Demonic Dragon: Harem System

Chapter 230: Starting to Act!

Naturally, the best scout would be Cristine; after all, she was an assassin, and her main role besides killing was reconnaissance. Now, she was deep within the forest, leading the group.

She leaped from branch to branch, her movements agile and fluid, like a feline moving through a familiar environment.

The forest around her was a vibrant tapestry of green, with tall trees and broad bushes reaching toward the cloudy sky. Twisted roots snaked across the ground, and sunlight barely filtered through the foliage, creating strange patterns of shadow that danced on the leaf-covered soil.

The murmurs of the forest were varied—the rustling of leaves, the distant song of birds, and the soft whisper of the wind.

"There's something wrong here… I must be getting close…" Cristine murmured as she pressed forward. Something kept her on high alert.

The information they could gather was quickly pieced together using the Map. The forest was a problematic territory; the geography of the area was severely damaged—not just the ground but even the trees were slightly tilted, complicating movement among the branches. However, Cristine was managing well with the challenge; her years of training were proving invaluable.

In addition to the treacherous terrain, many routes were completely destroyed or posed a significant risk of ambush. Therefore, Cristine was forging ahead, creating a new path to explore the forest, avoiding the dangers of the known routes.

The containment plan Strax had outlined before they left the house was simple but effective. They would split into small groups to cover more ground.

Thanks to Yennifer's presence, it was possible for two groups to operate as effectively as possible, with two professional scouts—the hunt for the nest was nearly certain. While Cristine and Yennifer would approach the nest directly, others would patrol the surrounding areas, preventing any attempts at escape or surprise attacks.

It was a challenging decision, but it was the best course of action given that both women's skills far surpassed those of the others when it came to reconnaissance.

"Nothing yet…" she murmured, leaping between the trees. She immediately stopped to scan the environment with her keen senses. The smell of the forest's dampness mingled with the strong, putrid odor of decomposition. Probably an animal that had ventured too far in search of food.

"Great," she thought sarcastically, "just one more reason to stay alert."

Those spiders hadn't even entered her line of sight yet; until now, they were merely the tale of a traumatized woman. Whether they were real or not, she'd have to see to believe, and that was unsettling—the feeling of imminent danger, the fear of the unknown…

With every leap, Cristine recalled Strax's words: "We need to act quickly and precisely, or they'll spread and cause havoc we can't contain."

A sudden, cold breeze swept through the forest, making Cristine shiver. The subtle sound of something dragging along the ground made her heart race. She halted, her sharp senses on high alert. "Come on, just another swarm of spiders," she murmured to herself, trying to remain calm. Cautiously, she began to move toward the sound.

Finally, she spotted what appeared to be one of the many holes dug into the ground, a possible entrance to the spider nest.

The entrance was narrow and covered with shimmering webs that reflected the light like strands of silver. "Crap… this must be it…"

"I shouldn't, but let's take a look," Cristine said, kneeling at the entrance and using her hand to brush away some of the webs.

The moment she did, a swift movement caught her attention.

A large, grotesque spider emerged from the hole, its long, spiny legs stretching out like sharp claws. Its bright, malevolent eyes locked onto Cristine, and a hissing sound escaped its mouth.

"Great, now is the time," Cristine thought, quickly standing and backing away to prepare for the attack. But before she could do anything, more spiders began to emerge, one after another, like a demonic swarm.

Cristine didn't intend to underestimate the situation, but the number of spiders was greater than she expected. "This isn't good," she thought, retreating further while brandishing her dagger, ready for battle. The spiders advanced, their movements quick and coordinated, forming a line of attack that seemed unbeatable.

The moment the first spider leaped toward her, Cristine quickly dodged, slashing it with her dagger. But there was no time for celebration; more spiders surrounded her, their sharp legs poised to grab her. In a desperate move, she spun around and struck another spider, but the feeling of being cornered was palpable.

"Shit!" she shouted, trying to stay calm as the demonic creatures closed in on her. Just when she thought the situation was out of control, a powerful roar echoed through the forest.

In an instant, the environment darkened with Strax's sudden presence. He appeared like a storm, his body engulfed in fiery flames that shone brightly against the darkness of the woods. "Cristine!" he shouted, his voice echoing like thunder.

With a swift gesture, Strax raised his hands, unleashing a wave of fire that spread in all directions. The spiders, caught by surprise, were consumed by the flames in an instant. The intense heat and blinding light of Strax's magic eliminated the threat, reducing the demonic creatures to ashes.

Cristine, still in shock, watched as hell unfolded before her. Strax, with the might of his magic, seemed like an unstoppable whirlwind of destruction. As the smoke began to dissipate, she regained her composure.

"Thank you," she said, trying to sound calmer than she felt.

"There's no time for that, Cristine," Strax replied, pointing his hand at the flames and drawing them back to prevent a forest fire. "We need to reach the nest before the spiders regroup and start attacking en masse."

She nodded, adrenaline still coursing through her veins. "Right. Where to now?"

Strax glanced at the map, now soaked with the humidity of the forest, and traced an imaginary line with his finger. "The entrance to the main nest is about fifty meters east from here; Yennifer identified it a few minutes ago, a cave completely stuffed with webs. We need to move fast and quietly. If there are more spiders nearby, they won't hesitate to attack."

Cristine quickly checked her weapons and followed Strax, her senses on high alert. The forest now felt like an even more threatening place, the echo of their voices reverberating through the trees around them.

As they advanced, the dense vegetation seemed to close in around them. The natural sounds of the forest were replaced by an oppressive silence, broken only by the sound of Strax and Cristine's footsteps. Shadows danced, and Cristine couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched.

They pressed on firmly, and the environment around them began to change. The ground became more slippery, covered in a viscous substance that betrayed the spiders' presence. The vegetation grew denser, and the air was thick with a sickly sweet and putrid smell—a sign they were near the nest.

"We're close," Strax said, his voice now more tense. "We need to be careful. The spiders are likely on high alert. If they sense our presence, they won't hesitate to attack."

Cristine was about to respond when a sound echoed in the darkness to her left, followed by a swift movement. She turned, only to see a swarm of giant spiders rushing toward her, their eyes glowing with hunger and malice.

"Strax!" she yelled, brandishing her dagger. But before she could do anything, he was already in action, launching another wave of flames that engulfed the spiders, consuming them instantly.

"Don't worry, they're new… they're weak still," Strax said as the ashes of the spiders fell around them.

"Let's head back on the route; they must be waiting for us," Strax said. Cristine nodded, following him as they advanced through the dense vegetation. With each step, the shadows seemed to stretch and shrink, as if the forest itself was breathing. The smell of mold and decay intensified, and Cristine could feel the pressure of danger approaching, as if the spiders were aware of their presence and ready to attack at any moment.

"What's your strategy for the nest?" Cristine asked, using the time to focus on the plan.

"I'll use fire to burn the nest. But we need to be quick—if we take too long, the older, stronger spiders might wake up and join the fight," Strax replied, his tone serious. "We need to get in, destroy the center, and get out before they can regroup."

"Got it... you want to suffocate them before they can react... it's cruel, but it's more than enough," she commented thoughtfully.

"The problem is... The Twelve-Legged Demon Spider... if she's here... we're in trouble," he remarked. "Do you think..."

"Yes, she's probably down there..." he murmured, but his expression suddenly softened.

"Come on, I can already sense the girls up ahead; we need to move fast," Strax said, picking up the pace.

'Let's start acting properly… Starting Spider Extermination Plan!'