Family system

I began to stand, ready to do my best to fight with the crow. It slowly approached me, and its aura became more threatening with the minute. I steeled my nerves, and my mana flared in my hands. A roar erupted above us when I was about to jump forward.

"RROAAR!" The surroundings began to shake as the impact from that roar touched them. My ears began to hurt because it was so loud. But as soon as I heard it, even with the pain, I knew that I was safe. "So, you came here after all," I said, relieved. Above the tower, I could see a giant dragon flapping its giant wings.

It was getting bigger and bigger as it flew closer. Soon, it was just above the tower. I stopped looking upwards and looked right in front of me. There stood the crow that just a moment ago was walking towards me with an intimidating aura, scared and out of its wits. His eyes were filled with panic, and he looked around, searching for a way to escape this.

The dragon landed at the top of the tower and clawed his nails into the tower for extra stability. It began to peer down with its massive eyes, and I looked at it and began to wave. "You finally came Ashen. I knew that I could count on you." While walking through the hallway, I knew that I couldn't reach Apollivex, but I could reach my sister's pets.

I contacted Ashen because she is the strongest and biggest of all the pets. And because she is a dragon of such a noble bloodline, she gets the knowledge from a previous generation through her bloodline, so while every pet was the same age, they didn't have the same experience.

"W…What is a dragon doing here?" I could hear the crow shivering in fear as he asked. "What do you think he is here for? He is picking me up from this place." The crow looked at me with confusion and horror mixed. "You… You know a DRAGON?" The crow's eyes bulged, and I could see it turning red.

Its reaction amused me. "Did you think that me having Apollivex as a pet was a coincidence or that he surrendered to me in a moment of weakness? I wouldn't even entertain having such a weak pet if that were true. No Apollivex was obtained by my husband just like that dragon was."

I spoke the truth. If a monster were so weak that it would surrender unwillingly due to weakness, I wouldn't want it. My husband was the one who gifted her, and I would not have it any other way. "S... so you mean to tell me that your husband made a p… primordial dragon a pet?"

The crow would still be shitting in his pants if he got any. Not that it was a surprise because Ashen stared right at the crow with its big, intimidating eyes. "Yes, I am telling you that. What? You don't believe me?" I asked the crow. Ashen's eyes narrowed at the crow as it didn't like one of its masters being questioned before her.

"Of course not. I wouldn't dare to question you." The intimidating aura surrounding the crow vanished and was replaced with that one of a chick. Looking back down to Apollivex, I could see that most of her wounds were healed. I picked her up, and I could do that pretty easily because her body wasn't that big or heavy.

She lay softly in my arms like a chicken would. I wanted to tell Ashen to get me out of here, but then I remembered that Apollivex had a chance to become stronger, so I looked at the crow. "Give me one of the three-legged crows' divine treasurers." The crow looked at me. "What?" It got confused.

"Give me one of the three-legged crow's divine treasures. Otherwise, I ask Ashen to turn you into a roasted chicken to be eaten at dinner." I pointed upwards, and the calmed-down crow shivered again from fright. "And how should I give you that? Do you think that we always carry those things around with us?"

The crow retorted back. I smiled at the crow while walking towards it. Now that I looked good at it, I noticed how much bigger he is than Apollivex. He comes almost to my breasts, and Apollivex only comes to my thighs. He was also broader, and its wings were much bigger.

"I don't care how you get it, but you aren't leaving this place alive if you don't give me one." The feeling of the opportunity to strengthen Apollivex came from him, so I knew he had something with him that could help my baby girl out. The crow looked at me with more hostility, but that was quickly gone as soon as Ashen flashed a bit of her aura.

"Okay, okay. Here." The crow opened its wings, and a golden crown fell from it. Before it could even touch the ground, it began to fly in my direction and slowly fell into my hands.

I caught the golden crown mid-air, its shimmering surface radiating an ancient aura. The golden aura pulsed faintly against my skin, sending small vibrations through my fingertips. This was no ordinary artifact—it was one of the divine treasures of the three-legged crow clan.

The crow lowered its head submissively now that it didn't have a card to draw anymore, its wings trembling slightly from Ashen's lingering presence above. I inspected the crown carefully; its surface was engraved with glowing runes that pulsed from time to time as if following a rhythm. The one who made it was talented, and I am happy it now fell into my hand.

"Smart decision," I said coolly. I wanted to mimic Elena when she was dealing with those disgusting monsters. I looked at the artifact and couldn't hold myself back, so I said one more cool line. "It seems you're smarter than you look."

The crow winced but said nothing, keeping its head down. Ashen's towering presence still loomed overhead, her piercing eyes locked onto the trembling creature below like a predator savoring its next meal.

I turned my attention back to Apollivex, resting peacefully in my arms, her soft breathing steady and calm. Though her form was smaller compared to the imposing crow, she carried an unmistakable grace—a dormant power yet to be fully awakened.

"This should do nicely," I murmured, holding the crown above her head. The runes on its surface shimmered brighter, responding to her presence as if acknowledging her as their master. I placed it gently on her head, feeling a surge of energy ripple through the air the moment it settled into place.

Apollivex stirred, letting out a soft chirp that resonated with the strength inside of the crown. Her eyes slowly fluttered open, glowing faintly with a soft golden hue that hadn't been there before. Her wounds were completely healed, replaced by a radiant vitality that pulsed with divine energy.

The power of her suppressed bloodline was now smoothly flowing through her body.

I smiled down at her, gently stroking her soft feathers. "You're stronger now, my little phoenix," I whispered. "Rise."

As if responding to my command, Apollivex spread her wings wide. They sparkled with renewed brilliance, each feather shimmering like molten gold edged with crimson fire. Her once-fragile frame now radiated strength. She rose from my arms, hovering with effortless precision.

The defeated crow watched in stunned silence, its mouth agape as it realized what had just happened. The power it had so selfishly guarded and wanted to use for its benefit was now lost, gifted to the creature it had looked down on.

I turned my icy gaze back to the trembling crow. "Consider this mercy," I said coldly. "Next time, you won't even have a chance to offer something in exchange for your life."

The crow flinched; its arrogant demeanor completely shattered. Without another word, it scrambled backward in fear.

Above, Ashen let out a low, rumbling growl, her sharp claws digging deeper into the tower's edge. Her enormous wings stretched wide, blocking the dim sky with absolute dominance. It was a clear warning. Enjoy new tales from My Virtual Library Empire

"Let's go," I commanded, extending my hand toward Ashen. With a single powerful beat of her wings, she launched herself from the tower and descended gracefully, landing just inches from where I stood. Her massive body radiated untamed power, yet she lowered her head respectfully, allowing me to climb onto her back.

Apollivex followed suit, perching proudly on my shoulder, her nails light as air. The newfound energy surging through her made her even cuter.

I glanced down at the cowering crow one last time, letting a smirk tug at the corners of my lips. "Pray we don't meet again," I warned, my voice sharp as steel.

Ashen roared once more, her deafening cry shaking the very foundation of the ruined tower. She took to the sky in one fluid motion, her colossal wings slicing through the air with force. The world below blurred as we soared higher, leaving behind the crow and the shattered remnants of its pride.

'Kyaa~ I didn't think acting cool like that was my thing, but that felt good."