NOVEL NEXT Chapter 23: Burrito.
Chapter 23
The sky rained blood as hundreds clashed above, painting the heavens in dark, ominous hues. Spells and projectiles streaked through the air, illuminating the sky in brief, violent flashes before fading into an inky blackness. Every minute, another body plummeted to the earth below, marking yet another life claimed in the relentless battle. On the ground, thousands fought with equal ferocity. While the beings in the sky mostly wielded powerful magic and ranged weapons, those on the ground relied on melee combat, their blades and claws colliding in brutal, close-quarters warfare.
The earth was strewn with bodies, the corpses twisted and torn beyond recognition. Limbs and body parts lay scattered, lost forever to the chaos of war. Suddenly, a massive thunderbolt split the air, crashing down onto the battlefield and incinerating dozens of unfortunate souls caught in its blast. From the point of impact, a frail old man emerged, his figure gaunt and worn, as if he bore the weight of centuries on his back. In his hand, he clutched the charred remains of a high-ranking being, its long, scorched tail the only clue that it had once been a Naga. His eyes were bloodshot, veins bulging at his temples as he gasped for breath, exhaustion etched into every line of his face.
"When will this end?" Ray muttered, his voice barely a whisper amid the chaos. He had lost count of how many times he'd asked himself that question today alone. The war had reached a fever pitch, with both sides throwing every resource, every strategy, and every ounce of power into the fray. No reserves, no secrets left unspent—everything they had saved and stockpiled for centuries was now poured into this single, all-consuming conflict. Precious resources, unique talents, ancient knowledge—all were either sacrificed or stolen in the pandemonium of war.
They were fighting on the Great Cale Mountains, deep within Shadow Veil's territory, a mere thousand kilometers from their stronghold. By all rights, if it was a few months ago, Shadow Veil should have held the absolute advantage. Their ranks were filled with numerous mid- and high-ranking beings, and their three leaders were all in their prime, all of them at least peak Mid Ultimate-class beings. In contrast, the Phamos family and the Thunder Horn Guild had suffered a decline in recent centuries, their leaders aging and their once-loyal, formidable subordinates now a dwindling few, leaving behind only a hollow shell of their former might.
But fate had twisted in an unexpected direction. A prodigy from Shadow Veil's own, Arcana Anomaly, had betrayed them, slaying one of the organization's heads and instantly transforming certain victories into a precarious struggle. He fled with a kitsune, a formidable kitsune in her own right and daughter of a prominent elder in the Kitsune clan in Japan. Upon returning to her homeland, she exposed every possible piece of dirt on Shadow Veil she knew to the kitsune clan, revealing what they had done and what they planned to do. The Kitsune clan cleverly used this intelligence to drive a wedge between Shadow Veil and its allies, souring their relationships.
Not long after, Yato—a renowned Ultimate-class warrior from Kyoto—led a coalition to aid the Phamos family and the Thunder Horn Guild. His intervention shifted the balance, turning the battlefield, which Shadow Veil held only a slight advantage to true struggle, with neither side being superior to one another. But due to the intervention of our MC, who is using the chaos to fill his pocket, the war shifted to the Phamos family and Thunder Horn guild's advantage, with them taking one territory after another in the course of a few months.
Ray stood there catching his breath; his magical energy was half full, not a positive sign, when a swift, dark figure shot toward him from behind. He sensed it just in time to twist out of the way, though not entirely unscathed. The attack left a jagged wound on his shoulder, skin and flesh torn away to reveal a raw, gaping hole.
"Tsk," a voice sounded from the shadows. The attacker materialized, revealing a massive Naga with gleaming black scales that covered his powerful upper body.
Ray glared at the Naga, sizing him up with grim focus. "So, you're that sneaky snake, huh?" He muttered, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
The Naga's eyes narrowed, clearly dissatisfied with Ray's choice of words. He loomed over Ray, his scales ripping with the promise of violence. In the storm of bloodshed and magic around them, their confrontation became the eye of the storm. With not a single being being whenever they are in the sky or on the ground near them.
'Did your mother ever say that you are one ugly son of a bitch?' Ray continued after noticing that he did not counter or say a word after him.
Hearing it, the naga frowned, clearly not liking what he was saying, but he did not rush or show his anger. He just replied to Ray with a slight smirk. 'No, she did not, but did your granddaughter ever say she loves you?'
Ray's face tightens as he hears it, not fully knowing what he is implying, but he got the gist of it. 'What did you do to her?'
