The dragon's harem

Arad stood before Merida's house, staring down. "I just came back," He growled, crackles of void sparking from his skin.

Everyone in the street stopped moving, staring at the faint black smoke rising from his body.

"How long since she left?" He grunted, and everyone in the city started feeling their chests tighten from the increased mana pressure in the air. Even though it was noon, the people started losing their sight in the darkness and mist.

Arad's domain which was restricted to the forest slowly seeped into the city, like how a red dragon's lair burst into flame or lava. The city was about to burst into void and mist.

All mages in the city could feel it, a great monster was in the city, one strong enough to level it down, and it wasn't happy.

FLAP! The first one to land beside Arad was Merlin, "Arad! I knew it was you, what happened?" She approached, weary of any sudden movements.

Arad turned toward her with a passive face, "Merida isn't here,"

"Heh?" She gasped, "What do you mean she isn't here? She was at her grandparent's house,"

"She left a week ago. She isn't anywhere in a four-kilometer radius." The weight on the city disappeared as he walked toward Merlin, "We're going to find her,"

***

CRACK! Arad pushed the guild's door open, walking directly toward Nina's desk as everyone stared at him. The competent adventurers already knew. That heavy pulse of mana came from him.

"Yo! Arad, how are you doing?" A hand touched his shoulder, and he glared aside.

"You don't look well," Nigel said with a smile, "Calm down, would you?"

Arad took a deep breath and sighed, "You're right. It keeps boiling in my head,"

"Whatever it was, you aren't solving any problem by being angry." Nigel tapped Arad's shoulder, "What's the problem? How big is it?"

"Merida disappeared a week ago. I'm angry nobody noticed until I came here," Arad growled, staring at the guild. He kept walking toward Nina.

^Merida isn't in my domain. I can't find her by calling on animals or beasts. I need information,^ He thought, standing in front of Nina.

"I suspect she went after the one who killed her father. Who is it, which city?" He growled, a purple flame burning in his eyes.

"I won't say. You're going to destroy that city," She replied, knowing how a dragon's rage could end. He would fly there, crash in the middle of the city, and start blasting everyone to oblivion.

"What I do with them is none of your business," Arad replied, "If it was, Merida won't have gone out alone,"

CRACK! The ground beneath Nina's feet shattered, and everyone in the guild ran away. Only Alcott and Merlin remained. Kayden already left a while ago.

"My job is to protect adventurers from dangerous quests and protect the people from the adventurers. You now fall into the latter," She walked from her desk and approached Arad.

"You didn't stop Merida. You already failed the first one." He replied.

"She left on her own and didn't consult the guild. If I knew, I would have stopped her," Nina stared at his face, "Now that I know innocent people could die, I can't allow you to kill them."

A dragon and a barbarian, the two types of people with the worst anger issues are facing each other in an argument. It could only end one way.

Before the two could start swinging at each other, Alcott called them.

"Stop, no need for bloodshed," He stood, "We better start working on retrieving her, don't we?" He walked between them.

With a grin on his face, "My health has been getting better thanks to Cain's disgusting herbal mix. If you're going to fight, at least let me join in."

Agnar who was watching from behind the guild's door with a scared face gasped, "Those three are monsters."

"I thought you were about to break the fight!" Merlin jumped in, pushing Arad and Nina away from each other, "Stop! We don't have time to waste, do we?"

"You're right," Arad sighed.

Nina took a deep breath, nodding, "Right," She walked toward her desk and took a seat. "A new quest, search and rescue of Merida."

"I'm heading off now," Arad turned to leave and search, "What town?"

"You have to wait for us," Alcott stared at him, "Don't rush off like that old man,"

Merlin sighed, "Cain was lucky, wasn't he." She looked at Arad, "What's the common ground between you two? Wanting to rush out alone?"

"We don't have time to waste. It's been a week already." Arad stared at them.

"When Cain left," Alcott looked at Arad, "The ones he faced summoned an archdevil and a demon lord. If we're to face such a thing and have hope of saving Merida, we need to be prepared."

"Archdevil? Demon lord?"

"Spindle and Demogorgan, I confirmed it was their magic." Merlin looked at Arad, "I also have a feeling the crimson rot has something to do with this. I bet Zuggtmoy won't be out of the conflict either."

"We could end up facing two demon lords and an Archdevil," Arad scratched his head, "I don't know how strong they are, but from the names, they aren't something I can just smash."

"Demogorgan is the biggest threat. I don't know if me and Nina combined could defeat him. Our odds get even worse if he pulls us to the abyss." He looked back, "Brother,"

ZON! Gojo appeared out of nowhere, "You called me?"

"Demogorgan, Zuggtmoy, and Spindle, can you defeat them?" Arad asked.

"I don't know anything about Spindle, I heard of Zuggtmoy from Vars, but I do not know how strong she is. For Demogorgan, I can't defeat that thing. I'm not even close." Gojo scratched his head, "He's a demon lord for a reason. Those creatures are beyond our understanding."

"You heard it from him. We can't act rashly," Alcott added.

"But," Gojo looked at Arad with a smile, "They won't follow mortal words, even if they could die. They are proud and arrogant." He giggled, "Even if someone summoned them, they would only kill the summoner and leave. You have to worry about their servants who aren't as strong."

"Cain said they killed the summoners," Nina looked at Merlin, "Get everything ready,"

"I will be here protecting everyone and keeping an eye out. Call me if you needed my help." Gojo disappeared again.