Y/N looked up to the sky only to see the dragon of Baran still battling against the two of his shadows.
"Beru, Igris. Finish that lizard."
He said quietly but his shadows heard him clearly and got more ferocious with their attacks against the flying beast.
The dragon had to be powerful if both combined efforts of Igris and Beru couldn't bring it once in the first five minutes.
His eyes shifted to Baran who was visibly shocked upon the show of his power just recently. Y/N couldn't blame him. He was surprised by his sudden rise in power as well.
He looked at his hand with a thoughtful expression.
Such power wasn't from Vritra. It didn't feel like it. It had to be something more... Something of him.
Perhaps it had something to do with his heritage. From what he knew, Primus weren't just simple humans. There were things that he didn't know about himself and that ignorance bothered him.
The only one who knew the answers to his body was none other than his bastard of a father. And God knew he wouldn't ask that scum directly.
Still, something was certain...
His fist closed as his eyes glowed a bright purple.
He felt powerful. Stronger than before at least two times more.
This made him smirk.
Power was so intoxicating. He could understand why some got themselves lost in it... But he wasn't like that.
Power wouldn't blind him. That was for the weal people.
You could have a strong body but you were still weak if you had a weak mentality. And he was far from being weak.
He couldn't allow himself to be... After all, he had a child incoming and as a father, he had to be strong for his child.
His smirk turned into a soft one when thinking about his child.
Y/N wanted to see his child already. Hold it and care for it.
He was excited about it. He was excited to be a father a much better father than his own. But well... That wasn't so hard since Cain was possibly the worst a father could be.
Y/N shook his head sending those thoughts away.
He shouldn't space out like that in front of an enemy even if he was stronger than him.
The Black Dragon Emperor sighed as he noticed how Baran hadn't recovered from his shock he was still with wide eyes mouth agape and his body kept trembling uncontrollably.
Inwardly, he was satisfied that this bastard that his father sent was terrified due to his power, but he was useless in this state. And he wanted to ask some questions to this servant of his father.
He rose his hand and above it, a black energy needle materialized. Then he aimed at one of Baran's nerves before shooting it.
The needle dug deep into the servant's flesh and it made him let out a scream of pain. The needle might have been small but it caused him great pain.
Anatomy, One of the few classes he paid attention and it was coming in handy.
Such pain brought him back to reality which was what Y/N sought.
"You're back to earth. Good. I have some things to ask you."
He asked calmly as the sound of the airborne fight between his shadows and the dragon made Baran look at the sky.
"Don't bother. Your dragon will die soon. It's not like you care about it either way..."
Baran's gaze returned to the young man in front of him. His orange eyes looked up at him since he was kneeling in front of him. His body didn't have the strength of fighting back against this humiliation he suffered.
"W... What happened to you?"
Y/N took some time to answer.
"I don't quite know myself. I was thinking you might have some answers about it since you're so close to Cain which I am sadly related to. It's may have something to do with my heritage because I don't think God cast a blessing upon me."
Baran's gaze went down to the ground avoiding Y/N's intense yet calm eyes.
"So? Something you want to share?"
"Will you kill me?"
The servant asked blatantly to the young Dragon Emperor who just breathed softly.
"No. Even if you speak or not I won't kill you. You're just a pitiful creature, I don't want to kill you. Like an injured dog. Even if your past arrogance bothered me, I don't hate you. In fact, you helped to get this unknown power. So I won't kill you, but that is just human nature, having sympathy towards the weak."
Baran was in no way near weak. In fact, he was amongst the strongest beings he ever confronted but what made him weak in his eyes was the fact that he was just a slave to the scum of a man. With his power he could do so much more yet he conforms to being the tool of the disgraceful.
Pathetic.
Needless to say that the sudden change of attitude from Baran made him a little curious. He went from an arrogant and hateful beast to a more meek and cowardly one.
