Roman Empress Vents, Local Man Readily Accepts

"While this woman could love more than any other person, she could not experience the joy of being loved. Her lavish expressions of affection were not enough to satisfy her people."

...

Silently gazing into the sunset, he pondered to himself as to when it had stopped raining...

According to Reinhard, it was supposed to be the rainy season. So, what happened?

This didn't seem like it had been a whole month!

"Oh, well."

Raising his left arm to crack his neck, he suddenly noticed a strange mark.

"Huh?"

Jin squinted his eyes, unsure if it was supposed to be there...

This black 'mark' started at the top of his hand, spiraled upwards along his forearm, wrapped around his elbow, and continued up the entire length of his left trapezius to his neck.

"A dragon... tattoo?"

(Reference)

He found himself turning his arm several times, his curiosity piqued by this weird event.

'System, scan me real quick.'

Jin hadn't really noticed any changes... excluding his ever-growing physical prowess and those six little cosmic buds steadily popping up. They had been busy slowly sucking in celestial energy ever since he first devoured its power while bathing in a lake.

Sooner or later, they'll turn into six Cosmic Seeds, allowing him to go even further beyond.

Which begs the question, what the fuck does this cool dragon tattoo do?!

{Ding! Right on it, host! 

⋘ 𝑃𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑤𝑎𝑖𝑡...⋙

⋘ 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑎...⋙

⋘ 𝑃𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑤𝑎𝑖𝑡...⋙

⋘ 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑎...⋙

Scan complete!}

'It's been a while... let's see what I've been cooking up lately.' 

{Host!}

'Yuh.'

{Congrats on losing your virginity! ദ്ദി(˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ ) ✧}

The man in question suddenly gasped in 'shock'. 

'P-pervert!'

{Eh... (っ º - º ς)?}

...

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[⌲Personal Information Panel↓

Name: Jin Wulfric (Caesar Augustus Germanicus ↠ Optional) ♚

Age: 23, almost 24! 🎉

Race: Human ✧

Bloodline: Colossal Kin Bloodline, ???

Traits: Tranquil Serenity, Weapon Primacy, Fist Sovereignty, Mastery of Self, Transcendent-Hyper Sensory Perception, Transcendent-Hyper-Tuned Reflexes, Transcendent-Hyper Awareness

Passive Skills: True Mind's Eye, Spider-Sense, Battle Continuation (Old Man of the Mountain), Eternal Arms Mastery (Lancer-Berserker)

Active Skills: Manju Musō (Infinite Image Defense), Titanic Vigor, Celestial Harmonization, Spiritual Connection

↠ Draconic Vigor ✧ NEW!

Combat Skills: Greco-Roman Wrestling (Pioneer), Muay Thai (Pioneer), Alpha's Swordsmanship (Crimson Weave Version/Novice)

Miscellaneous Skills: Cooking (...can you like, start cooking?), Driving (Journeyman), History (Master), Cleaning (Professional, woah!)

Divine Arcanum: Pending...

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Overall Evaluation: If we're talking about raw strength, you'd be considered quite 'formidable' by Saitama's standards... but let's be real, chances are you two would skip the fight and opt for a chill session in a supermarket, swapping stories instead of meaningless blows.

PS; bagged the Roman Empress. Nice.

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...

Draconic Vigor?

'Lemme guess, more or less the same as Titanic Vigor... except I get some, uh- scaly features?'

{Indeed, do you want a more detailed description?}

'I don't mind, I guess.'

...

[Draconic Vigor ↓

→Description: Upon using this skill, the user can tap into a mysterious power known as the 'dragon force', unlocking unparalleled physical strength, and granting enhanced flow and power to any form of energy available, to a height never before seen. The activation of this skill will also alter the user's appearance, enveloping you in adamantine-like scales that bestow unyielding magical and defensive prowess. A pair of draconic wings will also sprout from the back, granting the user the gift of flight, while also unlocking an additional skill called "Everlasting Flow". With this, you can decide to deplete your entire reservoir of 'dragon force' in a single, monumental flap of one's wings, releasing a torrent of power akin to a world-ending Halestorm.

...

