almost ethereal glow that seemed to absorb the light around it. Its eyes, a deep fiery red, burned like living embers, exuding an unsettling sense of predatory intelligence. Curved fangs protruded from its mouth, while its mane swayed in the wind, as if made of liquid shadows.

Strax tilted his head, studying the horse more closely. "Looks more like a failed fusion of a nightmare and a giant bat."

Cassandra smiled faintly, placing her hands on her hips as she watched Strax's expression. "Well, you're not far from the truth. They're rare creatures, created by the progenitor to be battle mounts. Tough, fierce... and hungry."

"Hungry for what, exactly?" Strax asked, his tone more cautious than sarcastic.

"For blood, of course," Belatrix answered suddenly, as if it were obvious. She walked up to the horse, which watched her with alert, but not hostile, eyes. "But don't worry. They're trained not to attack their masters... most of the time."

"Reassuring," he said, taking a step back as the horse let out a low whinny, more like a muffled roar. "And why, exactly, do I need this? Can't we just use a more... secure mode of transportation?"

Daniela let out a short, mocking laugh. "Secure? We're heading to an event where every creature is probably thinking about how to kill us, capture us, or manipulate us. Nothing like arriving in style, riding one of these beasts. Shows power, intimidates the enemies... and honestly, I want to see you try to tame one."

Strax raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms. "Ah, I get it. This is more of a test than a choice, isn't it?"

Cassandra shrugged, a mischievous smile still on her face. "Consider it a little bit of both. Come on, Strax. Show this creature who's in charge."

He sighed deeply, cautiously approaching the vampire horse. The creature watched him intently, as if weighing his intentions. Strax slowly raised his hand, stopping just inches from the animal's head.

"Alright, big guy. Don't do anything that'll make me regret this," he murmured.

The horse sniffed Strax's hand, letting out a deep puff of air that sounded like a steam explosion. Cassandra watched the interaction with an amused smile, her arms crossed and one eyebrow slightly raised, clearly waiting to see how Strax would handle the situation.

But before anything could unfold, the ground beneath them suddenly trembled, as though the earth had awoken from a deep slumber.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Before Strax or Cassandra could react, the horse before Strax lost its head—literally. A black blur cut through the air, followed by a dry, horrifying impact sound. The creature's head rolled to the side as its body slowly toppled, dark blood spilling and staining the ground.

"HIIIHHIIIIIHHH!!!"

A deafening whinny echoed through the area, more like a war cry than the sound of a regular animal. A second horse emerged from the shadows, much larger and more imposing. Its coat was as black as absolute night, reflecting a crimson glow under its red eyes, which burned like two suns of fury. It looked like an incarnation of savagery and power, every movement resonating with a palpable threat.

The animal raised its front legs, letting out another bone-chilling whinny. With a calculated movement, it spun around and delivered a powerful kick to the decapitated body of the previous horse, sending it flying as though it were a mere ragdoll.

Cassandra instinctively took a step back, her expression shifting into a mix of surprise and discomfort. "But what...?"

Strax, on the other hand, remained where he was, his eyes wide as he tried to process the scene before him. He blinked a few times, disbelieving, before finally murmuring:

"A-Apocalypse?" His voice was choked with surprise and a hint of relief, as he recognized the enormous beast.

The horse turned toward him, its eyes glowing with intensity, but now softened by familiarity. Strax hadn't seen the creature in weeks—weeks of worry and uncertainty since he had learned that Apocalypse had remained in the Duchy.

Apocalypse approached Strax, lowering its head slightly in a gesture that seemed both like recognition and a challenge. The connection between them was undeniable, a bond that transcended words. Strax raised his hand automatically, touching the horse's warm, rough snout, as if confirming that it was truly there.

Cassandra, still trying to regain her composure, let out a short, nervous laugh. "So this is the beast I've heard about..."

Strax glanced sidelong at Cassandra, a slow, confident smile spreading across his face. "You've heard something?"

"Your wives talk a lot," Cassandra remarked.

"Well, I imagine..." he muttered. "Are you alright? I thought they wouldn't bring you."

