January 1, 1502, Age of the Sea Circle
Orion woke up completely refreshed in the middle of the morning and looked fondly at the beautiful woman sleeping peacefully in his arms. After an intense night of experiencing all kinds of sensations together with Victoria, Orion had fallen asleep holding her close.
Just the thought that he had made the most beautiful actress—idolized by countless men—his woman, filled Orion with an extra sense of satisfaction.
Trying not to make any sudden movements so as not to wake the exhausted girl, Orion slightly shifted his arm to a more comfortable position, then rested his palm on the plump ass of the sleeping beauty, gently pinching the soft surface.
With a thought, he opened the system screen to check the notifications he had received the previous day—notifications he had completely ignored because he had been entirely focused on his passionate night with Victoria.
After the theater play had ended successfully, the mission had been completed, but Orion hadn't reviewed his rewards since he had gone straight to the girl's house to indulge in a night of pleasure.
He hadn't even gone to eliminate Hogback, instead asking Kuma to do him the favor of capturing the man if Count Cindry's soldiers were unable to do so.
The reason the soldiers had suddenly attacked Hogback was obviously because Orion had informed the Count that the obsessed doctor had been responsible for the accident that had nearly cost his daughter's life.
It was natural that the enraged Count—who loved his daughter more than anything—had lost his composure and ordered the capture of Hogback regardless of the consequences. However, in the end, his soldiers hadn't been able to apprehend the slippery and crafty doctor, forcing Kuma to take action.
As for why Kuma was in this place, it was obviously because he had come in response to Orion's call. Orion had already planned to take care of several matters once he finished the mission he was on, before finally returning to Pacific Kingdom after a long absence.
Orion read the last of the notifications, the one indicating that his Marital Happiness skill had leveled up, and thought that after such a long time, it was nice to see that ability finally increase again.
Like all his other skills, at first this one had grown quickly, but then it had stagnated at level 2 for several years—until it finally broke through after his union with Victoria the previous night.
Orion speculated that the skill's growth was probably tied directly to the number of his partners, though he couldn't be certain there weren't other factors involved. For example, the first time the ability had leveled up had simply been the result of repeated intimate encounters with his first wife, Giolla, without the need for a second wife to trigger the increase.
For that reason, Orion didn't dare to think he had found a definitive answer yet; he would have to continue experimenting in the future before reaching any final conclusion—something he was fully willing to do, for the sake of science!
As for the skill Marital Happiness itself, its effects had originally been limited to enhancing romantic enjoyment and deepening emotional bonds. However, as the ability leveled up, Orion discovered that this seemingly simple skill had far more unexpected effects.
He could feel that each time he had intimacy with his companions, the skill would activate—and besides maximizing mutual pleasure, it had the effect of generating a strange energy that he called Love Energy for lack of a better term.
This energy had two apparent functions. The first was that it seemed capable of slightly improving the physique and health of his lovers, in a process similar to the "dual cultivation" he had read about in martial arts novels in his previous life. But beyond that, this energy seemed to have another use: it strengthened the mysterious bond he had formed with his companions through the system.
That bond was rather peculiar and, in some ways, similar to his magical connection with Shyarly, which allowed him to communicate with her regardless of distance. For now, the bond with his beloved companions hadn't reached that level, but Orion was almost certain that if he continued to have intimacy with them regularly, he would eventually make the bond reach the same level as his connection with Shyarly—or even surpass it.
Orion couldn't imagine what kind of effects such powerful bonds might bring, but they would undoubtedly grant great benefits! That was why he was always predisposed to discuss his ideas under the stars with his wives—aside from the obvious reasons any man of culture would have.
Another thing that indicated to him that this skill called Marital Happiness was special was the fact that it couldn't be improved by using SP, just like his Conqueror's Haki and his special abilities derived from Devil Fruits.
...
After Orion saw the notification about the increase in his Marital Happiness skill with great joy, he focused on the messages he had received after completing the mission, starting from the top.
