'Why aren't the clouds fading?'
Ace questioned inwardly as he realized the clouds didn't fade after the 3rd bolt.
*Thunder*
To his answer, clouds roared again and another bolt of lightning was dropped.
*Boom* *Boom*
Ace used a similar tactic but this time, the firebolt was only able to slow the lightning before it rushed towards him, Ace still managed to dodge somehow.
*Thunder*
Without giving him any time, the clouds roared again and the 5th bolt was shot.
*Boom*
Ace shot the condensed firebolt and at the same time; 1000s of wind blades rushed towards the Lightning bolt in a single line.
*Boom* *Boom* *Boom* *Boom* *Boom*
After countless explosions, the lightning bolt finally dissipated.
*Thunder*
After another roar, the 6th bolt of lightning was dropped. This time, it was a lot faster and stronger than the rest.
*BOOOM*
A huge explosion occurred as the fireball and wind blades weren't even able to slow the lightning down. The lighting directly clashed on Ace without giving him any chance to dodge.
"AAGGHHHH!!!" Ace screamed in pain.
He felt numbing sensation all over his body and he started feeling weak moments later, he fell on his knees. He looked up and fortunately for him, the clouds started fading.
A weak smile appeared on his smile as he collapsed on the ground.
*Thud*
The clouds disappeared and the 2nd core Ace formed shinned brightly.
*Rumble*
The ground shook and everyone in the Vorste Empire felt the elemental Qi turning violent, fear took over as they came out to find the cause of this phenomenon.
The core inside Ace's abdomen shined brightly and started shrinking.
Soon, it's size shrunk and a hard layer started forming around it, moments later, The Divine Seed was successfully formed.
The Magma Seed.
The Qi around Ace turned violent as the temperature increased and fierce wind started blowing.
*Flap*
One and a Half meter bright Golden Wings appeared on his back while he remained unconscious.
The base of the wings trembled and even though unconscious, Ace felt immense pain on his back.
*Flap*
Soon, another bright golden pair of wings appeared behind his back and his body floated in the sky. The violent Qi entered Ace's body, healing his wounds and his eyes trembled.
"Hmm?" Ace woke up and found himself levitating in the air. His body was completely healed, as good as new, the burnt marks all over disappeared and he felt an incredible surge of power flowing throughout his body.
He closed his eyes and sensed 2 Divine Seeds shining brightly inside him, he also noticed his 2 pairs of wings behind his back and a big smile appeared on his face.
"I Did It!" He cheered and with a wave of hi shand, Magma and Typhoon flew around him.
After playing with his new power for a while, he flew towards the Imperial Palace.
"!!!" Suddenly, His eyes widened as he realized his speed was increased by at least 2 folds.
Overjoyed, he circled around the whole empire before returning to his Palace.
He raced towards Maeve's room and opened the door with a bang.
*Bang*
His eyes fell on a woman who had a bulging belly but even so, it didn't diminish her beauty and elegance in the slightest.
"I did it!" He announced and Maeve smiled brightly.
He walked towards her bed and held her hand.
"Now all that is left is to wait for the new member" He muttered softly as he kneaded her belly.
Maeve nodded while Ace placed her head on his laps and started stroking her hair.
It was the biggest achievement of his life, he had achieved what no one ever has in the history of this wide world, it was an unimaginably happy moment of his life and he would spend it all with his Maeve. That is just how much he loves her.
"Now, maybe you are even stronger than the other 2 emperors"
"Maybe I am… but I don't plan on attacking them. I won't make it difficult for them if they won't bother me" Ace replied.
"Mhm…" Maeve nodded. There was no reason to raise a war especially when a new member is coming into their family.
They spent the entire time together until it was time for the daily council meeting.
Unwillingly, Ace left Maeve's room and attended the meeting.
…
Just like this, another month passed and at this moment, Ace was incredibly tense and walking left and right in front of a door with an anxious yet excited look all over his face.
"Your majesty, please don't worry, priest Mary is very experienced in these matters, empress and the new member of the imperial family will definitely be safe" General Luke comforted.
"I know! I know!" Ace replied without stopping and continued moving like this.
General Luke smiled wryly as he reminisced about the day when he was in the emperor's position the first time.
*Cries*
A few minutes later, the voice of a child crying was heard and without waiting for anything else, Ace dashed inside the room.
*Bam*
Ace opened the door hurriedly and rushed towards the bed where Maeve was lying.
"Congratulations to the emperor, it's a girl" an old-looking lady named Mary, smiled as she extended the crying baby towards the emperor.
