Demonic Dragon: Harem System

[Get ready, imminent danger]

He read the message, the System was alerting him to danger, so it was clear what was about to happen…

"Damn it… I haven't even had time to understand the basics…" he muttered as he looked inward.

"You all, prepare for any imminent trouble," Strax said to the bored woman. Ouroboros was lying down completely relaxed while Kallamos fanned her.

"Yes, boss," Kallamos said, bowing quickly. Strax looked at the scene, unsure of what was going on, and seeing how Ouroboros didn't seem like she was going to respond…

"She's training Kallamos," Tiamat said with a sigh. "I tried to intervene, but it's pointless…" she added.

"Ah… I need to get you out of me. I'll handle that mess soon and get you all bodies," Strax said, snapping back to reality.

He glanced around the room, observing the woman who was calmly sipping a glass of water. Sylvia took a few sips but soon stopped, her gaze drifting into something Strax couldn't quite understand.

"The spiders... and the darkness... I can't forget," she murmured, her memories still consuming her.

"You don't need to remember right now. Let's take care of your arm first," Strax said, trying to shift her focus. He watched as Monica mixed herbs, creating a paste that could help with the infection.

'Every day, I'm more impressed by her intelligence. She not only has a photographic memory, but she learns things easily… She's been reading about herbs for just two days, and now she's able to make a solution…' he murmured, observing Monica closely.

"This should ease the pain and help your skin heal. Avoid moving too much; it might sting a bit, but it's better than dying," Monica said, gently applying the paste to Sylvia's injured arm. "Feel free to scream if it hurts. Don't hold it back; it might help. Don't worry, you're in a safe place."

Sylvia bit her lip as Monica applied the paste, a pained expression crossing her face. "Sorry, I can't help it…" she started, but Strax interrupted her.

"It's alright. You're doing your best. I'm here," he reassured her, holding her hand firmly.

"Thank you," she murmured, looking at him with gratitude. There was a connection forming, a bond in the midst of chaos.

After some time, the paste was applied, and the potions were prepared. Roderick stepped away for a moment to check the security of the house. "It's all clear for now, but we can't afford to relax. If those spiders are as dangerous as you said, they could be near the duchy," he reported upon returning.

"I'll stay here and keep an eye on Sylvia. You and Monica should check the perimeter and make sure there are no more surprises," Strax suggested, feeling that his priority was to protect the vulnerable woman in front of him.

"Be careful, Strax. Stay alert. We don't know what could happen at any moment," Roderick replied, and Strax nodded. The tension in the air was palpable, and he knew the situation could escalate quickly.

As Roderick and Monica went out to do their checks, Strax turned to Sylvia, who now seemed a bit calmer. "How are you feeling now?"

"A little better, I think. But I'm still scared... what's going to happen now?" she replied, her voice trembling again.

"Don't worry about that. We'll handle it. Once the healer gets here, you'll feel even better. We'll find a way to make you feel safe again," Strax assured her.

Minutes dragged on as they waited for the healer. Sylvia's breathing had become more regular, but Strax knew that the shadows of her past still haunted her. He made an effort to be a constant presence, a beacon of safety amid the storm she was facing.

Finally, movement at the door caught his attention, and Strax turned to see a tall, sturdy man entering. He carried a bag full of herbs and equipment. "I heard there was an emergency," the healer said, his eyes immediately focusing on Sylvia.

"She's injured and seems to be dealing with poison. We need help quickly," Strax explained, his heart racing as he realized they were finally receiving the assistance they needed.

"I'll take care of this. You did well to isolate her like this. Let's see how we can help," the healer replied, moving quickly to examine Sylvia's arm.

The healer worked rapidly, applying a mixture of herbs and potions to Sylvia's arm. The woman trembled, letting out small whimpers of pain as the remedy took effect. Strax stayed by her side the entire time, holding her hand, trying to convey any comfort possible.

After some time, Sylvia's breathing began to stabilize, but her condition still seemed critical. The healer finished applying the remedy and stood up, wiping his hands on an old cloth. He looked at Strax with a grim expression and, as he left the room, signaled for Strax to follow him.

Strax, curious, followed the man into the hallway, where the healer stopped and took a deep breath before speaking.

"Her situation is much more serious than it appears," the healer began, his voice low and grave. "We could amputate her arm, but… I believe by now the poison has already spread quite a bit. After all, it's not just her arm that has bite marks."

"How much time does she have?" Strax asked immediately. He didn't know her well; it was a bit insensitive, but it didn't matter. He had known something was wrong from the beginning, but hearing it out loud confirmed his fears.

'This was your plan, wasn't it? Damn system.'

The healer looked at the ground before answering, as if trying to choose the right words. "I'm not sure, but… if we can't identify the poison consuming her, she doesn't have much time. Her arm is already in an advanced state of necrosis. The poison is spreading through her body. Maybe… a week, at most."

Strax fell silent for a moment, already calculating everything he would have to do in that short week. Just one week. That wasn't enough time to find answers or a cure if they didn't know what they were dealing with.

"Do you know where this poison comes from?" Strax asked, his mind racing for possible solutions.

"Not for sure. But it seems to be a poison derived from some magical creature. If it's spiders like she mentioned… it could be something older, something we haven't seen in a long time. This kind of poison is rare, and the few records we have are scarce. Magical Arachnid Beasts are something our continent barely deals with because the climate here is quite hostile for their existence," the healer shook his head. "You'd need to at least confirm the species so I can produce the antidote, and if possible… a sample of the poison would be ideal."

"That's going to be difficult… But I'll do whatever it takes to save Sylvia," Strax said, his voice heavy with determination. "Is there any treatment you can continue to apply to slow the poison's advance?"

"I've done what I could for now, and I'll leave some remedies. But it's palliative, just to buy more time. The real problem is that the poison is slowly destroying her body, and without an antidote or a specific cure, I'm afraid there's not much more we can do."

Strax took a deep breath, trying to control the frustration burning inside him. He looked at the healer, who seemed genuinely desolate at the lack of options.

"Thank you for your help," Strax said, his voice low. "I'll take care of the rest."

The healer nodded, gave him one last look of sympathy, and left silently, leaving Strax alone in the hallway, with the distant sound of Sylvia's heavy breathing coming from the room.

[Legendary Quest: Save Sylvia and gain a new functionality from the System]

Strax stared at the golden screen in front of him, the words floating in the air like a sentence.

The legendary mission felt almost like a cruel joke, considering the state Sylvia was in.

'What the hell... I thought about ignoring it and letting her die, but...' He clenched his fists, feeling the frustration burning once again in his chest.

"You're very evil, you know?" Strax murmured, directing his words at the System. He knew the System always seemed to have a hidden purpose, a bigger plan that he often couldn't comprehend immediately. But to toy with someone's life like this... it deeply angered him.

The mission had its allure — "a new functionality from the System" was something that would catch anyone's attention, but for Strax, there was no choice. He was already committed to getting stronger, and now he was forced to perform such a miracle, with or without a reward. The difference now was that there was even more at stake.

He ran a hand through his hair, trying to focus. He needed a plan.

"Roderick should be back soon with Rogue and Samira, along with information about the surroundings," he thought.

"Well, it looks like I'll have to return to the Duke's mansion; I need to inform them about this... Damn it... had he already foreseen this and given me the hope of having six months of training?" he murmured before stepping back into the room, seeing Sylvia asleep.