The undercity of Eldoria was a labyrinth of forgotten stone — ancient sewers and catacombs buried beneath the gleaming streets above, where the city's refuse and secrets alike washed down to rot. Torchlight flickered off damp walls slick with moss and something darker. The air stank of mildew, blood, and faint brimstone.
Ethan led the raid party through a hidden grate entrance Elena had revealed — a baron's privilege. Ten elite castle guards in crimson plate flanked them, crossbows loaded with silver-tipped bolts. Baron Vortigern himself marched at the rear, greatsword drawn, face set in grim determination.
But the core was Ethan's harem.
Mira scouted ahead, her movements silent and fluid, daggers glinting. She'd tied her auburn hair back tight, her curvy figure clad in dark leather that hugged every swell — practical, but Ethan's earlier teases had left her flushed and focused.
Elara walked beside him, hands glowing faintly with prepared healing runes, her voluptuous form in reinforced robes that allowed free movement. Her blue eyes scanned for magical traps, the widow's gentle nature hardened by purpose.
Lirael brought up the mid-flank, elven grace on full display — silver hair braided for battle, emerald eyes sharp. Her fingers danced with illusion spells, ready to cloak or blind. The envoy's diplomatic poise had evolved into quiet ferocity; she fought for her new Master now.
Elena marched with them openly — the baroness in light armor over silk, a short sword at her hip. Her raven hair was pinned, violet eyes burning. Claimed fully, she'd insisted on coming. "This is my city too. Kael betrayed us all."
Vortigern had relented — her "inspiration" from Ethan's heroism swayed him.
The tunnel narrowed, forcing single file. Mira signaled halt — faint voices ahead, chanting in guttural tongue.
They crept forward to a cavernous chamber: the old temple, desecrated. A cracked altar pulsed with black energy — a minor demon portal, swirling like smoke. Around it: twelve syndicate cultists in hooded robes, beastkin enforcers (four wolf-types, two panthers), and at the center — Lord Kael, dark robes open to reveal the veiled dagger tattoo on his chest.
He raised a mana crystal, chanting to widen the rift. Shadowy tendrils lashed out, forming a half-manifested demon avatar — horned, clawed, eyes like burning coals.
Ethan's system flared.
[Major Threat Detected: Veilborn Ritual – Interrupt to prevent demon incursion]
[Enemies: 18 hostiles, Level Equivalent: Silver+]
No time for stealth.
"Charge!" Ethan roared.
The raid exploded into motion.
Guards loosed crossbows — bolts thudding into cultists, dropping three instantly.
Vortigern bellowed, greatsword cleaving a wolf beastkin in half with a single overhead swing, black blood spraying.
Ethan surged forward, Combat Flow and Elven Grace combining into a blur of lethal precision.
A panther assassin leaped from shadows, claws extended. Ethan spun mid-air — blade flashing in an arc that severed both arms at the elbows. The beastkin howled, crashing; Ethan's follow-up thrust pierced the heart.
Two wolf enforcers charged tandem — one high with axe, one low with claws. Ethan dropped low, sweeping the low attacker's legs while parrying the axe. He rolled up inside the high attacker's guard, sword punching through armor into gut, twisting viciously before yanking free in a spray of gore.
Mira darted through chaos like a shadow — daggers flashing, hamstringing a cultist mid-chant, then leaping onto a wolf's back to slit its throat from behind.
Elara's runes flared — a barrier shielding guards from dark bolts, then a burst of holy light disintegrating two cultists.
Lirael wove illusions — duplicate images of Ethan confusing beastkin, leading them to strike each other in panic. Her arrows (elven longbow materialized) pierced eyes and throats with deadly accuracy.
Kael snarled, channeling power into the portal. The demon avatar solidified — eight feet tall, whipping tendrils.
"Kill the adventurer!" Kael screamed.
Four cultists and the remaining panther converged on Ethan.
He met them head-on.
First cultist swung a shadow-imbued dagger; Ethan parried, riposted into the throat — blood bubbling as it fell.
Panther pounced; Ethan used Noble Command subtly — aura flaring to hesitate the beast a fraction. Enough — he sidestepped, blade slashing across the belly, spilling entrails.
Two cultists cast dark chains; Ethan vaulted over, landing between them. Dual thrusts — one through heart, one through eye.
Last cultist begged; Ethan ended it cleanly.
The demon avatar roared, lunging with massive claws.
Ethan dodged — claws cratering stone where he stood. He countered, blade enhanced by Lirael's illusion buff — slicing deep into a tendril, black ichor spraying.
Vortigern joined, greatsword hammering the avatar's side. Guards formed a spear wall, poking vulnerabilities.
Mira flipped onto the altar, disrupting Kael's chant with a dagger throw — grazing his arm.
Kael bled, rage twisting his face. "You'll all burn when the lord comes!"
Elara blasted purifying light into the portal — weakening it.
Lirael's arrows pinned Kael's robe to the altar, immobilizing him.
Ethan leaped onto the avatar's back — blade driving down through the skull. The demon shrieked, body convulsing before dissolving into smoke.
Portal collapsed with a thunderclap.
Kael struggled, but guards swarmed him — chains binding the traitor.
Vortigern raised his sword for execution, but Ethan stopped him. "Alive. Interrogate. He knows more cells."
The baron nodded, face grim. "You have my eternal gratitude. "
Loot: mana crystals (absorbed for +150 Magic Affinity), syndicate documents (new quest chain unlocked), a veiled dagger artifact (Skill Unlocked: Shadow Step – short-range teleport).
Back at the castle, celebration was subdued — the threat contained, but larger war looming.
The harem gathered in Elena's private chambers — Mira patching wounds with playful kisses, Elara healing with gentle touches, Lirael sharing elven wine, Elena coordinating guards with newfound fire.
They curled around Ethan on the massive bed — no full smut tonight, but intimate bonding: whispers of fears overcome, dreams for the future, hands intertwined.
"You're building something real," Elena murmured.
Mira grinned. "With the best women at your side."
Elara smiled softly. "A family."
Lirael nodded. "And allies across races."
Ethan held them, power thrumming.
But the documents revealed chilling truth: the Veilborn council met in three months — a greater portal ritual planned in the heart of the continent.
Time was short.
The true war began.
To be continued…