Demonic Dragon: Harem System-Chapter 757: Kryssia and Xenovia training

Capítulo 757: Kryssia and Xenovia training

Strax nodded one last time to Agnes and moved forward without haste, like someone who knew the world could wait a few more minutes.

While Agnes was already giving short, precise orders to the beast-warriors—selecting only the most disciplined, those who knew how to listen and retreat—Strax crossed the archway leading to the main courtyard.

The sound came before the sight.

CLANG—!

Metal against metal, heavy, reverberating like a war bell.

Then another impact.

And another.

The training courtyard was alive.

Strax stopped in the shadow of one of the columns, crossing his arms naturally, and observed.

In the center of the open space, two figures moved like opposing forces of the same storm.

Xenovia.

Kryssia.

Both wielded long swords, broad and balanced blades, clearly forged for real combat, not display. Neither wore full armor—only light protection on their shoulders and forearms, clearly demonstrating absolute confidence in their own reflexes.

Xenovia advanced first.

Her style was direct, powerful. Each step slightly sunk into the stone ground, as if gravity had more respect for her than for the rest of the world. The sword descended in a brutal arc, aiming for Kryssia’s shoulder.

Kryssia didn’t block.

She spun her body at the last instant, the blade’s edge passing inches from her face, the wind of the blow pulling her hair back. In response, she attacked low, a quick, precise horizontal slash, aiming for the ribs.

Xenovia twisted her wrist and deflected with the flat of her sword, pushing her opponent’s blade away and responding with a direct kick to the abdomen.

Kryssia was thrown backward.

She rolled on the ground, absorbing the impact, and returned to her feet in a single fluid movement.

Neither of them smiled.

But there was something in both their eyes.

Absolute focus.

Strax tilted his head slightly.

“They’re not holding back…” he murmured to himself.

In the courtyard, Xenovia advanced again, this time with a sequence of three consecutive blows, each coming from a different angle. It wasn’t blind brute force—it was constant pressure, calculated to leave no room.

Kryssia retreated step by step, blocking two blows, letting the third graze her blade and vibrate to her shoulder. She gritted her teeth, adjusted her grip, and suddenly changed her rhythm.

Instead of retreating, she advanced.

CLANG!

The swords clashed violently, sparks flying between them.

Kryssia twisted her hilt, sliding her blade along Xenovia’s until she locked her guard, forcing a close-quarters combat.

“You’re heavy today,” Kryssia teased through gritted teeth.

Xenovia growled.

“And you keep talking too much.”

She shoved.

The force was so great that Kryssia was forced to take two steps back, her heels scraping the stone. Before she could fully regain her balance, Xenovia lunged forward with a direct blow to the chest.

Kryssia narrowly dodged.

The tip of the sword tore the tissue of her shoulder, opening a shallow cut.

Blood.

Little, but real.

Some soldiers around held their breath.

Strax, however, continued to observe with almost clinical attention.

“Good…” he murmured. “They’re taking this seriously.”

Kryssia touched her own shoulder with two fingers, felt the blood, and smiled slightly.

“So this is how you want to play?”

Xenovia didn’t answer.

She attacked.

This time, her style changed. The blows became shorter, faster, less wide. She wasn’t looking to crush—she was looking to break her opponent’s rhythm.

Kryssia responded in kind.

The two began exchanging blows at an absurd speed, steel against steel, each impact echoing through the courtyard like successive thunderclaps. The air around them seemed to vibrate with the intensity of the confrontation.

Strax realized something then.

Both were adapting.

Xenovia began using her own body weight to push Kryssia against unfavorable areas of the terrain, trying to corner her near a column.

Kryssia, in turn, began using short spins and diagonal steps, escaping through blind spots, exploiting the smallest opening left by her sister’s excessive force.

In one of these spins, Kryssia managed to get past Xenovia’s guard and delivered a blow that would have been fatal if it hadn’t been blocked at the last instant.

Their swords locked, crossed, their faces too close.

“You’re becoming predictable,” Kryssia said, panting.

“And you’re becoming too confident,” Xenovia replied.

Xenovia released one hand from the hilt and gave Kryssia a sharp headbutt across the face.

CRACK.

Kryssia fell backward.

A murmur ran through the spectators.

Xenovia didn’t hesitate.

She raised her sword for the final blow.

“STOP.”

The voice wasn’t loud.

It wasn’t authoritative.

But it cut through the air like an invisible blade.

The two froze.

Xenovia stopped her sword inches from Kryssia’s chest.

Kryssia blinked, recognizing the voice even before turning her face.

Strax walked towards them.

Unhurried.

Without releasing his aura.

But each step seemed to impose silence around them.

“This is beyond training” he said calmly. “Continuing now will only turn learning into wounded pride.”

Xenovia breathed heavily, her chest rising and falling.

