Chapter 8: Roman Empress And Local Man In Awe After Summoning Hostile Troops
"Uwwwww..."
"..."
Jin blankly glanced at Nero affectionately rubbing the underbelly of the Rhinoceros-like beast he had fought a few days prior.
'You see this shit system?'
{Ding! (ᵕ—ᴗ—) Perhaps, because it's cute?}
The man deadpanned at the system's remark, casting a glance at the rhinoceros, which showed no signs of cuteness whatsoever.
The motherfucker was almost 6 meters tall and 8 meters in length!
Coupled with a massive horn on its snout and gigantic tusks resembling that of ancient mammoths, its body was akin to a heavily armored tank!
What the fuck's so cute about that?!
"Umu! Forget eating it, it shall be our mount!"
Seeing the Red Saber so happy with her decision to keep this beast as a pet, Jin couldn't help but deadpan more.
"Man..."
After the fight had ended a few days ago, Jin had somehow managed to persuade Nero not to devour the poor creature.
Soon after, he hoisted the beast with an indifferent face, chucking it far away from their vicinity.
Following that, they strolled through the plains, surveying the area. Fortunately for them, not too far from where they rested, they stumbled upon several sizable caves brimming with various minerals, promising potential for future economic 'deals'.
Nero also continuously yapped about what kind of architectural masterpieces she would place in certain areas while also marking places she deemed to have potential in the long run.
Jin just nodded along the way, acting as if he understood everything.
"..."
Back to the present, he decided to discord mute the Empress and the rhinoceros in the background, while focusing on this subtle weird feeling he had felt since waking up.
He closed his eyes for a few seconds, effortlessly twitching some of the muscles in his body to gauge the changes he felt.
After a while, he opened his eyes again.
'My body has gotten stronger...'
And the reason for that became increasingly clearer to him the more he thought about it.
'The Colossal Kin Bloodline... Long-lived species... The Titanic Vigor's skill description...'
Putting the information together, everything clicked into place.
'My ass is still in the juvenile stage.'
In other words-
'I'm not even close to what the top dogs were capable of...'
-Jin, who inherited the purest blood of the ancient giants, would continuously grow stronger as he aged.
Furthermore, sleeping for days on end was one of the main factors in this minuscule, but sudden growth in strength.
'Neat.'
Nodding in satisfaction, he unmuted the duo from the back of his mind and glanced at the rhino who had awaited them at the place where it got faceplanted into the ground.
"Wuuuu..."
"Umu!"
Seeing the oversized beast behaving like a submissive puppy, Jin decidedly shrugged his shoulders in defeat.
"It is what it is."
Besides, maybe the rhinoceros could be of use to ward off other magical beasts and the like.
After all, it did seem strong... in its own way.
"Ah! Praetor, look what I've discovered!"
Snapping out of his thoughts, he looked at Nero who suddenly had a status panel in front of her.
"Oh, got it as well?"
"Indeed! I just copied what my Praetor said and this thingy popped up!"
He walked towards her and curiously looked down at the panel.
"This seems to be information about our territory?"
...
[Congratulations on claiming the Titanhorn's territory as your own!
Territory: The Divided Lands (Can be renamed!)
Size: 17.423km²
Since the Lord has claimed a reasonably large piece of territory, a sufficient reward has been granted!
✧ NEW! ↠ Blueprint for a Customizable Castle (Available for continuous upgrades!)
✧ NEW! ↠ Remnants for the Two Winged Mechanical Legion (Available for continuous upgrades!)
✧ NEW! ↠ Blueprint for Advanced Technological Workshops (Available for continuous upgrades!)
Keep up the good work!]
...
"Wow! Praetor, you seeing this?!"
Sensing Nero's excitement, the Titanhorn, having no clue what it was about, still jumped around in response to her emotions, causing the ground to shake.
"...oversized puppy lookin' ass."
Ignoring Jin's usual weird remark, Nero excitedly grasped his wrist before pulling him closer.
"Look! We're going to have our own army now!"
"The blueprints-"
"Army!"
'Fuck's sake.'
Face twitching at her stubbornness, he reluctantly guided her to the next step.
"Just... tap on the Troops section."
Following his guidance, the status panel changed before showing the aforementioned section to both of them.
And seeing the massive blinking 'NEW!' next to the now available Two Winged Mechanical Legion, Nero almost couldn't contain her excitement anymore.
Similarly, anticipation built up inside Jin, his suppressed grin nearly breaking free.
"..."
Yet, she didn't click on it.
He glanced at her, confusion flickering across his face.
"...?"
However, without a word, Nero grabbed his wrist again and forced his hand onto the panel alongside hers.
