Became a Demon with Pregnancy System-Chapter 139: An Admirer

Flames and acrid smoke still lingered over White Town in the aftermath of Councilor Laurence Mann’s desperate sabotage.

In that chaos, Luke and Lenora Quinn stood near the smoldering ruins, discussing what would come next.

Their conversation was cut short by phone calls and urgent messages—Tanya Reed phoned Luke, overcome with worry for the Totem Serpent.

Meanwhile, medical teams were on their way to treat soldiers and staff who had inhaled toxic fumes from the destroyed blood agent depot.

At last, Lenora Quinn prepared to leave, eyes still scanning the dark sky where a swirl of blackish haze testified to the devastation Mann had wrought. She turned to Luke, arms folded.

"Luke, what’s your plan?" she asked. "I need to file a comprehensive report at the Magic Association. The entire Judgment Council will be in an uproar—Mann’s sabotage is sure to bring swift repercussions."

Luke nodded, gazing into the distance where night pressed heavily against the ruined warehouse. "I have some unfinished business. It might tie into this fiasco. Don’t worry; I’ll manage."

Lenora studied him for a moment.

Her expression softened with gratitude. In the space of a single evening, they had uncovered Mann’s conspiracy, thwarted a poisonous catastrophe, and rescued countless people from lethal fumes.

"I’ll go first then," she said quietly. "I suspect they’ll want statements from me right away. The phone’s already buzzing with messages."

Luke offered a slight smile. "Good luck, Senior Sister. If you need me, call. I can show up with the ’wolf’ again."

She gave a short laugh, recalling the monstrous Skywing Wolf Luke had unleashed. "I’ll keep that in mind," she replied. Then she extended her wind wings—silver-lit illusions shimmering behind her back—and flew off into the night.

As soon as Lenora left, Walter Murphy came bounding over, nearly tripping on scattered debris. His eyes shone with a mix of relief and reverence. "Mentor Luke, is there anything else I can help with?"

Walter had become a staunch fan of Luke’s overnight, ever since Luke saved him from being implicated in the blood agent scandal.

The sight of the towering wolf silhouette had only cemented that admiration. Even battered and exhausted himself, Walter looked keen to do anything Luke asked.

Luke glanced at him. "For now, just stay and coordinate the medics. Make sure these folks get help—some inhaled a nasty dose of toxins. They’ll survive if they’re stabilized in time."

Walter nodded, saluting in a comically stiff manner. "Understood, Mentor Luke!" Then he scurried off, already shouting orders for stretchers and water.

In the midst of the devastation, his fervor brought a spark of hope.

Luke’s phone vibrated, pulling his attention away. He glanced at the screen—Tanya Reed was calling him again. Probably more about the Totem Serpent’s predicament or updates from Victor Hale. He tapped accept.

"Luke," Tanya’s voice came through, sounding more level now but still on edge. "Victor Hale is planning to forcibly subdue the Totem Serpent tomorrow.

I’ve tried everything, but no one can overrule him. He insists the serpent might harm humans, and he’s marshaling a big force."

Luke exhaled softly. "I’ll handle it. Just keep the serpent safe for tonight. If push comes to shove, the serpent won’t be an easy target anyway."

Tanya let out a shaky breath. "All right. I—I believe you. Thank you." She cut the call.

Luke stared at the phone for a moment, rubbing the tension from the back of his neck. He recalled how the Totem Serpent was far from helpless.

Hale must be relying on a large coalition or some cunning strategy, Luke reasoned. But I doubt they can match the serpent’s true might—especially now that the serpent’s had time to recover or evolve further.

Still, he had no wish to see massive bloodshed. Better to ensure a scenario where the serpent emerges as a hero, halting an even greater threat. Yes, Luke thought. The arrival of the White Bird—Silver Dome Lord—could be that threat.

A trickle of satisfaction crossed his mind: Laurence Mann’s explosive sabotage had unleashed an enormous concentration of plague-laden fumes.

Soon, the Silver Dome Lord—an avian demon that gorged on such poisonous energies—would sense the feast and descend. In so doing, it would serve as the perfect impetus for a turn of events that might spare the Totem Serpent from further persecution.

Luke’s lips curved in a faint smile. Time to find the right vantage point. With that, he turned on his heel and slipped into the darkness, leaving White Town behind.

Night had deepened by the time Luke reached the outskirts of a West Fortress. The region was known for its mountainous terrain and crisp night air.

Watchtowers dotted the ridges, each manned by soldiers scanning for demonic threats. Local rumors spoke of an impending wave of new beasts, triggered by the swirling auras of plague from White Town.

He found himself drawn to the ninth watchtower, perched high on a rocky promontory. A single, flickering lamp revealed the silhouette of a 17-year-old soldier perched at the edge of a crumbling parapet, playing a soft melody on a piccolo. Overhead, stars pricked the sky, twinkling in the hush.

The youth had gentle features, tempered by discipline, and a battered uniform that suggested meager rank.

By him perched a small eagle with gray-white plumage. The bird cooed softly at the boy’s music, nuzzling his shoulder as if to share in the tune.

Despite the late hour and the fortress’s usual vigilance, the pair seemed at peace.

Luke recognized the boy: Wayne Yates.

He recalled hearing rumors about a starry-eyed recruit stationed here—someone who, despite lacking strong magic or rank, had an unshakable heart of gold. In Luke’s prior life, or the story he half-knew, Wayne was known for forging a deep bond with a low-tier companion eagle.

The name "Ash" apparently. Wayne was said to have an unwavering sense of loyalty to both friend and beast.

"Squawk—!" The gray eagle hopped in place, flapping excitedly. Wayne paused his tune, feeding it a scrap of dried meat. "Ash, that nasty beast trainer refused you dinner again?" he murmured, patting the bird’s neck. "Don’t worry, someday I’ll become a real tamer, and we won’t rely on scoundrels like him."

Luke stood a short distance away, hidden behind a stony pillar. He watched silently. This kid...he’s got the same pure loyalty as that mention from earlier.

Luke felt a pang, thinking how quickly such innocence could be destroyed in a harsh world of war and monstrous threats.

Suddenly, the fortress alarm blared—a shrill siren that jolted the entire region. Soldiers scrambled from the barracks, grabbing weapons and armor.

Even from the watchtower, Wayne could see lines of mages and archers forming ranks below.

Overhead, the night sky shimmered with pale silhouettes.

More than silhouettes—white demon eagles by the dozen, streaming in from the horizon. Then by the hundred, maybe thousands, blotting out the stars in a rolling wave. This was a large-scale incursion.