Demonic Dragon: Harem System

Beatrice showed no fear, nor did she hesitate in the face of Ouroboros's imminent explosion of rage. On the contrary, she merely tilted her head to the side, her lips still curled in a defiant smile, as if she were enjoying the situation.

"You're so predictable, Ouroboros," she teased, crossing her arms as the energy around them seemed to intensify. "Always throwing a tantrum like a spoiled child when you don't get your way. Frankly, you disappoint me."

Ouroboros's furious roar echoed again, and the air around them seemed to vibrate with the force of her spirit as her body transformed further, taking on the form of a colossal serpent, brimming with power and destruction. Beatrice, however, did not back down.

Strax, watching the scene unfold, felt panic rise in his chest. "Beatrice, stop! She's going to destroy you!" He tried to intervene, stepping forward, but his words seemed to fall on deaf ears.

Tiamat, who had been silently watching with an amused expression, finally spoke. "This human is something else. It's not just anyone who'd have the guts to face Ouroboros like this. If she survives, she might prove useful."

But Beatrice seemed to already know what she was doing. Her confidence was unwavering, and the look in her eyes showed no fear, only challenge. "Come on, Ouroboros," she shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos around them. "Show me what you can do. Or are you just going to scream and threaten like always?"

Ouroboros lunged forward, her enormous form rushing toward Beatrice with terrifying speed, like a force of nature ready to crush everything in its path. Strax yelled, reaching out, trying to create some form of protection, but it all happened too fast.

Yet, in the last second, just before Ouroboros could strike, Beatrice raised her hand, her expression firm. "Stop."

Incredibly, somehow, the attack was halted. The massive serpent froze in the air, its mouth wide open, sharp teeth ready to bite, but unable to move. A strange glow emanated from Beatrice's hand, and a heavy silence fell over the place.

Strax stared in disbelief, his mind struggling to process what had just happened. "How...?" He began to ask, but his voice faltered.

Beatrice, surprisingly calm, simply shrugged. "She's used to getting her way by force. But no one ever said she could control me."

Ouroboros, furious, tried to fight against the invisible force holding her back, but it was as if she were trapped in a web. Beatrice slowly lowered her hand, and the giant form of Ouroboros began to shrink, until finally, she returned to her human form, panting and frustrated.

Tiamat let out a short sigh, seemingly both impressed and satisfied with the outcome. "It seems this human has more than just audacity."

'She used the world to her advantage… How did she figure that out?' Tiamat wondered.

Strax, still somewhat shaken, moved closer to Beatrice. "How... did you do that?"

She smiled, winking at him. "Where are we?"

"In my mental world...?" he said, his voice uncertain.

"Exactly, the world where you keep everything about yourself. Every woman here is someone you love in some way, so this place is always going to protect us," she said nonchalantly, shrugging.

Ouroboros, still fuming, got to her feet, but this time she kept her distance, her murderous gaze fixed on Beatrice. "This isn't over..." she muttered, her voice dripping with restrained anger.

Beatrice chuckled. "Oh, of course not. But for now, you'll behave, won't you? After all, now you know you can't just squash me like a bug."

Strax, still bewildered, looked between the two, shaking his head. "I really need to figure out a better way to manage all of this..."

Beatrice placed her hand on his shoulder again, this time with a gentler touch. "You'll find a way, Strax. After all, you're the only one who can bring order to this chaos." She smiled, winking at him once more. "And in the meantime, I'll enjoy watching you try."

...

As Strax and Beatrice returned to the guild, a subtle tension lingered between them after the intense mental battle they had faced. The warm atmosphere of the guild, however, provided some relief. The soft glow of torches cast dancing shadows on the stone walls, and the scent of burnt wood and spices filled the air, making the place feel comfortingly familiar. Samira, Monica, and the other members sat around a large, well-worn table, discussing something that seemed urgent but surprisingly unrelated to any imminent crisis: the guild's name.

Samira was reclining in her chair, casually twirling a dagger between her fingers, watching Monica, who was buried in a pile of scrolls and drafts with name suggestions. The tension that usually accompanied their missions and confrontations was momentarily absent. It was a rare moment of relaxation, though the seriousness of the topic was being debated heatedly.

"You finally decided to show up," Samira remarked without taking her eyes off the spinning dagger. "I thought you got lost in your own head, Strax."