Eyes squinting at the mischievous smile of the Empress, their hands both touched the screen.
"Eh? Praetor, nothing's happ-"
*RUMBLE*
Suddenly, a loud mechanical noise filled the air, making them look up to see a huge portal opening in the sky.
They saw unknown sigils and runes tangling alongside each other as these symbols akin to mechanical gears, turned together in seamless unity, before rapidly beginning to spin.
With this, the portal began to expand into a bigger shape before stopping.
"..."
FWOOSH!
Sounds of air began to pierce the trio's ears, the Titanhorn in particular, having already harnessed a tremendous amount of dark energy while menacingly growling.
Jin and Nero looked up to see an endless amount of tiny dots flowing down at breakneck speed, coming towards their location.
'What is this guy doing...'
Seeing the Titanhorn about to release its harnessed energy, Jin nonchalantly bonked its head, effortlessly dissipating the accumulated magic.
"Woooo..."
The overgrown puppy looked at Jin with eyes that screamed 'What the fuck man?!'.
You stole my territory, now you're hitting me when I'm trying to protect yours?!
Shrugging his shoulders at the wronged look of the beast, Jin continued to observe the upcoming army of mechanical soldiers.
CLANK!
One by one, they landed in front of the trio, kicking up dust into the air.
"Praetor...!"
Nero excitedly shook Jin around.
"I'm with you on this."
Finally letting his smile come out, he scrutinized the soldiers.
These bionic beings, adorned with black, grey, and red mechanical gears all kneeled.
Their bodies bore an eerily resemblance to humans, save for their heads, which featured sharp metallic beaks and glowing eyes that emitted an eerie intensity.
Grey and black metallic feathers adorned their heads and backs, flowing in the wind as if they were not made of metal at all.
And to top it off... they were fucking tall alright.
Even in a kneeling position with their heads slightly bent at an angle, they stood at roughly 175cm or 5'9, so if one were to lowball it, they were probably more than 7 feet tall in a straightened position.
"...holy shit."
Jin was honestly amazed at the sheer size and number of the summoned troops.
Yet-
"Praetor, look!"
-it was far from over.
FWOOSH!
FWOOSH!
FWOOSH!
Looking up at the still-opened portal, the trio saw three streaks of different but intense lights, catapulting to the ground.
As they drew nearer, the streaks of light gradually slowed down, unveiling their forms as they gently descended onto the grassy terrain.
"..."
Upon seeing these three distinctly different figures, Jin could only whistle in amazement.
"Now that's a fucking superhero landing."
Making a ten sign with his hands, he was about to approach them but...
"Saber?"
Left alone with the dumbfounded rhinoceros, Jin glanced at her, not far away, observing one of the three figures that appeared to be a Legion Commander.
'Bruh.'
...
...
...
"..."
"..."
Nero stood in front of what can only be described as a gigantic war machine.
Cranking her neck up, she saw the being looking down at her.
Already towering above the other soldiers, the metallic war frame possessed chilling golden eyes, adorned with golden and black plates arranged in a beautiful pattern across its body.
Its visage resembled that of a knight's helmet, with the upper section curving inwards into a sharp edge, akin to a demon's horn.
"Umu!"
Completely undeterred by the imposing figure before her, she extended her hand towards it, waiting for a handshake.
"..."
Seeing the small human female extending her hands towards him, the being continued glancing at her before raising its arm.
"Eh-",
BOOM!
-faster than one could react, the raised arm suddenly smashed into Nero's face.
"ROAR!"
Unable to contain its already hostile emotions, the Titanhorn started to release its dark energy, distorting the air in a heat-like wave.
As its body was about to enlarge in madness, a gentle hand suddenly patted its side.
"Oi, little lad, I know you've taken a liking to her but-"
With a nonchalant tone, Jin gestured his head, his eyes piercing through the smokey area where the metallic fist collided with Nero.
"She fine, bro."
The Titanhorn having calmed down a bit, glanced at the area, where the smoke steadily settled down, before a familiar cheerful voice rang out.
"Wow! You have an actual metal arm, that's awesome!"
The war machine, feeling its hand suddenly being moved and squeezed in a vice-like grip, registered the human female's smiling face into its view.
And before it could react in accordance,-
CRACK!
-with one swift motion, Nero twisted her arm, forcing the being to kneel before her.
Her eyes suddenly squinted in an eerily green glow, her smile changing into one as chilling as the Atlantic itself.
"Raising your arm against your Empress is punishable by death."
With a tone laced with venom her grip tightening until the metal arm began to bend with a creak.
"You mongrel."
...
...
...
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone