***The Dungeon***

***Angrod***

I choose a relatively clean spot at the wall to settle down for the night. After unrolling my sleeping bag, I set down the backpack to use it as a pillow, patting it lovingly. Even if the power core turned out to be damaged, the focus-prism which is responsible for the spell formation was in perfect shape. We are lucky that the fortresses were built with easy maintenance in mind.

Celes settles down next to me, whispering conspiratorially. “Was it worth the expedition?”

I nod, knowing perfectly well that she must have recognized the focus-prism which I packed away. The others may have thought it a useless piece of crystal or glass, but the fact is that we found an essential part of the flying fortress' energy generation plant. “The power core itself is toast, but the focus-prism inside it is undamaged. I only have to carefully chip away the outer layers of the core. Normally, I would be decades away from replicating the technology, but with this, I can build something that may generate enough energy to power some siege engine.”

“That sounds like we have hope.”

“There is always hope.” I gawk at her. “Why would we lose hope?”

She shrugs. “I just have a feeling that we won't be happy if the Meltheims manage to summon their god. I've been thinking about the dreams.” Celes opens her backpack, trying to gain some time to order her thoughts. “All the hints we got make me think that Seria may be up to something.”

I massage my chin, thinking. “You refer to the instance when she told you that 'they' shouldn't get their hands on the 'crystal-tech'?”

“Yes.” Pursing her lips cutely, she hands me a packed ration with food.

“It's as it is. I suggest not to over-think the situation. Let's just work towards a solution. That's all we can do for now.” My words are not overly helpful, but what else can I say?

Hungry, I open the vacuum-sealed package which contains an assortment of non-perishable food. Originally, I planned to be outside the dungeon by now, but thanks to taking a few wrong turns and the shifted layout of the crushed fortress it took longer to find one of the power supplies. Once I realized that this is one of my designs, I searched for anything of value, but all the easily accessible spots were already raided.

If it weren't for the delay, the original plan was to roast some hunted animal outside the dungeon, but all we came across are those ugly bat-things. And there is no wood for a decent fire in this cave.

Luckily, Rose is a mother hen and a better thinker than I am. Assured in the belief that everything that can go wrong will go wrong, she changed our group's supplies to account for the possibility of bad weather or a lack of fitting prey for hunting.

“Come here, boy.” Celes waves a piece of dried meat at Ghost, drawing in my familiar and petting it behind the ears as soon as the traitorous cat accepts the bribe.

Thanks to our connection, I can feel her touch Ghost as if she were doing it to me directly. An involuntary shudder runs down my spine and I have to press my lips shut to keep myself from groaning with pleasure.

Ghost only pulls back his lips, seemingly grinning at me with sadistic glee.

All I can do is to glare back as I eat my food.

Once everyone did their business back in the bottomless corridor, we settle down for the night.

Margerie's over-excessive packing turned out to be a real boon when she reveals a set of tiny bots and drones, each not much larger than a fist. They are the newest military-grade surveillance units, doubling as a campsite security system.

I don't even bother to ask from where she got them from. Why would a mad genius pass up on drones when she already pilfered the military's newest spell-gun? I just have to wonder what else she has hidden in that backpack of hers...

Frowning, I check out Margerie's equipment as she crawls into her sleeping bag. Earlier, she had everyone turn around when she changed, so I didn't get a good look, but there is an explanation to why she is able to keep up with the rest of us while carrying so much equipment.

She is cheating. She must have also taken the new bodysuit which enhances the wearer by functioning as an exoskeleton.

Then again, it's not like I told anyone that certain things aren't allowed on this trip.

Deciding to ignore Margerie's thieving attitude, I settle down in my sleeping bag until I catch Celes's narrowed eyes. It only takes a moment for me to realize that it must have looked like I was checking out Margerie's butt. Caught in an awkward moment, I decide to turn towards the wall and sleep instead of having a pointless argument.

Even if I truly had checked Margerie out, it's not like Celes can forbid me to look. I am a healthy young man who has hormones running through his blood. Nobody has any right to crucify me for having sticky eyes.

҉҉ ҉҉ ҉҉

The night passes without further trouble, so we continue on our way early in the morning. Exploring the cave system takes some time, but we eventually return to a point which is close to the surface on the other side of the mountains. According to the navigation app in my tablet, it's even exactly where I wanted to go.

Quickening my steps, I lead the group into a widening cavern.

Unlike the rest of the cave system, this place has light and the walls are overgrown with moist moss, hinting that an exit must be close.