"I don't know anything. The only thing that I am sure of is that your resemblance to Cain only increased. But solid details... I am afraid I don't have."
Y/N hummed.
"About my resemblance to Cain... That's something I don't wish to hear. But I believe that you don't know anything. I mean why would you? You're just a slave, who would share valuable information with the likes of you?"
As he said that he walked closer to Baran each step he took made Baran's heart beat faster.
But in contrast to what he thought Y/N would do he just passed by him and looked at the sky with a thoughtful face with his hands behind his back.
"You fought well, Baran. But I cannot help to think of you as trash when I remember that you're under the command of Cain. Why follow such a spiteful man when you're so powerful?"
"I follow the strongest and Cain has proven more than enough that he is the one."
Y/N hummed as he turned back to see Baran.
"Smart. You follow the one who is bound to win, that's clever. But you're a coward. It means that it doesn't matter how bad that person is or treats you'll still eat from their hand. Pathetic."
Baran scoffed.
"I don't care about being a coward or pathetic, I just want to survive and if I must throw away my pride and shame to do so, then so be it."
"Yet your o' so mighty master sent you here, Baran. Cain sent you here to die, for me to kill you just to fan the flames of his entertainment. But I will show him that I am not the source of his entertainment. I will not amuse him by killing you... No. I am not like him. I'll do things my way."
A small smirk grew on him but it disappeared when a loud noise that made the ground tremble made him turn back.
The white dragon was lying dead on the ground as Beru and Igris were above it triumphantly.
"Good work you two. Get a well-deserved Rest."
Y/N told them with a smile and they nodded in approval.
Then he returned to Baran his smile already gone.
"I will give Cain a message and you'll be responsible to communicate it... But don't worry, you won't have to speak a word... Your body will tell it by itself."
Baran widened his eyes due to a certain pressure on his horns.
Then he saw horrified how Y/N was grasping both of his horns with each hand.
Y/N's eyes glowed purple as his hands started to pull followed by a loud painful scream from Baran.
This was the message.
...
Valiana wiped a long line of sweat that fell from her cheek.
She was breathing erratically as her bright blue eyes were stuck with the smiling hag of Venelana Gremory.
God, she hated that smile of the woman. It was as if she knew everything about her.
It infuriated her!
At the actual time, they were having a spar since she was in the necessity of blowing some steam off, and instead of her just going anywhere and beating everywhere as a delinquent Venelana offered herself to be that partner.
It was better that way since she was pregnant. The young woman shouldn't be even engaged in fighting and should be taking it slow... But that was how Valiana was and the woman had to deal with it.
She couldn't go much time without a fight.
Venelana was in no way adept in close-quarters combat. Hell, she didn't even could wield any kind of weapon properly, but she had her overwhelming magic to compensate for that inability of physical force.
And her magic was no joke. Valiana was starting to accept that maybe... Just Maybe this hag was actually tough.
But all she did was tank her attack with those cursed magical shields!
"Quit using those damn shields! I can't hit you if keep cowering behind those things!"
Valiana spat angrily at the Venelana who was hovering in the air while being shielded by at least four dark purple magical seals.
As usual, her sweet smile only grew wider as she crossed her eyes.
"But little Valiana, if I don't use these shields you would bruise my face with those barbaric fists of yours. And I still have a husband to please back home."
Valiana only scoffed.
"I could care less about your life. If you're going to be behind a shield all time then at least attack and don't let me do all the damn work..."
Venelana let out a long hum before opening her violet eyes with a different shine to them.
"Fine."
She said sweetly... A tone that didn't match the dark purple lightning that was emitting from her body. Her chestnut hair flew due to the power.
Her sweet smile was permanent but her eyes got shadowed.
A much bigger dark purple magic seal appeared over her extended palms.
"Hope you avoid or... Tank. I've heard that you're tough... Let's test it out."
Valiana frowned but smirked feeling the rise of power.
This was more her thing...
But the power kept growing, growing, and... Growing.
