Supreme Paragon Reborn: Humanity's Rise To Galactic Supremacy-Chapter 235: Second Haunting Memory Of A Supreme Paragon (2)
Utterly lost for words, Michael stared blankly at Nicole.
A chuckle escaped her tender lips, witnessing his bewildered expression.
"Yes, I am pregnant."
He blinked a few times. Slowly focusing his senses on his arm, he began to feel something deep within Nicole’s abdomen. An existence so tiny, so vulnerable that it had yet to form a heart of its own... And yet the soul, its very spirit surged, responding to his call.
It was life.
Gradually Michael’s lips curled into a smile, forgetting about the conversation they were having a few minutes prior.
"Do you know..." His eyes began to sparkle.
"It’s a girl." Nicole answered calmly. "Our little princess."
Putting a hand over his face, Michael laughed at the unexpected news.
"A little princess..." He repeated.
Until now many things had been lingering in his mind, everything fighting for his attention. Yet even with all the plans he had carefully crafted for the future, there was not a single one where he considered he might become a father.
Despite never considering the possibility. His mind unexpectedly cleared, reaching levels of calmness he never knew possible. As if everything he had been worrying about all this time was meaningless with fatherhood being visible from the horizon.
Though that happiness was short-lived, realization of their current world hit him like a tidal wave.
"Since... when?"
A simple question that carried a colossal amount of weight.
Nicole shrugged.
"To be honest, I am not entirely sure. Actually, the one that realized it wasn’t me, but my brother. Since his mastery over our family technique is superior to mine, he noticed the change in me immediately."
Michael’s face became deadly pale. ’So King Owen knows...’
The reason for his newfound worry was justified, due to a simple reason... He was weak.
His cultivation had progressed smoothly, advancing at a shockingly fast pace to the Peak Grandmaster realm, and even beginning to struggle toward enlightenment in the Lord realm. Michael could easily be considered a genius.
However, the fact still remained, he was a mere Peak Grandmaster and he had conceived a child with a Supreme Lord. One of the strongest humans to exist and the second most influential member of the Sacred Order.
The difference in power between them was monumental... Perhaps too enormous. To the point, the wrong crowd could raise an eyebrow.
Fooling around with a weakling might be considered acceptable. But having a child together?
As a member of the Sacred Order, Michael had heard countless such stories of two people who, by all reason, should never have been together due to the disparity in their power, yet still dared to tempt fate and defy everything stacked against them.
Regardless of the variation in these cases, all of them tended to end mostly the same way.
At best, the weaker would be neutralized, the powerful publicly shunned and the child isolated.
At worst... both of the parties would be executed mercilessly.
Michael’s eyes darkened. "Is that so... Did King Owen say anything?"
Noticing the change in his expression would be impossible for most. Though Nicole read him like an open book.
"I admit, I kind of like that side of you. Constantly worrying about me..."
She admitted, her soft body embracing him in a hug.
"But there is no need to worry about this. He simply gave us his blessings."
Michael shook his head.
"Your brother... Is not the person I am worried about."
"..."
Momentarily Nicole’s eyes glimmered in a menacing crimson, realizing who Michael was referring to.
"My father wouldn’t mind. It’s not like he’s ever paid much attention to me, or my siblings, for that matter. At most, he might send you on harsher missions to test your worth, but he’d consider it beneath him to try to force us apart."
Michael heaved a sigh.
"Everything you say is plausible. But I don’t plan to drop my guard, nor do I recommend you do."
Nicole smiled faintly.
"Of course."
The following days were peaceful. Carrying a baby girl inside her, Nicole naturally didn’t go out on missions. Her health took priority over everything. Unsurprisingly, Michael did the same, spending each minute he was awake and in slumber next to her.
Even though they were within the Sacred Order’s main headquarters, one of the most heavily guarded places in the world, and even though he would be of little help if something capable of challenging Nicole appeared, Michael stayed nonetheless.
Nobody forced him. He just knew that this took priority over everything else.
The three or so months that they spent together passed in a flash, yet Michael couldn’t remember a time when he was more content with his life. Going to sleep and waking up to the person that meant the world to him ignited his sense of purpose, which had been slowly leaving him.
On one of those peaceful days, Michael had gently placed his ear against Nicole’s stomach, listening to his daughter’s heartbeat, when the door to their room quietly creaked open.
Rising to his feet, Michael wasn’t afraid. With nobody being able to sneak into the castle-like base, there were only a select few individuals that could show-up unannounced.
Slightly shorter than Michael yet emitting an aura several times more intense, with short crimson hair and eyes that bore a striking resemblance to Nicole’s.
"King Owen." Michael greeted the man respectfully.
Wordlessly Owen gazed at Michael, then taking a few wide strides, he patted him on the shoulder with a laugh.
"For you I am not a King, but a brother!"
Aware of the King’s friendly demeanor, Michael smiled in turn.
"I know, but it feels inappropriate with the difference in feats between us."
When news of Nicole’s pregnancy spread, one significant change followed. King Owen, the leader of the Sacred Order, chose to remain at the base as well, solely to ensure his sister’s safety.
Owen laughed.
"If anything, you are far more impressive than me! Not only have you smitten a jade beauty like Nicole while still being a Peak Grandmaster, but you two actually conceived a child! This will be the first recorded case in history of a Cursed Child growing up to bear offspring!"
Nicole interjected.
"That’s simply because you are too rigid for any woman to take you!"
Owen laughed louder.
"HAHAHA! True! Isn’t she amazing? Not just stunning but bright. You really lucked out, Michael!"
Gradually the King’s laughter faded, a stern expression taking place.
Michael picked up on the change instantly.
"There is no need to beat around the bush. It’s rare for you to visit us unless there is trouble."
Owen frowned.
"Forgive me, for today I am the bearer of bad news."
The man’s crimson eyes shone darker.
"Hostile aliens have been detected, arriving on meteors. I must mobilize volunteers to confront them in advance."
Michael’s answer came swiftly.
"Unfortunately, I will have to respectfully decline. Nicole and our child take priority."
He had been asked to join combat several times over the past three months, yet he had turned down every request.
Owen’s eyes darkened, releasing a heavy sigh.
"I am afraid that refusal is not an option. The order didn’t come from me but from mine and Nicole’s father."
A deep grimace etched on Michael’s face.
"You mean..."
Dejectedly Owen nodded.
"Indeed. The Emperor has personally expressed his desire for you to join the battle. Furthermore, you will be placed in direct command of a brigade at the very front line..."
