October 6th, 904 AUC

Four and a half months flashed in the blink of an eye, and I was now 2-odd weeks away from my birthday.

Tack* Tack* Tack* Tack* Tack* Tack* Tack* Tack* Tack* Tack* Tack* Tack*

Thud* Thud* Thud* Thud* Thud* Thud* Thud* Thud* Thud*

Boom* Boom* Boom* Boom* Boom* Boom* Boom* Boom*

Outside the city proper, I sparred with Axia, fighting and exchanging blows. Every few days, we fought like this for several hours, our energy boundless.

At first, she was worried and only used practice weapons, but once she understood just how durable my body was, she switched to using many real weapons.

Knives, Swords, Scimitars, Spears, Shields, Axes, Chains, Whips, Morning Stars, and even throwing weapons. And now, she was using the Cestus(Greek Boxing Gloves).

And yeah, her blows actually hurt. Although I can regenerate from just about any physical damage, it still hurts. She even once slashed my eye, and I was blinded for a minute until my eyeball regenerated. But this was good for my training and combat experience, so I endured.

On the other hand, I could barely scratch the warrioress, but if I hit her, any blow on her would be damaging and lasting. Of course, I need to hit her first. Hence, the moment I grab her, she loses. But if she drops me, I lose.

Bang* Bang* Bang* Bang*

She threw a barrage of blows, hitting my arms, head, side, legs... anything she felt was exposed, and even used several combat techniques that somehow pierced my dense skin.

But finally, I found an opening and-

Bang*

Grab*

Just as she delivered a straight hook at my jaw, I grabbed her arm, but I didn't let go, and we both collapsed.

We found ourselves in an awkward position. Our chests were pressed, and our arms were grabbed. Our faces were inches away.

I finally reoriented myself and looked at her.

"Tie?" I asked.

"Tie." She said, her face flushed, and seemed excited and panting.

"Can't hold it anymore?" I asked.

"Yes... Please, let's hurry up and return, master..." Axia said with a sultry, almost begging voice.

I lightly sighed, and after lightly cleaning ourselves, we returned to our home in the city.

Once we returned, we were greeted by my young and enchanting wife, Jenny, who looked mesmerizing yet holy at the same time, wearing a wife's traditional attire. And by her side was Cerberus, dutifully guarding her. What a good Hellhound Pup you are, Cerberus. With you here, I can rest assured that she will be safe.

"Welcome back, dearest and Axia." The donkey-eared, white-haired wife said with an enchanting voice, her now-golden eyes radiating the warmth of the hearth.

"I'm back. Is the bath ready?" I asked.

"Yes, dearest. It is prepared." Jenny gently said.

"Thank you." I smiled and then entered the house.

Both Axia and Jenny followed me, and minutes later, our clothes were removed, and all three of us were inside the bath, with two female servants cleaning us.

But more importantly, one of my hands was busy with Axia, helping her relieve her tension.

"Mmph... Mmm..." Axia let out muffled moans, her eyes moist as my hands did their magic.

This was due to her entering a state of heat because of one of her talents, Elder Giant's Endless Stamina. While it granted the owner of the talent immense stamina, able to stay awake for 10 days straight or fight for 3 days without rest, it came with a price. And that price was libido. After fighting a satisfying battle, she would enter a state of arousal that needed to be spent.

This was a condition that was known to many Ogres, and almost all cases of being raped by an Ogre were those of a strong warrioress being defeated by an Ogre, who then uses her to vent his lust. This sometimes resulted in a half-breed, especially among the wilder orc tribes.

According to Sertoria, my mother was the result of such a bonding, but because my mother didn't manifest her Ogre bloodline, she was reduced to mediocrity. Meanwhile, Axia's ancestor was indeed a warrioress who intentionally fought and mated with a High Ogre to produce a half High Ogre.

Either way, Axia was like a cat in heat after every fight, almost begging to get plowed. If I were potent, I would likely comply, but since I am temporarily not, I put my Nirvana Touch to use for once. As a result, Axia was like wet clay in my hands, and despite being impotent, I found it fun to play with her.

The two female servants serving us gave Axia an envious look... But I ignored that. They were free to seek the male slaves. I already stated that I allow it. Two slaves already developed a relationship, and I gave my consent for them to wed.

