'So, that's how it is.'
While searching through the pockets of the six individuals for any pills or healing potions, I diligently listened to what the woman had to say.
According to her, when she first woke up in this world, the very first thing she attempted was to harm me—by using her ability.
However, it didn't work. In desperation, she resorted to the most lethal weapon she possessed: a death core, something that only high-ranking reapers had. Without hesitation, she directly stuffed it into my mouth.
According to her, I was immune to her death ability but did not possess an instant death skill. Yet, after she forced that death core into me, believing it would kill me—since it was a highly concentrated energy source—she found herself not only linked to me but also discovered that her ability had been transferred to me.
Naturally, when the system activated my domain, its energy merged with the death core, awakening a powerful ability—where instant death fused directly with the domain ability, enhancing it to a level where it rejected any form of defense entirely.
However, soon after, she realized that whatever changes were happening to my body could be felt by her—primarily emotional fluctuations and, most notably, physical injuries.
:: Yes, it's humiliating. ::
'…For me, yes.'
The only thing that truly confused me was why her ability hadn't worked on me. But then, as I sat there and thought about it, I realized something—wasn't that 30-second ability pause still in effect, even after they transmigrated here?
Had this idiot unknowingly used her ability within that timeframe, desperate to escape, without realizing her powers were still sealed?
Not that I had any interest in correcting her.
It was expected from someone as arrogant as her to make this mistake, completely forgetting she was still under Yam's restrictions.
'Sigh, do I really have to choose this idiot woman as my wife?'
[ She has 100% qualification; doesn't that mean you both are compatible, making you an idiot too? Host? ]
'.....'
:: Your mother would be an idiot, how dare you human—?! ::
'Fine. Initiate the marriage bond.'
I accepted it, clearly not wanting to have another quarrel with this woman, as she had already accepted it, albeit reluctantly, solely because she wanted me to survive.
If I died, there was a chance she would vanish too, given that any pain inflicted on me was mirrored onto her.
This realization made her understand the importance of me possessing a domain—not just for personal strength, but so I could extend my abilities beyond my physical body, enabling me to use my instant death ability without direct contact.
[ Initiating_Marriage_Bond ]
As the command echoed in my ears, a glow shimmered over both of our bodies.
A thread-like string emerged from my heart, rising above my head and most likely attaching to her heart too.
Utterly cringe.
It was eerily similar to how fate-linked lovers supposedly had their heartstrings connect, sealing their future and even their upcoming lives together.
At least, that was the impression this ridiculous animation was giving me.
:: Wh-what is this Human? I—I feel an emotional connection with you—! ::
Don't tell me, is she feeling some kind of love for me?
'Maybe it's due to effect—'
:: Blergghhh—I am dying! ::
'Bitch'
standing there while another set of vomit dampened over my head as I felt completely sticky and smelly. It was ridiculous, but again, I had to have patience as I naturally needed to take a bath due to having a poisoned dick.
DING!
[ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ]
[ Milestone Achieved: First Wife Acquired ]
Congratulations, Host! You have taken your first wife, solidifying the foundation of your domain. As a result, you are bestowed with the following rewards:
[ Domain Expansion: +10 meters ] (Your domain, previously limited to your physical body, now extends 10 meters outward)
[ Authority Synchronization: Partial Link Established ] (You can now use telepathy; feel the emotional fluctuations of your wife)
[ Lifeforce Resonance Unlocked ] (A fraction of your wife's energy will now reinforce your own, enhancing recovery and resistance against death-related effects.)
[ Dominion Reinforcement: Tier-1 ] (Your domain now has a rudimentary resistance against dimensional switches and an absolute void.)
Note: The strength of these effects depends on the bond between you and your wife. A stronger bond will lead to greater benefits.
'!?'
'What the...' As one after another, the rewards resonated in my mind as I processed them, though few of them were surprising.
But the first thing I felt was sadness, fear, and helplessness, which naturally weren't my emotions, but seemed to be projected from Valeriana.
It was clear that due to the reward of partial link establishment, I was able to feel her emotional turmoil, which was unlike how arrogant she acted right now.
I could feel that she was fearful and anxious.
Wasn't she a reaper?
Naturally, as a reaper, I had expected her to have killed so many people that she would have hardly any feelings left; even adding her arrogance made it evident.
But now, as I started to feel her emotions, it was similar to any human who had lost their path with nothing in sight to be called hope.
'Hey, are you alright?' I just inquired for the first time, realizing that maybe she was too, just like anyone, finding it hard to accept her present reality.
Similar to me, who, even though, while reading the web novels, always thought of getting reincarnated or reborn, was having a slightly harder time coping with it.
:: Of course, I am not your brain to not be alright. ::
'.....' I felt my mouth twitch as I highly doubted these emotions, mirroring in me where it now seemed a lie, considering the arrogant tone of hers was clearly the same as ever.
She was clearly a bitch, an arrogant one at that, just one who wants to act tough and not appear weak in front of a weak human.
But not only were her feelings redirected at me, but there was another emotion which seemed to be much more dominant than ever—It was absolute power.
Not being narcissistic, but I was feeling as if I was God or something.
'Absorb all of this,' Considering the dome was expanded to ten meters, it was as if a vivid sensation of each living thing, from insects to the flies that were present inside this radius, was felt by me.
I could sense them, their exact location, as if I had absolute control over their lives.
A finger snap and they would be dead.
Somewhat I was now feeling slightly empathetic towards this woman, as right now, feeling how my will could decide the life of those within the ten meter domain, their existence, their mere presence, everything was making me directly look down on them. 'It was as if they were mere insects.'
[ Technically, they are indeed insects, Host. ]
'Just shut up.'
Not only did I get an arrogant woman with a trashy mouth, but I also received a bonus reward of an even dumber system.
Both of them were eating away at my brain cells.
[ Absorption_completed ]
'Huh?', and for the first time in a while, the blue light which I instantly recognized as the system window popped in front of me instead of just those sounds, hovering in mid-air with text starting to engrave on it.
[ Bloodlines: Thunder Wolf bloodline, Iron Bear bloodline, Earth Titan bloodline, Inferno Phoenix bloodline, etc.
Physiques: Lightning-Infused physique, Stonehide physique, Mountainheart physique, Blazing Ashes physique, etc.
Cultivation Years: 50 years of cultivation, 80 years of cultivation, 95 years of cultivation, 300 years of cultivation, etc.
Qi Types: Aegis Qi, Aegis Qi, Earthen Core Qi, Inferno Qi, etc.
Artifacts: Thunderstrike Talisman, Demonward Amulet, Staff of the Ancients, Flametongue Sword, etc. ]
[ Host, do you want to bestow anything to your wife? 〜(꒪꒳꒪)〜 ]
'Can you bestow a brain too?'
[What's that?]
'Yes, as expected, it must be foreign to you.'
[....]