Demonic Dragon: Harem System

Chapter 248: Your Training Begins

Cassandra spoke, but Strax simply ignored her and stared at Scarlet.

Her smile shifted into a highly satisfied grin, and then she removed her hand from Strax's face, looking at a spot in the room...

"COME HERE!" She shouted loud enough for the entire room to shake.

The voice echoed throughout the mansion, and soon another red-haired woman appeared running, completely exhausted.

"S-S-S-Sorry, mother..." she said, sounding out of breath as she placed her hands on her knees, as if she had just run the hardest marathon of her life. And mind you, she was a vampire! She shouldn't be getting tired like this!

The girl had long red hair like the others, a curvaceous body, and she was only wearing a towel while squeezing it around her chest, which was starting to rival her mother's.

"I'm here!" she said, placing her hand on her head like a soldier ready for orders (0-0)7.

"You took too long. You need to train more," Scarlet said, glancing at Strax, trying to see his reaction to her daughter like this... carefree, but Strax didn't react at all... at least, she thought he didn't...

'What the hell! Why did I walk into a nest of gorgeous redheads! I'm going to die if my wives find out!' he screamed internally.

"She's my youngest adopted daughter, as you've probably noticed. Her name is Daniela," Scarlet explained.

"Hello, strange! Nice to meet you!" Daniela said, flashing a silly grin and maintaining the soldier-like stance.

"Nice to meet you, I guess..." Strax replied in a neutral tone. 'Stay strong! You can do this!!' he roared internally before...

[Conquer the Affection of Scarlet Vermilion's Daughters – Reward: 100 levels]

[Conquer the Affection of the Devastator, Scarlet Vermilion – Reward: 100 levels]

'200 levels?!!!! This is basically... HOLY SHIT! DOES THIS MAKE ME 2x STRONGER??? WHAT THE HELL IS THIS SYSTEM?!' he shouted internally, shocked.

'Stay strong my ass!' Strax quickly thought.

"First... what do you know?" Scarlet asked, looking at him. "Huh? Oh, yes," he mumbled and with one hand, he opened the Black Fire Manipulation, and with the other, the Glacial Ice Manipulation.

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"Hmm..." she murmured as if thinking. "Well, I don't have many options right now, so..." She looked at Daniela.

"Train the basics with that airhead over there. She's a bit ditzy, but can fight better than anyone on your continent," she said, pointing to the woman who was almost letting her towel fall, and you could start seeing the outline of her chest...

Strax turned his face to avoid looking at Daniela's towel, as there was a literal giant monster beside him that could kill him just with its aura.

While his mind was racing trying to process everything, he really tried not to focus on the situation around him.

Result? It didn't work.

'Why do I always get into trouble with these damn redheads? Seriously, what is this? Do they have some kind of fatal charm pact or is life just trying to screw me over?' Strax thought, frowning as he tried to maintain focus. He wasn't supposed to be distracted by a pair of irresistible breasts or Daniela's provocative behavior.

Scarlet, of course, was enjoying Strax's internal reaction, but what really interested her at that moment was Strax's training so he could at least become somewhat acceptable.

'Real strength... this boy has more potential than that crazy one...'

"And me, what do I do now?" Daniela asked, still with that silly grin, standing firm like she was at the front of a battle, but clearly confused about what to do with the task her mother had just assigned.

"You, my dear, will train with this... strange one, and don't do anything I'll need to fix later," Scarlet shot Strax a piercing look, as if assessing every possible reaction from him.

Strax took a deep breath and forced himself to compose. The System was screaming at him, but he knew he couldn't let himself be shaken. The reward was tempting, but more than that, he needed to maintain control. There was no turning back now, not with everything at stake...

"First of all," Scarlet said, refocusing on him, "control your nerves. No matter how tough the situation gets, if you let your mind wander, the fire and ice you manipulate will become unpredictable. And that... that can be fatal."

Strax took a deep breath, still hearing Scarlet's words echoing in his mind. She was right—training was essential, but he couldn't allow thoughts of his wives or the tension of the situation to throw him off balance. He had to give his best, not only for himself but because he knew those rewards meant he was nearing a level of power he'd never achieved before.