Meanwhile, Jenny calmly ignored it, giving her silent consent... Because Axia is my concubine now. Due to the True Flourishing Wife talent, Jenny innately sought to add talented members to the household to increase its prosperity. And this naturally included women, IE, concubines. And Axia, being how powerful and prestigious she was, yet of lowly status, was perfect. Hence, she didn't hesitate to add her to the household once she figured out my relationship with Axia.

For now, she didn't actively seek any other woman, but during the few public occasions we went on, she seriously scrutinized potential concubine candidates. It wasn't limited to that, however. She also took careful stock of the slaves Moein bought, but her standards were extremely high. Hence, at least in the city house, we only had a few more servants over several months of marriage, but not concubines.

However, her presence in my household caused a noticeable change in everyone's mood and even training speed. Everyone was happier with their lives, and Moein and Axia already trained their Aura to the peak and were now training their Magic. Although it was slower due to a lack of magic Affinity, they still gradually progressed, especially since I fixed their Qualifications. It was expensive, but these two were worth it. Their skills also improved, with Axia even reaching Grandmaster in two skills, and was close to fulfilling her Advanced requirement! I reckoned that, in a few years, she would fulfill one of her two Epic requirements.

As for myself... I reached the absolute limit. My Physique, Aura, and Magic all reached the epic bottleneck. All I needed to do now was fulfill the other requirements for my advancement. I also advanced all my combat skills to the Master realm and Grandmaster in One-Handed Weapon Mastery and Shield Mastery, thanks to Axia.

Now, even if I couldn't overpower a Physically-Gifted opponent, I was certain I could outskill them. Whether I can do so with an Epic Realm opponent was still a question, but I had some confidence in surviving a fight now. But I will continue accumulating until I am.

While bathing, Jenny spoke.

"Dearest, while you were training, a messenger arrived from her highness the Empress. She will come to visit you today."

"Oh? Today?" I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, my hand stopping.

"Hm?" Axia let out a confused voice.

Ah, my bad. Let me move my hand again...

"Mmmph!" Axia let out a muffled moan.

"Yes. According to the messenger, it is rather urgent. She said she will come during the afternoon, and that you should start preparing travel gear for tomorrow. I have already started the arrangements." Jenny nodded, ignoring Axia.

"Interesting," I muttered, my hand subconsciously moving faster.

This was the first time I would travel out of the city, and by the Empress's behest at that. She would never mobilize me for petty reasons. Hence, I considered three possibilities.

"It could be to either suppress a rising rebellion, kill a monster that is beyond regular monster hunters... or..."

Once I thought about it, my eyes became eager as I played with Axia more roughly, which caused her to peak.

"MMMMPH!!!" Axia shook, spasming and clenching around my fingers.

Ignoring her, I retracted my hand and stood up.

"Okay, let's see what Sertoria has to say."

.

.

.

An hour later, I silently stood in a tactical room, my eyes locked on a road map spread on a table.

Surrounding the table were Sertoria and several military leaders.

"In the nearby Apennine Mountains, a powerful monster tribe emerged, likely to gather winter food, driving away the weaker monsters to the fringes of the forest surrounding it, harming nearby settlements. Four cohorts of Praetorian Guard have been dispatched to patrol the surroundings and kill any monster that escapes the forest. Meanwhile, an emergency request has been sent to Monster Hunter guilds to hunt and whittle down monsters within the forest. However, this does not solve the core of the problem." A senior centurion pointed at some locations.

And then, Sertoria looked at me.

"Your Holiness, we gathered a kill team composed of veteran Monster Hunters to slay the monster tribe, but some Gold Realm ones would be present. Please follow the team and deal with them." Sertoria solemnly said.

"It is my duty, my Empress." I thumped my chest, smiling.

Finally, I could go and stretch my muscles. How could I say no?

"Thank you, your Holiness. The team would await you tomorrow at the East Gate. Additionally, we prepared Bronze Realm Magic Horses to increase your marching speed." Sertoria smiled.

Those were prized horses worth over ten times as much as regular warhorses, and few could afford them.

"Thank you, your highness. But I already have stronger steeds." I politely declined.

