Three Months After the Wedding

Married life was like being soaked in honey, every moment exuding a sweet fragrance.

Luo Li has completely bid farewell to his life as a livestreamer, where he works day and night, and now lives a life as regular as a model husband—if you ignore his slightly illicit intentions when he's "trying to complete system tasks" while cuddling his sweet wife every night.

[Ding! Mission 1 "Love's Seedbed" (7/7) is complete! Rewards distributed...]

[Ding! Mission 2 "Mind-Body Synergy" (3/3) has been completed! Rewards have been distributed...]

[Ding! Mission 3 "Settling Down and Attracting Phoenixes" has been completed! Castorice's subjective sense of security score is 95, and her happiness score is 92! Rewards issued...]

A series of preliminary tasks were successfully completed thanks to Luo Li's "unremitting efforts" and Castorice's half-hearted cooperation.

The Portable Space has been expanded to 3 cubic meters, and an invisible S-level Spacetime Barrier has been added to the home. Even the flow of time in the room can be fine-tuned (Luo Li once tried to speed up the room time when sleeping in, and was warned by the system for "abuse of privileges").

The most important gain was the permanent "United Hearts Lock" buff, and Luo Li felt that his understanding of the [Spacetime] Path was becoming more profound, and his power was steadily increasing.

Just as Luo Li was pondering when the system would release the "next stage" mission so he could achieve his ultimate goal of "Branching Out and Bearing Leaves" as soon as possible, on an ordinary morning, the system's notification sounded like heavenly music—

[Ding! Special life force detected... Analyzing...]

[Confirmed! New life has successfully gestated within the bound target ' Castorice '!]

[Quantity: 2!]

[Status: Good!]

[Congratulations, host, for completing the prerequisites for the main quest objective of the ' Branching Out and Bearing Leaves ' series!]

Luo Li, who was drinking water from her glass, froze instantly, her eyes widening as her brain processed this explosive information.

It's... a success?!

Or... twins?!

Overwhelmed by immense joy, he practically scrambled to Castorice's side, who was watering the potted green ivy on the balcony, and swept her up in his arms, spinning her around several times in excitement.

"Castorice! Castorice! We're going to be mom and dad! Two of us!"

His voice rose with excitement, trembling with disbelief.

Castorice was startled by his sudden action and cried out, dropping the small water bottle in her hand with a "clatter" to the ground.

Upon hearing Luo Li's words, her purple eyes were instantly filled with shock and confusion, and her hand unconsciously touched her still flat stomach.

There are already two little lives here?

Her and Luo Li's... child?

[Based on the number of offspring (2) and the initial life energy assessment (extremely high), the ultimate reward for the mission is being calculated...]

[Rewards Distributed:]

[1. The host's [Spacetime] Path Rank is permanently upgraded to ' Controller '! The effects, range, and duration of all Spacetime skills are greatly enhanced! Cooldown time is reduced!]

[2. The exclusive weapon ' Bloodblade Enma ' has been upgraded to its ultimate form – ' Spacetime Slayer Enma '! New skills: ' Space Severance ' (cuts through space) and ' Time Piercing ' (attacks inflict time erosion).]

[3. Special Permissions Granted: The host can initially mobilize the power of the tributaries of the ' River of Spacetime ', limited to once per day.]

[4. The host's physical and soul strength receive feedback from the ' Spacetime Origin,' resulting in a comprehensive enhancement!]

A Spacetime and temporal force, far more powerful and pure than ever before, seemingly originating from the very source of the world, surged into Luo Li's body.

He felt every cell in his body leaping with joy, his soul seemingly being cleansed and elevated, and his perception of the surrounding Spacetime becoming clearer and... more tamed than ever before.

With a slight thought, the silver light swirling around his fingertips began to ripple with a heart-stopping energy.

Beside it, the Bloodblade Enma emitted a pleasant hum, its dark red blade gleaming subtly yet revealing a sharpness capable of severing rules.

This power... is beyond imagination!

Luo Li even had a strange feeling that she might... possibly... probably... actually be able to surpass Castorice in strength now?

However, before he could fully appreciate the surge in power, the system notification sounded again, carrying a sense of satisfaction that the student was "teachable":

[Given the special circumstances surrounding the target pregnancy, a series of 'Special Care During Pregnancy' missions are now being released!]

[Mission Objective: To ensure Castorice's physical and mental health and a smooth pregnancy.]

[Quest Rewards: Based on completion, you will additionally unlock the 'Father's Love is as Solid as a Mountain' series of abilities, random enhancement of offspring talents, and... 1 fragment leading to the mysteries of the ' River of Spacetime ' source.]

