Judas sank deeper into the pond, allowing the cool water to claim him up to his neck. It was the onset of summer, and the air had grown heavy and stifling.

The temperature outside hovered near thirty degrees Celsius, a humid blanket that made the atmosphere shimmer.

In contrast, the spring-fed pool offered a frigid sanctuary, stealing the heat from his skin in a refreshing shock.

Beneath the surface, tiny movements tickled his legs. Curious fish swarmed his submerged limbs, their small mouths nipping away dead skin with gentle persistence.

It was a peculiar sensation, hovering somewhere between a massage and an itch, but he remained still, letting the aquatic creatures continue their work.

On the grassy bank, two small shapes lurked. Nibble and Nubble, his bonded beasts, crouched with predatory intent. They watched the water with unblinking eyes, waiting for a fish to stray too close to the surface.

Every few moments, a splash disrupted the tranquility as one of them snatched a careless swimmer. They chewed guiltily, glancing at their master to see if he had noticed their theft.

Judas kept his expression neutral, pretending ignorance while suppressing a smile. Let them have their snacks; they were growing, after all.

His gaze drifted toward the distance. Through the shimmering heat haze, he could see the silhouette of his household. His wives were gathered in the shade, escaping the midday sun.

They sat in a comfortable circle as they sewed new garments, their voices carrying over as a soft, unintelligible murmur.

The domesticity of the scene was so potent it almost hurt. If they weren't so engrossed in their task, he might have called them to join him, to wash away the sweat of the day and laugh in the shallows.

It had been seven days. One week since he arrived in this world.

In that short span, his life as a husband had been filled with a contentment he had never known. The days were sweet, filled with laughter and the warmth of shared beds.

Yet, Judas could not let the soothing water wash away his vigilance. He knew exactly what kind of world this was.

The distance between a tranquil afternoon and absolute chaos was measured in inches. A single misstep, a momentary lapse in judgment, and this paradise would burn.

Memories of his past life clawed at the edges of his mind. In that previous life, he had been a lonely figure facing the apocalypse.

He had only his own survival to secure, his own skin to keep intact. Now, the stakes were infinitely higher. He had four people looking to him for safety.

Four hearts that beat in sync with his own. Without sufficient power, protecting them was nothing more than a desperate fantasy.

He thought of the Hero from his old world. That man had possessed everything a person could dream of: talents, resources, and the adoration of the masses.

The champion had trained until his bones cracked, pushing his limits daily. Yet, in the end, he had fallen. He died in the mud, his goals unachieved, his strength insufficient against the turning tide of destruction.

What separated Judas from that failure?

True, he possessed the System. With enough Affection Points, he could purchase any skill or advantage he required. But was that enough?

If he bought a legendary sword but lacked the wrist strength to swing it, the weapon was a paperweight. If he purchased a devastating magical skill but lacked the mental fortitude to cast it under pressure, he was a dead man.

Attributes could be gained through marriage. Skills could be bought with Affection Points. However, mastery could not be purchased.

Mastery required sweat. It demanded repetition, pain, and the willingness to bleed. A life of pure pleasure, of lounging in cool ponds while his wives sewed, would never sharpen him into the weapon they needed. To ensure their survival, he had to embrace the grind.

But the realization went deeper. Judas looked at his hands, watching the water ripple around his fingers. He did not want to be a solitary shield.

He didn't want to merely stand in front of his wives, taking blows until he collapsed. That was a martyr's path, and martyrs left behind widows.

No, he wanted them to stand beside him. He wanted them to share the burden, to be powerful in their own right. The time of their purely peaceful, sheltered existence had to evolve. They needed to become protectors too.

He closed his eyes, focusing his mind inward.

'System,' he projected his thought clearly. 'Since Nina, Ezra, and Luna have reached absolute devotion, I can share my attributes with them, correct?'

[Yes. However, the System suggests sharing only the attributes most suitable for each individual, rather than a mirrored transfer. At least until their bodies are capable of holding that density of power.]

Judas frowned slightly, the water rippling with his movement. 'Oh? Why is that restriction necessary?'

[Take Nina as an example. She possesses a high Intelligence attribute. Her mental capabilities and mana sensitivity are significantly higher than Ezra or Luna. However, her physical constitution is fragile. If you were to suddenly flood her with your Strength attribute without first fortifying her skeletal and muscular structure, the pressure would snap her bones. It would do her more harm than good.]

The logic was sound, though terrifying. It was like pouring molten lead into a glass vase.

'Then what about me?' Judas asked. 'I absorb attributes constantly.'

[You possess the System. I actively adjust your cellular structure to accommodate any attribute awakening or increase. Your wives undergo a forced awakening. Their bodies must adapt naturally, or be guided carefully.]

'I understand,' Judas murmured aloud.

It made sense why so few people in this world could awaken more than one attribute. The energies were volatile. Different stats carried different metaphysical weights and properties.

Strength was dense and heavy; Agility was erratic and vibrating; Intelligence was expansive and scorching. Without a proper foundation to resist the rejection, a body would simply collapse under the strain of conflicting forces.

He couldn't just dump power onto them. He had to be an architect. He had to build them up, layer by layer, ensuring the foundation could hold the skyscraper he intended to construct.

The fish scattered as Judas stood up, water cascading off his broad shoulders. He waded toward the bank, smiling at the hopeful looks of Nibble and Nubble, who were begging for a head scratch.

Lowering his body, he scooped the two furry potatoes into his hands. They latched onto his chest with contented squeaks.

Judas looked in the direction of home and saw Nina jumping on the veranda, waving for his attention.

There were many things he had to plan. He had to consider which attributes his wives had to unlock, and which properties they had to train for their future growth. With a thought, Judas summoned the glowing pink interface of his status.

[Status Screen]

Name: Judas Iscariot

Race: Human

Titles: Sword Initiate (Equipped), Initiate Healer.

Attributes Unlocked:

Strength: 10

Agility: 10

Intelligence: 10

Blood: 10

Skills:

Path of Sword:

Sword Slash 2 (Rare-Initiate)

Path of Healing:

Reconstruction 5 (Rare-Initiate)

Miscellaneous:

Intimidation 1 (Ordinary-Initiate)

Lucky Draws:

Ordinary: 12

Common: 13

Uncommon: 15

Rare: 13

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.