‘Igni.’
Kael called out, and as dependable as always, Igni answered.
‘It is safe, Father.’
Kael smiled at those words, and the next instant, Igni and Cirri walked out of the Portal.
“Father!!”
Little Cirri directly jumped into her father’s embrace, prepared to take her position as his little princess, but then—
Poof
The instant Cirri jumped at Kael, his body dissipated and then disappeared. The momentum carried Cirri forward, and the little Dragon frowned, stopping her body in mid-air.
Then, she turned around and noticed Kael standing on the other side, with Vita proudly sitting on Kael’s head with a playful smirk on her face.
“Hehe~
Fooled you.”
Vitaria laughed cutely, and a vein popped on Cirri’s head.
Her cheerful voice vanished. The air around her grew heavier, and her playful eyes turned much more… primal.
“It seems you do not value your life, Fox.”
She spoke, her voice much heavier than before, sending a jolt down Vita’s spine.
It was similar to how she had warned Veylara not to touch her.
The Fox paused. She tried to face Cirri, but her little body was trembling. She was intimidated.
But then—
“Cirri.”
Igni called out.
“Stop that.”
His voice was serious as well.
“You are scaring your little sister.”
“She started it first!”
Cirri cried out, her voice returning to its usual cheerful tone almost instantly—as if the side she had shown before was an illusion.
“It doesn’t matter. She is your little sister. You are supposed to take care of her.”
Igni replied, his voice still solemn. Cirri lowered her head and pouted.
“Hehe—”
Vita tried to gloat at Cirri’s predicament, but then—
“And you.”
The Primordial Fire Dragon turned towards the Fox, his amber eyes shining fiercely.
“She is your older sister. You will show her proper respect.”
Little Vita curled up into a ball at those words and burrowed her face into Kael’s embrace, as if hiding from an enemy. Cirri, who didn’t like how the Fox had hogged her father, flew towards him, forcing him to hug her too.
“…”
Kael extended his other hand, allowing Cirri to jump in. With both his little girls in his arms, he kissed both of them before turning towards Igni and smiling wryly.
“It seems like you will be having a hard time from here on out, Igni.”
Yes, he had directly placed the responsibility of his two daughters on his eldest son. He was too weak to actually scold any of them, while Igni seemed quite good at it. Heck, Igni’s gaze intimidated even him, let alone two little girls who had barely come into this world.
Kael named it “Dragon’s intimidation,” since both Igni and Cirri seemed to have it. Yes, he hadn’t forgotten how little Cirri sometimes changed the aura around herself, feeling like a completely different person.
‘Dragons and their pride.’
Kael shook his head and chuckled inwardly.
“I won’t have to do anything. They are just children. I am confident they will be very close when they grow up.”
“No, I’ll be closest to Brother! Not her!”
Cirri shouted.
“Then I’ll be closest to Father.”
Vita replied with a smirk, licking Kael’s face with her tiny tongue.
“No, I’ll be closest to Father!”
Cirri retorted, licking Kael as well.
Kael, being showered with love, couldn’t help but smile like a fool—completely ignoring his two daughters, who seemed prepared to jump at each other and fight. Cirri was even showing off her dangerously adorable claws in a threatening way, while little Vita bared her tiny teeth.
Yes, neither of them looked the least bit threatening.
Of course, that was only if one ignored the fact that both of them were Eternal-Ranked Beasts. The two were very much dangerous, even as children.
“I will not repeat myself.”
Igni narrowed his eyes, his voice even more threatening. The two sisters trembled and quickly hid themselves in Kael’s chest. Kael tightened his hug around them as well—being embraced by these adorable little things filled his heart with endless joy.
Yes, he was too much of a sucker.
Igni looked like the only mature person in the room.
Indeed, it was difficult raising two little sisters and a father, but Igni was a hardworking and responsible Dragon.
“Father.”
After a while, Igni reminded him. Kael nodded at his dragon and placed Cirri and Vita on the bed. Then, he brought out a small brownish-white egg.
“I want a brother!”
This time, Cirri didn’t make the same mistake. She already had one sister, and she didn’t like her one bit—a brother would be much nicer.
But…
“Ah yes, Ant Queens are obviously males. Brother indeed.”
Vita replied sarcastically, and once again, a vein popped on Cirri’s head. What made her even angrier was the fact that she couldn’t retort.
The little thing was right.
It wasn’t just Cirri—even Kael was surprised. After all, Vita was only a day old. To think a day-old child was already coming up with sarcastic replies.
Soon, however, he shook his head. He was surrounded by a 21-day-old Dragon who had now grown even bigger than him and a 4-day-old Dragon who was pretty much unkillable.
Nothing made sense around him. It was foolish of him to think this way.
“Vita.”
Igni called out, warning the Fox. The little thing fell silent and jumped onto Kael’s shoulder. Not wanting to stay back, Cirri did the same, landing on his other shoulder.
Kael chuckled as he stared at the screen in front of him.
[Ding!]
[Mother of All Ants Bloodline Detected]
[Skill <Ancient Awakening> can be used.]
[Would you like to use <Ancient Awakening> on the selected target?]
[Y/N]
Kael stared at Igni. The Fire Dragon nodded, assuring his father that no one was around. Kael nodded back as he pressed ‘Yes’.
As he did, the Energy of Genesis began circulating in his body in a specific pattern. Kael observed the pattern and realized it was different from when he had awakened Cirri and Vita—it was a third pattern, completely distinct from the other two.
‘So this should be the pattern for an Ant.’
Kael noted in his head before, finally, golden light enveloped the small Duskmarch Queen’s Egg.
The Transformation was about to begin.