Demonic Dragon: Harem System

Artorias, visibly impressed by Strax's response, stood still for a moment, watching the descendant with a curious smile. He knew there was something peculiar about this young man, something beyond mere physical power or skill. There was a determination in Strax that made him different, more interesting. Something Artorias needed to understand, an enigma to be solved.

"Well, it seems you're not just an ordinary swordsman," Artorias said, his voice calm but charged with an intensity that made the air around him vibrate. "But will your concentration hold? Will you not falter in the heat of battle?"

Without waiting for an answer, Artorias disappeared in the blink of an eye, reappearing behind Strax in a movement so fast it seemed like an illusion. His sword, with a menacing glint, was projected towards Strax's neck with deadly precision. However, Strax already knew what to expect. With one fluid movement, he turned and blocked the blow with the Ouroboros blade. The force of the impact reverberated through his body, but he stood firm, not budging an inch.

"Interesting," Artorias muttered, his smile widening. "You're more focused than I thought. I think this is going to be more fun than I thought."

Without giving Strax time to react, Artorias began to unleash a series of quick, powerful blows, each one stronger than the last. He attacked with the precision of a master, each blow seeming to shatter the air in his quest to find a gap in Strax's defense. But Strax, without losing focus, dodged, blocked and counterattacked with impressive agility. Every move was made with a purpose, every blow was calculated. He was completely immersed in the battle, not allowing himself to be distracted by anything.

Artorias stood back for a moment, watching Strax with an expression that mixed fascination and curiosity. He couldn't help but be impressed by the young man's stamina and discipline, something rare to find. But he knew there was still more to be tested. Artorias wasn't just interested in testing his combat skills, he wanted to see how far Strax would go before his mind started to give out.

"You've impressed so far, Strax," Artorias said, his voice now more serious. "But can you stay focused when the pressure is on?"

He held out his hand, and suddenly the environment around them changed. The landscape distorted, and a dark mist began to rise. The sky turned red, and the ground around them crumbled, leaving them in an empty field with no visible boundaries. The shadows grew and stretched, as if they were alive, and creatures began to emerge from the darkness. Grotesque beasts, distorted and deformed, emerged from all sides, roaring and advancing towards Strax.

Strax, without hesitation, prepared himself. He knew Artorias wasn't joking. He wanted to test him, he wanted him to be forced to go beyond his limits. The approaching creatures were a real threat, but Strax didn't care about them. He had already faced far greater horrors than those beasts. What mattered now was the challenge posed by Artorias himself.

"Do you really think you can distract me with this?" Strax said coolly, his voice firm and without the slightest hint of hesitation.

With a sudden movement, he raised the Ouroboros blade and slashed the air with force, creating a wave of cutting energy that tore through the darkness in front of him. The nearest creatures were instantly obliterated, their forms disintegrating in the face of the blade's relentless force.

Artorias watched the impact with a satisfied smile, but soon his gaze became more calculating. He knew that Strax would not be easily shaken. However, he also knew that the young man was still at his limits. He wasn't using all his strength, there was still more that Artorias could extract from Strax.

"You have the power," Artorias said, his voice now deeper. "But do you have the mental stamina to endure a constant struggle? Can you keep going without losing focus, even when everything around you falls apart?"

With one swift movement, Artorias advanced, and the creatures began to multiply, emerging from all directions. They were countless, and the pressure Strax felt increased with every second. But he didn't falter. He couldn't afford to lose concentration. He knew what was at stake.

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As he cut down the creatures one after the other, his mind remained sharp. The sound of the blades cutting flesh and the roars of the beasts didn't affect his determination. He was focused, only on one goal. The creatures were just obstacles, nothing but distractions.

Artorias watched with an impassive expression, but his golden eyes shone with an intense light, evaluating Strax's performance. He was impressed. But he wanted to see how far that focus could be maintained.

"Don't you get tired?" Artorias asked, his voice almost a whisper as he watched the incessant battle. "Don't you feel the exhaustion, the pressure of the forces trying to bring you down? How much can you take?"

Strax, unperturbed, slashed yet another creature that tried to attack him from behind. His blade shone as if it had been forged for that moment, with no sign of fatigue or failure. He didn't answer Artorias, because he knew that words weren't necessary. He was there to demonstrate his strength, to show that nothing could break his focus.

The fight continued, the creatures multiplying in an endless wave. But Strax didn't flinch. He moved like a machine of destruction, without stopping, without hesitation. His body was in tune with the blade, and his mind was immersed in the only goal: to win.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the battlefield fell silent. There were no more creatures. The ground was covered in ash and the remains of monsters. The dark fog that had enveloped the room dissipated, and the landscape returned to its previous state, with Artorias and Strax back in the center of the arena.

Artorias stood still, watching the outcome of the battle. Strax was panting, but his eyes showed no fatigue. He was still firm, with the same impassive expression as before. What Artorias saw was not an exhausted man, but someone who had overcome a mental and physical test with unerring precision.

"You've managed to cope with a lot," Artorias said, his voice laden with respect. "Tell me something."

Strax, still holding his sword, looked at him. His face expressed no emotion, but his eyes were sharp, like a blade. Artorias paused, watching him with a look that carried deep curiosity.

"Why do you want those souls so badly?"

Silence hung in the air for a moment. Strax didn't reply immediately. He just watched Artorias with the same cold, calculating eyes that had faced the battle without flinching. Finally, he opened his mouth, his voice calm but firm.

"I don't need to justify my love for them." Strax's voice cut through the silence that had settled after his answer, firm and without hesitation. His eyes were unwavering, as if every word was an absolute truth. He had no intention of explaining himself to Artorias, or anyone else, for his decision. His purpose was clear and unchanging: the souls he had chosen would be his, and that was enough.

Artorias was silent for a moment, absorbing Strax's words. An intrigued smile appeared on his lips as he watched him, Artorias' mind working at a speed. He had faced many warriors, many who fought for power, for revenge, for glory... But this was different. Strax wasn't looking for anything so empty. He was looking for something deeper, more visceral. Something that not even Artorias, with all his experience, could fully understand, but which undoubtedly fascinated him in a strange way.

"Interesting," Artorias murmured, his smile widening as he observed Strax's unwavering focus. "You have something that few others have, something rare. Maybe that's what makes you so dangerous."

Artorias raised his sword with a sudden gesture, his eyes still fixed on Strax. Suddenly, the air around them began to change again. The atmosphere that had previously seemed stable distorted, and a huge, threatening presence appeared. A colossal shadow loomed behind Artorias, growing rapidly until it materialized as a gigantic lupine figure. The gray wolf, with piercing eyes and a wild mane that seemed almost flaming, stood in all its glory, its sheer size almost overshadowing Artorias. The creatures that had previously disappeared from the battlefield seemed nothing compared to the magnitude of the being in front of them.

"Face me," Artorias ordered, his voice now charged with an almost primal power that made the ground tremble beneath his feet. "If you truly wish to prove your worth, prove it against true strength."

The gray wolf growled, his silent but threatening laugh echoing through the arena. He advanced with lightning speed, his claws sharp as blades, his jaw open ready to crush anything that dared stand in his way. The earth beneath his feet cracked with the pressure of his weight as he advanced, a force of nature, savage and relentless.

'I'm going to kill this mongrel in a single blow. Strax thought as his body began to channel its energy...