The dragon's harem

As Arad walked into the magic item shop and started looking around, several guards rushed in through the door, seven of them. “Get down! Thug!” They yelled, pointing their spear at Arad and the Terror.

Arad looked at them, “What are you doing?”

“I said, get on the ground!” One of the guards lunged at Arad and stabbed him in the stomach with the spear. The spear barely managed to pierce half an inch into his flesh, not even a scratch.

“I’m here just to buy magic items. Can any of you explain? Before…” He reached down and grabbed the spear with one hand, crushing its shaft. “You end up like this.”

“Why do you bother? Just kill them, they attack first.” The Terror sighed, sitting on the counter with a large smile on her face. This whole city can band together and they won’t be able to take her down.

“What’s going on?!” The shop owner finally rushed down from the upper floor. He was an old man in his late sixties. The moment he saw Arad and the Terror, he froze, terrified. It only took him a second to start begging at Arad’s feet to let the guards live.

The guards were as confused as Arad was, but the owner’s raging face, shouting at them to scram before they lose their lives, was enough to make them scowl and crawl out of the shop.

Even when the guards left, the owner didn’t dare lift his head from the floor. Arad tried to get him up but he refused to move, and when asked about his actions he simply explained that he got news about a large man with big muscles and a seductive woman with breasts and butt were going around the whole floor massacrying powerful monsters and selling their parts everywhere.

“My lord, those guards don’t know of your power, but I do. Anyone who can slay that many monsters isn’t someone that cuffs or bars can stop. What brought you to my humble shop? To sell some monster parts?” The man finally looked up.

“No, I’m here to buy some magical items,” Arad replied with a tired face. “Can I take a look at what you have?”

“Of course, Sir!” The man rushed up, standing as quickly as he could, and then ran into the shelves, “What are you looking for? I have many magical items, all of which are unique and quite useful.”

“Something defensive would be useful to us.” The Terror walked around the shop, “Do you have anything that can help?”

“I do have many things, my lady.” The man scrambled into the shelves and pulled several small trays of rings, necklaces, and even a pair of gauntlets.

[Ring of Ant Resistance] {Reduce damage taken from ants by 50%}

For a moment, Arad wanted to think this ring is stupid, but with the countless massive ants he faced, and thinking back about Meryem and her powerful ants… This ring could be useful to someone.

[Ring Of Blood] {Stores the wearer’s blood and gives it back when bleeding} This would’ve been a great item if he didn’t have Shi’s regeneration.

[Necklace of the Neckless] {Transforms into a shield that protect’s wearer’s neck} A great item, but it was sadly useless when facing a monster instead of a human that can behead you.

[Everlasting Bond] {This pair of rings links two people, sharing both their pain and health. It cannot be removed until death parts them.} This ring is trouble on several levels. First, Arad didn’t have anyone besides the Terror here, and he won’t be wearing this thing for the rest of his life.

[Collar of the Succubus] {If worked by a woman, sexual intercourse fully restores health, stamina, and mana. But causes random bouts of lust.} This item is actually good, if it didn’t have the second effect.

[Gauntlets of the Fister] {Undestructible gauntlets that deal extra unarmed damage} This is the first item that might work, but the Terror wants to fight in her true form, and he is going to use weapons.

“How much are the gauntlets?” He looked at the shop’s owner, and the old man flinched, “You can have them for free, Sir, as an apology for what happened earlier.”

“Are you sure about that?” Arad lifted the gauntlets and looked at them. They looked nice, all black with sharp spikes at the knuckles. The word indestructible…does that mean they can’t be destroyed inside the labyrinth, or will they retain that outside? Nothing is really indestructible, Kali can prove that. So… if he is taking them for free, he’ll store and check them later on.

[Ring of Hope] {Grant resistance to mental damage.} This would’ve been useful earlier when the labyrinth almost erased his consciousness.

“I’ll take this ring.” Arad picked the ring, and the two kept looking. Suddenly, the terror fell on her knees, and she coughed a mouthful of blood. All of the veins on her body bulged, and her eyes almost popped out. Arad rapidly turned around, glaring with rage burning in his eyes, and drew his new greatsword, only for a voice to boom in his head.

^Run away! There is an A-class monster at your side.^ It was Merlin’s voice. A large smile crossed Arad’s face.

^You’re okay?! Wait, don’t kill her, she is with me.^ Arad’s eyes shifted to the Terror, “Endure for a second…”

^She is with you? That thing has several times more power than you do.^ Merlin seemed a bit worried for a second, but quickly released the Terror from the huge pressure she was under.

“What was that? Are we under attack?” The Terror gasped, and Arad shook his head, “No, we’re fine, pretty fine. Better than ever, just rest for a bit. I’ll tell you later.” He pulled a chair and sat down.

^What’s the situation?^ If Merlin managed to get the situation under control, that would mean this mess is about to end… but if she didn’t teleport him to the upper floor directly, that probably means something is still off.

^I managed to hold some power. The labyrinth is fighting back against my control, but I’m winning.^

As Arad expected, the fight with the labyrinth wasn’t over yet. ^Can you then teleport me to the upper floor? Or give my power back?^

^Sadly, I can’t. The labyrinth is holding onto your powers tightly, it knows that It’ll be our win if you come to the upper floor and regain your power.^ Merlin sighed, ^I was trying to get hold of Doma, but the labyrinth pulled her cage away and threw some of the floor’s authority as a decoy. That’s how I can contact you now.^

^Then can you at least weaken that nightmare at floor 910?^ Arad wanted to at least make his trip easier, but Merlin’s response was as disappointing as he expected.

^The labyrinth closely guards them, my authority now can’t reach the bosses. But I can help you in another way.^ A smile crossed Merlin’s face. ^Go visit the city’s temple, they should be expecting you two and will explain everything.^