Two guards grabbed Ulixes' arms and dragged him through the luxurious corridors of the villa. The scent of wine and food had faded, replaced by a tense silence broken only by the sound of their footsteps on the mosaic floor. He was led to a private room, lit by a few oil lamps whose light danced on the walls.
Lucretia was waiting. She stood near a window, staring at the dark Capuan night. She had shed her elaborate reception dress, now wearing only a thin, nearly transparent silk stola that clearly revealed the silhouette of her body.
"Leave us," she commanded the guards without turning around. The door closed with a soft sound, leaving Ulixes alone with her.
"You have caused a lot of trouble since your first day," Lucretia said, finally turning. Her eyes, which had been influenced by Subtle Influence, were now sharp again, but the curiosity sparked by the skill still remained. "Taking down Crixus. Attracting the Doctore's attention. You are no ordinary slave."
"I only did what was necessary to survive, Domina," Ulixes replied, his voice kept low and respectful.
"Survive?" Lucretia gave a small laugh, the sound like a cracked crystal bell. She walked closer, her movements graceful and calculated. "Many try to survive in this house. Few succeed in such an interesting way."
She stopped right in front of Ulixes. The scent of her perfume—a mix of exotic flowers and something musky—assailed his senses. "You are not afraid of me."
It was not a question. It was a statement. Ulixes did not answer, only held her gaze.
"You do not see me as your mistress," she continued, her eyes tracing Ulixes' face. "You see me as... a step. A goal. I can see it in your eyes. Cold and hidden."
Suddenly, she slapped Ulixes' face. Hard. "That is for not showing proper respect." Then, she caressed the cheek she had just slapped with the back of her hand, her touch feeling like fire. "And this... is for having caught my attention."
Lucretia's breathing became a little faster. "Batiatus thinks he can control everyone. Crixus with promises of glory, Spartacus with the ghost of his wife. How does he control you, Ulixes?"
"He does not control me, Domina," Ulixes said, his voice a near whisper. "Only you can."
The sentence, designed to manipulate, landed perfectly on the fertile ground that Subtle Influence had prepared. Lucretia's eyes widened slightly. The desire for control was her greatest weakness. Hearing a strong, mysterious slave surrender control to her was an irresistible aphrodisiac.
She said nothing more. Her hand moved from Ulixes' face, down to his chest, feeling the taut muscles beneath the skin. Then, with a deliberate and powerful motion, she untied the coarse cloth at Ulixes' waist, letting it fall to the floor.
The room was silent. The only sound was their increasingly heavy breathing. Lucretia stared at Ulixes' naked body, her gaze hungry, assessing every scar, every muscle.
"Show me," she whispered, her voice hoarse with unrestrained desire. "Show me the strength that brought a champion to his knees."
Ulixes understood the command. He stepped forward, his hands moving to release the silk stola from Lucretia's shoulders. The cloth slid down silently, revealing the Domina's naked body under the flickering torchlight. Her skin was pale and smooth, her breasts firm with nipples that had hardened in anticipation.
He did not wait any longer. He pulled Lucretia into his arms, his lips instantly claiming hers. The kiss was rough, demanding, a brief contest of dominance. Lucretia reciprocated with the same intensity, her hands clutching Ulixes' hair, pulling him closer.
Ulixes lifted her with ease, carried her to the nearest divan and laid her down. He did not engage in lengthy foreplay; the atmosphere between them was too hot for that. This was a storm of passion that had been ignited, and now it had to be unleashed.
Lucretia's body arched as Ulixes positioned himself between her thighs. Her vagina was already very wet, glistening in the dim light, ready to receive. With one powerful and deep thrust, Ulixes embedded his hard penis inside her.
Lucretia shrieked—a mix of pain and pure pleasure. "Ngh...!" Her eyes squeezed shut, her head thrown back. Ulixes did not give her time to adjust. He began to thrust with a strong and merciless rhythm. Every thrust felt like a primal collision, the sound of wet, sticky skin meeting skin echoing in the silent room.
"Ah... Yes..." Lucretia moaned, her fingers digging into Ulixes' back, leaving red marks. Her hips began to move to the rhythm, pushing back with surprising strength. She was not a passive partner; she was an active participant in this conquest.
Sweat began to drench their bodies, making their skin slicker. Ulixes could feel Lucretia's tight vaginal muscles squeezing him with every thrust, a 'biting' sensation that sent waves of pleasure throughout his body. Lucretia's breasts bounced wildly, her hard nipples rubbing against Ulixes' chest.
"More..." she whispered desperately, her breath coming in ragged gasps. "Don't... stop..."
Ulixes sped up his tempo, his thrusts becoming deeper, more savage. He could feel Lucretia's climax approaching. Her body began to tremble, her moans turning into an unbearable shriek. When the orgasm hit her, her back arched violently from the divan, and small convulsions shook her body. Her vagina contracted intensely around Ulixes' penis, almost making him lose control.
