The higher the strength stat, the higher the body's durability. I just had to think back to the fight with Eve. Even after AA stabbed her in the belly with a sword and I hammered her head with a mace after declaring her a heretic, Eve survived without any lingering effects.
But it seemed a stat over 100 was nowhere near enough against a Dragon. Ati had just unconsciously clenched her hand, and my shoulder was crushed like a piece of tofu. Crack! Watching my flesh and bone turn to rags in real-time was a true horror show.
"H-Heal...!"
Panicked, I cast Heal, and breathed a sigh of relief as I watched my shoulder, which had been on the verge of tearing off, reattach itself. If I had been any slower, or if I had passed out from the pain, my arm really would have been torn off. Ati stood a short distance away from me, looking sheepish.
It was a natural reaction, seeing as she'd almost wrecked a person just by flexing because she was feeling good. She twirled her hair, searching for a moment for what to say.
"W-Want to go one more time?"
"...No."
After some deep consideration, this was a no-go. No matter how horny Ati made me or how fucking lovely she acted, this was just wrong. I'm supposed to risk my life for sex? Having done it once, it was right to refuse. This time it was my shoulder and I survived, but next time she could rip my head off. While dying during sex might be every man's dream, no one wants to die by having their head explode.
"...Right. You wouldn't want to do it with a woman like this. I see. I understand."
Ati became sullen again, lightly scratching the mattress with her finger as she whined. Unable to watch her looking so depressed, I went to her side again and began to console her. AA had fallen asleep at some point.
"No. No. It's not that I don't want to. It's that I might die. I'm too weak, I can't satisfy you properly yet, Lady Ati."
"....Right. That means you don't want to, doesn't it? If you don't want to, I won't force you. It's enough to have felt like a woman even just once."
"No, Lady Ati. I really want to be with you, too. But the fact that I'm too weak to satisfy you is just so frustrating."
"....Thank you for saying that, at least."
Ati seemed to feel a little better at those words. I continued speaking as I groped her breast.
"Lady Ati. Someday, I'll definitely get stronger and be able to have proper sexual intercourse with you."
"Proper sexual intercourse?"
"Yes. Uh... It's just a shame that you're suffering like this, Lady Ati. I could treat you so much better."
I opened my mouth, taking a slight risk. On the sofa, AA tossed and turned, curling up. Seeing him sleep so peacefully without a hint of tension, even in a Dragon's Lair, I figured a Hero was a Hero for a reason. Ati smirked at my words.
"Are you saying you want to make me your woman? I heard you have wives."
"Yes. I'm a philanthropist who has two wives and loves all women."
To be precise, I was more of a 'fuck-thropist' who'd fuck any cunt he saw, but if the nuance is similar, the meaning is bound to be similar. Ati spoke.
"Right. But to make me your wife, you have to defeat Deorgon. Do you think that's possible?"
"It's difficult now, but if I just get a little stronger..."
Finding me cute, Ati stroked my head once more and whispered.
"Yes. With you, it might just be possible. Dragons are a race bound by the logic of power. If you defeat my husband and take me as your wife, I will be devoted to you."
She pulled me into a tight hug. I kissed her once again. Our lips met and mashed together softly. I sucked on her moist lips and drank her saliva. After tangling our tongues, she pulled her lips away and spoke to me again.
"You said you want to get stronger, right?"
"Yes."
"I'll tell you about a few decent dungeons I know. They should be more than enough to train you."
When Ati made a gesture in the empty air, a map fluttered down. I took the map and looked at Ati again. This was a huge score. Dungeons where I could get stronger? If I took just Eve and Elsi and conquered them intensely, I would definitely get stronger.
"Something like this..."
"You're the man who will one day be my husband. Isn't it a natural investment?"
I have to get stronger. I have to get stronger no matter what and fucking devour this mama dragon. I made a vow and put strength into my groin. Seeing my cock spring to attention, Ati pressed her body against me again.
"So. Is there anything else you want?"
"But uh... we had sex. If you happen to get pregnant..."
"Hm? If I do, what would come out? An Elf, a human, and a Dragon all mixed... What is that?"
Ati muttered as if she were curious, too. But wouldn't Deorgon find out then? If Sieri gave birth and the baby was black, I'd lose my mind. Wouldn't Deorgon flip his shit and cause a scene?
"By the way, are Draconians a mixed-blood of humans and dragons?"