Beatrice chuckled, but Strax let out a tired sigh, as if the weight of everything he had mentally experienced still hung over him. "Well… more or less. But let's save that for later. What's being discussed now?"

Monica looked at him with her usual serious expression, though there was a touch of humor in her voice. "We're trying to pick a name for the guild, but as you can imagine, it's not easy with this crew."

Strax approached the table, grabbing a mug of ale and sitting next to Samira, who shot him a brief glance before returning to twirling her dagger. "And how's it going so far?" he asked.

Monica rolled her eyes while picking up one of the scrolls. "Between ridiculous suggestions like 'Abyssal Guardians' and something more cliché like 'Fists of Justice,' we're at square one."

Beatrice raised her hand, still laughing to herself. "Hey, I said 'Shadow Guardians' would be epic. Something with style, you know? A little mystery."

"No need to be so melodramatic," Samira countered, smirking lazily. "Something more subtle. I suggested 'Eternal Storm,' but apparently no one liked the idea of something with weather-related themes."

Monica shrugged. "It's not bad, but it sounds like a battle group name. We want something that resonates with what we stand for as a guild. Something that has depth but also carries a sense of power."

Strax took a long sip from his mug and pondered, observing the faces around the table. It was an odd group, each with a distinct personality. But deep down, they were united by something greater, something that wasn't just strength or survival. They had come together by fate, circumstance, and yes, by chaos—but there was a deeper essence, something rooted in each of them.

"Maybe we should think about what this guild really means to us," he began, his voice sounding reflective. "We're not just a group that fights or protects… we're part of something bigger. Each of us came from different places and pasts, but we were brought together for a purpose. Something beyond ourselves."

Monica nodded slowly, taking in Strax's words. "You're right. We need a name that unites us, that represents more than just strength. Something that reflects our legacy."

"Legacy, huh?" Samira murmured, letting the dagger rest on the table. "Something about eternity… maybe something that outlives us."

Beatrice, who had been more playful than serious until now, finally became thoughtful. "What about something related to immortality or the underworld? Since… well, we kind of deal with those things all the time."

Strax raised an eyebrow. "Immortality? That does sound interesting. But we need something that doesn't feel forced."

"Underworld… immortality…" Monica muttered. "That reminds me of ancient gods. What about something related to gods of death or eternal life? Like… 'Osiris'?"

Silence filled the room for a moment as everyone exchanged glances. The name carried a different weight. It wasn't just a word—it carried history, myth, and power. Osiris, the Egyptian god of the afterlife and resurrection, symbolized transformation, renewal, and, above all, an eternal cycle.

Samira raised an eyebrow. "Osiris… What do you all think?"

Beatrice smirked. "It's powerful, for sure. And it makes sense, considering how many times we've faced death… or worse. Plus, it's got that touch of mystery, not something obvious. It might be a good choice."

Strax crossed his arms, deep in thought. "It represents more than just physical strength or combat power. It stands for resilience, renewal... the ability to rise from the ashes, like a phoenix, but with a darker symbolism."

Monica smiled slightly, pleased that her suggestion was being well received. "Osiris also represents leadership. He was the king of the gods in Egyptian myth, and his connection to the afterlife reflects our own constant battle against fate, death, and forces beyond our control."

Samira leaned forward, her eyes glinting with the idea. "What if we think of Osiris as the embodiment of what cannot be destroyed? Something eternal, immortal... just like us. How many times have we been on the brink of destruction, only to rise again?"

Beatrice finally dropped her playful tone, taking the suggestion seriously. "I like it. 'Osiris' is a name with weight, but it's more than that. It has duality... death and resurrection. And we, as a guild, are a bit of that too. We're never just one or the other; we're always in transition, surviving the impossible."

Strax looked at each of them. There was a silent acceptance in the air, as if the name had found the group, not the other way around. They weren't just warriors, nor simply adventurers. They were survivors, leaders of an uncertain fate, always returning, always rising from the shadows of the world and their own pasts.

"So, that's it," he said, his voice deep, but with a slight smile on his lips. "We'll be the 'Osiris Guild'. May we always rise from the shadows and face whatever awaits us with the same determination we've had so far."

Monica nodded, making a final note on her scroll. "Osiris Guild. It's settled then."

Samira raised her glass of wine, a glint in her eyes. "To chaos, to death, and to resurrection. May we be eternal."

Everyone raised their glasses in unison, echoing Samira's toast. "To the Osiris Guild!"

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