Ezra's mind raced, torn between freedom and the crazy power being offered. "Alright," he said, his voice steady but curious. "I'm listening. What exactly does this God-Tier Skill do?"
Astraea nodded, her crystalline gaze approving the shift in his tone. "First, let's clarify your current system. It's called Soul Sync."
Ezra raised an eyebrow. "Catchy. And the God-Tier Skill?"
"It's not something new," Astraea said smoothly. "It amplifies what you already have. Soul Sync links your growth to those you bond with, emotionally, physically, intimately. It lets you adapt, reflect, evolve through others. In simple terms, you can mimic the abilities of those you connect with deeply. "
"Sometimes, you don't even need to sleep with them, just a strong bond and mutual care will do. That's why you're so strong for a male here. You got that from Ysmeine."
Ezra processed that, a grin tugging at his lips. "So… the stronger the connection, the stronger I get. And if I sleep with someone, I can borrow their skills too?"
"Exactly," Astraea said. "Emotion. Intimacy. Loyalty. It's not just physical. Your system scales through connection. Lie with a strategist, and your mind sharpens. Fight beside a warrior, and you gain their agility or strength. Bond with a healer, and you can mend wounds. You reflect their strengths."
Ezra nodded, quietly impressed. So in simpler terms, he could mimic abilities. It clicked now why Sage had called him smart. Ever since he and her got closer and started sleeping together, he'd felt her genius spark in his head, like borrowing her brain for a test he hadn't studied for. "I think I felt that with Sage," he said. "The whole 'genius vibe' thing."
"That was Soul Sync at its weakest," Astraea replied, her voice taking on a weighty edge. "What I'm offering is the Eros Engine god tier skill. It takes those effects and multiplies them, exponentially."
Ezra's eyes narrowed. He felt intrigued. "By how much?"
Astraea stepped forward, her presence commanding the starry void. "Enough to make you a nexus, a force tied to the hearts of those you bond with. You'll gain traits faster, deeper, and unlock synergy effects between your partners. A warrior's strength could blend with a mage's fire to let you strike with blazing precision. A healer's touch might merge with a strategist's mind to anticipate wounds before they happen. You won't just grow stronger, you'll evolve into something this world has never seen."
Ezra's brow furrowed as he bombarded her with questions, wanting to be crystal clear. "So every connection I make shapes me into something more. My power depends on who I bond with, not just how I fight?"
Astraea's gaze locked onto his, unyielding. "Correct. But you'll still need to train. Borrowed skills don't come with mastery. Without practice, you might wield a mage's fire and burn yourself or swing a warrior's blade and miss. The Eros Engine is potential, not perfection."
"Sounds like a power mixer. Hook up with the right people, and I'm unstoppable?"
"If you choose your bonds wisely," Astraea said, her tone hinting at a warning. "Choose poorly, shallow flings, broken trust, and the power fades or turns against you. The Eros Engine thrives on mutual care. Betray that, and it'll drain you."
Ezra nodded, absorbing it all. The idea of power tied to relationships didn't scare him at all, it excited him. He'd always been good at charming people, but this? This was next-level.
"Have you made your decision?" Astraea asked.
Ezra hesitated. "I…. Well, you said I can still have the skill without needing to fight the dragon lord, so I think I'll take that." He said casually. There was no way he was going to risk his life and possibly die, when he could just live peacefully and enjoy his life, plus Marea said it herself, the war ladies will defeat the dragon lord.
Astraea's lips quirked, a trace of dry amusement slipping through. It was as if she had expected this from him."Ezra, you're… such a pain. But fine. Be free. And I hope you can change your mind as time goes on."
Marea looked smug. "Told you. Male chaos."
Ezra pointed at her. "And you don't get to guilt-trip me for not dying for your mistakes. War-Ladies exist for a reason. Let them handle it."
Astraea's voice softened, disappointed but respectful. "Then take the Eros Engine. Grow strong, however you wish. Just remember... the storm is coming, whether you face it or not."
"Alright," he said, his voice firm. "Give it to me. I'm ready."
Astraea raised her hand, and then her fingers started glowing with ethereal, rose-tinted light.
