His Breeding Obsession

 

Grecan’s eyes burned as he focused on the human.

 

Every muscle in his body tensed to the point of bursting. Tendons snapped in his muscles.

 

His blood-covered body exuded a thick scent of blood from his heightened body temperature.

 

‘My body is unraveling.’

 

Grecan felt a rising strength.

 

His heart pounded in his chest and his muscles and joints shook, but he didn’t stop pushing himself.

 

As he adjusted to his new senses. At the same time, the howl of a wolf echoed across the land of his birth and the people he shared blood with.

 Whoosh— 

They had just lost their longtime leader.

 

Due to the nature of the wolf clan to choose the strongest clan as their leader, Grecan automatically became the leader of the wolf clan at this moment.

 

The savage power that should have been awakened long ago, but was suppressed by Mirania’s presence, coursed through his veins and finally erupted.

 

At the same time, the forbidden power that he had harbored since he was in the womb, cunningly lurking in his blood like a vicious snake, also made its presence known as his body grew.

 

A terrifying jet-black glow stretched out from his eyes.

 “Grrr…” 

Two emotions swept through him as he finally became a true adult.

 

Hatred for all who stood in his way, except Mirania.

 

And an overwhelming longing for Mirania.

 

With a curse, the forbidden force locked the emotions in place. He would never forget these feelings.

 

‘I want to go to Mirania.’

 

He turned his anger toward the humans.

 

‘I want to kill the humans who stand in my way… all of them. Every last one of them.’

 

Grecan was dimly aware of the strange change in him.

 

There was no mistaking his emotions, a tidal wave of desire to kill all who stood in his way.

 

But he bit his fingers to keep himself from doing so.

 

There was only one reason.

 

‘Mirania would hate me.’ 

 

If he were going to kill them, he would have to ask her permission.

 

He recognized that he was fully healed.

 

‘I also had a premonition that I could single-handedly destroy those who held me captive with a net that would catch an animal.’

 

It was an unreasonable thought.

 

Grecan’s power was strong enough for humans to consider it divine, but in a way, it was just that.

 

Aside from his strong body, he had no magic, and he could not fly.

 

So he felt weak, even compared to Leverianz and Malandor.

 

To think that he could defeat all these humans with one hand.

 

Pride, overconfidence, or stupidity, it was hard to do, unless one of those things made him foolish.

 

Grecan didn’t ponder long. He raised his arm, and the net ripped.

 

He flailed his hands.

 “What?” 

The stunned humans fell like fallen leaves, unable to withstand his strength as he grabbed the net and swung.

 

As if caught in the net at some point, Grecan stood up, unharmed.

 “Wha— what.” 

The soldiers retreated back.

 

Grecan blinked at the soldiers, who stared at him in horror.

 

He looked down at his hands in confusion: they had been struck.

 

He stomped his foot on the ground, and without much force, the dirt kicked up as if he’d dug a shovel deep.

 

Grecan shook his head slowly. His body felt strange.

 

‘Ah, this is the Awakening.’

 

Despite his newfound power, Grecan’s appreciation was short-lived.

 

‘Let us take Mirania and leave this mess.’

 

Now we can keep her safe. We could prolong her life.

 

His heart fluttered with hope and anticipation, but it didn’t last long.

 Plop— 

A cold drop of water landed on his forehead, and Grecan looked up.

 Puddle, puddle— 

Before he knew it, it was raining.

 Swoosh! 

The clashing of the weapons ceased, and a disparate sound echoed across the rain-filled plains.

 

The strangeness of it pierced Grecan’s ears.

 Throb— 

His heart pounded loudly. Grecan turned his head, his eyes haunting.

 

Reflexively, he looked for Mirania.

 

He wasn’t the only one. Malandor, who was holding the humans captive, and Leverianz, who had driven the Titan Golem to the brink of destruction, also looked upon Mirania.

 

The clouds in the sky parted, and the moonlight that had appeared poured down to the ground.

 

Lowering her hand to her chest, Mirania slowly glanced down with a questioning look.

 

A reddish color had spread across the chest of her white dress, like a colorful flower blooming.

 

The humans who were fighting held their breath at the strange sight.

 

The pale-faced Mirania opened her mouth to speak.

 “Ah.” 

With a muffled echo, Mirania fell.

 

A lung-crushing screech erupted from Grecan’s mouth.

 

Ten minutes ago.

 

Mirania had been on the defensive, dodging the wizards’ attacks at a feverish pace, buying herself time to recover.

 

The High Witch spends the last year of her life among the witches, first to ease the grief of those who remain, and second to protect her unstable body.

 

In the hope that her failing body would recover, Mirania avoided the magic of wizards and the powerful auror swords of knights.

 

She was more inclined to rely on her broom.

 “You’re running around like a little girl!” 

