"No, no, no! How does that make the problem any less huge? No matter how you look at it, what you just said is a massive issue!"
Li Ke's voice was shaky as he felt the searing, yet oddly comforting warmth radiating from her chest. He could genuinely feel a "motherly" aura coming off her, but that was exactly the problem—it made his "little brother" want to curl up and retire from life entirely.
He had always been open-minded about people's kinks. As long as it didn't hurt him or overwork the girls, he was the most inclusive guy on the planet. But "Mother-Complex" was definitely not in his personal search history. He just couldn't accept it; the sheer weight of the guilt was staggering.
Sensing his inner turmoil, Alexstrasza quickly realized her mistake. Li Ke wasn't a dragon; he didn't share the draconic worldview. She immediately offered an apology.
"Oh, my apologies. I forgot you are human. Please, do not overthink it. For us dragons, mating with a matriarch and producing offspring is actually a way to prove one has surpassed their father. That is why I spoke so freely. However, I truly do view all life as my children, so please, do not let that bother you."
"..."
Li Ke was speechless. He had zero desire to comment on dragon ethics. But he couldn't stay silent either—this "Super Juicer" in front of him was terrifying. She was casually tossing out numbers like "hundreds of rounds."
Sure, compared to her true dragon form, his entire output probably wouldn't equal even one of her "sessions." But for his human mind and body? This was an ordeal on par with the Twelve Labors of Hercules or Sun Wukong's ultimate trial in the Eight Trigrams Furnace!
Even if he finished once every three minutes, three hundred rounds would take nine hundred minutes—fifteen hours! Five hundred rounds would be a staggering twenty-five hours. He'd be going longer than a snake! Even with Minecraft's magic food, he couldn't keep up with that level of consumption. He'd need a literal medical crate from the 7 Days to Die world and a ten-times stamina recovery buff just to survive!
And while the actual total might not be that high, he knew—just by looking at her—that the Red Dragon Queen didn't have much romantic "feeling" for him yet. With her being so much stronger, it was highly likely he'd only gain a single-digit amount of energy per round.
Even Toph at least had the decency to get shy! This lady didn't have a bashful bone in her body!
Are humans and non-humans truly unable to understand each other?
After screaming a frantic monologue inside his head, Li Ke maintained his stone-faced expression and finally spoke.
"The main issue... is that my stamina can't keep up."
He went with the most practical excuse he had.
"That is no concern. I can bestow a blessing upon you and mend your body. The fire of the Red Dragonflight is the very power of life itself."
The Dragon Queen offered a faint, knowing smile. A swirl of crimson flames instantly enveloped Li Ke. Suddenly, he didn't just feel a surge of endless energy—his previously "retired" little brother snapped to attention with such force that it nearly shredded Erina's lace panties.
Yes, Erina's panties. He'd put them on by mistake during his frantic initial crossover, and in the chaos of leaving that world, he hadn't had time to grab a spare pair of his own. In his rush to get dressed just now, he'd accidentally slipped back into them.
But that was a minor detail.
Li Ke snuck a glance down his trousers; he was in peak condition, his stamina feeling every bit as boosted as his "Ten-Times Constitution" buff from the 7 Days to Die world.
"..."
Dammit. Is there really no other excuse?
Li Ke looked at the Dragon Queen. Her reasoning was sound, her conditions were perfect, her appearance was exactly his type, she could literally buff him, and she didn't care about the "taboo" at all...
So why did he feel so weird about it?
Was it because he didn't want to be treated like a tool? He'd been perfectly happy being a "tool" before, so what changed?
As he searched for an answer, Toph's smug, nose-picking, "couldn't-care-less" face flashed through his mind. He realized it instantly: this sudden aversion to being "used" was all because of that damn brat! That Social Terrorist!
I am going to make you cry for mercy! He vowed internally. But the reality was, he was the one about to be "worked" to tears.
Sensing Li Ke's internal conflict, Alexstrasza found his stubbornness quite endearing. She simply scooped him up in her arms and began walking toward the cave. As she moved, she used her voice to soothe his lingering "shyness."