"Let's start with the basics, then. Let's do a small test," Daniela said, her voice interrupting Strax's thoughts. "I can teach you how to use these powers more... strategically, but I need to see if you're capable." She had a playful tone, but Strax knew that, despite her laid-back demeanor, Daniela was no fool.

"I've been manipulating black fire and glacial ice for a while," Strax replied, trying to keep his voice neutral. He didn't want to sound arrogant, but he also couldn't appear unprepared. "But I don't have much practice controlling both at the same time."

Daniela shook her head as if trying to decide the best approach for the training. "That's normal. Most people don't have full control over their powers. And I'm not the most patient, so don't expect me to coddle you," she said, her expression one of someone more than willing to push Strax to his limits.

"This isn't going to be a walk in the park," Scarlet added casually, as if she were talking about the weather. "Daniela will teach you, and you'll learn quickly. Otherwise... well, you'll find out what happens."

Strax shuddered at Scarlet's words but forced himself to stay calm. He had faced worse, but the pressure was mounting, and he knew he had to master his own mind before it was too late. "So, how do we begin?" he asked, now looking directly at Daniela, trying to focus on her and not the strange circumstances around him.

"First, let's go with fire," Daniela said with a mischievous smile. "Close your eyes. Imagine the heat building up in your hands. Feel the energy of the black fire. Don't try to force it. Just feel."

Strax closed his eyes and tried to follow her instructions. He could feel the heat in his palms, the black fire slowly forming. But as the flame began to take shape, he felt the pressure from the System, the expectation that he could control it with mastery. It wasn't simple. The power he was manipulating was... chaotic.

"This isn't just about fire, Strax," Daniela said, her voice still calm but tinged with urgency. "You need to understand that black fire is a manifestation of chaos. It feeds on your frustration and anxiety. If you can't control your own emotions, the fire will consume you."

Strax felt his mind stir. He didn't want to be consumed, but he was starting to understand what Daniela meant. The fire wasn't just physical; it was an extension of his emotions, his internal instability. He needed to calm down, control himself, and that required more than just physical mastery.

"Focus!" Daniela shouted, seeing Strax hesitate. "Don't let the fire take over. Master it, or it will master you!"

The command was direct, and without hesitation, Strax refocused. At first, the fire stirred in his hands, threatening to escape at any moment. But with renewed effort, he felt the energy begin to settle. Slowly, the flame stabilized. It wasn't perfect, but it was controlled. He managed.

"Good," Daniela said, appearing satisfied. "Now, the ice."

Strax opened his eyes and looked at his hand still surrounded by a faint flame. He knew the ice would be an even greater challenge. The glacial ice wasn't just cold; it was relentless, heavy, and always seemed to have complete control over anyone who wielded it.

"With the ice, you can't rush," Daniela explained. "You need patience. The ice won't form the same way the fire does. It requires precision."

Strax nodded, trying to push the feeling of heat aside. He extended his other hand and focused on the cold. It was as if his mind was torn between two opposing forces, and he had to somehow balance them. Slowly, he felt the ice begin to form in his hand, cold and solid. It wasn't large, but it was there.

"Now, combine the two," Daniela said with a soft laugh. "Think you can manage?"

Strax looked at her, feeling the weight of the challenge. He had already manipulated both elements, but never at the same time. Bringing fire and ice into harmony seemed like an impossible task.

He focused. The black flame danced in his palm while the ice began to form in the other. The sensation of each energy was different, but the goal was the same: mastery.

At first, the flame wavered as the ice started to form, but Strax managed to force a balance, the flame weakening as the ice expanded, until both elements were present in a stable form. It was a combination of heat and cold, a dance of opposites, but Strax had finally succeeded.

"Interesting," Scarlet said, watching Strax's progress with a discerning look. "You're not a complete disaster, Strax. But you've still got a lot to learn. Don't fool yourself into thinking you've got it all figured out. True control comes when you can manipulate both fire and ice without losing focus."

Strax, breathless but satisfied, looked at Scarlet. "I know," he replied, confidence beginning to grow inside him. He was no longer uncertain about his abilities. He knew he had a long way to go, but this first step... he had taken it.

"Now, keep practicing," Scarlet said, turning to Daniela. "Let's see how far he can go."

[You have entered the Inferno - Your Training Begins]