Demonic Dragon: Harem System

Chapter 350: The capital of the Empire

As the three dragons cut through the skies towards the Human Empire, the wind howled around them, mixing with the powerful roars emanating from their throats. Strax, now in the form of Yulong, felt the energy of the transformation still vibrating through his body, but he knew that he would soon have to return to his human form in order to infiltrate the Empire. 

The flight was long, and although the landscape below them was beautiful - with vast plains, dense forests and rivers meandering through the terrain - Strax's focus was on the goal in front of him. The Empire was getting closer with every beat of their powerful wings. They flew in silence, only the sound of wings beating against the air filling the distance between them and their destination. Tiamat was in front, her golden body glistening in the sun, an imposing and majestic sight. Ouroboros, with his scales as black as the darkness of night, floated beside Strax, his mischievous gaze always attentive to any change in the surrounding environment. 

"We're almost there," Strax said in his dragon form, his deep voice reverberating with the bond he shared with Ouroboros and Tiamat. He already felt the weight of responsibility, the weight of the mission that awaited them. They weren't just going to destroy; they were going to discover the truth about what had happened to Xenovia and to understand the threat hanging over the Empire. 

Tiamat looked back, his eyes shining with determination. "There's no more room for hesitation, Strax. We're not going back without answers." 

"That's it," Ouroboros grumbled, his red eyes glowing with impatience. "Let's get this over with." 

Strax nodded, his heart pounding as they approached the capital. The Human Empire loomed into view, a huge fortified city surrounded by imposing walls and a network of castles and towers rising towards the sky. It was a city of strength and power, but Strax knew that behind this facade of grandeur, there was something darker going on. 

As they approached the capital, Strax felt the need to transform back into a human. Infiltration would require discretion and cunning, something his dragon form could not offer. With a movement of his mind, he began to manipulate the magic around his body. The red scales that covered his skin began to disappear, replaced by human skin. His wings contracted and disappeared, and soon he was back in human form, although he still carried the aura of a powerful being. 

Tiamat and Ouroboros followed suit, their transformations also quick and efficient. Soon, all three were back in their human forms - Strax with his red hair and piercing eyes, Tiamat with her imposing posture and golden eyes that shone with power, and Ouroboros, with his sharp features and enigmatic presence. They were ready to enter the capital, but knew they would need to be cautious. 

"Let's do this carefully," Strax said, his voice now human but still carrying an authority that reflected his true nature. "No direct attacks. We need to infiltrate and find out what happened to Xenovia. The rest will follow." 

Tiamat agreed with a slight nod. "I'll be on the lookout. I won't let anyone stop us." 

Ouroboros, always the most impatient, grimaced. "Caution isn't my strong suit, but come on. I think it's for the best." 

The three of them advanced towards the city, keeping to the sidelines, away from the patrols. The Empire was on alert, and any strange movement would attract attention. They moved quickly, their ordinary clothes disguising their extraordinary origins, while the weight of their presence still seemed to reverberate in the air. With every step, Strax felt the tension build. It wasn't just the mission, but the feeling that they were approaching something much bigger - something that could change the fate of the Empire and everyone involved. 

As they reached the city gates, Strax stopped, assessing the situation. The great iron gates were open, and soldiers patrolled the busy streets, but the entrance still looked vulnerable. They needed to act quickly so as not to attract attention. 

"Let's go to the Emperor's palace." Strax said, "Considering that my family still has a big name in the empire, I don't think they'll ignore me." He said, "We just need to find out what happened to Xenovia. Then we'll go to the mansion the family owns here in the capital." 

Strax adjusted the cloak that covered his broad shoulders and serious expression, before approaching the imposing entrance to the Emperor's palace. The sound of the bustling streets behind him faded as he concentrated on his goal. The palace's architecture was majestic, with marble statues and gilded columns stretching skywards, exuding power and authority. He felt the tension growing in his muscles, aware that approaching the palace would require more than just an important name. 

As he approached the great iron gates, Strax glanced at the soldiers patrolling the grounds. Their eyes flickered briefly, as if they sensed a strange presence in the air, but they continued on their rounds. He took a step forward, the confidence in his stride reflecting the noble heritage he carried with him, but something told him that the time for secrets was running out. 

He made his way to the main gate, where a pair of armed soldiers stopped him. The soldier on the left looked at Strax suspiciously, narrowing his eyes. 

"Who are you?" the soldier asked, his voice harsh and clear. 

