Harem Master - RPG story

--- Asher Montgomery ---

As they appeared in the Forest Dungeon, Asher looked around quickly. Many trees and bushes surrounded them, providing perfect cover for monsters, but he didn't spot any imminent danger.

"Area clear," Ava stated, but they still remained ready to fight with their weapons in hand.

"Forest again," Asher said. "Watch out for an ambush, like the last time."

"What happened?" Lucy asked as they began making their way through the dungeon, with Sam at the front.

"We were tracking monsters, and they ambushed us," Elara explained.

"What type of monsters?" Lucy asked.

Elara answered and then described the fight as they headed through the forest, looking for enemies.

Eventually, Sam stopped, raising her hand. "Something moved there," she said, pointing her sword to the right.

Asher focused his gaze between the trees and bushes there, and after a moment, noticed a small green body moving toward them.

"Goblins," he said.

"A few of them," Elara added.

"Sam, Lucy, go forward," Asher ordered. "Elara, go around them."

Everyone spread out into position as he commanded, while Asher followed after Sam and Lucy. Naomi released an arrow, but it struck a tree. With how dense the forest around was, Asher knew she wouldn't have an easy time.

He tried to count the incoming monsters, but they disappeared from view too often, hiding behind trees or bushes. The goblins had all kinds of weapons, swords, axes, clubs. But all of them were melee, which gave them the advantage.

When the monsters were appearing in his vision, he checked their statuses, which were all the same.

---

Forest Goblin

Level 1

Health: 40/40

---

"They're weak," Ava said. "Try to save your skills."

The goblins were approaching, but Naomi managed to hit one of them in the arm. The impact knocked it off its feet, but the rest didn't stop, raising their weapons.

Sam blocked the first attack, immediately slashing through the monster's side and stepping aside swiftly to avoid another creature's attack.

Asher watched as Lucy dodged an attack, and then moving swiftly drove her blade throught the monster's chest. But another goblin was charging at the pink-haired girl, and Asher stepped in just in time, deflecting its sword. When the monster was out of balance, Asher kicked in in the chest, pushing it back.

The goblin quickly got up and lunged at him, with its sword raised. Asher blocked with his shield and slashed its arm. An arrow struck the creature in the side, just below the ribcage. Asher finished the job stabbing the monster in the neck.

As the limp body slid off his blade, Asher looked around. Elara had joined from behind, swiftly cutting down one goblin after another. Only four remained, and Asher rushed toward the one that was fighting against Lucy.

She blocked its attack, and Asher slashed across its back. The goblin tried to turn, but with both of them flanking it, they finished it off quickly.

Meanwhile, Sam and Elara took out the remaining three with help from Naomi's arrows.

The whole fight was over in less than a minute. Eight goblins, all level one, were not a challenge for them.

"Anyone hurt?" Asher asked as they began gathering loot.

Everyone confirmed they hadn't taken a single scratch.

"Good job, everyone," Asher said.

"We're amazing!" Lucy exclaimed.

"Let's still be careful," Asher replied. "Those were just the weakest ones here."

"Oh, I know, I know," Lucy said with a grin. "But we're still amazing."

Asher smiled at her as they gathered up all the items they had found. Five bronze coins, a mana potion, one uncommon item, and three common ones. Asher checked their stats before Lucy stored them in her explorer bag.

---

Wooden Shield (Common)

Required Level: 1

+1 Strength

A wooden shield.

-

Goblin's Teeth (Common)

Alchemical ingredient

Small yellow goblin teeth.

-

Rusty Sword (Common)

Required Level: 1

+1 DMG

A rusty, old, well-worn sword.

-

Iron Sword (Uncommon)

Required Level: 1

+1 DMG

+1 Strength

A solid one-handed iron sword.

---

It wasn't anything amazing, or even decent, and they might have trouble selling it. But with room left in Lucy's bag, they took everything anyway, hoping for any additional money.

"Any level-ups?" Ava asked.

"Me and Naomi," Sam replied. "Level five," she added.

That meant new skills were now available for both of them. As Sam began explaining what she got, Asher checked her status to see for himself.

---

Weakening Strike (Level 1 -- Active -- Cooldown: 25 minutes, Mana cost: 10): Empowers the next melee attack to cripple the enemy's combat ability. On hit, reduces the target's outgoing damage by 10% for the next 4 minutes. (1 point)

---

"I'll add it," Sam stated after reading her skill's description.

"The more skills, the better," Lucy said.

