...
Alexander stood beside Sarah, watching the scene unfold like a bunny hopping into a buzzsaw, 'Damn it.' Unease gnawing at him. He hadn't expected this turn of events.
It was the first time he had heard about those ridiculous titles and the actual demands of the positions. His initial plan was simple—Sarah would become his fiancée without any heavy responsibilities.
While he genuinely liked her, he wasn't delusional. Sarah had never shown any interest in governance or ambitions regarding her strength—she did what made her happy, and he was okay with it.
He had imagined her in a role that would allow her to enjoy life while supporting him—a plan that, while a bit condescending, seemed appropriate given her lack of interest in leadership or responsibility.
'I really thought she'd pull a Klitschko—' he mused—a reference to the world-famous boxer who became a mayor focusing on sports and culture. It seemed like an appropriate position for her, something she would enjoy.
But now his ideas were useless. Things had shifted, and she was being pushed into a role that demanded far more than they had anticipated—a nightmare for both of them.
'Damn it—' he cursed inwardly, trying to conceal his frustration, '—Now I understand why Nila demanded an equally talented husband.'
Before Alexander could formulate a solution, his mind racing, Sarah spoke up, sensing the shift in the room, "I know... it's a lot, but I'm really willing to give everything I have... really..." Her voice wavered, uncertainty evident.
Alexander felt the tension in the air as his Mother's presence seemed to loom even larger. She was testing Sarah's resolve, and sadly, she was faltering.
"Give everything?—" his Mother continued, her eyes narrowing as they bore into Sarah, "—Leadership requires more than simply willingness. It requires strength to bear the burden of difficult decisions, lead people into battle, and take responsibility for the grieving families, the crying lovers, and vengeance-seeking puppies."
Alexander clenched his jaw. He knew all too well what she was talking about, bringing up memories of old friends, 'So much for Mort pour la France.'
"To be a partner to someone like Alexander—" his Mother's voice became more commanding as she stepped closer to Sarah, her aura flaring ever so slightly, "— you need more than dedication or affection. You need resilience. You need to endure the hardships that come with being his wife."
Sarah tensed under the weight of the conversation, her eyes flicking toward Alexander for support. He was about to step in when he heard his Father's voice through his skill, [This is her decision, boy. Don't interfere. You need to trust her.]
Alexander felt torn. He didn't like standing by, but his Father was right. Sarah needed to face this alone.
His Mother's smile was cold, a smirk that betrayed the depth of her expectations, "The Prime Beastlord doesn't just lead armies. He commands loyalty, symbolizes strength, and fights for everything we have."
As she spoke, her aura transformed. Black and red tendrils shifted into the shape of a monstrous beast, towering over Sarah—a nightmare made real. Even Alexander felt a flicker of fear as an oppressive fog filled the room.
Her tone became almost feral, her eyes glowing a terrifying red, pupils turning into demonic slits, "You will be the bulwark, the first and last line of defense—" she growled, a monstrous smile on her face filled with mockery and brutality, "—Are you ready to take responsibility for all the souls in our fief, your husband, your family?"
The room fell silent as Sarah stared at the manifestation of their Mother's aura. She was about to take a step back, her pupils trembling, tears welling up. It was too much.
Alexander prepared to act, his mana and aura flaring, but suddenly, a wave of drowsiness hit him, nearly bringing him to his knees, 'What the...' He tried to speak, but his mouth felt too heavy to open. An oppressive sensation of peace slowly filled his body.
His Father's amused voice echoed in his mind, [I told you, no interference.]
Alexander's heart ached as he watched Sarah's face contort, tears running down her cheeks as her body shook in fright. Something snapped inside him, "You old bastard!"
His aura flared in retaliation, but before Alexander could unleash it, the sound of shattering glass pierced his ears. A vine snaked through the broken window, yanking him outside, "Fuck!" he shouted in frustration as he was pulled through.
Hurled into the open air, Alexander quickly regained his composure. He conjured an earthen bullet infused with mana, "As if!" Aiming at the oppressive aura inside the room. A thunderous explosion echoed throughout the estate, but before he could see the result, the vine slammed him into the ground, knocking the wind out of him.
