Demonic Dragon: Harem System

Chapter 257  A body in harmony

"THAT... THAT BASTARD!" she shouted, clenching her fists as her mana surged once again, the winds around her becoming wild and untamable.

[Defeat Cassandra Vermillion]

The notification appeared before her, an absolute command, and Strax smiled—it was something he had expected.

'The strength I'll have to use here... Without using my transformation, and without assimilation... This will be complicated,' he thought as he analyzed the woman charging toward him.

Cassandra's energy intensified, like a hurricane forming with every step she took. The wind around her spun violently, her imposing presence making the air around Strax feel suffocating.

'Shit!' He was standing, gasping for breath, his hands burning from the effort of maintaining control over the newly acquired mana. The wind around him seemed to try to cut him, and he used all his mana to force it into his muscles to protect himself.

'Killing intent... stronger than Kryssia's...' The fight wouldn't be easy... he already knew that. But Cassandra wouldn't give him time to think.

Not now.

"So, you want to fight, Strax?" Cassandra said with a mocking smile. She was calm, but her eyes sparkled with an unmistakable intensity, as if she were watching prey in her territory. "Let's see if you're really strong enough."

Without warning, she lunged forward with the speed of a red lightning bolt.

Strax, not being foolish, tried to prepare himself.

But it was too late.

The first blow came with the force of a cutting wind, a gust that made him stagger back, almost losing his balance. His feet slid on the ground, but he managed to recover quickly.

"You haven't even learned the basics, Strax," Cassandra said, laughing, watching him struggle to maintain his stance. "You're afraid to move. You're holding back the power in your body, and that's only going to weaken you."

'She's just as crazy as her mother...' Strax furrowed his brow, trying to focus. He had spent time training his mana, but never his body, as he always had a strong physique, being a "half-dragon," if you can call it that. Now, Cassandra wanted him to use something more. Something he didn't feel ready to explore. "I... I just can't give in like this."

"And that's why you'll never be strong," Cassandra said bluntly. "You're a novice, Strax. But I'll teach you how to survive."

She advanced again, this time more calculated, her movements flowing as if she were an extension of the wind itself. Strax tried to use fire to protect himself, creating a barrier of flames around him. But Cassandra dodged with a simple arm movement, cutting through the barrier with a wave of wind. She was enjoying herself.

"Is this your best defense?" Cassandra mocked, her voice rough. "If you want to survive this fight, you'll have to do more than that. You need to feel your body, use the strength you don't know you have."

'This woman...' Strax, furious, attempted a counterattack. His fists were engulfed in both fire and ice, an instinctive mix of his mana. But as soon as he advanced, Cassandra intercepted him, grabbing his fist with one hand and tossing him effortlessly. She threw him to the ground with such force that it almost made his bones crack.

"Ughh!" he roared in pain, feeling the metallic taste of blood rising in his mouth.

"Is this what you call fighting?" Cassandra crouched beside him, looking at him with a mischievous smile. "You need to understand: your body isn't a weakness, Strax. It's a weapon. You just haven't learned how to use it."

Strax, in pain, got back up. He was bleeding, his muscles aching, but his determination was unshaken. "I... I will learn."

"Learn? It won't be easy, kid," Cassandra said as she moved away from him, preparing for another attack. "You have to stop thinking about protecting yourself; you need to think about attacking! If you don't attack, you'll die. And to survive, you have to let your body act on instinct."

She was back in motion before he could respond, and this time, Strax tried to anticipate her. Using his agility, he managed to dodge, but Cassandra still landed a side blow, a punch that made him stumble. She didn't give him any mercy.

"You're still holding back!" she shouted, her voice cutting like the wind. "You need to put your fear aside! If you don't trust your body, you're going to break!"

Those words pierced Strax like a sharp blade. He stopped for a moment, breathing heavily, and then something inside him changed. He realized she was right. He had been afraid. Afraid of losing control, afraid of getting hurt. But if he wanted to survive, he needed to let go of that fear.

With a shout of determination, Strax charged forward. He used the strength of fire and ice, but also surrendered to the energy of his body. He didn't worry about protecting himself, not anymore. He felt the power of his body, felt the strength of his will, and that made all the difference.

Cassandra's strike came fast, but Strax was ready. He used his body to absorb the impact, his legs bending to give him strength, and then he dodged, launching a punch with all the force he could muster. Cassandra blocked, but the hit made her take a step back. She looked at him with a renewed spark in her eyes.

"Now that's more like it... Now you're starting to understand!" Cassandra shouted, laughing in approval. "This is what I've been waiting for. Use your body as a weapon, not just your mana."

But the fight was far from over. Cassandra wasn't about to make it easy for him. With a swift movement, she shot a gust of wind directly at him. Strax tried to use fire to protect himself, but the force of the attack easily dissipated his defense. He was hit again, thrown to the ground with force.

"You need to be faster, stronger!" Cassandra ordered. "Use the momentum! Your body can do more than you think! Be bolder!"

Strax tried to recover quickly, the pain still burning in his muscles. But he had no time to hesitate. He launched himself forward, his hand glowing with an intense light, calling upon both fire and ice to his palm. He felt the power pulsing inside him, and this time, he didn't try to control it. He simply let go, releasing an explosion of energy that formed a storm of fire and ice around him.

The wave of energy was so powerful that Cassandra was forced to defend herself, creating a wind shield to block the impact. Strax didn't relent, pushing forward with every ounce of strength he had, knowing this was the moment. If he didn't seize it, everything would end there.

He used his body as an extension of his magic, his energy flowing into every movement. He didn't stop to think, he just attacked and moved with instinct. Cassandra was surprised, but unwilling to yield. She counterattacked with astonishing speed, landing a kick that sent him spinning through the air. He hit the ground with a heavy thud, but unlike the previous times, this time he got up faster, more determined.

"This is getting interesting!" Cassandra shouted with excitement. "Now you're getting closer to what you could be!"

Strax didn't respond. He didn't have time for words. He was in a state of pure focus, just moving and attacking, feeling his energy pulse, his body moving with agility he never thought possible. He felt the power of his soul, his body, and his fire and ice merging into something greater. Something immense.

The fight raged on fiercely, with Cassandra never letting up on him, but now Strax felt like he was in control. Every blow she landed, he answered. Every move she made, he anticipated. He was using his body fluidly, like a true weapon, letting go of fear and allowing himself to become who he needed to be.

"Now you're starting to impress me..." Cassandra said, her voice still filled with mockery, but there was something more in her words. Respect. He could hear it. "But there's still much to learn. Keep this up, Strax, and maybe you'll become the warrior you think you can be."

Sweat dripped down Strax's forehead, his legs trembling, but his determination was unwavering. He knew he was being forged in this battle. Every strike, every wound, was part of the process. He wouldn't stop. Not now.

Because he knew that if he could overcome Cassandra, nothing could stop him.

And then, the final blow came.

The storm of wind turned into a hurricane, and Strax, for the first time, unleashed his full power. He fused the fire and ice of his mana, his soul, and his body. As he charged forward, Cassandra stood still, watching him with eyes that were a bit darker, but also a little brighter. She knew he had crossed the line.

The impact was immense. The energy released made the ground tremble. When the dust settled, Strax was standing, breathing heavily, but steady. Cassandra fell to her knees, but she smiled.

"You did it, even if you won't admit it," Cassandra said.

[You earned Cassandra Vermillion's respect]