Chapter 1: The Wolf in the Eternal City ( Revised)

Author's thoughts: My laptop is back to life! I found my old HDD and used it; it worked, although the laptop is slow now. All my fanfic documents are gone, including the Viking, Game of Thrones, and other fanfics. This is incredibly disappointing and feels like a complete waste of my time. For the Spartacus fanfic, the plot and subplot before the assignment to Illyricum are completely lost, so I have to rewrite them, which means the flow won't be as polished.

The rumble of wheels on the stones of the Appian Way was a constant rhythm, a heartbeat pumping them closer to the heart of the world. Ulixes leaned back against the plush silk cushion, feeling every gentle jolt of the luxurious carriage. Outside the window, the peaceful olive groves had long since vanished, replaced by a different kind of scenery: the forest of crosses. Thousands of wooden poles jutting up on either side of the road, each bearing its gruesome fruit. He didn't look away. He stared at every blued face, every slumped body, absorbing the horror until it became part of the silence within him. This was the price of Crassus's peace. This was the monument to his victory.

Across from him, Licinia slept soundly, her breathing regular and deep. Her nascent pregnancy made her body tire more easily. One of Ulixes' hands lifted, almost touching the slightly swollen belly, before returning to his side. There, within the warmth of his wife, lay the foundation of his other war.

The carriage slowed as they approached the Capena gate. The city's noise assaulted him, a symphony of thousands of voices, neighing horses, and the shouts of merchants. He could smell Rome in the air, a sharp mixture of wood smoke, cooked food, the sweat of thousands of people, and the faint scent of decaying power. He had returned. Not as a slave dragged in chains, but as a conqueror welcomed by luxury.

The villa Crassus had provided for them was on the slopes of Aventine Hill, secluded from the noise of the Forum yet close enough to feel its pulse. As Ulixes stepped into the cool atrium, the silence felt alien. He had grown accustomed to the din of military camps, to sharp commands and the clang of steel. Here, the only sound was the gurgling of water from the small fountain in the garden.

That night, after the slaves had helped him bathe and put on a clean linen tunic, he found Licinia waiting for him in their bedroom. She wore only a thin silk robe that clung to her curves, the oil lamp's light dancing on her skin.

"You look tired, my husband," Licinia whispered, stepping closer.

"War is always tiring," Ulixes replied.

Licinia offered a faint smile. "The war on the battlefield is over. The war in this city is just beginning." Her hand reached out, tracing a fresh scar on Ulixes' shoulder. "We need more than just victory to protect... this," she said, her other hand dropping to caress her belly. "We need status. Position. A place in the Senate."

Ulixes' eyes met his wife's. There, he saw the same ambition that burned within him. Without a word, he lowered his head, his lips devouring Licinia's. The kiss was deep and possessive, a claim to all they had won and all they would seize.

He lifted Licinia from the floor, carrying her to the bed. Her silk robe slid off, revealing her naked body in the dim light. Her breasts were full, her pink nipples now hardened. Her slightly swollen belly was the center of his world at this moment.

Ulixes wasted no time. His face descended, his hot tongue licking Licinia's belly, moving lower. He could feel small tremors in his wife's body as his lips reached her already wet mound. The musk of Licinia's arousal filled his senses. He extended his tongue, parting her labia and finding her pulsating clitoris.

"Nghhh... Tiberius..." Licinia moaned, her fingers gripping the sheets tightly.

Ulixes continued to lick her, sucking her greedily until Licinia gave a soft cry, her body convulsing in a quick, intense first orgasm. Before the tremors subsided, Ulixes had already positioned himself. His hard, veined penis pressed against Licinia's drenched entrance. He entered with one deep thrust.

"YAAAH!" Licinia shrieked, her back arching off the bed.

Ulixes moved with controlled power, each thrust an affirmation. He pulled Licinia to her knees, entering her from behind. The sound of their wet flesh slapping together echoed in the quiet room. He could clearly see his penis thrusting in and out of his wife's swollen vagina, their fluids mixing and dripping onto the silk sheets. He gripped Licinia's hips, accelerating his tempo until it became wild, driving his wife towards a second peak. With a low growl, he released himself, his warm, thick semen gushing deep into Licinia's womb.

As he collapsed beside his wife, panting, a soft knock came at the door. A slave entered, bowing deeply. "Dominus Acilius. A message from Dominus Crassus. He awaits you at his villa."

Ulixes looked at Licinia, who met his gaze with a satisfied smile. The call had come.

He arrived at Crassus's villa, wearing a pristine white toga that felt unfamiliar. The general awaited him in his study. "Acilius," Crassus said, getting straight to the point. "Your victories have given you a name. Now it's time to use that name. You will run for Quaestor in the next election. I've arranged it."

It wasn't a request. It was an order. Ulixes simply bowed his head. "As you wish, Dominus."

As he walked back to his villa under the starlight, he felt a sensation that had long been absent. A subtle tremor within his mind. That transparent blue light shone before his eyes.

{Warning: System cooldown has ended.} {Legacy System reactivated.}

{Name: Ulixes (Tiberius Acilius Ulixes)}

{Title: - }

{Essence Stored: 0}

{Active Legacies: [Talent] Rapid Adaptation, [Knowledge] Basic Psychology (Tier 1), [Talent] 360-Degree Awareness, [Knowledge] Roman Military Tactics (Tier 1), [Knowledge] Economics & Trade (Tier 1), [Knowledge] Intrigue & Manipulation (Tier 1), [Hero Template: Achilles (Early Stage)]}

He had returned to square one. The chessboard had been reset. The game in Rome was just beginning, and he needed power to play it.

The invitations were sent via their trusted slaves, each carrying the same message: an urgent meeting at the residence of Tiberius Acilius Ulixes. One by one, they arrived, the four most influential women in his life, transforming the quiet atrium of his villa into a den filled with graceful predators.