Strax took a deep breath and adjusted his posture. He knew that any mistake here could jeopardize the entire mission. "I'm Strax Vorah. I've come to see my sister. Xenovia Vorah." he replied firmly, his eyes fixed on the guards in front of him. 

The soldier on his right made a skeptical expression and looked at his companion. "Vorah, you say? I don't recall receiving any warning of your arrival." He glanced back at Strax, studying him more closely, his eyes still suspicious. "Show us your credentials, if you really are who you say you are." 

Strax remained calm, but his heart raced slightly. He wasn't quite ready to be stopped right at the entrance. "Call my sister right away, there's no need to go in there, I just want to see my sister." 

The soldier on the left narrowed his eyes, clearly uncomfortable with the situation. He looked at his companion, who seemed to ponder the situation for a moment. Both were on alert, wary of someone with such an imposing presence as Strax, even more so when he mentioned the name of Xenovia, a well-known figure within the Empire. 

"We can't just let someone in without permission. The Emperor has strict orders about who enters and leaves the palace, and that includes even the relatives of nobles," said the soldier on the right, keeping a firm tone but with a touch of nervousness. He didn't seem to want to defy Strax, but he didn't want to disobey orders either. 

"I understand your position," Strax replied, with a tone that mixed patience and coldness. "But the situation is urgent. I just need to see Xenovia, there's no need for any more formalities. If she's here, she can confirm my identity." 

The soldier on the left looked at his colleague, visibly indecisive. It was clear that he didn't want to cause trouble, but the tension in the air was palpable. They were in the center of the Empire, close to the most powerful palace in the region, and any strange movement could be interpreted as a threat. Strax knew that, although his word was usually enough, something was different today. 

"Wait here," said the soldier on the right, finally giving in. He moved away a little, heading towards one of the inner corridors of the palace, disappearing from view for a moment. The soldier on the left continued to watch Strax, but his eyes were a little more cautious now, as if he had begun to understand the seriousness of the situation. 

Strax didn't say a word as he waited. His eyes remained fixed in front of him, watching the guards' every move and absorbing the details around him. The palace was quieter than he had expected, and this stillness made no sense. Something was happening here. Something he still couldn't understand. His intuition, sharp as ever, told him that the situation was about to take an unexpected turn. 

The sound of footsteps echoed again, and the soldier who had gone to get Strax's confirmation returned, accompanied by a tall, austere figure. Strax looked at her and, for a moment, his heart leapt. It was a woman, with long dark hair and a serious expression that radiated authority. She wasn't Xenovia, but her stern countenance indicated that she was probably in a position of power. 

"Are you Strax Vorah?" asked the woman, her voice clear and direct. "I'm in charge of making sure nothing disturbing happens here. What do you want with Xenovia?" 

"I'm Strax," he replied just as firmly, although his mind was working quickly to understand who she was. "I'm just here to see my sister. I'm not here to cause trouble." 

The woman watched Strax with an intensity that seemed to weigh down her words. For a brief moment, Strax had the feeling that she knew more than she was letting on, as if she knew something about Xenovia that he didn't. "Xenovia is not available. 

"Xenovia isn't available at the moment," she said, finally breaking the silence. "There are very serious issues going on here, and the Emperor has been cautious about who is allowed in. Your sister is... indisposed." 

Strax noticed the hesitation in her words. "Unwell?" he repeated, his voice low, but charged with an energy that made the guards around him tense up even more. "What happened to her?" 

The woman looked at the guards before answering, as if pondering whether to reveal more details. "That's not something you should know right now, Strax. The best thing for everyone is for you to leave and wait outside the palace." 

Her answer was unconvincing. Strax knew that something was being concealed. His sister, Xenovia, known for her strength and influence, would not be easily "indisposed". She wasn't ill or weak, she was one of the most powerful figures within the Empire. Something else was going on, something much more serious. Strax could sense it. 

"I'm not leaving without seeing Xenovia," he stated, his voice carrying an authority that could not be denied. "If she's really here, I'll go and see her. If not, then I'll look for her elsewhere." 

The woman hesitated, the tension between them growing. She knew that Strax was not someone who would give up easily, especially with the aura of power he exuded. She was probably in no position to directly disobey a member of the Vorah family, but what she knew about the situation inside the palace was preventing her from allowing him to go any further. 

"I understand your frustration," she finally said, her tone softening a little. "But if you really want to see Xenovia, wait a few days...." 

'Wait is it?... I'm going to destroy this palace tonight. Strax thought.