Rheanne, who was still sitting on the bed, watched the exchange with an entertained smile.

The tall woman cracked her neck and rolled her shoulders as she stepped forward again.

"It’s been more than a year since I last saw you and you’ve only gotten stronger. Good. I was worried you’d gone soft staying with that white-haired goddess all the time."

She glanced past Brandon toward Rheanne and gave a respectful nod "No offense, Lady Rheanne."

Rheanne smiled elegantly. "None taken, General Scylla."

Brandon narrowed his eyes at the muscular woman. "Scylla... still throwing punches first and asking questions later, I see."

Scylla grinned widely, "Old habits die hard. Especially when it comes to greeting my favorite punching bag."

She suddenly lunged forward again, throwing another heavy punch.

Brandon blocked it with his forearm and in the same motion, he threw a punch to her gut.

"Ugh..."

She staggered back a step, clutching her stomach, but the grin on her face only widened as she sucked in a breath.

Looking at her, Brandon asked "You know you can’t defeat me, then why are you trying?"

Scylla straightened up with one hand still pressed against her abs and grinned "Because it feels fucking good to try."

"Fighting you is the only way I can measure how much stronger I’ve become. You’re the only bastard who can take my full power and still look bored."

Without giving him a moment to respond, she suddenly dashed forward again like a bull.

The floorboards creaked under her powerful stride as she threw a heavy right punch straight aimed at his jaw.

WHOOSH!

Brandon’s hand caught her wrist and using her own momentum against her, he yanked her forward sharply.

At the same time, he drove his knee upward, slamming it deep into her hardened abdominal muscles.

THUD!

"Guh-!"

Her eyes widened for a split second, but before she could recover, Brandon’s right hook smashed into the side of her face.

CRACK!

The impact sent her staggering sideways and a small spray of sweat flew from her brow.

Yet even as she stumbled, Scylla laughed and immediately bounced back into a fighting stance.

"That’s more like it!"

She pivoted and threw a spinning backfist.

Brandon dodged it smoothly and delivered a punch to her liver.

The impact made her grunt, but she spun with the momentum and tried to catch him with a powerful roundhouse kick to the head.

BAM!

Brandon raised his arm and blocked the kick cleanly.

Before she could even pull back her leg, he grabbed her ankle, yanked her off balance, and slammed his fist into her exposed side.

"Ugh-!"

Scylla twisted mid-air like a cat and landed on her feet, but Brandon was already on her.

He closed the distance in a blur and kicked her straight in the chest.

THUD!

Scylla crashed onto her back on the luxurious carpet.

"Haa!" She tried to push herself up immediately, but Brandon stepped forward and planted his boot on her chest, pinning her down.

"Enough,"

Scylla looked up at him and laughed breathlessly "Damn it... you really haven’t slowed down at all. If anything, you’ve gotten even smoother. It annoys me."

Brandon removed his foot and offered her a hand.

Scylla grabbed it and let him pull her up to her feet.

She rolled her shoulders and touched the fresh bruise forming on her jaw "Let’s have a proper spar later."

Brandon dusted off his hands and gave her a flat, unimpressed look "Just leave."

Scylla was completely unbothered by the blunt rejection "Cold as always. Fine, fine. I’ll get out of your hair."

She glanced toward Rheanne, who was still sitting gracefully on the bed "Sorry for the noise, Lady Rheanne. Old habits."

Rheanne gave a small nod. "It was quite entertaining. Though perhaps next time you should save your greetings for the training grounds."

Scylla grinned and thumped her fist against her chest in respect before turning back to Brandon.

She stepped closer, lowering her voice just a little "By the way... I heard some wild rumors about Nacirfa. If even half of them are true, things are about to get interesting around here."

She punched his shoulder lightly "Don’t forget to call me when the real fighting starts. I’ve been bored lately."

Brandon rubbed his shoulder and sighed. "Yeah, yeah. Now get out."

Scylla laughed one last time, gave Rheanne a respectful bow, and finally left the place.

