Conquering the underworld with my beautiful dragon wives-Chapter 45: Operation Upgrade — A Stronger Fort Than the King’s Castle
The heavy silence of The forest around the cabin was broken by birds and the rustle of leaves. The air smelled like burnt wood and damp plants. A soft breeze made the tiny flame in the fireplace on the porch flicker, and a small flag above the door gently waved.
Ethan, with a hand still marked by scratches from recent fights, was tapping the wooden porch rail. His eyes wandered over the old roof and cracked walls. He scratched his head and, half serious, half joking, said:
"So... this is gonna be our base? Against mask-wearing killers, evil spirits, demon dragons, and... oh yeah, vampire hunters... I don’t think these walls could even hold back an angry bunny."
Fayra, sitting by the window playing with a small flame in her hand, smirked.
"At least we’ve made memories here... but yeah, you’re right. This place needs to be as strong as a castle."
Luna, trying to fix a broken arrow with some magic glue, grumbled:
"Or... we just build a real castle!"
Selena, standing by the door with a rough map of the forest, didn’t take her eyes off the distant trees and whispered:
"No... this spot’s strategic. If we just upgrade this place, we can stay hidden — and set traps too."
Alice, with her notebook and pen, stepped forward and said:
"Then no need to vote... cabin upgrade it is. I’ve already got the plan."
Ethan ran a hand through his messy hair and grinned.
"Alright then... let’s kick off Operation Upgrade."
Fayra tossed some burning charcoal on the ground and, with a blue flame, drew a glowing image of the cabin and the area around it in the dirt. The bright blue lines showed walls, windows, even the trees, looking super neat and detailed.
Ethan knelt down next to her.
"Okay... first thing, we need a fence. Something that can handle bullets and magic."
Luna, all excited, said:
"An invisible fence! So if anyone steps in — zzzap!"
Selena, dead serious, answered:
"No. A wall made of dragonwood and spirit stone. Tough physically, and magically."
Alice scribbled something down.
"Both ideas work. We can have a tough outer wall and a magic barrier inside."
Fayra lit a little flame above the map and added:
"And we’re gonna need a lookout tower. A high spot to watch from."
Ethan laughed.
"Yeah! And a secret tunnel... underground, to the lake."
Luna clapped.
"Yes! I’ll draw the plans!"
Selena and Luna headed off into the forest to gather dragonwood. These trees had grown by feeding on ancient dragon blood — solid, heavy, and magic-resistant.
Selena slammed her special axe into a tree trunk and said:
"This wood... it’s even bouncing my sword back."
Luna, cutting a thick branch, nodded:
"Perfect. This stuff’ll never rot."
Meanwhile, Fayra made her way to the spirit stone mines by the mountain. The stones glowed faint blue. She pressed her hand to a boulder and let the fire inside her touch it. The rocks trembled.
Fayra smiled.
"Get ready... we’re building a war home."
Alice was back at the cabin, getting the protection spells ready. Magic papers, sealing marks, little bottles of potions.
Ethan looked at Alice.
"Y’know... if this works, this place’ll be safer than any castle."
Without looking up, Alice smiled softly.
"This time... I’m not letting anyone mess with us."
By sunset, everyone gathered in the yard. Supplies ready, spells drawn, traps planned.
Ethan called out:
"Let’s do this!"
First, Fayra sent her blue flames into the spirit stones. A golden-blue glow rose as the stones changed, turning into walls that looked glassy but were tougher than steel.
Selena and Luna hammered the dragonwood posts into the ground and tied them down with magical roots.
Luna, wiping sweat off her forehead, grinned.
"These walls... tougher than a royal castle gate."
Alice set magic seals all around. Each seal glowed faintly silver and when activated, the sound of a soft wind passed through the air.
Ethan stood in the middle, raising a glowing orb an old sorcerer had given him.
"In the name of the protectors of earth and fire... guard this place from evil and betrayal."
The light from the orb spread out, forming a golden barrier around the cabin.
Fayra grinned as she watched.
"Now that’s what I call a home."
Luna and Selena built a small wooden tower with a lookout at the top. Luna pinned up a small group flag.
Luna said:
"From up here, you can see the whole forest. And if anyone dares to sneak in..."
She fired an arrow, nailing a distant apple off a tree.
On the other side, Ethan and Fayra were digging the secret underground path. The blue flames lit the tunnel.
Ethan said:
"A wooden gate at the end... right by the lake. Perfect."
Fayra added:
"And with a track-cleaning spell. No one’ll follow us."
By midnight, they were all back at the cabin.
Selena tested the barrier by tossing a rock. It vanished before it even touched the wall.
Fayra smirked.
"Awesome. Invisible trap’s on."
Alice tried a dark magic detection spell. Nothing turned up.
Ethan grinned proudly.
"Well... this place is a hunter’s worst nightmare now."
Everyone laughed.
Late that night, they gathered around the fire.
Fayra lifted her blue flames.
"To our first night in our little fortress!"
Ethan raised his hand.
"To survival... to friendship... and to the home we built ourselves."
Their voices echoed into the woods. And for the first time in forever... they finally felt safe.
The cabin, after the upgrade, now looked like something out of a legend.
Its wooden walls, made of magical trees, glowed softly at night.
The roof was made of shiny black stones that reflected the moonlight,
and inside, there were new rooms, magical equipment,
and a big underground basement that no one had dared to enter yet.
Ethan put his hands on his waist and looked around the yard with a satisfied smile.
"Yeah... now this is what I call a home."
Fayra was checking out the stained glass window and said,
"Well, now that everything’s done... maybe it’s time we finally breathe a little."
Luna clapped her hands, excited.
"I say we throw a party!"
Selena, just coming up from the basement, frowned.
"Before anything... we need to shut that damn door."
Ethan raised a brow.
"What door?"
Selena brushed the dust off her clothes and said seriously,
"The one down in the basement. An old door... it’s locked, but there’s this bad vibe.
Like... something’s behind it."
Luna, already getting excited for an adventure, asked with a grin,
"Can we see it?"
Fayra frowned.
"Why didn’t you say anything sooner?"
Selena shrugged.
"It wasn’t there before the upgrade.
I only found it today when I went down."
Ethan stayed quiet for a second.
There was this weird feeling in his chest... like a pull.
As if that door was calling him.
"Alright... let’s go check it out."
**
They all headed down to the hidden basement.
The stone steps were cold and dark, going deep into the ground.
The torches on the wall flickered with blue flames,
casting weird moving shadows everywhere.
Luna whispered,
"This place is kinda awesome now..."
They reached the end of the hallway.
Right there, at the far end of the underground chamber,
stood an old wooden door, with black metal decorations
and strange symbols carved into it — symbols no one could read.
Selena placed her hand on the door.
"It’s cold... weirdly cold..."
Fayra bent down, carefully studying the lines carved on it.
"This... it’s in the ancient dragon language."
Everyone stared at Fayra.
Ethan asked, surprised,
"Wait, you can read this stuff?"
Fayra slowly nodded.
"Just a little... it says:
’The door will not open, except by the blood of the chosen one.
And when it does... past and future will break into each other.’"
Luna scratched her head.
"Uh... what’s that even supposed to mean?"
Ethan sighed.
"Basically... it means one of us has to open this thing.
And when it opens... something big is gonna happen."
Selena grumbled,
"Then let’s just seal it up. Right now."
But just then...
the door gently shuddered.
A sound, like a faint moan... and it felt like something behind it
was softly calling Ethan’s name.
"Ethaaan..."
Everyone froze.
Luna, voice shaky, said,
"Did you... guys hear that too?"
Fayra pulled out her sword, frowning.
"Yeah. I heard it."
Ethan stepped closer.
Put his hand on the door.
Felt a cold wave run through his palm.
In that moment, a black lock in the center popped open.
A red glow leaked through the cracks.
Ethan muttered,
"I’ve... seen this before."
Fayra looked shocked.
"When?"
Ethan lowered his head.
"In my dreams... every night.
Since the cabin got upgraded... I keep seeing a door,
just like this one."
Selena spoke up sharply,
"Don’t open it."
But it was too late.
The lock dropped by itself.
The door creaked open... slow and quiet.
Behind it... nothing but darkness.
But deep in that darkness,
something like a huge hall...
with massive pillars and golden patterns.
Ethan, like he was in a trance, stepped inside.
Fayra shouted,
"Ethan! Get back here!"
But he didn’t seem to hear them.
**
They all ran after him.
Entered the hall.
The air was freezing, the light dim,
the place felt like an ancient, abandoned cave.
In the middle, a platform.
And on it... a book.
But this wasn’t any ordinary book.
Its cover looked like snakeskin,
and on it, glowing letters said:
"Echo of the Forgotten"
Ethan walked up.
Fayra grabbed his shoulder.
"Don’t, Ethan. We don’t even know what that is."
Ethan whispered,
"It’s... mine."
Selena snapped,
"How the hell would you even know that?"
Without a word, Ethan reached out and touched the book.
The moment his fingers brushed its cover...
the book flipped open.
A single page.
And written on it:
"You, heir of the forgotten door... your blood is the key to begin."
Total silence.
Fayra muttered,
"Your blood...?"
Ethan bit his lip softly.
"I knew it."
He made a small cut on his hand.
A few drops of blood fell onto the page.
Suddenly, a blinding white light filled the room.
**
When they opened their eyes...
they were back in the cabin.
But something had changed.
Ethan felt strange.
He looked at his hand.
There was a golden mark on his skin —
shaped like a dragon symbol.