"Argh! You damn bastard!" he gasped, struggling to rise but still immobilized by the vine's grip.
With a swift wind spell, he severed the vine and staggered to his feet, only to find his Father standing before him, having shifted from the form of a bird back to his usual self.
"Alex, this is none of your business—" his Father said with a wide grin, undoubtedly pleased, though there was also an edge of danger in his voice, "—I'm proud, but Sarah needs to handle this herself."
Alexander glared at him, his heart pounding with anger. Sarah was barely eighteen in Earth years, and the weight being placed on her was monstrous, if not torturous.
"I get it—" Alexander spat, the taste of iron on his tongue, "—but do you really think I can't outsmart some diabetic, fat, oversized bear and reach her?"
His Father blinked, then burst into a deep, booming laugh, "Guhahaha! Cute! You really think that's the extent of my abilities?"
The peaceful green [Energy] surrounding his Father twisted, warping into something dark and menacing—an embodiment of madness.
"My strength isn't only turning into animals, you ignorant pup—" his voice morphed into a cacophony of agonized cries, screaming for vengeance, "—it's that I can borrow the power of the Twins."
Alexander gulped as his Father's form shifted into a dark, swirling mass of [Energy]. Yet, he steeled himself, even though his instincts screamed to flee, "Fine—" He calmly removed his blazer, tossing it aside, "—let's see what you've got, old man."
Before the blazer touched the ground or his Father could respond, Alexander vanished, reappearing right before him, his hand ablaze with a dangerous combination of spells forming a claw. But as his strike was about to land, a black vine pierced his body—he dissolved into mist.
His Father's smile widened in approval, but a burning sensation erupted above him before he could react, "Gotcha!"
Alexander's attack connected, but a translucent shield swirling with dark mist absorbed easily the impact, 'Fucking impossible!'
The technique focused on five points, radiating heat capable of melting and tearing steel apart. It was mind-blowing that he was not able to even make a dent.
"Not bad, boy, but—" Before his Father could end the sentence, Alexander had already vanished again, leaving behind a misty afterimage that slowly dissipated.
Kairoso didn't need to guess where his son was; he sensed him immediately. Alexander was using a technique akin to [Air Walk], leaping through the air back toward Sarah.
"What a lively little pup—" Kairoso mused aloud. A vine shot up and caught Alexander in mid-air, dragging him back down.
"Fuck!" Alexander cursed as his body slammed into the ground with a thunderous crack, sending up a cloud of dust and wreaking havoc on their largest garden—a mess Kairoso's wife would surely nag about later.
His Father approached, his form exuding divine energy from the ancient deities that powered the Circle of Nature, sensing all living beings, "That's enough—" he roared with laughter, shaking the plants around them, "—Guhahaha! Otherwise, Sarah will need to scrape you from the ground!"
Arriving at the scene, Kairoso was confused. He didn't see or sense Alexander. Only his mana collar and the weight artifacts were lying nearby, "Intere... guh!"
Suddenly, the ground exploded, rattling the entire estate. The blast was far more powerful than any black powder Kairoso knew of. He immediately shielded himself with [Energy], barely protecting against the blast.
He scanned the area, trying to find his son, only to feel a sudden force from behind, much stronger than before, pushing him slightly forward.
"Damn it!" Alexander yelled in frustration. He used the slicing technique but could not penetrate the [Energy] his Father used, 'How is that fair?!'
When he tested the technique, it sliced steel cleanly in half, but his Father appeared unscathed, even after being directly hit with mana-infused black powder, 'What a fucking joke!'
Sensing two vines about to pierce him, Alexander jumped back, only to feel another shooting up from below. He twisted his body unnaturally, contorting his spine, barely avoiding it, but the thorns still managed to scratch him.
Landing back on his feet, a throbbing sensation pulsed in his arm, "What the fuck is this?!" The lingering [Energy] caused pain, but nothing serious, likely thanks to his resilience skills.
"Impressive—" He turned to the voice, filled with fascination, "—who knew you would be that strong already? I need to say that you would thrash me if I were in my thirties, even forties, that's for sure."
Alexander smiled nervously, conjuring his mana, readying himself to stall for at least thirty more seconds while his plan unfolded, "Oh? Thanks for the compliment, I guess."
