The earth trembled as Azura and her daughters unleashed their magic, conjuring huge walls made of ice around the spider rats, dividing their ranks, and trapping them inside.
It was an icy maze, and it was created in such a way that the spider rats would have to break the ice to get out.
No way in and no way out.
"YES!" I grinned, watching the spider rats screech in panic, running around like headless chickens.
"NOW!" I roared, leaping onto the maze's wall, signaling the start of the attack.
"HOWL!" my wolves howled, jumping from the wooden wall to the maze, rushing toward the trapped prey.
The spider rats panicked, rushing towards the walls to escape the wolves, but the ice walls were too thick, and they weren't able to break it—at least, they couldn't break it with how unorganized they were.
"TAKE THEM DOWN!" I commanded, watching my children descend upon them like hungry demons.
"HOWL!"
"ROAAAAR!"
The wolves attacked with no mercy, clawing, biting, and tearing their enemies apart. Some of the spider rats fought back, using their claws or shooting webs at the attackers.
The battle was fierce, the spider rats were fighting with desperation while my wolves were showing them no mercy. We held the upper hand, thanks to our superior numbers and teamwork.
However...
"AHHH!"
Emerging from this fight unscathed was impossible.
"GET AWAY FROM HER!" I roared, sending a wave of crimson chains hurtling toward a spider rat that had sunk its fangs into one of my daughter's arms.
The chain wrapped around its limbs and the spider's abdomen, and with no hesitation, I pulled the chain, ripping the monster apart.
"THANK YOU, MOTHER!" my daughter exclaimed, clutching her arm in relief. I pulled her back using my chain, ordering her to retreat.
This was my role as their mother – to ensure no one died. I knew it was a daunting task, but I was willing to do everything in my power to achieve it.
"HELP!"
"MOTHER!"
"HELP ME!"
"HOWL!"
My ears perked up as screams of pain and despair echoed around me. I quickly jumped from a wall to a wall, finding four spider rats attacking a group of seven.
"GET OFF MY FAMILY!" I growled, summoning dozens of blood spikes to pierce them from the ground.
I gazed at the group, they were hurt and bleeding, but the injuries were far from life-threatening.
"Take these," I said, handing them two healing potions each. "You did a great job," I smiled, praising them. "Now go and retreat."
"But—" one of them began to speak.
"I'll be fine," I cut her off. "Now go."
"Yes, mother," she nodded, running away with her sisters.
Instances like this kept occurring. I found myself racing around to rescue my children, and although they were strong enough to fend for themselves, I couldn't help it. The moment I heard a scream, my feet moved before I could think.
"HAHAHAH! THIS IS AMAZING!" Ember roared, laughing like crazy as she ripped the spider rats apart. "I LOVE YOU, MOTHER!"
"..."
"Sigh... why are you confused in the middle of the fight?" I sighed, seeing the bloodthirsty grin on her face. Her daughters were with her, so I wasn't too worried about Ember.
BOOM!
A sudden explosion drew my attention, and I immediately rushed toward the source, finding Scarlett roasting three spider rats with her crimson flames.
"HAHAHAHAH! TAKE THIS!" She yelled, launching fireballs after fireballs at the monsters.
"Good job, Scarlett," I praised, watching the spider rats turn to ash. "But there are still many more; manage your mana."
"Yes, Mother!" She nodded, immediately putting my advice into practice, mixing her physical attacks with magical ones.
On the other side, Luna and her sons were handling themselves pretty well. Especially Fenrir and his brothers – the werewolves had powerful attacks and high defense; they could even take on a spider rat one-on-one and emerge victorious.
I stole a glance backward, at Celeste and her kin helping with the injured. Healing abilities were essential in battles; a little wound might not seem significant, but it could prove lethal later on.
"Good," I said, watching my children take out the spider rats one by one. Those with low physical strength used the wooden spikes I had bought from the shop, dipping the tips with poison and impaling the hideous creatures with them. The spider rats possessed poison resistance, but they became even slower, which eased our fight.
"We're doing great; we can win this, but..." I said, staring at their leader or queen, the white spider rat who stayed in the back outside the icy maze with only ten of its kin.
It only watched as my children mercilessly slaughtered its kin, no reaction whatsoever on its ugly face. However, when our eyes met for a second, its lips moved in an annoying manner, forming a shitty smile.
"TAKE COVER!" I yelled, watching the white spider slowly raising its palms toward the maze.
The next second...
BOOM! BOOM!
An invisible force smashed against the maze's icy wall, destroying half of it completely.