She finally lowered her sword.

Kryssia sat up, propping herself up on her elbows, and let out a short laugh.

“Damn… I almost had you.”

Xenovia snorted.

“Dream on.”

Strax stopped between the two.

He looked at Xenovia first.

“Your strength has improved,” he said. “But you still rely too much on continuous pressure. Against someone who can take a beating, that works. Against someone patient… it doesn’t.”

Xenovia looked away for a moment.

Then nodded.

Strax then turned to Kryssia.

“And you,” he continued, “are too fast for your own good. If Xenovia had decided to break your leg instead of going for the final blow, you’d be on the ground now.”

Kryssia grimaced.

“Fair enough.”

Strax extended his hand.

Kryssia accepted it, rising with a grunt.

Xenovia wiped the sweat from her brow with her forearm.

“So?” she asked. “Did you just come to watch, or is there something important?”

Strax smiled slightly.

“There’s always something important,” he replied. “But seeing you two fighting… it was a good reminder.” 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

“Of what?” Kryssia asked.

He looked around the courtyard.

At the soldiers training.

At the awakened castle.

At life going on.

“That you need to get stronger,” he said. “Even though I like protecting you.”

Agnes appeared at the courtyard entrance at that moment, accompanied by a small group of already equipped beast-warriors.

“We’re ready,” she announced. “Whenever you want.”

Strax looked back at Xenovia and Kryssia.

“Want to come?” he said. “I’m going to see about that demon problem, or whatever it is.”

Xenovia was the first to move. Before Strax could even turn completely around, she was already beside him, a confident smile returning to her face as if the duel had never happened. Her fingers closed around his arm naturally—effortless possession, unasked intimacy.

“Come on, darling,” she said, pulling him slightly. “I’m already bored just hearing the word ‘trouble.'”

Strax let out a short sigh, more amused than tired.

“You two really don’t waste any time…”

“Not at all.”

The answer came from the other side.

Kryssia took two quick steps forward and grabbed his free arm, linking it with Xenovia’s without any ceremony. The grip was too firm to be casual.

“If demons are involved, I’m going,” she said, narrowing her eyes at her sister. “I’m not staying in the castle while you have fun.”

Xenovia raised an eyebrow.

“‘Have fun’?” she repeated. “I was training when you arrived late.”

“You were getting beaten up” Kryssia retorted dryly.

“You fell first.”

“Because you cheated.”

“You two” Strax interrupted, now clearly smiling “if you start arguing now, I’m going alone.”

They both spoke at the same time:

“NO.”

There was a brief silence.

Then Xenovia let out a low laugh.

“Fine — she said.” Temporary truce.

Kryssia rolled her eyes, but didn’t let go of his arm.

“Temporary” she agreed.

Agnes watched the scene with an expression too neutral for someone who had clearly seen this before. One of the beast-warriors behind her leaned in and whispered something to the other; both quickly straightened their posture when they received a sharp look from her.

“So,” Agnes said, clearing her throat, “if everyone’s finished… grappling, can we go?”

Strax finally managed to disentangle himself enough to take a step forward, though he was still “anchored” on both sides.

“Small detachment,” he reinforced. “Reconnaissance first. No impulsive attacks.”

Xenovia smiled.

“Of course. Just reconnaissance.”

Kryssia added:

“Until something tries to kill us.”

Strax nodded slowly.

“Then the conversation changes.”

They began to walk across the courtyard, the beast-warriors following close behind in silent formation. As they approached the outer gate, the surrounding atmosphere seemed to subtly shift—the wind grew colder, laden with something that didn’t entirely belong there.

Xenovia sensed it first.

“You feel it?” she murmured, releasing Strax’s arm only to close her hand on the sword’s hilt.

Kryssia nodded, her gaze attentive.

“Distorted mana. Ancient. Not an ordinary demon.”

Strax looked ahead, beyond the walls, where the dark line of the forest rose like a living stain on the horizon.

“That’s why I didn’t send an army,” he said. “If it’s what I’m thinking… too much force will only awaken something worse.”

Agnes walked close behind, her expression serious.

“The scouts reported areas where sound simply disappears,” she added. “As if the world were… muffled.”

Kryssia frowned.

“Great. I hate when reality starts to fail.”

Xenovia squeezed Strax’s arm again, this time without provocation, without jealousy—just firmly.

“Whatever it is,” she said, “you’re not alone.”

Kryssia nodded briefly.

“Don’t even think about doing something stupid without warning.”

Strax chuckled briefly.

“You two say that as if it ever worked.”

The gate slammed open with a heavy creak.

Ahead of them, the path leading to the forest seemed darker than it should have been, even in the daylight.

Strax took the first step out of the castle.

“Let’s go,” he said. “Let’s see what’s trying to draw attention to itself in my kingdom.”