Strongest Radioactive System

The morning sun barely peeked over the horizon when Volk stirred from his sleep, his powerful body still tangled in the warmth of Solluha'r's embrace.

The events of the night played over in his mind, a heady mix of pride, satisfaction, and a lingering tenderness that surprised him. He glanced at Solluha'r, who was peacefully resting beside him, her breathing soft and rhythmic.

A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. He didn't want to leave her side, but he knew he had to.

The day ahead promised new challenges, and he needed to be prepared.

Carefully, Volk began to untangle himself from Solluha'r, trying not to wake her.

He was about to gently smooth her hair back, to ensure she wouldn't be startled when she awoke to find him gone, when suddenly, her body jerked violently, causing Volk to freeze in place.

His heart skipped a beat as Solluha'r's body convulsed and twitches uncontrollably.

Panic immediately spread through his entire being as he watched her tremble, her face contorting in pain.

Before Volk could react, Solluha'r's eyes snapped open, and she let out a blood-curdling scream that reverberated through the room, piercing Volk's ears and sending a chill down his spine. "Solluha'r!" he shouted, his voice thick with fear. What is happening? His mind raced as he tried to make sense of the scene unfolding before him.

Solluha'r clutched her stomach, her fingers digging into her flesh as if trying to hold something in. Her eyes, wide with terror, began to weep green and silver tears, with streaks of brown and blue mixed in—a grotesque, otherworldly display.

Soon, it wasn't just her eyes; the strange liquid began to pour from her nose, mouth, and even her ears, painting her face with colors that should never have mingled together.

Volk's fear escalated. "The radiation… has it affected her? Is she going to die?" The thoughts screamed through his mind, but he couldn't let himself believe it. He had to do something—anything to save her. He frantically searched her face for a sign of what to do, desperate to help.

Then, through her pain, Solluha'r's trembling hand lifted and weakly beckoned him towards something.

Volk's gaze followed the direction of her hand, landing on the box filled with magic crystals nearby. His instincts kicked in immediately, and he grabbed the box, pulling it closer to her.

The moment he did, Solluha'r reached out and laid her hand on the box.

The magic crystals within began to glow, their light shimmering as if alive, before the particles of mana within them started to drift out, swirling around Solluha'r's hand before being absorbed into her body.

"Mana?" Volk whispered, his eyes wide as he watched in amazement.

Solluha'r, though still visibly weak, managed a faint smile. "This… this is normal… when an Elven witch… is pregnant… with a hornless orc's child…"

Volk's heart stopped for a moment. "Pregnant?" The word left his lips, his voice laced with disbelief and shock. His mind struggled to wrap around the reality of what she had just said.

Solluha'r nodded weakly, still absorbing the mana. Her breath was shallow, but she continued to speak, her voice a fragile whisper. "Yes… pregnant… The compatibility… between a Hornless Orc and an Elven witch… it's very natural… very strong… That's why… our races… are perfect for each other…"

Volk's jaw dropped, his eyes widening to an almost comical degree. Pregnant? Already? The sheer speed of it all left him reeling. "But… how? Is it really that fast?" he asked, his voice trembling.

Solluha'r, despite her weakened state, blushed deeply, her cheeks tinged with embarrassment. She took a shaky breath, preparing herself to explain.

"When… when an Elven witch… and a Hornless Orc copulate… it's… it's a union of natural chemistry… the pregnancy happens almost instantly… That's why… our races have thrived… even with the constant threat… of being hunted by Dark Elven Witches and Red Elven Warlocks…"

Volk listened, completely dumbfounded by her words. She continued, her voice gaining a bit of strength as she spoke. "In ancient times… this compatibility… it was the reason… why, despite the odds, we survived… The Hornless Orcs… and the Elven witches… are perfect for each other… and that's why… even though our enemies hunt us… our population never dwindles…"

As she finished speaking, Solluha'r took another shaky breath, then looked directly at Volk, her eyes filled with a mix of vulnerability and pride. "Volk… you're going to be… the father of twenty children…"

Volk's eyes bulged out of his head, his mouth falling open in utter shock. "Twenty?!" he exclaimed, his voice almost a shout. His mind couldn't process the sheer number. His jaw practically hit the floor as he stared at her, his disbelief palpable. "So many?" he finally managed to sputter.

Solluha'r, despite everything, giggled softly at his reaction. Her laughter was light, almost musical, a sweet sound that contrasted sharply with the chaos of moments before. She nodded, her eyes twinkling with a hint of mischief. "Yes… that's also why… our population… is strong… Elven witches… can bear many children… especially with a Hornless Orc…"

Volk swallowed hard, his throat suddenly dry. He tried to wrap his head around the concept of being the father of twenty children. "That's… that's too many," he said, almost to himself. "How… how will you be able to… keep them all inside?"

Solluha'r smiled softly, her expression tender. She was still weak, but she gathered her strength to explain. "The children… they're very small… when they're inside… only as big as a finger… They won't make my stomach… inflate too much… And when they're ready to come out… they'll pupate… like butterfly worms… It's a natural process… so they won't… harm me…"

She paused, taking a moment to catch her breath before continuing. "A normal elf… can have up to twelve children… at their peak… But I… because of my connection… with you… if I reached my peak because of my talent… I can have at least… forty-eight children…"

Volk was speechless, his tongue tied by the sheer magnitude of what she was saying. "Forty-eight?" he repeated, the number almost too large for him to comprehend.

Solluha'r nodded, her smile tinged with sadness. "Yes… but even if it's… that many… only a few… will become warriors… Most will become… laborers…" Her voice wavered, the sadness in her words clear.

Seeing her distress, Volk reached out and gently cupped her face, his thumb brushing away the lingering tears from her cheeks. "Don't be sad, Solluha'r," he said softly, his voice filled with resolve. "We should celebrate once I'm back."

Solluha'r managed a weak smile, her eyes shining with gratitude. She nodded slowly, but Volk wasn't finished. He leaned in closer, his gaze intense. "And don't worry," he added, his voice firm. "All our children will become warriors. Every single one of them."

Solluha'r's eyes widened in surprise. She stared into Volk's eyes, searching for any hint of doubt, but all she found was unwavering confidence. She could feel the truth in his words, the strength of his conviction. It made her heart swell with pride and hope.

But then, Solluha'r chuckled softly, her mood lightening. "If that's the case… then go and get… a lot of magic crystals for me… The strength of our warriors… will depend on how many crystals… you bring back…"

Volk grinned, a fierce determination lighting up his features. He leaned down and kissed her gently on the lips, making her blush deeply. Her heart fluttered at the warmth of his touch, the tenderness in his kiss.

"I will," Volk promised as he pulled back, his voice full of resolve. He stood up, his powerful form casting a shadow over her as he looked down at her with a mix of love and determination. "Getting magic crystals won't be a problem for me."

With that, he turned and left the room, his steps heavy with purpose.

Solluha'r watched him go, her heart filled with a mixture of emotions—love, pride, hope, and a newfound belief in their future. As the door closed behind Volk, she lay back on the bed, her hand resting on her still-flat stomach, where their future warriors were growing, and where the children were forming.

However, there was also guilt in her eyes, she knew that only a few of them would manage to live in their pupation period. But she decided not to tell Volk as he left to go to the catacombs.