After everything was over, Acnologia returned to the kingdom, sat back on the throne, and listened to the report from the Number One Dragon Slayer General regarding the recent situation.
Dragnof Royal City was doing well, only being harassed and attacked by three to five Evil Dragons at a time, while most of the Evil Dragons had gone to besiege the Phylos Kingdom.
The Phylos Kingdom had gathered the majority of the human race's Mages, and the Good Dragons were mostly there as well. The Evil Dragons likely intended to completely wipe out humanity's resistance in a single battle.
"Has Irene still not returned?"
"No!"
Acnologia nodded slightly. Although Irene was highly talented, she was far from reaching the level where she could stand side-by-side with him. Achieving complete Dragonification was not something that could be done in a short time.
However, there were now quite a few Dragon Slayer Mages who had partially dragonized, and there had even appeared a fully dragonized White Dragon. There should be no need to continue hiding.
He glanced at the ministers kneeling on the ground, trembling with fear, and said, "Since Number One has already given you orders, then do as he says. Otherwise, you useless fools will be of no more use."
"Yes! Lord Acnologia!"
The ministers quickly responded. This man's cruelty far exceeded that of the Number One Dragon Slayer General. Let alone contradicting him, even answering a second late could be life-threatening.
At this moment, they missed Queen Irene immensely and wondered where she had gone.
Acnologia thought for a moment and said, "Remember to distribute a portion of the grain to the common people, just enough so they don't starve to death."
Now that he was back, the pressure on the kingdom's army was not that great. Unless a whole swarm of dragons attacked, he could handle it alone without even needing soldiers on the field. Now, he only needed to maintain the kingdom's stability.
Since Irene had entrusted the kingdom to him, he would take a little responsibility.
"Yes! Lord!"
The Number One Dragon Slayer General immediately replied respectfully, then looked at the ministers below and roared, "Useless trash! Hurry up and do it!"
These old wastes were only good for such tasks. Lord Acnologia had already made the arrangements, yet they had no foresight at all.
"Yes! Lord Number One!"
The ministers were all terrified by that shout. After responding, they hurriedly retreated.
"Number One, keep an eye on the kingdom. I'm going out for a bit and will be back soon!"
After giving the order, Acnologia's figure disappeared from the throne. He was going to see how Irene's cultivation was progressing... In the deep mountains, a scarlet-colored giant dragon lay on the ground, sleeping soundly. Sunlight filtered through the branches and leaves of the large trees, dappling the dragon's body as its scales shimmered with a gentle light.
Suddenly, she sensed something and slowly opened her drowsy eyes, looking up at the sky.
Accompanied by the sound of a howling gale, a dark figure descended from the sky, the ground cracking under the impact. The newcomer had blue hair and wore a black robe, his terrifying magic power filled with ominousness and tyranny.
"Acnologia!"
Joy appeared in the scarlet dragon's eyes, and she instinctively wanted to pounce over, forgetting that she was currently in her dragon form.
Acnologia's figure flashed, dodging her pounce. He stood on her giant claw and said with a slight chuckle, "Are you trying to kill me?"
The scarlet dragon was indeed Irene. At this moment, she had completely dragonized, but she showed no signs of going insane.
Irene felt awkward for a moment, rested her head on the ground, and asked, "Why are you here? How is the kingdom?"
Although she could sense the kingdom being attacked by Evil Dragons, it hadn't reached the point of collapse, so she hadn't gone to help.
Acnologia said, "Aside from the lack of food and some people starving to death, everything else is fine."
Irene fell silent. People had starved to death—how could that be "fine"?
However, she didn't have any good solutions either. Food couldn't be created out of thin air.
"How is your magic practice going?"
Acnologia looked around. On the other side were the corpses of two giant dragons, an extinguished campfire, and a blackened, roasted dragon leg.
It seemed Irene's cooking skills were not great; she had clearly roasted something that wasn't fit for human consumption.
Irene said in a low voice, "I'm still a bit short. I estimate that in another month, I'll be able to fully transform back into human form."
After her complete Dragonification, she could even perform Master Enchantment Magic. Her magic power had surged to a level she herself found hard to believe; even facing a Dragon King, she would have no fear.
"However..."
Irene hesitated for a moment, her massive dragon body stood up, and she touched her abdomen. "I feel like a new life is gestating inside. It seems there's a little baby?"
"A little baby?"
Acnologia looked surprised. Having one so soon?
Was he about to become a father?
Irene continued, "But she's growing too fast, so I'm not sure."
She could clearly sense the little thing inside her belly changing every day. The speed of growth left her bewildered. Whose child grows that fast?
Upon hearing this, Acnologia reached out and pressed his hand against Irene's abdomen, his magic power slowly penetrating inside. After a moment, he sensed the little life connected to him by blood.
It was a girl, looking like a normal child of one or two years old... Her development was indeed a bit fast!
Acnologia rubbed his chin in thought. "Is it because mine and Irene's magic power is too strong? Or is it because of the Dragonification?"
He remembered that in the original story, Irene also became pregnant with Erza after dragonifying, yet the birth happened four hundred years later... Acnologia's eyes suddenly widened. He thought of a problem: if Irene were to be pregnant for four hundred years and the baby grew at this rate, how big would she be?
Furthermore, she would have to transform into a human later, so she definitely couldn't keep her in her belly.
Irene also felt that continuing the pregnancy wouldn't work and suggested, "She's growing too fast. How about... a C-section?"
Acnologia nodded in agreement. "There are already dragonized Dragon Slayer Mages now; one more or less doesn't make a difference. Follow me back to the kingdom first, find a Space Mage, and transfer the child out!"
The two of them immediately agreed and rushed back to the Dragnof Kingdom. This matter could not be delayed.
The little baby wasn't small anymore; she could even walk on the ground.
The guards on the walls of Dragnof Royal City thought a giant dragon was attacking and gathered a large number of soldiers to face the enemy. Fortunately, they didn't act once they saw Acnologia.
After explaining the situation, the two found a Mage who knew Space Magic and prepared to transfer the baby out.
Since Irene's magic power was too strong, they had to find a deserted place to deplete some of it before they could proceed.
Fortunately, it went smoothly without any danger.
Acnologia carefully held the little baby, unable to put her down. Becoming a father was so sudden; he hadn't even prepared anything.
Irene also wanted to hold her, but since she was currently in dragon form, she could only stare wide-eyed.
She secretly encouraged herself that she must transform into a human as soon as possible.