Apocalypse let out a low snort, as if confirming his master's words. Strax mounted the horse with a fluid movement, as if he had been born to be there.

"We didn't bring her."

Samira's voice cut through the silence, causing Strax to turn abruptly toward the mansion. She was standing there, leaning against one of the columns at the entrance, arms crossed, with a slightly exasperated look.

"She came alone," Samira added, a small smile curving her lips.

Strax raised an eyebrow, returning his gaze to Samira. "Alone, huh? This creature..." he murmured, running his hand through Apocalypse's mane, the mare, with her majestic stature, seeming just as alert as her master.

"Well, we need to go," Daniela, Belatrix, and Cassandra mounted their Vampire Horses. "Do you think you can keep up with that regular horse?" Daniela teased, her eyes gleaming with the implicit challenge.

Strax remained silent for a moment, his eyes locking on each of the women, feeling the air charged with challenge. He looked at Apocalypse, the vampire horse that, though less... refined than the impressive horses of the women around him, still had a terrifying presence. The horse snorted, as if approving his master's words, its red eyes glowing with ferocity.

A smile slowly spread across Strax's face, a smile that revealed nothing but pure confidence. "You really want to race against my Apocalypse?" he joked, his tone full of malicious amusement.

Cassandra's expression softened with a slight smile, but she remained silent, watching, as Belatrix and Daniela exchanged quick glances. They knew Strax well enough to know that he wasn't one for empty threats, and Apocalypse was a force to be reckoned with.

"I don't know, Strax," Belatrix said, fiddling with her horse's reins. "If Apocalypse is anything like its master, maybe it needs more time to warm up."

"Or maybe," Daniela interrupted with a barely audible laugh, "you'll need more time to keep up with them."

"That's right, let's see who's faster," Strax replied with the same confidence, adjusting his position on Apocalypse. His fingers gripped the reins firmly, a subtle touch indicating that he was ready for the race. He knew Apocalypse's abilities were unbeatable. No horse, vampire or not, could keep up with that animal on any terrain.

He shot a brief glance at Cassandra, the only one who didn't seem to be caught up in the provocation. "I might lose the race, but I'm not going to lose the fun."

With a sudden movement, Strax dug his heels into Apocalypse's ribs, and the vampire horse surged forward with blinding speed, cutting through the air and pulling ahead of the other women. The wind that rose in its wake sliced through the air like blades, but Apocalypse didn't slow down.

The others responded immediately. The reins were pulled tight, and the vampire horses shot forward, their hooves pounding heavily on the ground as the women began to match Strax's speed.

The sound of hooves and labored breathing filled the air as the four horses competed, but Apocalypse already seemed to have the advantage. Strax glanced back, a sarcastic smile still forming on his lips, as the other women struggled to keep up.

"I already told you," Strax muttered to himself, feeling the increasing speed beneath him, "there's no competition."

The race had only just begun, but Strax already knew who the winner would be. He had no doubts about Apocalypse, and with the horse gaining ground as the distance grew, he just had to wait for the inevitable.

The fun, however, was guaranteed.

... Continue your adventure at empire

Scarlet hovered in the night sky, her slender figure cutting through the wind, cloaked in shadows that seemed to blend with the darkness of the surroundings. Beside her, a man observed with unsettling calm. His red eyes glowed with an intensity that contrasted with the starry sky beneath them.

"You seem so calm," he remarked, his deep voice carrying an almost unshakable serenity. He stayed close to her, his presence still imposing and dominant even in flight, reflecting the magnitude of his position.

Scarlet looked at him with a subtle smile, her eyes partially obscured by her cloak, but her gaze was calculated and shrewd. "I'm just watching. Everything seems to be in its proper place, right... Vlad?"

Vlad studied her expression, analyzing her closely. He knew that Scarlet wasn't one to show much of her feelings or intentions, but he also knew that behind her apparent tranquility, there was always a reason. She was a skilled player in the game of intrigue, something that the Vampire King deeply respected.

"You seem well," he said. "When you receive love, something like this happens." She responded, and the King was left speechless upon hearing that...