Fragments leading to the mysteries of the source?!

Luo Li's heart pounded again; this reward was even more enticing than the power boost he had just received.

That was a realm even the system described as "ultimate".

He immediately made up his mind that, regardless of the series of quests or the lack of rewards, he would cherish Castorice as a fragile treasure.

At this moment, Castorice was still immersed in the complex emotions of becoming a new mother.

She leaned gently against Luo Li's chest, feeling his heart pounding with excitement, her fingers still unconsciously resting on her lower abdomen.

twin...

This word, like a key, quietly unlocked a corner of her Remembrance that had been sealed away for years.

As Luo Li excitedly chattered about what kind of crib to buy and what name to give the baby, Castorice's gaze went slightly unfocused, as if she had traveled through Spacetime back to her hometown, a place shrouded in coldness and death.

Polyxena...

A name silently passed through my heart, carrying a faint bittersweet feeling... and relief.

She thought of her younger sister, who had light purple hair, always kept her eyes closed, and relied on a wheelchair.

They were once Amphoreus's "twin stars," sharing the fate of being candidates for the divine right of "death."

That cruel prophecy of patricide hung over our heads like the Sword of Damocles.

In the end, she chose to step into the River of Souls, leaving the opportunity to become a god and endless loneliness to her sister.

Although her sister later revived her through special means, the sister herself...

That is the rule of Amphoreus, a destiny that they, who possess the authority of the demigod of death, cannot escape.

but...

Castorice lowered her head, looking at her lower abdomen, feeling the two faint but vibrant pulses inside. A gentle light of relief flashed in her purple eyes.

very nice...

This is not Amphoreus.

They don't need to inherit any Core Flame of death, nor do they have to face such cruel choices.

They could just be ordinary children, growing up peacefully and happily under the love of their parents.

This sense of relief lessened her anxiety about the unknown and filled her with a purer anticipation for the little life inside her.

"Castorice? What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Luo Li's excited chatter finally came to an end. He noticed that Castorice was distracted and immediately became nervous. He carefully helped her sit on the sofa, as if she were a fragile glass doll that could be broken at the slightest touch.

Seeing his expression, so tense yet unable to hide his joy, Castorice a warmth in her heart. She gently shook her head, took his hand, placed it on her lower abdomen, and said softly, "I'm not uncomfortable... I'm just very happy."

She paused, then added, "And I'm also very fortunate."

Luo Li didn't quite understand the deeper meaning of "thankfully," assuming she was just overjoyed and confused.

He felt the warmth beneath his palms, through the fabric, as if it connected two tiny lives, and grinned foolishly, already imagining the cool scene of holding one baby in each hand in the future.

However, in this moment filled with joy and hope—

Luo Li Li's [Eyes of the Time Abyss], which had become even more acute due to the increase in power, began to operate on their own without warning.

Through his right eye's [Peering into Secrets], fragments of the future suddenly devoured his mind like venomous snakes.

The image remains breathtakingly clear.

A magnificent yet unfamiliar holy city, with strangely styled buildings standing tall.

Castorice was dressed in a more ornate and elaborate saintly robe than he had ever seen before, her expression calm yet tinged with a hint of aloofness, just as he had when he first met her.

Beside her stood two exquisitely cute little girls, like porcelain dolls, who had inherited their mother's silver-purple hair and violet eyes, looking around curiously.

Their faces showed no attachment to their father, only curiosity about the unfamiliar environment.

Castorice's gaze swept past the two children and looked towards the distance of the Holy City, where... Luo Li was not seen.

From beginning to end, there was none.

The video abruptly ended.

Luo Li Li's smile froze instantly, and her blood seemed to turn cold in a flash.

The euphoria of having just gained immense power and the anticipation of the future were shattered by these recurring, chilling visions of the future.

Why?

Why is it still like this?!

He has done everything in his power to become stronger! He has obtained the [Spacetime] Path, received system rewards, and his strength has increased by leaps and bounds! He gave Castorice a home, a wedding, and did everything he could to treat her well! They even had a child.

But why... has the future remained unchanged?!

Castorice and the children still return to Amphoreus? And will his existence still be completely erased?

What exactly... did he not do well enough?

Was his strength still inferior to Castorice's? Or... had he never truly understood the deep longing she felt for her homeland and her sense of duty?

An indescribable panic and immense sense of loss overwhelmed him like icy seawater.

He stared blankly at Castorice, who was gently stroking her lower abdomen, completely unaware of the terrible future ahead. His heart felt as if it were being tightly gripped by an invisible hand, and the pain was so intense that he could hardly breathe.

Was all his effort truly in vain?