Sally bit her lip hard and refrained from crying out in pain, gripping the soft grass beneath her with both hands.
As Black Panther no longer heard her cries of pain, it turned its head to look at her again and saw her face filled with endurance, concern flashing in its eyes.
"It hurts so much!" Sally called out to the System, "Is there anything for pain relief?"
The System reported the time precisely: "Ten more minutes until the cub is born."
"Ten minutes?" Sally suddenly regained her strength, "Okay!"
She took out a piece of fresh fish meat from the System Space and swallowed it in one gulp, gathering all her strength for the final moment to come.
Black Panther paced back and forth anxiously outside the small hollow.
Suddenly, a group of Grey Wolf Demon Beasts, drawn by the scent of the Beastmen, surrounded the hollow.
But as soon as they saw Black Panther, they turned tail immediately and ran away...
Black Panther, however, did not intend to let them escape, opening its mouth to release bolts of Thunder, striking the Grey Wolf Demon Beasts into charred remains in an instant.
Sally heard the commotion, but as labor was upon her, she couldn't see what was happening.
Suddenly, a sensation of wanting to lose control washed over her.
She couldn't hold back any longer and cried out loud, "Ah—"
Black Panther immediately rushed to Sally's side.
And after that scream, Sally passed out.
The System's voice resonated in her mind: "Congratulations to the host for giving birth to the first offspring, gender (male), Beast Body (Golden-eyed Black Panther), talent (Thunder Element Profound Rank), Father Beast (Golden-eyed Black Panther Beast), reward (1000 points, Birth Gift Pack)."
"Exchange 500 points for lifespan," Sally declared the moment she heard the reward points.
System: "Host's wish granted, 500 points exchanged for 500 days of lifespan, Teleportation reserved at 50 points, calculation complete, host remaining with 450 points."
Sally looked at the lifespan column, 500 days!
She finally felt like she had a chance to live on.
"200 points, activate System Store."
System: "System Store activation successful, 200 points deducted, host remaining with 250 points."
In the System Store, the formerly gray question marks under the item column all turned into bright pictures with corresponding points for exchange.
Sally quickly skimmed through and then said to the System, "1 point, exchange for a Rejuvenation Pill."
System: "Rejuvenation Pill exchange successful, host remaining with 249 points."
Sally opened the System Space and saw a bottle of Elixir shining with golden light, labeled Rejuvenation Pill.
She slowly opened her eyes.
What met her gaze was a vast expanse of blue sky, and she felt waves of weakness and fatigue on her body.
She took the Rejuvenation Pill.
In an instant, her body recovered all its strength, and her condition was better than ever before.
She immediately sat up, ready to see her first child.
But, to her astonishment, there was nothing.
Where was the baby?
There was nothing around her.
Where was Black Panther?
Black Panther...
Sally had an epiphany – the child she had given birth to was a Golden-eyed Black Panther Beast!
Could it be... it wasn't just a coincidence, was it Black Panther's child?!
But only this could explain why it had been carrying her, providing her with food and drink, and never transforming into a human shape – it must have been afraid she would recognize him!
Sally hadn't even had the chance to see what her first child looked like before someone took him away.
Sally stretched lazily, her body felt light and supple as if she had never borne a child.
"Heh, it's all about the points system, isn't it? I'm destined only to give birth and not to raise them. You taking it away actually makes it convenient for me to prepare for my next child," she said nonchalantly.
The more casual her words, the more solemn and unsightly her expression became!
No mother would truly bear to part with her own child.
Especially not the first child, whose memory is even more profound.
...