The carriage wheels groaned against uneven ground, bouncing over rocks and roots as the path deteriorated into barely more than a dirt trail.
Snow fell heavier now, thick flakes swirling in the dim evening light filtered through dense clouds.
Viktor sat back against the worn leather seat, his hand resting on Helena's thigh—simply because he thought she might leave the carriage if he did that, but now they had already come outside the count's main territory.
She hadn't said anything since his earlier groping, sitting rigid beside him with her head down, fingers clutching the bunched fabric of her dress where he'd hiked it up.
But he wasn't paying attention to her anymore.
His eyes stared at nothing, focused on the translucent blue interface only he could see floating in his vision.
[100x Ability Rebate System]
[Primary Functions:]
[Skill Acquisition Protocol]
- Engage in sexual intercourse with any woman possessing any abilities
- Receive 100x multiplier of her proficiency level permanently
- Complete knowledge transfer including techniques and muscle memory with all of her abilities
- Unlimited skill stacking with no capacity restrictions
Viktor's jaw clenched as he read through the details again.
'What the hell?'
His entire life—two lifetimes actually—and this thing shows up NOW? After he'd already given up? After he'd already decided to rot away in some forgotten wasteland?
[Accelerated Gestation]
- Pregnancy duration: 3 months (system-enhanced)
- Normal gestation of 9 months reduced automatically
[Birth Rewards]
- Mother receives: 100% permanent copy of ALL host's current skills
- Child receives: 50% of host's total skill proficiency at birth
- Host retains: All abilities with zero loss
[Offspring Attributes:]
[Growth Pattern]
- Physical aging: Normal rate
- Mental development: Adult-level cognition by age 3-5
- Learning speed: 100x normal human capacity
- Innate loyalty to host
Viktor's lips curled into something between a smirk and a grimace.
'Tch, you bastard. You came after my fucking choice?'
The timing was almost insulting. He'd spent eleven years in this world trying everything—studying ability systems, researching bloodlines, attempting every method to awaken some power. Nothing. Not a single spark.
And now? Now that he was leaving the county, heading toward the barren northern wastes where ability holders were rare as gold, this vulgar system appears?
His eyes drifted sideways to Helena.
She sat cramped beside him just as he'd ordered, trembling lips pressed together, eyes fixed downward.
Her cheeks were still flushed from his earlier assault. He'd groped her ass, squeezed her breast, made her touch his cock—and instead of running away screaming, she'd gotten in the carriage with him.
The system's arrival had sparked something in him. A flicker of light in the darkness he'd wrapped around himself.
'Fuck.'
The hope of dying had vanished.
He was still heading to a barren wasteland with barely any resources.
He might not survive. But he'd survived in his past life using nothing but his brain, and now with this thing in his grasp—not her thighs, but the system.
Viktor's smirk widened as his hand slid higher up Helena's thigh.
She gasped softly, her body going stiff, but she still didn't lift her head.
It was her choice to come along. He'd told her his intentions clearly—sexually, explicitly. And she'd chosen to stay anyway.
His fingers bunched the black fabric of her maid dress, sliding underneath until he felt the warmth of her bare skin.
He pushed higher, knuckles brushing against her inner thigh as he moved toward her center.
"Y-young master..." Helena's whisper was barely audible, breathless and flustered. Her hands clenched into fists on her lap. "The driver..."
Viktor leaned closer, his breath hot against her ear.
"I told you not to come with me," he said quietly, his hand continuing its journey upward. "And now that you did, you better devote yourself to me."
His fingers were clamped by her thick thighs, unable to move up as both her hands held her dress to create resistance, which he didn't like, yet he told her frankly.
"Besides, I'm just trying to rub your pussy to prepare you for a good fuck."
'!'
Helena's entire body jerked, her head snapping up with eyes wide and shocked. Her mouth opened but no sound came out, her face burning crimson.
The old Viktor—the one from weeks ago—would never have touched her like this. Never spoken to her like this. She'd raised him, cared for him, and now—
The carriage suddenly jolted violently.
"Aah—!" Both of them lurched forward as the wheels hit something hard, the entire frame shaking.
"What the..." Viktor's hand slipped away from Helena's thigh as he braced himself against the seat.
"WOLVES!" the driver's voice cracked through the evening air, panicked and sharp. "We're under attack!"
Viktor's head snapped toward the window. Through the falling snow and dim twilight, he could see them—dark shapes moving between the trees. Low to the ground, lean and fast.
Small forest wolves. Pack hunters.
The carriage jerked again as the horses whinnied in terror, their hooves clattering against stone as the driver tried to keep them under control.
"Gareth!" Viktor called out, his mind already racing.
The middle-aged driver turned back, face pale. "My lord, I—"
"How many arrows?"
"Three! Just three arrows and the bow!"
Viktor's eyes scanned the interior of the carriage quickly. A lantern hung from a hook near the door, oil sloshing inside as the carriage rocked. The curtains on the windows. Helena's long skirt.
His brain clicked into gear, running through scenarios and possibilities in seconds.
The wolves wouldn't give up easily. They were hungry, and three people in a carriage were easy prey if they got trapped. The horses were already spooked—if they bolted wrong, the carriage would tip or crash.
But wolves feared fire.
"Helena, I need part of your skirt," Viktor said sharply, already reaching down.
"W-what?" She was still flustered, confused by the sudden shift from his groping to immediate danger.
Viktor didn't wait. His hands grabbed the hem of her black dress and yanked hard, tearing a long strip of fabric with a harsh ripping sound. Helena yelped in surprise but didn't resist.
He tore several more strips quickly, his movements efficient despite his chubby fingers.
"Gareth! Keep them running straight! Don't stop!"
Viktor grabbed the lantern from its hook, carefully unhooking the glass panel to expose the oil inside.
He soaked one strip of fabric in the oil, then another, wrapping them around each other to create a makeshift torch.
Another violent jolt. A wolf had gotten close enough to snap at the rear wheel.
"Give me the bow and one arrow!" Viktor shouted.
Gareth twisted in his seat, tossing the wooden bow back through the small opening between driver's perch and passenger cabin.
It clattered onto the floor. Viktor snatched it up along with an arrow.
He wrapped the oil-soaked cloth around the arrowhead tightly, twisting it until it held firm. Then he brought it close to the lantern flame.
The fabric caught instantly, flames licking up the arrow shaft.
Viktor kicked open the carriage door, cold wind and snow blasting into the cabin.
"Y-young master, it's dangerous—"