*Ding*
*Mission 21 – The Actress's Smile has been successfully completed*
*You have obtained 3500 SP*
*You have obtained the skill "Cream Punch (Level 3)"*
*You have obtained the noble title "Duke of Aït-Ben-Skar" belonging to the affiliated kingdom of Tajine*
*Due to your outstanding performance during the mission, you have received an extra reward*
*Your understanding of the world has increased. Your hidden attributes "Talent," "Intelligence," and "Luck" have slightly improved*
*Your skill "Acting (Level 6)" has increased by one (1) level*
*Your skill "Soothing Aura (Level 1)" has increased by one (1) level*
*Your skill "Charisma Halo (Level 1)" has increased by one (1) level*
*Your skill "Talent in Haki (Level 4)" has increased by one (1) level*
*You have changed the future of the Named Character Victoria Cindry in a positive way. You have gained 7000 SP.*
Orion read the notifications with great delight. This time, he hadn't just achieved simple improvements to several of his skills—he had also enhanced his hidden attributes, which he rarely had the opportunity to interact with.
It was true that as he focused on the world around him, he felt as if everything was somehow "clearer," a sensation somewhat similar to what he felt when using his Prism Eyes, though in a more subtle way.
In addition to the SP—which was always welcome—Orion had managed to improve his talent in Haki and his overall talent, something incredibly important for his future development. One of his main issues had always been that his growth couldn't keep up with the pace of the natural geniuses of this world, and only through the use of his system could he hope to stay on equal footing.
For that reason, whenever his talent increased even a little, Orion felt genuine happiness, knowing that all the long hours of training he was used to would yield far greater results in the future.
Orion turned his attention to the two rewards he had obtained directly from the mission. One of them was the skill called Cream Punch, and as he read the description of this new ability, the smile on his face faded slightly. The reason was that this was a technique that required another person to be executed successfully—and not just anyone, but someone who had perfect synchronization with Orion, able to anticipate even his smallest movements.
Clearly, this was the kind of ability used by paired characters in fiction, like identical twins or duos with perfect coordination. Currently, there was no one among Orion's subordinates who met the conditions to perform this double attack with him—especially since it required some control over Armament Haki.
For that reason, it could be said that this skill was completely useless to Orion at the moment, though he didn't rule out the possibility of executing it with someone in the future. The best candidates to use this technique alongside him were undoubtedly his wives, since their deep bond had already formed a kind of mental connection that might be usable for this attack.
Either way, there was no way to test this theory for now; he would have to wait until he returned to Pacific Kingdom to ask a few of his wives to help him experiment. Still, Orion wasn't sure if it was worth the effort to have them learn this technique, since at first glance, it didn't seem particularly powerful.
Overall, Orion's impression of this new ability was that it wasn't very good, but he would still need to test it before giving a final verdict.
Finally, Orion took out from his inventory the noble title that had caught his curiosity when he first received the mission. In addition to a certificate indicating his status as a duke, there were several formal documents containing additional information about the extent of his domain and other legal details.
Examining the documents carefully, Orion finally resolved one of his doubts: this noble title wasn't just an empty credential—the system had actually granted him a real status and territory in a kingdom.
Orion wasn't entirely sure how the system had determined which territory to give him, but he knew that due to his strong performance during the mission, this was the best title he could possibly have received from it. Therefore, the territory in question was likely quite good.
Even so, Orion had no information whatsoever about this kingdom called Tajine, nor did he even know its location in the vast world. He also had no idea about the current state of that kingdom, or what he might find once he went there to claim "his lands."
For that reason, he immediately decided that he would contact the different branches of the Revolutionary Army to obtain the information he needed. With such a massive organization, there had to be some data available regarding this kingdom called Tajine.
Orion's idea was to investigate the situation through the Revolutionary Army, and if possible, he would personally visit the kingdom to assess it himself—though that would depend on its location. If this kingdom happened to be in the New World, the chances of him visiting it anytime soon were quite low.
Even so, looking at the credential with the World Government seal that granted him the status of a noble in any affiliated nation, Orion nodded with satisfaction, thinking that with this new identity, it would be a little easier to carry out certain tasks in the future.
For example, now that his noble status was backed by an official document recognized in almost every kingdom, Orion could openly marry Victoria. Looking at the beautiful actress who was snuggled against his chest, sleeping peacefully, Orion thought that perhaps he could give her a surprise before leaving to return to Pacific Kingdom—though first, it would be necessary to visit Count Cindry to have a talk with him.