But he held on. After Lucretia's orgasmic wave subsided, he pulled back slightly, then thrust back in at a different angle. Lucretia groaned again, this time in a tone of surprise. Ulixes continued to thrust, pushing both himself and Lucretia toward a higher, second climax.
Their sounds were now just formless sighs and moans. Finally, with a deep growl, Ulixes felt his own peak explode. He poured his warm, copious sperm into Lucretia's womb, his body convulsing on top of hers.
For a few moments, they just lay there, gasping in silence, the scent of sweat and sex filling the air.
Suddenly, a strange sensation coursed through Ulixes' mind. Not a physical sensation, but something else. The system panel appeared before him, glowing brighter than before.
[REQUIREMENT MET: ROMAN NOBLEWOMAN CONQUERED]
[LEGACY UNLOCKED]
[YOU HAVE GAINED: [TALENT] RAPID ADAPTATION]
Description: The brain's ability to process and mimic physical movements is drastically increased. The time needed to learn new fighting techniques or complex movements is significantly reduced.
A wave of information flooded his brain an intuitive understanding of movement, balance, and momentum. The movements of the gladiators that had previously seemed fast and chaotic now began to unravel into patterns that could be learned.
Lucretia, still panting beneath him, opened her eyes. There was a new expression there—no longer just desire, but also a reluctant respect. "You..." she began, her voice hoarse. "...are truly extraordinary."
Ulixes only gave a thin smile.
Dawn broke over Capua, its pale light sneaking through the cracks in the cell. Ulixes had not slept. His body was tired after his encounter with Lucretia, but his brain felt on fire. The first legacy had changed something inside him.
As he lay on the hay, he could feel the change. It was not physical strength; it was clarity. He replayed his fight with Crixus and his training session with the Doctore in his mind. The movements that had previously felt chaotic and impossibly fast now unraveled into predictable patterns. The angle of an attack, the shift in weight, the intake of breath before a strike—it all became data that could be processed.
The recruits were led to the training grounds.
"Pair up!" Oenomaus roared.
A burly veteran gladiator, one of Crixus's followers, approached Ulixes with a condescending sneer. "Let's see if your luck from last night is still with you, new recruit."
They clashed with wooden swords. Normally, Ulixes would have been overwhelmed by his opponent's strength and experience. But today was different.
The first attack came a powerful overhead swing. Before, Ulixes would have just parried it in a panic. Now, his brain processed it in an instant: the opponent's right shoulder dropped slightly, his weight leaned forward—a fully committed attack. Instead of parrying, Ulixes took a small step to the side, letting the wooden sword pass an inch from his head, and at the same time, he slammed the pommel of his sword into his opponent's exposed ribs.
Thud!
The veteran stumbled, his eyes wide in shock. He had not expected such a quick and precise counterattack.
Across the field, Varro paused for a moment, staring in disbelief. Yesterday, Ulixes was still an awkward novice. Today, he moved like... a professional.
Oenomaus, whose eyes never missed anything, narrowed his own. He saw it too. It was not just speed. It was efficiency. There was no wasted movement. Every step, every parry, had a clear purpose. It was the fighting style of someone who had trained for years, not weeks.
The veteran attacked again, this time with a series of quick thrusts. Ulixes did not retreat. He danced around the attacks, his wooden sword moving in a defensive pattern that seemed complex yet perfect. He was not just reacting; he already knew where the next attack would land even before his opponent swung his sword.
After parrying the last thrust, Ulixes saw a perfect opening. He twisted his wrist, hooked his opponent's sword, and with one sharp, snapping motion, he disarmed him. The wooden sword flew and landed on the sand.
Ulixes pointed the tip of his sword at the veteran's throat. Absolute silence.
"Enough," Oenomaus said, his voice tense.
The veteran looked at Ulixes with a mix of fear and respect, then slowly backed away. Ulixes lowered his sword, his breathing steady.
Crixus, who had witnessed everything from the corner of the field, stopped training. His hateful gaze was now mixed with something new: wariness. This man was no longer just an annoyance. He was a threat.
"Resume training!" Oenomaus shouted, breaking the silence.
During the break, Varro immediately came up to Ulixes. "By the gods, what happened to you? It's like you were possessed by the spirit of a champion overnight."
"I just paid more attention," Ulixes replied, keeping his answer vague. "The Doctore said will alone isn't enough. So I started using my brain."
"Your brain?" Varro laughed nervously. "It feels more like magic."
At the end of the day, as the sun began to set, a guard approached Ulixes. The entire training ground fell silent, waiting. "The Doctore calls for you," the guard said.
Ulixes glanced over at Oenomaus, who stood by his palus, waiting for him alone.