"KEKEKEKE!" The white spider rat let out a low laugh, its red eyes gleaming with killing intent as it gazed at the destruction it caused.
I, on the other hand, didn't care about it, my eyes were fixed on the system notification telling me that the one thing I had been doing everything in my power to avoid had happened.
[Warning: One of your offspring, a female wolf-kin, has been killed]
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Like a broken dam, all my mana surged out in the form of a crimson pillar of blood rising to the sky.
"..."
Silence fell on the battlefield, the spider rats and my children froze as heavy pressure crushed down on them, their knees trembling, their bodies shaking, and their hearts beating like drums.
All felt my rage…and sadness.
"N-N-NOooOoOoO" I wailed, the sound of my voice filled with sadness, anger, and murderous intent. "My little... child" My eyes spotted a red-haired wolf girl lying motionless on the ground with a giant hole in her chest.
"I'LL KILL YOU ALL!"
My roar echoed like thunder, shaking the very ground, and the sky trembled when crimson chains shot out of my body.
[Warning: Your body is suffering due to the sudden increase in mana]
[Warning: The Breeder is required to calm down and steady the mana flow before continuing]
"MORE!" I roared, ignoring the stupid messages, my heart racing like crazy, and I felt the burning hot blood running through my veins, but I didn't care. The rage and sadness were beyond what words could describe.
I had prepared myself for this, prepared myself for the loss of my children... But...
"I'LL SKIN YOU ALL ALIVE!"
It was a hard thing to accept as a Mother.
"KIII!" The spider rats screeched, as hundreds of hands emerged from the crimson pillar, grabbing them and dragging them toward me.
I ripped, crushed, and devoured them without any remorse. My mind was clouded by grief and rage.
[Warning] [Warning] [Warning]
"SHUT UP" Rage consumed me, and I was oblivious to the damage my body was taking, my skin began to crack like glass, and blood started to flow from them. Even my left fingers shattered as I attempted to pull the jaw of one of the rats. Yet, my mind didn't register it.
"MOTHER CALM DOWN!"
"PLEASE MOTHER"
"MOTHER!"
My children cried out to me, trying to calm me, to stop me, to help me. Yet, it was pointless; they couldn't come near me because of the intense energy.
"COME HERE!" I roared, focusing my gaze on the white spider rat and unleashing my blood magic toward it, but at that moment, everything went black.
[Tsk... Tsk... Really Morgana?... You went this far]
A charming soft voice echoed in the dark, bringing some coolness to my heart immediately. This voice was startlingly familiar to me.
"Where am I?" I asked, sitting up and looking around, but there was only darkness. "Who are you?"
[What's up, Morgi... it's me, Lilith]
"LILITH!" I exclaimed, hearing her sweet voice for the first time, yes, the first time if you count the fact that I don't have memories of my old world.
"Why are you here? Did your resurrection succeed?"
[Nope, sorry... My love, I don't have much time; I'm communicating with you on a soul level, and that takes so much energy to do]
"Oh I see—"
[WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?!]
"Ouch!" I winced at the sudden outburst from Lilith's voice. It was like a slap in the face, but I knew she wasn't trying to hurt me. She was worried, and I couldn't blame her.
[ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL YOURSELF?]
"I'm sorry, Lilith," I said, trying to calm down. "I just... I lost one of my children. I couldn't protect her."
[Oh, Morgana... I'm so sorry. I know how much they mean to you. But you can't keep going on like this. You're going to destroy yourself.]
I took a deep breath, trying to process my emotions. Lilith was right. I was consumed by rage and grief, and it was clouding my judgment. I could hurt my kids if I stayed in this state.
"What do I do, Lilith?" I asked, feeling helpless.
[You need to calm down and focus. You can't let your emotions control you. You have to think about your other children; they need you.]
"Mm" I nodded, even though I knew I couldn't see her, I knew she was watching.
"I'll try, Lilith. I promise."
[That's my girl. Now, listen carefully. I'm going to unlock your primordial form temporarily; it's compatible with your blood magic and will help you survive.]
"Thank you, Lilith" I was touched, the soft voice that echoed in my mind was filled with warmth and concern. I felt a lump form in my throat as I realized how much she cared for me.
[Hey!... If I don't help my wife, who would?]
"WIFE!" I exclaimed at the word.
[Remember, the form is only temporarily, use it well.]
"W-What, Lilith? What do you mean by wife?"
[Bye~... Morgi… Love you, I can't wait to fuck you again.]
"HEY!... Answer me!!"