During my marriage, I was given a nearby countryside villa, where I had horses and farming slaves working. Among the horses, some of them were talented and loyal enough, and I even bought a few animals myself. Sertoria should know this.

True enough, Sertoria wasn't surprised, and she replied.

"We already know, your Holiness. It is for the others."

I nodded, expecting this.

"If that is all, I shall take my leave first. I need to make preparations." I said, preparing to leave.

"There is actually one more thing," Sertoria spoke.

"Hm?" I curiously looked at her.

"The blacksmith has something you need," Sertoria said.

"Which blacksmith?" I raised my eyebrow.

"You will know." Sertoria mysteriously smiled.

I knew this was a prophecy, so I nodded.

"Okay, I will keep an eye out."

.

.

.

The following day's early morning-

I stood at the entrance of my house with Axia beside me, both of us wearing armor. My body armor was an enchanted segmentata armor, while my left arm was covered with a gold-red gauntlet. My cute wife stood at the house entrance and waved me goodbye, Cerberus sticking close to her to protect her, as I ordered.

"Please be safe, dearest. And Axia, guard him well." Jenny said with a hint of worry.

"Don't worry. I will be back before you know it." I gave her a reassuring smile.

"I will guard the master with my life, mistress." Axia thumped her chest.

I then looked at Cerberus.

"Keep your mistress safe," I said.

"Ruff!" Cerberus barked.

"Leave it to me!" Is what I imagined it replied.

Smiling, Axia and I traveled to the city gate, where Moein was waiting with two horses and supplies. One blood-red stallion was large and strong, with blood-red eyes full of intelligence and violence. The other one was a white female horse with wings, a pegasus, but she was noticeably submissive to the male horse, and for good reason.

"Young Master, Axia, I prepared the horses and supplies," Moein reported.

"Thank you, Moein. Keep running things while I am gone." I smiled and said.

"As you will." Moein saluted and left.

I then walked to my horse, which I named Bellum(War), and gently reached out a hand. Bellum was smart, consciously lowering its tall head and letting me pet it. It would follow Moein, but it wouldn't let him, or anyone else, not even Axia, ride it, except for Jenny or me.

This was not a horse I received as a gift, but rather an old one that I personally bought together with Jenny in one of my outings from a horse merchant outside the city walls. It was an old breeding stallion that had been in an accident that left it impotent(Ouch), so the trader tried selling it for cheap. When he learned who I was, he wanted to gift the horse to me, but I gave him enough to buy a new horse.

The old horse was prideful but smart and loyal, and its potential suited me perfectly, so I heavily invested in it, healing, rejuvenating, and empowering it. It understood who gave it this power and a second chance, hence, it became loyal to me. However, it is also prideful, and it wouldn't let anyone except me mount it. It was intelligent enough to allow some trusted people tend to it or lead it, like Moein and Axia, but even for them, it wouldn't let them mount it. It luckily never kicked anyone, likely because no one dared push their luck, but it did neigh, turn away, or even bite their clothes and toss them like a ragdoll.

Well, except my wife, Jenny. Anyone who sets their eyes on her would immediately have a favorable impression and wouldn't want to harm her. Cerberus was immediately attached to her, almost like a puppy, and Bellum, the prideful and violent war stallion, lowered its head like a fawning child and even listened to all her orders like a good boy. I am unsure if it is because she was with me when we bought it, or it is because of her talents. But she is truly amazing.

"Bellum, are you ready to go to war?" I asked, brushing its red mane.

Tap* Tap* Snort*

It tapped its foot twice and puffed a breath of steam, signalling a yes.

"Good." I smiled.

 

Name: Bellum
Age: 25(Physically 5)
Personality: Loyal, Prideful, Womanizing, Warlike, Bloodthirsty, Tyrant
Loyalty: Absolute Goodwill, Absolute Trust, Absolute Obedience, Death Sworn
Physical Realm: Gold 3(Epic Bottleneck)
Aura Realm: Bronze 1
Magic Realm: Copper 0
Skills: [...]
Talents: Perfect Stallion, Ancient War Body, Perfect Warhorse, True Marching Horse, Perfect Combat Instincts, True Thundering Warsteps, Ancient War Charger, Ancient Bloody Tyrant, Ancient Apocalyptic Warhorse, True Aspect of War

 

What a good horse.