"It would be useful against a boss soon," Ava added.

"Done," Sam said.

"Naomi?" Asher asked, turning toward her, prompting her to talk about her skill, but at the same time, he checked her status to read it himself.

---

Cursed Volley (Level 1 -- Active -- Cooldown: 60 minutes, Mana cost: 30): Curses a target with visions. For the next 5 minutes, the target is tormented by vivid illusions of spectral arrows flying toward them. (1 point)

---

"I think I'll wait to upgrade Spectral Marksman instead of picking this one," Naomi said.

"It makes sense," Asher replied, nodding slowly. The upgrade would increase her damage with every arrow, which sounded much better than a status effect that only distracted an opponent.

"Don't forget to use your stat points," Ava reminded both Naomi and Sam.

"Let's move on," Elara said.

"Sure," Ava replied, and once again they began threading their way through the dense forest, searching for more opponents.

--- The Forest Dryad ---

The slim, green-skinned dryad moved quietly along a path between the trees, her bow in hand, hunting for animals. She scanned the ground for tracks and listened to the forest, hoping to catch anything unusual.

She was heading to a spot where she had often seen small tigers before, hoping to skin one for new clothes.

A rustle to her left made her crouch instantly, hiding in the bushes. She drew an arrow and slowly nocked it, listening. The forest sounded normal, but she was certain she'd heard something close by.

She scanned the trees ahead but couldn't see anything.

Rustling behind her warned her. She rolled to the side, and as she stopped, crouching, a tiger was where she had just been. A big one. She raised her bow, but a movement caught her attention in the direction where she had been looking just a moment ago.

She had fallen into a trap, alone against two big tigers, she was suddenly in a very bad spot. She released her arrow while already turning around, running away as she put her bow on her back.

In a moment, from the hunter, she became the prey.

Running through the trees, she pulled out a dagger while trying to choose narrow paths, hoping it would slow down the beasts chasing her. But the rustling followed, and when it was close, she turned around, suddenly ready to strike.

The tiger rammed into her. She tried to jump aside but was too slow. She avoided its maw, but its claws slashed her arm, leaving deep wounds that gushed green blood as she dropped to the ground.

The pain shooting through her arm was paralyzing. She had lost her dagger, and the second animal was coming at her. Panic was trying to overhelm her, but she got herself together quickly. She jumped to her feet and ran.

The beasts followed after her, and she knew she had no way to lose them. With her arm bleeding, she was getting weaker. Her chances, which were low from the start, were getting close to zero very quickly.

To buy herself more time and a chance to plan what to do, she jumped at a tree. Despite the pain shooting through her arm, she climbed as high as she could.

Branches scratched her face and body, but she didn't have time to be carefull. The tigers were already there, jumping and trying to catch her. She got high enough that they couldn't reach her.

Sitting on a thick branch she leaned against the trunk. The dryad tried to stop the bleeding, but the blood kept gushing through her fingers. She was getting weaker with every passing second.

She looked down at the tigers that were watching her. They would wait, and she didn't have time. With her wounds, she needed to run, and... tears streamed down her face as she realized that there wasn't any "and." She was going to die.

The whole tree shook when one of the beasts leapt at it. It tried to climb using its claws, driving them into the tree. The dryad grabbed one of the branches, watching the wild animal getting closer and closer. But then it slipped.

Her head spun. Her eyes fluttered. Black spots appeared in her vision. Every breath was a challenge.. She didn't even have the strength to wipe her tears away, as she was holding onto the tree with all she had

This was it. This was her end. She always knew that hunting in the Lost Terrains was dangerous, but what other option did she have?

She just watched the tigers jumping or trying to climb the tree, as all her strength left her body.

At least she did until her vision swam, and it became hard to see anything. She blinked rapidly, and as a movement further from the tree caught her attention, she looked there.

It was him. The man of her dreams. He was looking at her.

She smiled before everything went black. She leaned forward, slipped off the branch, and the last thing she registered was the pain of her chest hitting something.

--- Asher Montgomery ---

Asher's team was moving through the dense forest when a loud roar came from in front of them.

"It was a tiger," Ava said. "That way."

"Would it just roar randomly?" Lucy asked.

"You think it's fighting against a team already?" Elara asked.

"Maybe," Lucy replied. "We should check it."

"Let's be careful," Ava said.

They moved forward, but as they got closer, they could hear more sounds - rustling, roars, grunts. There was a fight in front of them, and they approached slowly, with their weapons ready.

"Tigers," Sam confirmed, as the sounds were really close.

Asher passed one of the trees, and then he saw two big tigers, green with black stripes, both staring at something up in the tree branches. As his gaze followed where the monsters were looking, he spotted a forest dryad.

Her golden eyes focused on him. She smiled, but then her body fell forward, and she tumbled off the tree.

As her chest hit one of the lower branches, Asher realized that it was the dryad from his dream.

"Elara, attack!" Asher gasped, activating his Partner Enhancement, adding her additional speed. "Shoot the tigers!" he added, toward Ava and Naomi, while running forward himself.

"Asher!" Elara gasped, following after him.

The dryad was hitting branches that slowed her fall. It could have been any other dryad, but the look when she focused on him, and that soft smile on her green lips, made Asher sure that it was her. But... how was that possible?

He didn't have time to think about it.

Elara reached one of the tigers, dodging its jaw before she cut deeply through its side. The beast growled in pain as blood splattered. Elara turned around swiftly and leapt to the other side, cutting through the tiger's body again.

The dryad's limp body hit the ground with a crack, and the other tiger turned toward her. Asher rushed at it, wanting to stop the beast. A fireball flew over his arm and struck the monster's body. Flames spread over its fur, pulling its attention away from the dryad.

Asher rushed at the beast, swinging his sword. The tiger leapt back, then immediately lunged forward. He raised his shield to block its paw. The force of the blow caught him off guard, but he held firmly, remaining on his feet.

Lucy joined him, circling the tiger as an arrow flew past. The beast jerked its head, avoiding being struck in the snout, but it still pierced into its body.

Asher lunged forward, but the tiger leapt back again. At least it was moving away from the dryad, who still lay motionless.

Her arm was torn open, green blood seeping from deep wounds. But Asher had to focus on the fight, turning toward the beast, he checked its status.

---

Forest Tiger

Level: 3

Health: 137/150

---

The tiger attacked Lucy, but she moved out of its way. When a fireball struck the beast near its head, it backed off again.

Asher shifted to the side of the monster and cut through its body, with his shield raised. When the tiger leapt, he blocked it, pushing it away.

Lucy stabbed the monster's side, and it turned toward her. It was trying to strike her with its paw, but she jumped away again.

"One down!" Elara shouted.

Asher glanced her way, the beast dead behind her on the ground, as she moved toward them, but then Asher realized that she was moving toward the dryad on the ground.

"Don't attack her!" he shouted, moving to stand over the dryad's body. Fortunately, he was much closer, because he wouldn't have been fast enough to stop Elara.

"What?!" Elara gasped. "Get out of the way!"

"Take care of the tiger!" Asher shouted.

Naomi tried to shoot the monster, but it leapt to the side. Then it rushed forward at Lucy. She blocked its maw with her shield, but it pushed her back, and she fell on her ass.

The tiger wanted to jump at her, but Elara was already there. She stabbed the beast in its paw when it was trying to hit Lucy. Then Elara jumped back immediately, avoiding its other strike.

Sam attacked the monster, giving Lucy time to get up.

Asher focused on the dryad, worried he was doing something really stupid. But she wasn't moving. Her eyes were closed. Dark green blood everywhere. The wounds on her arm looked terrible. He wondered if she would survive, even if they spare her. He checked her status.

---

Forest Dryad

Level: 6

Health: 23/210

---

Asher wondered what she was doing there, and it crossed his mind that they could get a lot of experience for killing her, but...

But he had dreamt of her. And just before she passed out... She looked at him. Not at Elara, not at the tigers, not at anyone else. At him. And then... she smiled.

Asher dropped to his knees by the dryad's side. He pressed his hands to her wounds, trying to stop the bleeding. He still wasn't sure if what he was doing was right, but he needed to save her.

"Asher!" Ava gasped.

He raised his gaze, Elara, Lucy, and Sam were fighting the tiger, as Naomi was shooting at it. But Ava was coming toward him.

"Move back!" she shouted.

"No!" he gasped. "Give me a potion!"

"What?!"

"Please," Asher said, looking into her eyes while pressing his hands against the dryad's small body.

"Asher, move back!" Elara shouted.

He shifted his gaze, the other tiger was dead, and Elara was coming toward him, with Sam and Lucy following after.

"No!" Asher shouted again.

"What the fuck?!" Elara gasped, stopping close.

"She's wounded, and not dangerous," Asher protested.

"It's a fucking monster," Elara replied, her dagger targeted at the dryad, but Asher shifted to get in Elara's way.

"Asher, kill it!" Elara gasped.

"Elara, listen." He held her back, as the rest of their team watched what was happening with their weapons raised. "Everyone wait! Listen!" Asher shouted.

"What the fuck are you doing?!" Elara shouted. When she stopped pushing toward the dryad Asher let go of her.

"I don't know. But something strange is happening," Asher said. "I dreamt of her," he added.

"What?" Elara asked with a confused frown.

"I thought it was the stress of exploring, and my class, and that's not really important, but... I'm sure that I dreamt of her," he explained.

"Oh my god!" Lucy exclaimed. "You had a wet dream about a dryad?"

"Seriously?" Elara sighed.

Asher's cheeks blushed as all the women looked at him. "Umm... we only kissed. And not about a dryad, but about this dryad."

"Asher, it's a fucking monster!" Elara gasped.

"I know," he sighed. "But she's wounded, she's not a threat."

"Exactly! We need to kill it now!" Elara replied, pointing her dagger at the dryad.

"Her," Asher corrected.

Elara scowled, looking at the monster, tightening the grip on her daggers.

"She's dying," Naomi whispered.

Asher checked the dryad's status again.

---

Forest Dryad

Level: 6

Health: 21/210

---

"Fuck," Asher murmured. The dryad was still losing blood and health points. They had to do something, or she would die soon.

"Let's finish it," Elara said, moving toward the dryad.

"No!" Asher protested. He grabbed Elara to stop her. He had no idea why, but he couldn't let the dryad die. "What if my dreams are not an accident?"

"And what?" Elara asked, with frustration clear in her voice. "Was it caused by your class?"

"There's this anime!" Lucy cut in. "A man befriended monsters from the dungeon and created a team out of them," she explained.

"Agh!" Elara groaned. "And he fucked them, right?" she gasped. "Sex is getting in both of your fucking minds! It's a fucking monster, and you don't think rationally because she's pretty!"

"No," Asher protested. "It's... I don't know, El. But I dreamt about her. I had never seen her before, and now... she's here... how's that possible?"

Elara grimaced. "Ava, come on, tell them it's fucking stupid!"

"His class is strange," Ava replied.

"Seriously?!" Elara gasped.

"Are you sure it's really her, and not any other dryad?" Ava asked Asher.

"Yes," Asher said firmly. He looked over all the women in his harem. "I don't understand it, but we can't kill her," Asher tried to convince them. "Please."

"What do you want to do?" Elara asked. He was glad that at least she sounded a bit calmer than a moment before.

"Lucy, give me a health potion," he said.

"Are you kidding me?!" Elara gasped.

"Asher," Ava said. "That's dangerous."

"She's almost dead," he protested.

"And you want to fucking heal her!" Elara shouted.

Asher looked over the small body of the dryad, covered in blood.

"She doesn't even have a weapon," he said.

"Asher, it's a fucking monster," Elara protested. "You had some fucked up dream from too much sex, and now you want to kill all of us?"

Lucy passed a potion to Asher.

Elara glared at her, but Lucy only shrugged.

"I must help her," Asher said. He grabbed the potion from Lucy and knelt by the dryad's body.

Ava moved to join on the other side.

"No," Asher protested, worried that she was going to kill the green-skinned girl.

"I'm just holding her down. In case she tries to attack you," Ava explained. She pressed her knees on the dryad's hand. "And burn her if the situation gets bad," she added. She put her hands close to the dryad's head.

"Thanks," Asher said. He looked at Ava, but quickly focused back on the dryad. She lost another two health points.

Asher opened the health potion. He gently parted the dryad's green lips, and poured everything into her mouth. He massaged her throat, hoping she would swallow it.

"Oh, for fuck's sake!" Elara gasped. She knelt by the dryad's head.

"No!" Asher protested, grabbing her hand, in which she was holding the dagger.

"I'm not going to kill her," Elara said. "But one bad move... And I will slit her throat."

Asher stared into Elara's eyes before he slowly let go of her hand. She pressed her dagger to the dryad's throat but didn't hurt her.

Asher sighed. It wasn't the best way for the dryad to wake up. Especially if he wanted to... He wasn't even sure what was his goal. That didn't matter at the moment. He had to keep her alive. Everything else could wait.

He poured more potion into her mouth. He helped her swallow, making sure she would not choke. Her breath was shallow. Her chest barely moved. Asher opened her status again, but her health points didn't change.