Ace's smile widened and he extended his hands forward and carefully took the baby into his embrace.
"*Cryi-*" Shockingly, the baby immediately stopped crying as soon as Ace held her. She looked into Ace's eyes with a somewhat dazed expression and Ace's heartbeat quickened.
He placed her into his embrace carefully as if she was some sort of godly treasure. The closer Ace placed her small body in his embrace, the faster his was heart beating.
"Ace…" A weak voice was heard.
Ace turned towards Maeve who was lying on the bed powerlessly while Mary healed her with her Wood Attribute.
"My love… it's a daughter…" Ace muttered with a bright smile to which Maeve smiled weakly.
"It's our daughter…" She repeated in a turned voice and closed her eyes.
The daughter copied her mother and closed her eyes, sleeping soundly in her father's embrace.
Ace sat beside Maeve as he dismissed Mary after rewarding her enough that she will be able to live the rest of her life without any issues, let alone her, even the generations after her won't have to work and can live without any problems, he then closed the room's door from inside, not allowing anyone to enter, and turned his attention back to his daughter.
His daughter had extremely soft, white skin, and what made Ace even happier was that she had the same eye color as him, bright-golden. She was sleeping calmly and Ace placed her beside her mother and watched as both of them sleeping calmly. His gaze filled with the purest love, originating from deep within his heart.
This was his family! And he will protect them no matter the cost!
After staring at the two with dazed expression for a long while, Ace came out of his reverie and quickly placed many pillows around his daughter, taking full care that his girl would not fall from the bed. Not satisfied with just that, he placed pillows all around the bed, ensuring that even if his precious little gem fell from the bed, it shouldn't hurt her, at all. Then, he placed around 20 different but strong protective formations inside the room even though the room was being guarded by royal guards.
At the moment, this room was turned into the most secured room in the whole Herferd.
Finally, when he was at ease, he left the room and walked towards General Luke.
"It's a daughter, prepare soft clothes, toys, a comfortable crib, soft blanket, and anything else you feel like is needed by a girl, it would be even better if you ask your wife about some tips, no, this is even better, call a meeting, with all the maids and mothers and rest and buy everything they suggest. Also, keep in mind, everything you buy should be of the highest quality available! Do not slack off!
Oh Right! I will be very very very busy from now on so don't call me. I have to look after my little girl! " Ace quickly ordered and returned to his room. General Luke, on the other hand, smiled wryly before he shook his head and started to prepare for the meeting.
Ace quickly rushed into the room and sighed deeply as he saw both the girls sleeping soundly and safely. He then removed the protective formations he placed in the rooms as he returned to his position and stared at his daughter and his wife in a daze, again.
Yes, he placed more than 20 immensely rare and strong inscriptions just because he was about to leave this room for around 10 seconds. Could be called foolish but... who would dare to?
...
*Knock* *Knock*
"Your majesty" about 4 hours later, a knock was heard followed by a servant calling softly.
Ace walked towards the door without making any noise and opened the door slightly.
"What is it?" He whispered, as softly as possible.
"Lord Haze and others are requesting your presence for the council meeting, your majesty" Seeing Ace talking so slowly, the servant answered in a low tone.
"Fuck the council meeting!" Ace answered and closed the door, leaving the servant stunned.
Ace returned to his position as his smile widened when he remembered his chat with Maeve a few days earlier.
…
"Maeve, who will get to name our child, you or me?" Ace questioned.
"Of course, it is me" Maeve answered as if obvious.
"Eh? Why is that?" Ace questioned back with a wronged look.
"What do you mean why is that? I am keeping him or her inside my tummy for 9 months, of course, I will get to decide the name!" Maeve declared.
"But… I am a father too…" Ace complained.
"So what? I am a mother too!" Maeve snorted.
"This is not fair…" Ace complained. Looking into her eyes, he knew no sort of offer would change her mind otherwise. In the end, Ace finally decided to use his last resort, and with a long "humph!" he started ignoring Maeve. In the end, Maeve finally gave in as she proposed.
"Okay, let's do this; we will guess the gender, the one who guesses it correctly will get to decide the name. Sounds fair?"
Ace glanced at her before questioning.
"What if you have already found out about the gender?"
"I would never do that, it will ruin the joy of bearing a child.
Even so, I'll let you guess, satisfied?"
Ace sealed her lips and after enjoying the kiss, he smiled.
"Satisfied"
"Okay, now guess the gender" Maeve spoke with a flushed face.
"A girl" Ace answered with a smile.
"A girl huh…" Maeve muttered.
"Yes, she will be mine,
Monarch's Nightingale"