Finally, Orion closed the system screen, and moving delicately so as not to wake his beloved, he got out of bed and dressed. After all, he still had a pest to take care of.
…
In a country house located on the outskirts of the coastal city where Victoria lived, a group of soldiers from the Western Revolutionary Army were playing cards and enjoying a small moment of relaxation in their otherwise hectic lives.
Due to the constant expansion of the organization and its great ambitions, most members of the Revolutionary Army led lives full of all kinds of events and responsibilities. That was why, whenever they had a chance to relax a little, they took advantage of it as much as they could.
On this occasion, they had come to this island under orders from their commander Kuma, to create a small infiltration unit within this kingdom, preparing for possible future operations. Although they didn't plan to overthrow every government—focusing only on the corrupt and tyrannical ones—it was always wise to have units spread across several nations, to expand their information network and act when necessary.
Right now, they were in a house that would become their future base, a property bought by Orion during the last month. After they had first arrived in this kingdom, their initial mission had been to capture Doctor Hogback, and now they were waiting for new orders.
Kuma was also in the place, though he was carefully watching over Hogback in the basement of the large country house, making sure no accident occurred. After all, Orion had personally asked him for the favor of capturing Hogback.
Orion didn't usually make many requests of Kuma, even though he was technically his subordinate, so whenever Orion did ask for his help, the gentle revolutionary never hesitated to give his all to assist him—someone he considered more of a friend than a superior.
Suddenly, a door opened in midair inside the basement, and Orion emerged from the Pocket Dimension, smiling at Kuma.
"Hey, Kuma! It's good to see you again! How have you been?" said Orion as he approached the gentle revolutionary and wrapped his arms around his neck in a hug. Though, with Kuma's massive neck, it was impossible for Orion to wrap it completely, resulting in a rather funny sight for any observer nearby.
However, Doctor Hogback—the only other person present—did not find the situation amusing at all, for he was now completely terrified, seeing Orion appear out of nowhere.
All night long, Hogback had been wondering why he had been captured by this mysterious group so suddenly, but now that he saw Orion appear from thin air, he had his answer.
Hogback immediately understood that the situation had suddenly become far worse than he expected, as he had previously thought that even if he had been taken hostage, he could escape unharmed by paying some price. After all, he was the most famous miracle doctor in the West Blue—most people would try to gain something by capturing him.
However, Orion was different. During the last month, Hogback had tried countless times to eliminate Orion. The first time he failed, he thought Orion had discovered him and feared the worst. But after receiving no retaliation for his actions, he grew bolder, attacking again and again, though he never succeeded in his attempts to eliminate him.
What Hogback didn't know was that Orion hadn't been able to lay a finger on him because the system had warned that his current mission would fail if he did. Therefore, he had no choice but to endure, his desire to punish Hogback growing stronger with each failed attempt by the doctor to cause an "accident."
Finally, when Hogback decided to target Victoria, Orion made the decision that the doctor could no longer be allowed to live in this world. Orion could tolerate, to a certain extent, attacks directed at him, but the moment someone dared to touch his loved ones, everything changed drastically.
Orion chatted cheerfully with Kuma for a while, telling him about his recent experiences, while the revolutionary shared news about the development of the Western branch under his command. After a brief conversation, Orion indicated that they could continue talking later and asked if Kuma could leave him alone with Hogback, who was now completely terrified, sensing the calamity drawing near.
Kuma didn't ask any questions. Although Orion seemed as cheerful as ever, he could clearly feel his intense negative emotions toward Hogback. After nodding silently, Kuma left the basement without further delay, leaving only Orion and Hogback in the room.
Once the two of them were alone in the basement, Orion approached the doctor, and with a smile that didn't reach his eyes, he said,
"Doctor Hogback, we meet again. I think we're destined to cross paths, don't you think?"
Hogback trembled visibly, revealing his cowardly nature, and didn't dare utter a single word, stammering like a fish out of water.