Brandon walked back toward the bed and sat down beside Rheanne with a tired sigh.

"She never learns. Every single time she sees me, it’s the same routine... punch first, talk later."

Rheanne chuckled under her breath and gently patted his head.

---

Lying on the bed, Brandon started at the ceiling, swirling in his own thoughts ’Rebuilding Nacirfa into the holy land... I am sure Eurasania and Cene will also fund in it if we frame it correctly.’

’Pilgrims will bring wealth and trade. Both emperors can claim they’re supporting a ’divine cause’ instead of looking like they’re backing down from a fight.’

’They’ll both want to show their support for the ’Goddess’ to gain favor with the people and appear pious. We can use that competition to our advantage. The more they try to outdo each other, the faster the Holy Land gets rebuilt and stabilized.’

A soft sigh escaped his lips ’I am really shaping the history... I still can’t believe I am the one who is responsible for that destined future.’

The Bootstrap paradox had become more real with every passing day. Everything he was doing here wasn’t changing the future.

He was the future.

Every decision and every bold declaration was simply fulfilling a loop that had already been written.

And yet, the realization still felt surreal.

Lying here in this bed, inside a castle that would one day be dust in the world he came from, Brandon couldn’t help but feel the sheer enormity of it all.

A soft rustle came from his side as Rheanne shifted closer, turning onto her side to face him.

"Seems like you are still thinking about something."

Brandon turned to her and she scooted closer, burying her face in his neck.

Looking at her, he asked "What do you think about many people awakening powers like us?"

Rheanne lifted her head slightly in confusion "Huh? What?"

Brandon hugged her waist, pulling her even tighter against him "Just a hypothetical question,"

She remained nestled against his neck, thinking seriously about the idea.

"It would be... total chaos," she answered after a long pause.

"If many people suddenly gained powers like ours... Emperors and kings would immediately try to recruit them as weapons for war. The strong would dominate the weak."

"Those with power would kill, steal, and oppress normal people without consequence. Greed, fear, and ambition would run wild."

She let out a soft sigh, "I hope something like that never happens..."

Brandon’s gaze lowered in thought ’But it will happen, but I don’t know when... before or after your ascension to God status.’

Rheanne noticed his silence and nuzzled deeper into his neck, "Kael...? Why are you suddenly asking something like that?"

Brandon shook his head "Just thinking about how fragile peace really is. Right now, you and I are rare. But if that changed... the world would never be the same again."

Rheanne hummed softly in agreement, "Then let’s protect this peace as long as we can. As long as I have you by my side."

As she muttered, Rheanne nuzzled deeper into Brandon’s neck, seeking his warmth.

Her lips brushed against his skin... and then she paused.

She reached up with one hand and tugged down the collar of his shirt, exposing the side of his neck.

There was nothing there.

The fresh bite mark she left earlier had completely vanished.

"Kael... Where is the bite mark on your neck?" she asked in a dangerously calm voice.

Brandon glanced ather and casually replied "Oh, I healed that."

Rheanne’s gaze narrowed sharply and a flicker of genuine irritation flashed across her beautiful face.

Her eyes twitched "You... healed it?"

Before Brandon could say another word, Rheanne pushed herself up, straddling his waist.

She grabbed the front of his shirt with both hands and yanked it down further, fully exposing his neck and collarbone.

Without any warning, she leaned forward and pressed her lips firmly against the same spot on his neck, then opened her mouth and bit down.

"Argh-!"

Brandon’s body tensed beneath her as a sharp sting shot through his neck.

Her teeth sank into his skin, and she sucked hard, ensuring the bruise would bloom dark.

After several seconds, she finally pulled back leaving a vivid red bite mark on the side of his neck.

"There. And if you heal this one too, I really will get angry, you rascal."

Brandon touched the fresh mark with his fingers, feeling the dull throb.

"It really hurts."

Rheanne just hugged him and went back to sleep.

"Good night."

"...Good night."

-----

Um, after many suggestions, I finally created a discord server, so if you wish, you can join

https://discord.gg/9uvfcnfTCK