In her weakened state, she couldn't tank that destructive spell.
The baby inside of her took at least 40% of her power which was a little weird, but she didn't pay it much detail.
Venelana couldn't help but giggle below all the ruckus that was producing her power.
It made her feel young.
With a bigger smile, all the dark violet power was ejected towards Valiana who was smirking at it coming.
The impact caused the entire place to get destroyed and produced an intense shockwave that shook the trees and ground.
A big cloud of smoke rose upon such destructive power.
Oh, well. She wasn't called the Brown-haired Ruin Princess in the past for nothing. But inwardly she was a little worried that Valiana couldn't had make it.
Maybe she used a little too much power on that spell.
"Valiana! Are you okay-"
"I am fine, old hag. Focus on the battle."
A deep voice came from behind her, Valiana revealing herself on her back with her punch high in the air.
Venelana's shield took most damage for her but the force behind the blow was so great that it pushed the brown-haired woman down to the ground.
A fissure appeared on the magical shield making a frown stain her delicate features. But then she sighed heavily after seeing the smirking Valiana brimming with white and blue energy.
"My, you surely are a handful, young lady."
"That attack was... Acceptable. Since that you still can pack a punch... Even if you're a hag. I guess some old habits never die, huh?"
Valiana had informed herself about the interesting past of this woman right in front of her. If the legends and tongues weren't wrong then she was strong something that she was making Justice now.
That spell was so destructive that it left a wasteland behind. None of that dirt was fertile no more.
"What an eager young lady you are, sweetheart. Maybe I could play with you some more... It makes me feel young."
"You better do! I want to keep the fight at that exact same caliber or better. Because I really want to erase that annoying smile off you."
Venelana giggled on her gloved hand.
"What smile? Thiiis one~"
She provoked widening her smile purposely ticking off the white-haired woman.
"Yes, that one. And be careful with your words."
She growled and Venelana giggled once again but this one was a little darker.
"Fu fu fu. What are you going to do about it, little girl?"
Valiana tightened her fists her smirk turning into a feral one.
"You'll see."
...
Valiana fell on her butt on the ground breathing heavily as sweat covered her whole body.
Venelana was truly a worthy rival for her. Her destructive magic and sharp mind allowed the woman to get the best out of the White Dragon Empress herself.
The brown-haired woman wasn't unharmed. She seemed breathless and her sharp dress had some dust on it. But much to Valiana's surprise the Gremory recovered at a rapid pace, faster than her.
In a second Venelana returned to her usual dignified self giving her a sweet smile.
"I think we are done for the day, yes?"
It wasn't a question. She knew well that Valiana wasn't going to keep fighting not at the moment.
"Why... Why am I so damn tired...? I don't get tired this easily."
Such a thing frustrated her. Before she could fight at a much higher level for much longer periods of time.
"Sweetie, did you forget that you're pregnant? Your body is focused all the energy on keeping the baby's health at check more than being of aid to your battles."
Valiana growled.
Why her body didn't do what she wanted?
"Well, this sucks. I don't like being pregnant."
Venelana's soft expression turned to a more stern one.
"Are you saying that you don't like your child?"
Her voice had taken a change, a change that made Valiana shrink under her gaze.
"No, I mean that I... I would just prefer for the brat to just come out without me having to go through all this. It's annoying to always feel tired, and hungry and sometimes my humor just changes drastically. It's annoying. I mean, Y/N made me watch The Lion King countless times and he always cried when Mufasa died while I didn't. And now I do! It's just... Overwhelming."
Venelana's hardened expression softened as she gave the young lady a soft smile. She sat next to being too caring about the way she took a seat, she was a lady after all.
"Pregnancy itself it's overwhelming. All the emotions you got through it made you question a lot of things. You experience Fear, Uncertainty, Bitterness, and... Love. You could say that is a bittersweet experience. It gots its good times but it also has its downsides. Just wait until the baby is grown enough and starts kicking, you'll hate the baby."