The knights gritted their teeth, furious at the way their former superior had turned out.

 

Mirania’s teeth chattered a bit at the cheeky remark, but she shrugged, recognizing that the situation was not good.

 

Then, as soon as the tingling in her body had passed, she flew up to the ceiling of Alice’s carriage.

 “Great Witch!” 

Alice exclaimed, exhausted and elated. Mirania clicked her tongue at the sight of her mess.

 

She had somehow managed to hold off the soldiers with her protective spells, but her clothes, torn by their blinding swords, were soaked with blood.

 

Alice desperately tried to protect the carriage, and Mirania first cast a protective spell on it to ease her burden.

 “Don’t worry about the carriage, it won’t be opened without permission for a while.” 

Mirania muttered wearily.

 

Her body hadn’t fully recovered, and it took all her strength to cast a simple spell.

 

She grabbed Alice by the hand and took her up into the sky.

 

From her vantage point, she could see the entire battle.

  

The end is near

 “There are too many people, people!” 

Alice scanned the people surrounding the carriage warily.

 “They won’t touch your lover.” 

Alice was silent for a moment, knowing what she was saying.

 “I’m grateful and… I’m sorry, and I’ll never forget your kindness.” “Don’t say that.” 

Mirania frowned as the army’s barrage continued, as if in anticipation.

 

‘I don’t know when I’ll start to feel worse again, so we must finish before then.’ 

 

Magic was an exercise of will.

 

What distinguishes a witch from a human being was the ability to bend the will of nature to her will.

 

Before she was a Witch of the Curse, she was a Great Witch of Nature.

 

Mirania gathered her resolve in her hands.

 

She waved it toward the sky, and the stars that dotted the black night sky were instantly obscured.

 

It was magical. The humans cried out in panic at the darkness, the moonlight gone.

 “Don’t be alarmed, it’s just a trick to obscure our vision…!” Plop— 

The knight’s calmly spoken words were cut off by raindrops falling from the dark sky.

 

The mages were already gaping in horror.

 Pit, pat— 

The rain began to pour down.

 

The already dim sky grew even darker, and the torches the soldiers brought out were quickly extinguished one by one.

 

The wizards scrambled to bring light, but it was not enough to stop the chaos from spreading like a plague.

 

For humans, no matter how advanced their skills, they could not conceive of using magic or technique to summon forth rain, nature was the domain of the gods.

 “How can the halfbreed make it rain?” “She’s not just a half-breed, she’s a witch, a witch! I forgot, you said she rivaled Adensha the Archmage, right? Yeah, right. If she can control the weather… I’m not dreaming, am I? Oh, dear.” “Well, then what are we supposed to do, can we capture her?” 

The faces of the chiefs darkened as they recognized the fear and awe mingled with the shouts.

 “The soldiers are confused.” 

When commanding an army, the morale of the troops was paramount.

 

With the mission accomplished and the crown prince’s life at stake, the army could not afford to be disorganized.

 

The commander-in-chief, now a one-armed man, his eyes sharpened.

 

‘Hmph.’

 

A small cough burst from between Mirania’s lips. Her breath was white and scattered.

 

It wasn’t air that escaped, but life.

 

‘Argh.’

 

‘I’ve overdone it.’

 

No longer able to bend the will of nature to hers, her body could not hold.

 

Once her body has fallen, a new, younger Great Witch would be born.

 

‘I must return to the castle quickly. Before they notice my condition.’ 

 

Another dry cough erupted as she gripped her broom firmly.

 “Are you okay?” 

Mirania nodded nonchalantly at Alice’s worried whisper.

 

She tried to look unfazed, but her enemies exchanged glances, their eyes shining as they examined her carefully.

 

There was blood in her cough. Something must have happened to the monster’s body.

 

‘Now is the time to attack.’

 

A sharp light exploded between the clusters of figures.

 

An unearthly stream of aura was directed at Mirania, or more precisely, Alice.

 

Mirania reflexively unfurled her defensive tassels and enveloped Alice.

 

It was an act of habit, the result of nearly twenty years of reminding herself that she had to keep Alice alive.

 

As she moved, the Master of the Tower unleashed the strongest magic he could muster.

 

Red flames swirled around the Commander’s blue auror sword as it fiercely shot out.

 Swoosh—-  

The most powerful blow they could muster slammed into Mirania and Alice.

 

‘This is dangerous!’ 

 

Mirania’s hastily executed defensive spell interrupted the sword’s path, but it couldn’t stop it from piercing through.

 Clang! 

With a strange sound, a searing pain shot through her heart.

 

Mirania’s mouth twisted into a grimace.

 “Ugh!” 

Alice fell off the broom and Mirania couldn’t catch her.

 

Her body was immobile. Strength draining from her uncontrolled body. Her fingertips were turning white.

 

It was a sign that the time for eternal rest had come.