Magnus and Shadow returned to the scene of the two armies locked in combat.
Upon seeing Magnus and Shadow's return, the soldiers of the Faerie Kingdom grew even more fierce.
However, at the rear, the mood was quite different.
The sight of the lifeless body of Crown Prince Felix cast a somber shadow over them.
"What happened?" Magnus, who had come back, immediately sensed the tense atmosphere.
"That— Your Majesty, the Crown Prince—" The guard's words trailed off as Magnus's gaze landed on Felix's condition.
Though Magnus remained silent, an overwhelming sense of heaviness permeated the surroundings.
"Cult!" Magnus uttered coldly, his voice carrying the weight of his anger and grief.
Even Shadow, who stood beside him, remained silent.
"See to it that Felix's body is properly attended to," Magnus instructed, striding towards the battlefield.
He needed to channel his anger, and the army of the Jade Kingdom was conveniently at hand.
Though he had many sons and daughters as a king, Felix held a special place in his heart.
Moreover, Felix was exceptionally gifted, destined to surpass Magnus's own accomplishments, achieving what he himself hadn't managed.
But now, due to his own lapse in vigilance.
The escape of the cult leader Henry, his son's bright future had been snuffed out.
Soon, Magnus resembled a war god as he swept through the battlefield.
"A Tier 4 warrior bullying us!"
"Shameless!"
Among the soldiers on the opposing side, particularly the Tier 3 Earth Knights, a sense of bitterness brewed as Magnus drew closer.
"Hmph, a swarm of ants!" Magnus's aura no longer carried the regality of a king but instead exuded the madness of a frenzied soul.
He was akin to a mower, cutting down everything in his path.
Even the soldiers of the Faerie Kingdom felt a shiver and began to retreat, leaving their king to his wrath.
Soon, the soldiers of the Jade Kingdom were annihilated, denied even a chance to surrender.
"Clean up the battlefield," Magnus ordered before finally coming to a rest, allowing his tense nerves to relax.
In due course, the soldiers gathered their belongings, preparing to march back.
As for the Jade Kingdom territory, Magnus saw no need to conquer them.
Firstly, the distance was too great for effective management.
Secondly, his true desire was not for power.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have chosen the most barren part of the Curse Continent to establish his kingdom.
Lastly, consumed by grief, he had lost interest in all else.
...
A month later, while the soldiers of the Faerie Kingdom were making their way back, in Moonshadow Castle:
"Push!" the midwife urged.
"Aaah!" Erica strained, using all her strength to deliver her child.
After her unyielding effort, the child was born.
"Congratulations, Lady. Your child is a healthy boy," the midwife congratulated.
Maximus, who had been waiting outside, heard the cries cease and hurriedly entered the room.
"How is it?"
"Are you alright, Erica?"
"I'm fine, husband. With the potion you gave me, everything went smoothly," Erica replied with a smile.
Before giving birth, Maximus had provided her with a Tier 3 birth potion, which significantly eased the process.
She hadn't even felt any pain; she was just a bit tired.
"It's good that you're fine," Maximus sighed in relief.
"How is the child?" Maximus finally had a moment to inspect his child.
Earlier, he had heard his system beep, but he was too anxious to check.
"It's a healthy boy," Erica smiled, gently poking the child's cheeks.
The child didn't resemble a newborn but more like a few days old, with chubby cheeks.
"He has a bit of my handsomeness," Maximus boasted playfully.
"What should we name him, husband?"
"Let's call him Liam, Liam Shadowcrest," Maximus decided.
[Liam Shadowcrest:
Potential - Common]
"Hmm, a wonderful name," Erica smiled contentedly.
While they were conversing, three women entered the room: Hazel, Luna, and Livia.
"How's your baby, Erica?" Hazel inquired.
"Take a look."
"Wow, what a handsome boy," Hazel's eyes lit up.
Hazel had a deep fondness for children, and gazing at Liam, she couldn't help but imagine the scene when her own child would be born.
Her due date was just two weeks away, adding to her excitement.
"Hahaha, don't worry, yours will be born later."
"Hmm," Hazel nodded, gently stroking her belly.
"Luna, Livia, come and see my child," Erica couldn't resist showing off.