Of course, that last part was said as a joke.
Valiana chuckled a little.
"How was yours? You had two, right? That Sirzechs guy who is kinda close to Y/N. Honestly, in the beginning, I thought that Sirzechs liked Y/N and that he was gay."
The careless comment of Valiana made the woman giggle.
"Can I tell you a secret? I and Zeoticus also thought that when he was a teenager. Since he was so effeminate and barely made contact with girls. But no, Y/N and Sirzechs are just close friends."
They had to be. After what Sirzechs told her that Y/N practically begged him to find someone to protect Valiana and his child.
The one who a man in despair goes to is one of their closest friends.
Valiana maintained her smile.
"And the other one, that redheaded girl. I don't quite remember her name."
"Oh, you mean Rias. Yes, she is my beautiful daughter. And about the pregnancy... well the hardest by far was Sirzechs. I was inexperienced and too young to deal with such overwhelming labor. I was like you. Scared, Insecure. But I prevailed and I was gifted with a beautiful baby boy who turned out to be the future Satan Lord. And Rias, well she is still young and a little spoiled, but she has a great heart, something I am proud of. Both of my kids are wonderful persons and as a mother, I couldn't be more proud of them."
Valiana's smile faded... She seemed to be so happy when she spoke about her children... She seemed like a great mother. This made her think about her own mother.
"You love them huh?"
Venelana looked at her softly.
"And you will love that baby. Trust me, the moment you lay eyes with them your whole world will change. The love you will feel cannot be described in words. Your only reason for life will be your baby. You'll get stronger, smarter, and better for them. And what's even great... you have a great man backing you up. Some women count on that because they chose cowardly men to bed with."
Valiana smiled as she passed a hand over her stomach.
She thought about Y/N and couldn't help but smile.
"Yeah... He isn't a weak man... But I still hate him for doing this to me! I mean he is practically the reason why I cannot fight properly."
Venelana covered her cheeky smile.
"And whose fault is that I wonder?"
Valiana looked at her with a frown.
"His of course."
"Sweetie I mean who begged for it to stay inside? Was it you or was it him?"
Valiana immediately fell silent and blushed while she grumbled something that Venelana didn't catch on to, but she seemed amused by the young woman's embarrassment.
"Pardon, I didn't catch that."
"I- it was me."
She practically whispered and Venelana giggled.
"Oh, that is unusual. Usually is the man who begs, but I guess that you were the naughty one. Which one did you use huh? Safe day, Pill, or maybe because he was a human you thought that he couldn't impregnate you?"
Valiana flared red at the daring comment of the woman. She was getting on her nerves.
"That nothing of your business! It's not like I am going to give you some details for you to go gossip around with your other witch friends!"
"Oh, it was the last one I see. Well, it's really rare for Devil and a Human to be able to conceive a child together. The rate is below zero... but it's not impossible. So I don't judge you for thinking that."
In response, the white-haired girl just stood silent looking at the ground with her cheeks of a faint crimson.
To Venelana this was a cute sight and a blessing. To be able to witness personally the growth of a future mother.
She wasn't dumb, she knew the things that Valiana had done that put the future at risk. Valiana attacked directly the three factions and belonged to Khaos Brigade.
Valiana was a threat and that was a fact.
But she wasn't here just to watch over the future mother's health, but also to keep an eye on her. Valiana was unpredictable and dangerous.. yet she could see that the girl wasn't someone evil.
Luckily, Y/N always found a way to stop this girl...
"Well, it's time for you to take a bath, missy. You reek of sweat and you cannot go around in this deplorable state. You're a lady after all."
Venelana scratched her chin.
Maybe she should teach Valiana some modesty and manners. Since it was very probable that in the near future she was going to be someone important to society. After all, she was the closest of a wife that Y/N had and that boy was bound to be someone influential to the three factions.
"Who do you think you are, my mother?"