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
His Father stood before him, fully clad in that maddening Energy, his smile a sliver of insanity, "Tell me, why can't I sense you?"
Alexander raised an eyebrow, his smile widening as he became more frightened, trying to conceal it, "Beat me, and I'll tell you."
It was simple: his Father sensed only natural [Energy], which was everywhere. But as long as Alexander cloaked himself in mana, he wasn't perceived as a living being—something he learned when teaching Ipe mana skills. His Father relied solely on his divine sense, not using [Mana Sense].
The smile within the swirling of [Energy] turned upside down, "I see—" He extended his arm, the [Energy] elongating and turning into tree branches that grew toward him—" I will end this little game now, and you will submit and don't disturb our girls."
Alexander straightened up, shrugging, using the targeting spell, "I think the title of Architect of War fits me quite well, don't you think?"
His Father's smile returned, menacing like an upside-down crescent moon, "Arrogant, eh? First..." He abruptly stopped as something from above plummeted at incredible speed, tearing away his energy-formed arm.
Kairoso was shocked—he was hurt. Whatever attacked him didn't just rip his Energy apart; it also tore his muscles. Before he could comprehend what happened, he felt spells imparted on his body's non-vital parts.
There it was again—another strike from above hit his shoulder, shattering it. Stunned, but the pain snapped him back to focus.
Before it could happen again, Kairoso conjured a robust [Energy] shield to defend against the attacks. Even so, each hit pushed him down, feeling like a demonic giant was hammering him, 'Argh! What the fuck is that?!'
The projectiles were too fast to sense, and when they pierced his shield, he could barely divert them so they wouldn't tear into his body, "Bad choice, Alex!"
Bruised and battered, Alexander mustered what little stamina he had left and dashed toward Sarah, trying to use the opportunity, 'Damn it, he even can defend against this?!'
Earlier, when Alexander had crashed into the ground, stirring up dust, he had pulled out multiple metallic rods, infused them with mana, and propelled them straight up.
As they fell, the force they generated was immense. Using his targeting spell, he could semi-precisely control their descent. It was a dangerous attack, but after his Father easily deflected the claw, he knew he had to take drastic measures.
"Sorry, Dad... Argh! What the...!" A vine yanked his foot. Though he sliced it immediately, dozens more emerged, all with thorns dripping something ominous—far more dangerous than before, "—Uh oh."
From behind him, his Father's voice boomed, "Alex, you really do deserve the title—" there was a sinister edge to his words, "—but before that, let me educate you!"
Alexander's mind raced as the vines closed in. He pushed his [Mana Sense] to its limits, desperately searching for an escape, "There!"
He flashed toward a small gap, contorting his body unnaturally, pushing his movement technique to the extreme as he felt his organs shift unnaturally within him, "Urgh!"
Just as he thought he'd broken free from the thorn-filled forest of death, a wave of dizziness nearly toppled him. His vision blurred, and his limbs grew heavy, "Damn it... poison..." Trying to inspect his body, he noticed that it was full of scratches, with the [Energy] stuck on him like some parasite, 'Fuck it.'
Alexander ignored the [Energy] on his body and looked around, hoping to escape before losing consciousness, but realized very quickly that he was trapped, "Where... the fuck am I?"
Using his [Mana Sense], Alexander scanned his surroundings. All he perceived was a forest made of the same dark, swirling Energy his Father wielded, dragging his mind slowly into insanity, 'That's certainly not ideal.'
His Father's voice echoed in his ears, amused and full of dark satisfaction, "Impressive resilience, but you're not getting out of this forest."
He raised an eyebrow, spotting four-legged beasts approaching—creatures of that same [Energy], gnashing teeth and snarling with evil intent, "Yeah—" he muttered, glancing toward where the window should be, scrambling for a plan, "—Why fucking not."
Reaching for his pouch, he sensed a vine and barely dodged as it lashed out. But his satisfied smile turned almost immediately into one of horror.
"That's mine!" he shouted as another vine snatched his pouch before he could retrieve anything. Before he could pursue it, the vine vanished into the forest, leaving Alexander standing dumbfounded, "I am fucked, aren't I?"
A loud booming laughter filled the forest, "Guhahaha! Good luck, boy! You are stuck!"