Licinia, as hostess, was already there, pacing with familiar impatience. Aemilia arrived first, her face pale, her movements hesitant as if she walked on broken glass. Domitia followed, her intelligent, analytical eyes sweeping the room, assessing every detail. Finally, Ilithyia stepped in, bringing with her the cold air of power and intrigue, her presence instantly shifting the room's dynamic.

Ulixes stood in their midst, observing in silence. His [Knowledge] Basic Psychology and [Knowledge] Intrigue & Manipulation worked, reading the unspoken body language. He saw the fear behind Aemilia's calm, the ambition behind Domitia's analytical gaze, and the pure hunger for power behind Ilithyia's elegance.

"I have summoned you all," Ulixes said, his calm voice cutting through the silence. "Because Crassus has given me an order. I will run for Quaestor. And I will win."

He looked at them one by one, his tone no longer that of an ally, but a general giving orders to his lieutenants. "And you are my war machine."

He turned to Ilithyia. "Your husband may have been humiliated, but the name Claudius still carries weight among the conservative optimates. You will be my voice in their ears. Spread doubts about my opponents."

He moved to Domitia and Aemilia. "Your combined wealth is a weapon. Host banquets. Invite the wavering senators. Make them indebted to your generosity. I want every merchant and banker in this city to know that supporting me means supporting you."

Lastly, he looked at his wife, Licinia. "You are my face. You are my legitimacy. You will stand by my side, a reminder to everyone that I have the full support of the Licinius family."

A tense silence filled the room. The orders had been given. Then, Ilithyia smiled faintly, a thin smile that held no warmth, but contained a clear invitation. "A war machine needs fuel, Praefectus," she said, her eyes glinting as she looked at Ulixes. "And it seems you've been dry for too long."

The atmosphere in the room shifted. The political game was over. A more primal game was now beginning. Ilithyia was the first to move. She unfastened the brooch holding her gown, letting the silk fabric slide to the marble floor with a soft hiss. Domitia and Aemilia followed, as if following an unspoken ritual, shedding their clothes until the four "queens" were now naked before him.

Ulixes approached Licinia, pulling his pregnant wife into a deep, possessive kiss. His tongue demanded entry, claiming her mouth while his hand cupped her swelling belly. He lifted Licinia with ease, carried her to the sofa, and gently laid her down. Without pause, he parted her thighs, exposing her femininity already wet with anticipation. He entered his wife with one powerful and claiming movement, his hard penis plunging into her wet vagina. The act was performed in front of the others, an assertion of his dominance and her status as the first. Licinia's deep, pleasurable moan became the opening music for that night's ritual, her back arching as each deep thrust sent waves of pleasure through her body. {+50 Essence}.

He rose from his trembling wife's body, leaving Licinia lying in satisfaction and gasping breaths. He turned and faced Ilithyia. The woman awaited him with a challenging smile. Without a word, Ulixes gripped her and pushed her against the cold marble wall, making her gasp in surprise. He lifted one of her legs, propping it on his hip, and slammed into her very wet vagina with brutal force. This wasn't about tenderness; it was an assertion of dominance. Each thrust was both punishment and reward, making Ilithyia scream with a mixture of pain and pleasure. The sound of their bodies slapping together echoed in the room. "Ah, yes... more!" she moaned, her fingers raking Ulixes' back. Ulixes gripped her hips roughly, his rhythm becoming faster and more uncontrolled until his hot semen gushed into Ilithyia's womb as she reached an explosive, screaming climax. {+50 Essence}.

Next, Domitia. The woman was already waiting for him on the bearskin rug, her slender body writhing. She didn't want power; she wanted exploration. Ulixes laid her down, starting with a kiss on her neck, inhaling her body's natural scent. His mouth explored every inch of her skin before descending to her core. His tongue danced over Domitia's swollen clitoris, licking and sucking expertly. Domitia moaned, her hands clutching Ulixes' hair as she felt the first wave of pleasure. "Oh, God... that feels so good," she whispered. Just before she reached her peak, Ulixes rose and flipped Domitia over, entering her from behind in doggy style. This position gave him full access, his hands squeezing her firm, pliant breasts while he pounded her with a steady, deep rhythm. He could clearly see the expression of pleasure on Domitia's face in the mirror's reflection across the room as they reached their climax simultaneously in a shared groan. {+50 Essence}.

Finally, Aemilia. The woman still seemed hesitant, but her eyes gleamed with a desire she could no longer hide. Ulixes approached her with contrasting tenderness. He laid her down, kissing her slowly, his hands caressing her body until her tremors of fear turned into tremors of passion. "Look at me," he whispered, and she obeyed. He entered Aemilia with slow, sensual movements, maintaining intense eye contact. This was a conquest based on protection. Every movement was measured, giving her time to adjust and savor the sensation of his penis filling her vagina. Her wetness welcomed every thrust. Their climax was a silent yet powerful release of emotion, her body tensing and a soft sigh escaping her lips as warmth spread within her. {+50 Essence}.

Ulixes stood panting in the center of the room, surrounded by the four naked female bodies lying in complete satisfaction. The scent of sweat and sex filled the air. He felt the power of two hundred new Essence burning within him. The fuel for his war had been fully replenished.

{Name: Ulixes (Tiberius Acilius Ulixes)}

{Title: - }

{Essence Stored: 200}

{Active Legacies: [Talent] Rapid Adaptation, [Knowledge] Basic Psychology (Tier 1), [Talent] 360-Degree Awareness, [Knowledge] Roman Military Tactics (Tier 1), [Knowledge] Economics & Trade (Tier 1), [Knowledge] Intrigue & Manipulation (Tier 1), [Hero Template: Achilles (Early Stage)]}