The stars behind her pulsed like a cosmic heartbeat, syncing with Ezra's own racing pulse. "Ezra," she said, her voice like silk over steel, "do you accept the gift of the Eros Engine?"
Ezra squinted, unable to resist a jab. "Eros Engine? Sounds like a shady VR dating sim."
"It is divine," Astraea replied, unruffled. "And alive. Once bonded, it cannot be undone. It will grow with you, or consume you if misused."
Ezra hesitated for a split second, a flicker of doubt crossing his mind. Deal with the devil? But the thrill of power, the chance to shape his own path, drowned it out. "Fine. Hit me with it. Let's see what kind of cosmic nonsense I'm signing up for."
The space around him shuddered.A spiral of light, rosy, pulsing, intimate, shot from Astraea's hand into his chest like a bolt of raw, electric hunger. It didn't burn but uncoiled inside him, ancient and alive, like a dragon waking from a millennium's slumber.
Ezra gasped, his body lifting off the ground, suspended in the starry void like a puppet cut free from its strings.A voice echoed in his mind, clear and commanding:
[Welcome, Host]
[Activating Eros Engine]
[Core Protocol: Bond. Flirt. Evolve]
His muscles tensed. His skin buzzed. His veins thrummed with something beyond mana, desire, confidence, and charm woven into a current that felt like pure, untamed potential. He saw flashes of faces, Ysmeine's fierce grin, Sage's knowing smile, and felt their strengths stir within him, amplified, sharper, ready to blend into something new.
Ezra landed with a thud, eyes wide, heart roaring in his chest. "What the hell was that?" he gasped, shaking out his arms like he'd just been zapped.
"Synchronization," Astraea said, her voice tinged with satisfaction. "The Eros Engine is now part of you. It's already drawing on your existing bonds, Ysmeine's strength, Sage's intellect, and multiplying their effects."
Ezra blinked, a grin spreading as a system prompt flashed in his mind:
[Eros Engine Status]
Intimacy Charge: 0.3%
Stat Boosts: Charisma +5%. Reflex +3%. Mental Acuity +2%
Synergy Potential: UNLOCKED
Active Bonds: Ysmeine (Strength) Sage (Intellect)
Emotional Input Detected: +0.1% Charge
Source: Ambient Hostility (Marea)
"Wait," Ezra said, laughing. "Did I just get a stat boost because Marea's glaring at me?"
Astraea's lips curved slightly. "Her disgust counts as emotional investment, however faint."
Marea groaned, the noise like the universe itself was done with him. "Of course I'm disgusted and so should every woman," she muttered. "You're a walking hormone with delusions of destiny."
Ezra stretched, feeling lighter, stronger, hungrier. His senses were sharper, every star in the void seemed to pulse with life, every glance from Astraea carried weight. "This is insane," he said, grinning. "I haven't even kissed anyone new yet, and I'm already feeling better than I have ever felt."
"That's the Eros Engine amplifying your bond with Sage," Astraea clarified. "Her intellect is already sharpening your mind. Ysmeine's strength is why you feel so… vigorous. But this is just the start. The more bonds you form, the more you'll grow, provided you nurture them."
Ezra tilted his head, still smirking. "You sure I wasn't summoned to be some celestial gigolo?"
Astraea's smile was faint but knowing. "I didn't summon you. But maybe the world itself did." Her voice lowered, serious now. "Ezra, this power is seductive. Easy to overuse. It thrives on mutual trust and care. Abuse it, pursue shallow flings or betray your partners, and the Eros Engine will falter. Your strength lies in those you hold dear. Protect them, and they'll protect you."
Ezra nodded, the weight of her words sinking in. He wasn't just a lone wolf anymore, his power tied him to others, for better or worse. The thought was thrilling but sobering. "Got it," he said. "No screwing over my crew."
Marea folded her arms, her glare icy. "I give him three days before he's shirtless, hunted, and causing a diplomatic incident."
Ezra winked at her. "You say that like it's a bad thing."
Astraea raised a hand, and the cosmic space began to warp, pulling Ezra backward, back toward his world. "Time's up, it's time to return to your world" she said. "Train. Bond. Grow. The Dragon Lord won't wait."