"You're still quite bashful, aren't you? Fine then—I shall take the lead. Forgive me, little one, but I must force your hand. I truly have urgent matters to attend to."
She said it with a smile, sensing that Li Ke actually did want to be with her, but was being held back by some petty psychological hang-up.
As the Dragon Queen, she had seen and done it all. While this was slightly awkward, she was the Life-Binder, the Aspect charged with protecting the world. She could carry the weight of this "small" responsibility.
Deep down, she was a bit nervous too; she had never been with anyone outside the Dragonflight, let alone someone who wasn't one of her consorts. But her home was in danger. There was no time for maidenly modesty or hesitation. For victory, and for the Greater Good, this was a small price to pay.
Li Ke covered his face in pure shame as Alexstrasza carried him past a dumbfounded Elsa.
"Apologies, young lady," Alexstrasza said, glancing at Elsa. "I know he is currently with you, but I am in quite a rush to return. I'll be borrowing him for a while."
Alexstrasza was secretly intrigued by Elsa; the girl's magic felt remarkably similar to Titan power, yet it carried the distinct, cold scent of a foreign world. Still, the purity of her soul was a rare find.
"Ah... I... He..." Elsa stammered. She had overheard their conversation, so she knew the Dragon Queen was in a hurry, but she never imagined she'd meet someone even more "pragmatic" than Toph!
"Don't worry. I'll return him to you in perfect health," the Dragon Queen promised with a wink.
She stepped into the room just as Toph bolted upright. With her maternal instincts, Alexstrasza immediately sensed Toph's true nature—her scarred past and her sightless eyes.
As Toph turned toward her, wary and defensive, Alexstrasza reached out. A wave of flames washed over Toph. In the next heartbeat, the girl who had never known anything but darkness suddenly saw a flash of brilliant light and a red-haired silhouette.
"Hmm?" The Dragon Queen let out a soft sound of surprise. She felt her healing power being pushed back by the authority of another world!
"How strange... Why would this happen?"
She frowned, confused, but Toph was already trembling with shock.
"You... what did you just do to me?!"
Toph stared into that hazy, shimmering light. Though she had long since adapted to the darkness—using her Earthbending to "see" the world through vibrations—the allure of true sight was an irresistible temptation for anyone living in a void.
Even for someone with a spirit as detached and resilient as hers, the glimpse of light was overwhelming.
"Forgive me, child, for treating you without your consent," Alexstrasza said softly. "And I apologize that I cannot fully restore your sight. Your power of your original world rejects my own; this is the extent of what I can do."
While Alexstrasza could have forced a full recovery, it would have permanently damaged Toph's own bending essence. As she wasn't this world's guardian, the Life-Binder refused to trade a girl's soul for her sight. She could only shake her head in regret.
"No... this is already more than enough! I don't even know how to thank you!" Toph stabilized her emotions quickly. She moved to bow in deep gratitude, but Alexstrasza gently caught her.
"This is simply the duty of the Life-Binder. I only wish I could have done more."
She looked at Toph with pure pity. In Li Ke's eyes, Toph was a "Social Terrorist," but in Alexstrasza's eyes, she was a child who had endured immense hardship yet still loved life with a fiery passion.
"There is no need for a reward. Just go and comfort the young lady outside for me. I need to... borrow Mr. Li Ke for a while, and I worry she might be distressed."
"Understood!"
Toph didn't hesitate for a second to sell Li Ke out. She scrambled toward the door like a playful child with a new toy, her small frame stumbling slightly as she chased the blurry, golden light into the hallway.
Li Ke watched her go, stunned into a rare moment of silence. He had always seen her as a "Social Terrorist"—a bratty, unhinged force of nature. But as he watched her reach for that fading glimmer, the truth hit him. To act with that much confidence, that much defiance, while living in a world of total, crushing darkness... it required a mental fortitude he had never truly appreciated.
Her will wasn't just strong; it was staggering.