Ray's face turns into a cold smirk, clearly enjoying Ray's emotion. 'Harn Will castle, 2 high class, around 20 mid-class. Blonde 20sh girl with mid-class strength'
Ray's eyes contrast as his breath becomes hurried. He hurriedly activated the magical device on his belt, connecting to the castle to check if everything was okay. 'It is Ray, fomune magica; what is the situation out there?'
Ray's heart raced as the silence on the other end of the connection swallowed him whole. Fear for his granddaughter clawed at his insides, tightening around his throat like a noose. He took a step back, his gaze never leaving the Naga, who seemed to revel in Ray's growing dread. 'She had a few magical artifacts, like a necklace that shoots lightning and manifests barriers, or an earring that forcefully teleports the user about 20 kilometers away when it is activated.'
Every word seemed to pierce a part of his heart, filling it with holes. 'DID YOU KILL HER?' Ray's voice thunderously sounded, sending shockwaves outwards, a mixture of anger and hatred fueling his words. 'ANSWER ME!' he bellows.
With a satisfied smile, the Naga replied. 'What do you think? If you were Yato or Elowen, we would have taken her hostage. But you?' Hearing it made Ray think of the worst possible option.
Ray's eye turned bloodshot, teeth clenching as it produced a clanging sound as he fought the urge to charge at the naga and end him.
The Naga only laughed, his forked tongue flickering. 'I will relish eating your granddaughter's remains after I kill you.' His scales glinted as he uncoiled, his powerful form surging forward. His clawed hand shot out, aiming to crush Ray's skull.
But Ray was faster. He stepped to the side, letting the attack graze him, and retaliated with a thunderous blast of energy. The raw magic hit Naga's chest, sending him skidding back across the ground. Ray didn't stop there. With a flick of his wrist, he conjured an array of shimmering runes in the air. The sigils pulsed with power before releasing a rain of searing light that poured down on the Naga.
Hissing in pain, the Naga coiled himself, using his scales as a shield to deflect the onslaught. "Impressive," he sneered, his voice filled with contempt, "for an old man."
Ray grated his teeth. The Naga were more resilient and stronger. He knew that his strength was waning with every passing moment, and he knew he needed to end it fast, gathering every ounce of power left in him. He raised his staff high, channeling an ancient spell that made the air hum with energy. The ground trembled beneath them, cracking open as a wave of molten fire surged upward, enveloping the Naga in a swirling inferno.
For a moment, Ray allowed himself to hope. But then, through the flames, he saw the Naga's silhouette—a dark, towering figure injured but not dead, his scales glowing with the heat with a few parts of it falling off. The Naga laughed, a deep, sinister sound that resonated through the battlefield.
'Are you even an Ultimate class?' The Naga taunted, his voice dripping with malice. He surged forward, closing the distance between them in an instant, and struck Ray with a brutal, bone-crushing blow. Ray staggered, his vision swimming, blood trickling down his face. The Naga's claws tore into his shoulder, leaving a jagged wound that burned with dark energy. Ray could feel his strength slipping, his defenses crumbling.
But just as the Naga prepared to finish him, a shadow flickered behind him—a faint movement that even the Naga didn't sense.
Before he could react, a hand pierced through his back, the finger's glinting like an iron claw as it burst through his chest. The Naga's eyes widened in shock, his smug expression twisting into pain and disbelief. He tried to turn, but his movements were sluggish, his strength fading.
Standing behind the Naga was Yuto, bloodied and battered, exhaustion etched into every line of his face. His hands were buried deep into the Naga's back, fingers gripping with unrelenting force. With a single, fluid motion, he twisted his arm, ripping through the Naga's flesh and ensuring its swift demise. The Naga let out a strangled hiss, its once-menacing presence crumpling to the ground, lifeless.
Ray struggled to steady his breath, his body trembling from the sheer intensity of the battle. He glanced up at Yuto, a wave of relief crashing over him, mingled with a surge of gratitude. Shock, however, still lingered in his gaze. What had happened to Yuto? Who had hurt him?
"Ray," Yuto's voice was steady and calm, though there was a cold fury simmering beneath the surface. "Can you fight?"
'Yes' Ray pushed himself to his feet, his movements slow and deliberate. His frown deepened as he looked at Yuto. "What's happening?"
Yuto turned toward the chaos of the battlefield, his back now to Ray. "Devils."
(Author here . I wanna know, is kitsune or devils pregnancy time same as humans, 9 months ?)