Orion had no intention of wasting too much time on someone like Hogback, but he also didn't want to simply eliminate him in an instant after all the despicable acts he had committed against him—and especially against his beloved Victoria. Taking another step forward, Orion crouched down, bringing his face level with Hogback's—who was tied up on the ground—and said,
"You know, Doctor Hogback, last night Victoria and I consummated our love passionately. I'm sure you can't imagine how beautiful she is in the most intimate moments of love."
Orion's mocking words, meant to provoke the obsessed doctor, took effect immediately. Forgetting the terror the man in front of him inspired, Hogback began to shout violently like a rabid dog,
"You damn bastard! How dare you touch what's mine?! And that filthy, treacherous bitch—once I get my hands on her, I'll—"
Bam!
A loud impact echoed through the basement as Orion's fist smashed into Hogback's face, cutting short his enraged words.
"Cough! Cough!" Hogback spat out several mouthfuls of blood along with a few teeth, feeling an intense pain spreading through his jaw.
Evidently, Orion's punch had completely shattered much of the bones in his face, and now it was impossible for him to keep speaking. All he could produce were pathetic, unintelligible groans.
"Enough. I don't want to hear your nonsense anymore," Orion said coldly, his eyes looking at Hogback as though he were already a corpse.
Orion was no saint, and he had no qualms about ending the life of an evil criminal if he deemed it the best course of action. As for Hogback? He was simply a textbook villain—and one who possessed skills that could make him dangerous if he ever found the means to cause greater harm.
That was precisely why Orion had come—to eliminate Hogback once and for all. It was a shame that a doctor with such great talent couldn't have possessed a normal personality, but that wouldn't stop Orion from carrying out his conviction.
Orion straightened up and closed his eyes, focusing his mind deep within himself. There, he could faintly sense something—a strange, unfamiliar energy. He didn't know exactly what it was, but he had noticed its presence after completing his last mission and receiving an improved understanding of the world as a reward.
Although Orion couldn't fully access this energy, he could instinctively interact with it in a clumsy way, and he believed he had a general idea of what it represented: it was the system—or at least a part of it.
This was the first time he had been able to directly access the mysterious power that assisted him in daily life, and he wanted to use this opportunity with Hogback to conduct a small experiment.
Gathering all his mental energy, Orion drew a small fragment of that inner force and guided it to the tip of his index finger. Then, under Hogback's completely terrified gaze, he opened his eyes and murmured, "Space Door."
At the tip of his finger, a tiny, almost invisible door appeared. Veins began to bulge on Orion's forehead, showing the great effort he was exerting. Then, he murmured again, "Space Door," and a second door opened at the same coordinates as the first—without the first one disappearing!
His breathing quickened from the strain, but he opened yet another door in the same microscopic point—and finally, something changed.
The three doors seemed to collapse inward, releasing a tremendous surge of violently shifting energy. Curiously, however, it didn't affect Orion at all, even though he was manipulating it from his fingertip.
Then, expending the last of his remaining strength, Orion extended his index finger toward the terrified Hogback, and the chaotic energy spiraling around it made contact with the wretched doctor.
Everything happened in an instant.
Hogback's body began to compress and tear apart at great speed until a large hole formed in his torso. In just a second, the collapsing energy consumed half of Hogback's body, giving him a horrendous yet instantaneous death.
Only the upper and lower parts of Hogback's body remained, his midsection completely gone without a trace. Throughout the entire process, not a single drop of blood touched the floor, and only after the chaotic energy had completely dissipated did the dead doctor's body begin to bleed profusely.
Exhausted, Orion fell to the floor, sitting down and gasping for breath as a bell rang in his mind and new notifications appeared on the system screen.
*Ding*
*You have eliminated the Named Character Hogback, removing a great danger from the world and changing the future.*
*You have earned 30,000 SP.*
*You have created a new special ability. Would you like to register the new ability in the system? Yes/No.*
Mentally drained, Orion still managed to read the notifications. Without much hesitation, he agreed to register the new ability he had just used, and a new line of text appeared on the system screen.
*Please choose a name for your new ability.*
After resting for a few moments and regaining some mental clarity, Orion said the first name that came to mind.
"Door Collapse."
*Ding*
*You have obtained the special ability Door Collapse (Level ?).*