West City's night was like a glass of rich red wine.
But inside the top-floor mansion of Capsule Corporation, a lazy, post-battle air lingered, mingled with a hint of... pleading for mercy.
On the enormous circular smart bed, the silk sheets were tangled together as if they had weathered a tsunami.
The air still held the scent of expensive incense mixed with some indescribable pheromones.
"Stop... ceasefire! I declare a ceasefire!"
A pale, slightly trembling hand struggled out from beneath the covers. It clutched a white handkerchief and waved it weakly a couple of times.
Bulma had wrapped herself up like a tightly wound silkworm cocoon.
At that moment, only her big eyes peeked out. Usually full of intelligence, they now brimmed with "terror."
She stared fixedly at the bald man sitting by the bed, looking full of energy and even doing stretches.
"Krillin, are you a demon? No, are you a perpetual-motion machine?!"
Bulma's voice was thick with a nasal whine, her throat hoarse from overuse.
"This is already the fourth day! Four whole days! My back is about to leave me!"
Krillin turned around. His bare upper body gleamed beneath the soft wall lights, hard as marble.
The Saitama Template had brought him more than just strength. It had also given him seemingly boundless stamina.
These past few days of "intensive work" had barely even counted as a warm-up for him. If anything, they had left him feeling refreshed, every cell in his body cheering with joy.
"Sweetheart, isn't this to fulfill the S-Rank Mission, the 'Human Creation Project'?"
Krillin blinked innocently and reached for Bulma's covers.
"Besides, this kind of deep emotional connection helps improve my... well, my stats in every area."
"I don't care about your stats!"
Bulma shrank farther into the bed like a startled rabbit, her face full of despair.
"I feel like a slab of rice cake that's been pounded over and over!"
"Even a body modified by Shenron can't take this kind of wear and tear!"
"Tonight... absolutely not! I'm taking a break!"
Seeing the fatigue she couldn't quite hide in the corners of Bulma's eyes, and the faint red marks on her neck,
Krillin's playful mood vanished in an instant, replaced by a pang of concern.
His physique was simply too overwhelming now.
Even with the system's "gentle mode" enabled, it was still a "sweet burden" that Bulma could hardly bear.
Krillin sighed, withdrew his hand, and softened his gaze.
"Okay. I won't touch you."
He sat back down by the bed and gently patted the trembling "cocoon" through the covers.
Bulma froze for a moment, then cautiously poked half her head out from beneath the covers.
She looked at Krillin's noseless face and the genuine concern in his eyes. Suddenly, her grievance turned into deep guilt.
"Am I... useless?"
Bulma lowered her eyes, her voice barely louder than a mosquito's buzz. "I was the one who challenged you first. I'm your wife..."
"But I can't even satisfy you. You're so strong now, the strongest in the universe, and I..."
As the heiress of Capsule Corporation and a genius scientist, she was used to being in control of everything.
But facing Krillin's inhuman physique, she had experienced the difference between their species for the first time.
That helplessness left her feeling defeated, even a little afraid...
Afraid she wouldn't be able to keep up with him.
"Silly."
Krillin's fingers brushed her cheek, tucking a stray lock of blue hair behind her ear.
"This is supposed to be about pleasure, about expressing love. It's not a mission."
Krillin's voice was low and firm, like a reassuring balm.
"If you're in pain, then my pleasure means nothing. Besides..."
Krillin paused deliberately, then leaned closer with a mischievous grin.
"Besides, you're underestimating yourself."
"You kept the strongest man on Earth from wanting to get out of bed for four days straight. That's an incredible achievement in itself, Dr. Bulma."
Bulma's face instantly turned red as a ripe tomato.
Embarrassed and annoyed, she pinched his firm chest, though it felt as hard as a steel plate and she couldn't pinch it at all.
"You smooth talker!"
"I mean it."
Krillin caught her hand and kissed it.
"Get some rest tonight. I'll give you a massage and use my ki to ease your meridians. I guarantee you'll be your energetic, brilliant self again tomorrow morning."
"Really just a massage?"
Bulma eyed him warily.
"Really. I swear on my bald head."
Under the comfort of Krillin's warm hands and the skillfully controlled ki, Bulma's tense, aching muscles gradually relaxed.
The soothing sensation was like soaking in a hot spring. Her eyelids soon grew heavy, and before long, she was breathing evenly and deeply.
Krillin gazed down at his sleeping beloved, his eyes full of affection.
He gently tucked the covers around her, then closed his eyes and summoned the System Panel.
Before you continue