'You know I'm gonna try and fuse this skill with Titanic Vigor, right? It's just too tempting not to.'

{T-that's... dangerous! Especially without external aid!}

'Ok?'

{But, since it's you... perhaps, it may be possible... (๑-﹏-๑)}

Hands cradling his chin, he contemplated for a bit, before suggesting a straightforward idea.

'Would it be safer if I were to try it, say for example, in a few years from now?'

{Ah! Indeed... of course, with the host steadily growing stronger over the years, thanks to your bloodline, you will have a greater chance to fuse this skill with 'Titanic Vigor' safely. Let's make it happen and take things to the next level! (૭ ｡•̀ ᵕ •́｡ )૭}

'Yeah, sure hope so.'

After completing his system check-up, he headed over to where Nero was resting, his footsteps creating a soft, damp sound as he walked across the wet patches of grass.

"Umu... Umu... Umu..."

As he got closer, he saw her stupidly smiling in bliss.

"Dreaming away, aren't you?"

Jin subtly shook his head, before he crouched down and gently scooped her up in his arms.

But before he could take more than a few steps, Nero's eyes fluttered open, confusion clouding her gaze as she glanced around until her eyes settled on the man carrying her.

"Good morning."

He took in on the look of her face which was filled with mixed emotions.

Happiness.

Love.

Adoration.

Relief.

Gratitude.

It was a new experience for him, being regarded with such affection by someone other than his parents.

It felt overwhelming... though, at the same time, not unpleasant. He found himself at a loss for how to respond in a situation like his.

A little over three months ago, he was just your average modern graduate, enjoying hobbies like martial arts and diving into novels for fun. Other than that, the dude was single as well, having never had a relationship with the opposite gender, because he was considered too... eccentric by many.

And now... he got his ass yeeted into a whole new world, filled with strength he had to wield with caution at all times, lest he destroys his surroundings in mistake.

And to top it off, he found himself in the company of a Roman Empress whom he had come to deeply appreciate over time.

So-

Following his instincts, he gently lifted her body with his arms and leaned in, pressing a tender kiss to her forehead.

As he leaned back, he watched as her brain seemed to momentarily short-circuit, but soon her expression softened into a warm and gentle smile, accompanied by a slight blush that graced her cheeks.

"You're here... with me."

"Hmm."

"I think... I'm starting to understand it now."

Saying so, she got more comfortable in his embrace, burying her head in his chest in the process.

"This feeling... I've never understood it, but it was a variation of it that I've always given to my citizens, back when I was Empress."

"..."

"People, my people... they never understood the love and passion that I have given them, nor did I understand what they naturally embraced... a different type of love, they called it."

With eyes that revealed a rare sense of vulnerability and uncertainty, she looked up at him.

"I'm... scared. Scared of starting over, scared of what might come, and terrified... terrified of losing you.

You've... given me a chance to truly be myself, to break free from the chains of higher powers.

And... and you've made me want to delve deeper into the raw beauty of what my people have always naturally embraced."

Quietly gazing into her eyes, Jin noticed her lips quivering.

"But, how-"

"Nero."

With gentle care, his hand, which had been supporting her head, now moved to tenderly stroke her long, blond hair, offering comfort.

"They say that a thousand-mile journey begins with a single step."

As a small smile stretched across his lips, Nero's expression noticeably lit up in hope.

"You know, despite all the flaws that every individual has, it is essentially what makes us human.

Human beings might be fundamentally weak in terms of physicality, yet-"

Teasingly bopping her nose in the process, he continued.

"-what makes us strong lies in the fact that we can adapt to change ourselves. And that... begins with a single step in the right direction.

After all, a person who can acknowledge their weakness and have the will to do what is necessary is already someone who has taken more than a step."

With a dorky and cheeky smile adorning his face, he pressed his forehead against hers.

Meanwhile, Nero, who had been on the brink of tears, now wore one of the brightest expressions imaginable.

"Jin... we're in this together, aren't we?"

"Hmmm."

"Then-"

Feeling a pull on his head, he felt her lips crashing into his.

|All I want in return... is to have you stay beside me.

To love me.|

|Alright.|

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