Venelana gave her a sweet smile that was so characteristic of her
"For the time being yes, I will fulfill the role of it. So be a good girl and take a bath... or do you need me to wash you as well?"
Valiana rose from the ground immediately with an annoyed face before she placed her hands on her jacket pockets and scoffed.
"Whatever, I was going to get one either way."
Venelana's smile faded as she saw Valiana walking in direction of her house.
Could this girl be driven to the good side? The side of peace... Could she be an asset to Peace? The last time she proved otherwise, she was a battle addict almost like a warmonger.
Could this child change Valiana?
Or maybe... Y/N has changed her already.
...
Cain wasn't surprised when the beat-up body of Baran came out from an orange portal in front of him. Although he was curious about his living state.
He thought that Y/N would have killed him... But it didn't seem like his son was quite what he expected.
"So? How it went?"
Cain asked with a smirk knowing well how it went, but Baran still proceeded to give a debrief.
"He defeated me."
"Of course he did. Elaborate about your failure."
Baran knelt in front of him as he proceeded to give a deep breath.
It was hard to even breathe due to the pain in his body.
"At first I dominated the fight... My dominance lasted for some time, then he started to get serious, and then we got on par. You could say that we were in a stalemate..."
Cain seemed to be amused by this comment.
"Tell me, how much power he used against you?"
Baran took a little bit to answer.
"From what I recall he mostly used his natural strength and refused to use any of the powers of his Dragon... But... something happened in the end. Which is the reason that I am in this deplorable state."
"Oh? Explain."
He said intrigued about the upcoming information.
"At the end of the battle... something happened to him. His power duplicated suddenly and said power ended up overpowering me at an embarrassing fast pace."
Baran explained with an ashamed tone of voice as he touched where his horns were before being torn out. Now they were gone and blood fell down his face and the burning pain was unbearable.
Cain hummed as he closed his eyes.
"Maybe Vritra gave him a hand or something. I am pretty sure that Dragon likes him even more than me. So it's not unlikely."
But his theory was rapidly discarded by his servant.
"I don't think that's the case. I never felt the presence of the Dragon in all that fight... He didn't even use it once. That power was his own and not Vritra's."
Cain maintained his eyes closed thinking about the words of Baran and then he opened them widely.
His face was filled with surprise.
Could it be...?
His surprise turned into a smile then a snicker which evolved into a burst of full laughter.
The laughter of his master was starting to scare Baran a little.
When his laughter diminished his eyes glowed orange while his smirk was as wide as always.
"Heavens, that boy sure is something. Awakening that thing at such a young age. Not even my little brother Abel managed and he was a prodigy."
Cain rose from his seat and stared at the window outside with his smirk still present.
Baran nodded before he disappeared in orange energy.
His smirk turned into a softer one as his gaze went down to his left hand more specifically to the ring that was placed on the fourth finger.
His other hand softly caressed the ring.
"He has grown quite a lot, don't you think?"
...
The cold breeze brushed against his face moving his hair a bit.
On his hands, he had a pair of torn-out horns. He stared at them lacking emotion.
Y/N's eyes were removed from them and went above, the sky.
He is a new power. A power he didn't comprehend.
This power was useless if he didn't understand it. He could ask Vritra... But he didn't like it.
Maybe another time he would chat with the dragon.
After all, it was he who pushed him when he was about to give up against Baran.
At least he knew that the dragon still cared for him
He smiled at that. Slowly, but his anger towards the dragon faded... There has to be an explanation as to why Vritra didn't trust him as much as he would like him to.
But that was later.... Now he needed to adapt to this strange power that just awakened within him.
"What now, My King?"
Beru asked the H/C-haired teenager on his right.
"What's our next movement, My King?"
Igris spoke respectfully as she walked to his left.
Y/N maintained his smile as the horns of Baran fell to the ground.
"We keep going. We still have time, let's make the most out of it."
Thank you for Reading!