The sensation Strax was feeling was so overwhelming that he couldn't help but release some of his murderous intent as he exited his father's room.
"I'm going to kill that old man..." he murmured as he walked, stopping in the hallway and placing his hand against the wall.
"I must be a big joke to these imbeciles," he continued, his eyes beginning to be consumed by a dark shadow.
[The Queen of the Underworld requests that you remain calm]
The message appeared before Strax as if it were perfectly normal, but then an angelic voice emerged in his ears.
"Calm down, kid; your Dragon Aura is leaking all over the place. If you keep this up, they'll find you," Persephone said in his ear, but Strax ignored her and punched the wall.
BOOM
The wall cracked like a spider web, and Strax's expression was far from pleasant; in fact, for a long time now, his days in that place had been increasingly filled with rage, and more rage.
"Fuck if they identify the damn dragon here or not. I'm already at my limit," Strax said as he resumed walking, his eyes completely engulfed in a red and black aura, each step heavy enough to crack the ground beneath him.
"Are they playing with me?" he said as he passed through the exit door, where Diana was waiting outside.
Diana felt a cold shiver run down her spine when her eyes met Strax's.
The aura emanating from him was not just intense; it was suffocating. The dark, uncontrollable power surrounding Strax at that moment filled her with a primal fear, something she hadn't experienced in years.
She had never seen him like this, consumed by such fury, like a volcano on the verge of eruption.
"Strax...?" she called, trying to maintain her composure, but her voice came out weaker than she intended. The boy she knew, always with that ironic and carefree air, seemed buried under a layer of pure rage and despair.
He didn't respond immediately. His eyes, now a mix of shadows and fire, locked onto hers for a brief moment, but Diana felt as if she were facing something much larger and more dangerous than any human. It was like looking at a predator in its purest form.
"Did you know about the shit your master was planning for me?" he asked, his voice low like an infernal symphony.
"He's not the only one with problems, but it seems he's forgotten that," she murmured to herself, her voice filled with frustration. Strax's words still echoed in her mind: "I'll kill you." The memories of all the times she had helped him, of being there when he needed support, surged forth, fueling her anger even more.
She turned, taking determined steps back toward the mansion. "If he thinks he can solve everything on his own, fine. But he'll learn, and the hard way, that the world doesn't revolve around him." Her voice was now filled with resolve.
Strax returned home, the cold night wind hitting his face, but he was so absorbed in his thoughts that he hardly noticed. Apocalipse trotted steadily, as if sensing the storm brewing within his rider. As they approached the entrance to the mansion, Strax jumped off the horse and turned toward the door, taking a deep breath, trying to steady himself before entering.
As soon as he opened the door, a heavy atmosphere greeted him. The room was filled with a soft, warm light, and the smell of freshly cooked dinner hung in the air, but none of it eased the tension coursing through his veins. He spotted Samira sitting at the table, along with his other wives: Cristine, Beatrice, and Monica. The warm smiles they wore faded instantly upon seeing Strax's dark expression.
"Strax, you're back!" Beatrice exclaimed, but the concern in her eyes quickly overshadowed any joy. "What happened?"
Strax hesitated, his mind still racing with Albert's words. "I... met that old idiot again," he began, frustration lacing his voice. "He said Xenovia is with the prince now."
A tense silence filled the room, shock and disbelief spreading across their faces. Samira was the first to react. "What do you mean by that? With the prince?"
"They sold her like she was an object, a bargaining chip, probably to buy time for that betrayal issue," Strax replied, his voice nearly a snarl. "My father thinks the only way to bring her back is for me to eliminate a monster—a giant spider—and bring back something valuable in return."
Cristine stepped forward, concern evident in her eyes. "Are you really going to do that? Are you willing to risk so much?"
"I don't have a choice," Strax shot back, his frustration morphing into rage. "He made it clear this is the only way to get her back. And I can't let them do whatever they want with my sister. I'm not a helpless kid anymore. Even if it means exterminating the prince."
Monica observed the scene, noticing the fury radiating from Strax. "You need to think calmly. If your father is involved, there's more at stake than you realize. He's playing a game, and you need to prepare for it."
Strax's gaze fell, and he let out a deep sigh. "I just wanted a little peace, but it seems there's no rest for me in this life," he said, sitting down at the table and staring at the ceiling.
"How much time do we have?" Samira asked.
"Six months," he replied.
"And what are you going to do when the time comes?" she pressed.
"Well, he's going to have a lot to do to win me over," she said, but before anyone could react, there she was—a woman who... well, shouldn't have been there.
"Hey, little brother," Xenovia said, waving her hands.