Alexander concentrated the last of his mana, needing to rely on contraptions and quick thinking, but all he could think of was using his charm, "I love you... damn it!" A beast lunged at him; he leaned back, slicing it in two, "—Come on!"
The voice resonated, self-satisfied yet vengeful, "I love you too, and because of that, you won't escape until they're done."
Alexander smirked. "How about some—" Another beast leaped at him, jaws wide. He grabbed it, letting its teeth pierce his hands, and hurled it at the others.
He immediately enveloped his hands with molten earth-like blades, jumping preemptively toward the next beast, wanting to avoid getting encircled, "—fucking unicorns and rainbows, you old bastard!"
Kairoso looked from above, in the shape of an insect, smiling, as his son fought his beast, 'I meant it when I said I was impressed.'
He was heavily injured—torn muscles and broken bones. The explosion and whatever those projectiles were had caught him off-guard, leaving him unable to respond properly.
Of course, if he took things seriously and intended to kill, it would be over in less than a minute. But seeing his son push him to such a state made him even prouder, 'I need to contact the damn aelfe. Such great potential.'
He smirked, getting another idea, 'Let's help the young couple out a little—' Multiple insects appeared, stinging and biting Alexander.
"Are you serious?! I swear I'll put you in the shittiest retirement home, you geriatric bastard!" Alexander shouted, swatting at the insects while avoiding the beasts.
...
Meanwhile, back in the office
Sarah's eyes widened as she watched Alexander being yanked out of the window by a vine. His voice was filled with anger and frustration as he disappeared from sight.
Panic surged through her, and she instinctively started to move toward him, but before she could take a step, her Mother's hand gripped her shoulder, pinning her in place with a pressure that made her unable to move.
"What a cute fiancé you have, but now you are alone, my dear—" her voice laced with mockery and irritation. The oppressive aura surrounding her grew even larger, filling the room with suffocating pressure. Sarah's legs trembled beneath her as the weight of it bore down on her—anxiety twisting her thoughts.
"I think I can't..."
Before the fear could completely overtake her, a loud explosion rang out from outside, briefly breaking through the aura. Momentarily, a hole had appeared in her Mother's manifestation, courtesy of Alexander.
The sounds of battle outside—curses and explosions—reminded her that Alexander was fighting, trying to help her, 'I am not alone, I never will be.'
Her Mother wanted to scare her by implying she was alone, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Alexander would never leave her, and as long as he was by her side, she wouldn't crumble.
"I hate myself—" Sarah muttered under her breath, biting her lip hard enough to draw blood. The pain and taste of iron brought her back to reality, grounding her in the moment.
She locked eyes with her Mother, still frightened and anxious—but so what? Alexander also broke down, crying in her arms when he couldn't endure, and she did the same in her worst moments. As long as they had each other, they could face anything, no matter how deep into the abyss they descended.
Hardening her resolve, she gathered her courage and straightened her back, her voice steady despite the fear, "I know I'm not as strong as you or Alex, but I'll train. I'll do whatever it takes to make sure I'm capable."
Her Mother's expression didn't soften. If anything, her aura intensified, pressing down even harder, making Sarah buckle. Resisting it made her stomach churn, causing her to cough up blood.
Despite her apparent injury, her Mother continued, her voice enough to overwhelm her, "Train? It's not just about physical strength, Sarah. To be the Prime Beastlord, you must command respect and loyalty—from this estate, our allies, our enemies, and especially from Alex."
There was a pause as the weight of her words settled in. Sarah realized the magnitude of the role she was stepping into. It wasn't just about standing beside Alexander—it was about standing against him when necessary, challenging him, and holding her own in a world that demanded strength from its leaders.
Her Mother's voice slightly softened, but her tone remained firm, "Are you really ready to stand up, not just to our allies and adversaries, but to Alex? Your Father has made some idiotic decisions in the past, but I've respected him because he was worthy of his title. Would Alex do the same to you?"
Sarah understood her Mother's intentions but knew Alexander trusted her more than anyone else and would never undermine her. He was too straightforward, too honest, too trusting.
Did he ever ignore an opinion or decision she made? She had no memory other than some snarky comments when he was in a foul mood. He always took her seriously—a needless worry.