"Similar, yet different. The proper ones are made that way, but I made those by mixing a bit of human blood with my own."
"Human blood?"
"Why, are you scared?"
She slightly closed her legs and shot me a suggestive glance. I couldn't stand this horniness. Was I scared? My own sexual desire was the scariest thing right now. And come to think of it, there was a way.
"Hey, Lady Ati. Would you mind getting on all fours?"
"On all fours?"
"Yes, like this."
I roughly mimicked the doggy-style position. Ati got on all fours in that position, presenting her cunt to me. She grumbled, as if embarrassed by the blatant pose.
"This is too embarrassing... It's humiliating."
"But this is the only way for you to do it without me dying."
I pushed my cock in once more. This time there was no risk of her tearing me apart, so I could pound into her as hard as I wanted. As I thrust my hips, Ati pressed her face into the floor and let out a moan.
"Ah, aah... good... Harder... pound me harder... ah...!"
I moved my hips like crazy. The pleasure of pinning down a Dragon and fucking her brought an indescribable sense of conquest. Beneath me, Ati instinctively bucked her hips and panted.
"Ah, ahh. Good. Like that. More. More... deeper... it's deep... eut...!"
The lewd sound of flesh slapping in Ati's lair and the sound of her moans echoed endlessly.
** **
When AA woke up again, Ati was collapsed on the mattress, and I was held tight in her arms. The bed was a mess with my semen and the bodily fluid Ati had gushed out, and a lewd smell filled the air.
"It feels so good, Lusius... You really see me as a woman..."
She said, stroking my cock again. I couldn't even remember how many times I'd ejaculated. My semen reserves were empty, so it seemed that while my cock was hard, I couldn't ejaculate. She slowly stroked my cock and whispered.
"Won't you stay for just a few more days?"
"Should I?"
AA was watching our display of affection with a dumbfounded look on his face. She kissed my lips again, and I rubbed her breast as we hugged each other tightly. After a while of this, I asked Ati.
"Lady Ati."
"What is it, Lusius?"
"If you get pregnant, will you produce dragon breast milk?"
"Hmm... Probably?"
"I love you."
"Haah..."
Ati was extremely weak to the words 'I love you.' She mumbled with her mouth, blushing, then hugged me again. AA watched the intense display of affection for a moment before carefully interjecting.
"Uh... I'm sorry, but about when can I go back?"
"Hm? Go back? What should we do?"
Ati asked me. It didn't really matter if AA went back now, but for Eve and Sieri who would be waiting for me, and for Erina who was waiting for AA, we had to let them know we were alive.
"AA. Are you going to go see Erina right away?"
"No. I still haven't found a way to become a man, so I have to keep looking..."
Even as AA spoke, his voice trailed off, as if he felt sorry for Erina. I made a proposal.
"Then how about we record one video orb before you go?"
"A v-video orb?"
AA had bad memories associated with video orbs and showed repugnance. So I had to correct his misunderstanding.
"Yes. A video orb showing that we're doing well. We have to send something like that so Erina won't worry, right? Lady Ati. That's possible, right?"
"Yes. I can make something like that with my magic anytime. As for sending it, I can just have Deorgon do it."
It seemed Deorgon could come and go from the outside relatively freely. Hearing that, I became even more determined not to get caught by him.
** **
On the cleanly made bed, AA and I sat side-by-side. Deorgon, who had come to record the video orb, asked Ati.
"Ati. Did you also have sexual relations with these humans..."
"Just hurry up and record it, Deorgon."
Her voice dripped with coldness. Deorgon trembled for a moment at her voice but quickly regained his composure. He operated the video orb and made a gesture in the empty air.
"Done. Speak."
AA spoke first.
"Ah, hello Erina. I'm doing well here. The food is delicious, and... they're taking good care of my health, they're all good people. Erina. I'll be back soon."
I spoke next.
"Everyone. Hello. I'm doing well here. I'll just be staying for a few days due to a personal matter."
Then I spoke quietly to AA.
"AA. Make a V with both hands, quickly."
I made a double peace sign myself, urging AA on. AA looked at me with a doubtful face.
"You want me to do this?"
"It's a sign among Elves that you're having fun. Please smile and make this sign."
"Is that so?"
AA, with a clueless face, looked at the video orb again and made a double peace sign with me, smiling. Erina, you fucking bitch. Tremble with anxiety as you watch this video orb.
But haven't I seen that video orb somewhere before?