Yet, she also secretly hoped that these twin sisters would eventually warm up to her husband and become part of the family.
Five months had passed since their arrival, transitioning from initial caution to lively interaction.
Sometimes, Maximus was even able to coax genuine smiles from them.
Although he hadn't yet succeeded in breaking through their protective barriers.
"He's so adorable," Livia remarked, unable to resist taking the child into her arms.
"Your son is truly handsome," Luna praised.
"Of course, just look at what his father is," Maximus playfully boasted on the side.
"Oh, I hope you won't be as shameless as your father," Luna mused while looking at the child.
"Be a gentleman," Livia added with a silent nod.
That night, they celebrated the birth of Liam with a banquet, inviting their family to share in their joy.
...
Two weeks later, Hazel also gave birth.
"How should we name our child, husband?" Hazel asked in a more mature tone.
Her once-shy nature had dissipated since giving birth to her first child.
Gazing at the cute and lively girl, her maternal affection overflowed.
"Let's name her Lily, Lily Shadowcrest," Maximus suggested.
[Lily Shadowcrest:
Potential - Uncommon]
"Hmm, Lily is a wonderful name," Hazel agreed, pleased with the choice.
"Ba.. ba," Liam, on the side, was already attempting to mutter as he reached out toward Lily.
"That's your little sister, Liam," Erica informed him.
"Your kids are both beautiful and handsome," Luna couldn't help but praise.
"Hey, what about you? Do you want one?" Maximus playfully winked.
"You're truly shameless," Luna rolled her eyes.
"Baby Lily, your father is a rogue," Livia chimed in playfully.
"Hey, I'm majestic and handsome. How can I be a rogue?"
"Tsk, and narcissistic too," Luna added.
Lily looked around, taking in the new world she had entered.
With the addition of two children, Maximus's potential had undergone a change.
[Maximus Shadowcrest:
Tier 1 Official Mage: lvl 5
Potential: Uncommon (3/100)
Wives: 2
Children: 2]
Now that he had two children, he could get 2 potential points every day.
Sooner or later, his potential would rival that of geniuses.
Even if he did nothing, he would inevitably become stronger.
To achieve this, he needed to have more children.
Thus, he turned his attention to Luna and Livia.
"What?"
"Nothing..."
"I suppose the time hasn't come yet," Maximus thought.
"It can only be the two of you," Maximus silently uttered in his heart as he looked at his two wives, Hazel and Erica.
Unaware of the meaning behind Maximus's gaze, Hazel and Erica carried on.
However, a few months later, they would come to understand that they were pregnant once again.
...
Two months later, Johnson returned to Moonshadow City.
"Huh? The farmland can actually grow food?" Johnson was astonished when he saw a vast expanse of fields.
Due to being dispatched to the battlefield during the planting season, he had missed the transformation of the farmland.
Observing the large fields brimming with a golden hue, he stood mesmerized for a while.
After all, during his months of journey, he had encountered nothing but dirt and mud, which had somewhat numbed his senses.
Witnessing the vibrant and diverse colors now was a refreshing change.
Heading to the barracks, he encountered his friend Smith.
"It's you, Johnson. How did the war go?" Smith inquired.
"It was both relatively easy and tragic at the same time," Johnson began, recounting the events of the war.
He described the cult's involvement, the annihilation of the entire Jade Kingdom's army, and most significantly, the death of the crown prince.
This was perhaps the most shocking development in the entire war.
Following this, it seemed likely that the Faerie Kingdom would experience a significant shift in its dynamics.
"You should convey this to Lord Maximus as soon as possible," Smith advised.
"I'm aware, but how's the progress with soldier recruitment?" Johnson asked.
"It's been quite challenging. Not many people are enthusiastic about joining Lord Maximus's army," Smith explained.
"Fortunately, Lord Maximus lowered the recruitment target to 3,000 soldiers instead of 10,000," he continued.
"Hey, it's likely because there's a shortage of food, leading to people's lack of confidence," Johnson offered a comforting perspective.
"Now, just a few days later, on the day of the harvest, Moonshadow City will truly begin to flourish," he remarked.
"Hahaha, in that case, I'll go report to Lord Maximus."
"Alright."