Sarah locked eyes with her. The determination in her gaze was unmistakable, "I will become worthy. Don't you worry."
Her Mother's aura began to dissolve, and the oppressive energy receded as she recognized Sarah's resolve.
"Good—" her voice more approving of her now, "—We will begin your training immediately. Body enhancement, martial arts, [Energy] control—everything will be rebuilt from the ground up."
Sarah's heart raced. She had undergone basic training before, but this sounded far more intense. She remembered the grueling sessions Alexander had endured, with horrifying pain. She had only tried it once and barely made it through. But now, there was no turning back.
Before Sarah could react, her Mother added, "Your body is sturdy, sure. But that doesn't mean it's ready for the level of power required for this life. You must endure enhancements and martial training that will break you down before building you back up."
Doubt crept into Sarah's mind. She was being asked to endure torture. But then—a flicker of determination. Sarah clenched her fists, straightened her posture again, and nodded.
"I'll do it." Her voice was firm, without a trace of hesitation.
Despite her initial fears, she felt a surge of pride standing up to the challenge. Her Mother raised an eyebrow, mildly surprised by Sarah's resolve.
"Excellent—" her Mother said, her voice almost normal again, "—I like that resolve in your eyes."
She turned her attention toward the window, frowning, "Your Father is taking it too easy on Alex."
Just as Sarah opened her mouth to ask what that meant, the door burst open, and her Father stumbled in, carrying Alexander over his shoulder. Both of them looked like they'd been through Outer Circle.
"Alex!" Sarah cried out, rushing toward them.
Her Father dumped Alexander into her arms, and she quickly began inspecting him. His body was covered in scratches, and a strange [Energy] surrounded the wounds, giving off an unsettling aura. To her confusion, Alexander was muttering nonsense.
"Hehe... I looooove boooobs! Wobble wobble!" he giggled, his eyes unfocused.
Sarah shot a bewildered look at her Father, "What happened?!"
He looked far worse—his whole body a mess of broken bones, torn muscles, and severe wounds—but Sarah didn't care. Only her Mother inspected him gently, frowning when she went over a wound.
Kairoso grinned, clearly proud, "Oh, this little imp put up quite the fight. I'll explain later what he did."
Sarah glanced down at Alexander, who continued muttering incoherently, "Oh, Werner! The Russians are coming! Hehe... stupid German cartoon, wroom wroom!"
"What's going on?!" Sarah asked, growing more panicked by the second.
Her Father shrugged nonchalantly, "Well, I had to poison him. His resistance was too high, so I used something that wouldn't be dangerous... but it's, uh, messing with him a bit."
Her Mother raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms when she looked at Alexander, "Isn't that a combination of an aphrodisiac and a hallucinogen?"
When Sarah heard the word aphrodisiac, her pheromones flared up as if awakened from a deep slumber, "What does that mean—" Before she could finish, Alexander's hand reached up, gripping her face gently as he looked at her, his voice soft and full of affection.
"Sarah... I love you, you know?"
Her face flushed crimson, her pheromones spiraling out of control. Before she could react, Alexander pulled her into a kiss, his tongue brushing against hers as she froze in shock.
But just as quickly as it began, it ended, with her Mother yanking Alexander away by the collar. Sarah fell down, sitting on the floor, stunned, her mind spinning.
"Bad boy!" her Mother scolded, holding him up like a misbehaving puppy. In his delirious state, Alexander protested, doing some stupid pose, "Let me go, you monster! I call all rangers! I'm the black one! Even though I can't rap like Jay-Zeeee! Wike wike wooo!"
Her Mother glanced at Kairoso, raising an eyebrow, "Care to explain this? He clearly got this from you. Why do you even teach him how to kiss?"
Kairoso scratched the back of his head awkwardly, "I swear, I never taught him anything like this."
Amidst the chaos of her parents' bickering and Alexander's ramblings, Sarah found herself laughing—genuinely laughing. The sheer absurdity of the situation, the love she felt for him, the chaos that seemed to follow them everywhere—it was overwhelming, but she loved it.
Wiping a tear from her eye, Sarah looked at Alexander with a soft smile, "I love you, too."