Seeing the goal of our trip so close, I head for the roaring sound of what my drone surveillance previously identified as a cave entrance next to the waterfall at a small lake.

I am so focused on returning to the light that I am truly surprised when Celes yanks me backwards at my backpack, causing me to grunt.

“You almost stepped into a big mess...” She points out the pile of shit in front of me and that's when I notice the vile smell.

Taking a step backwards, I try to avoid dirtying my shoes and re-evaluate the pile as a little mountain. The originator must have diarrhoea, because the mess spread out over four square metres in front of me.

“By the Goddess!” Stephen proclaims, shocked at the size. “What can take a dump like that? A mountain troll?” Quickly, he checks the walls and ceiling to make sure that nothing is creeping up on us.

“Dracogriff!” Tanja professionally identifies the rather obvious track. “And judging by the size of it, it must be a big one.”

Smiling, I rub my hands together. “Perfect! We are about to reach our campsite and grill ourselves a dracogriff.”

Stepping carefully on some stones, I pass the stinking pile of shit to advance deeper into the widening cavern.

“What the fuck are you doing!?” Sandra whispers, her eyes wild with fear. “Dracogriffs are no joke! Our only chance is to retreat into the tunnels and rely on the fact that it's too big to follow.”

“Yes!” Tanja joins in. “We can't take on a dracogriff. They are almost immune to magic. It takes several adventuring parties with special equipment to hunt one!”

“Why do you think I brought myself a non-magical dragonslayer?” I smile with glee and gesture for Celes to follow me.

My fiancée only narrows her eyes and huffs. Then she crosses her arms in front of her chest. “He knew! That's why he wasn't surprised.”

“Knew what?” Sven squeals, looking around with wide, fearful eyes. “Please don't tell me that we marched knowingly into the lair of a dracogriff!”

I roll my eyes. “Of course I knew. I chose this location because it held the promise of an opponent that's worth hunting. Aside from that, I am interested in those anti-magical properties. Judging by the textbooks, it sounded very much like the dracogriff is covered in scales of dragonbone. If I could absorb some of that material into my organic enchantment, it would boost my strength tremendously!”

Finally, Celes steps out of the cave's entrance. “Good to hear that you are still thinking about your coronation, even if your way of tackling the situation is a little daft. The fact that looting this creature makes you stronger is a valid argument to be here. Even if a date would have been better.”

I place a hand on my heart, playing the insulted party. “What did I do wrong? Did I misjudge your ability to pummel an oversized lizard into submission?”

“No.” She raises her chin. “What irks me is that you didn't even bother to ask if I would do it!”

“You two are insane!” Iris calls out while hiding behind Stephen. “Not even the greatest warriors would take on a dracogriff alone.”

A low growl from Ghost warns me of imminent danger and I turn around to study the cavern in front of us. Something is coming, and it's large.

Commanding all my blades, I have them spread out in front of me and activate the Lightglobes in order to catch what's coming off guard. Yelling, I try to draw in the creature and dial up the power output of my globes, hopefully blinding anything that looks our way.

Then it appears.

The thing isn't truly a dragon, but with ten metres in height, it fills a fourth of the cave. The dracogriff seems like a mix between a European and an Asian dragon. Its wings are a little short for its snake-like body, so it has to use two sets of wings to crawl forward. Where the creature isn't covered in bony scales, magnificent white feathers cover its wings and body. Instead of a snout, there is a beak with countless little teeth. As if to mock the audience who witnesses this abomination of nature, a fluff of white feathers surrounds the creature's neck like a mane.

Irritated by my light, the dracogriff gawks at us for a moment like a deer caught in the headlights. Then it cackles eerily and surges forward, causing my friends to panic.

“It's coming!”

“Run!”

“Kill it! Kill it with fire!” The only one who keeps her nerves is Margerie, readying her spell-gun. “The heart is a beast-core which can be enchanted!”

Reaching up, I wrench a large stalactite from the ceiling and try to impale the creature. Instead, the sizeable piece of lime breaks under the stress and bounces off the monster. The dracogriff stops in its tracks to find out what hit its neck.

I use the distraction to send one of my blades right into the supposedly weak spot right at its throat. The blade sinks in only a few centimetres, causing the dracogriff to return its attention to me. Unfortunately for me, I realize too late that nailing this thing with metal blades is like throwing toothpicks at a human. I thought the textbooks were exaggerating when I read about the defensive capabilities of a dracogriff, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

Well... luckily, I brought a plan B along.

Celes impacts the creature's chest, kicking it with a leg.

Swinging its tail and swiping its forearms, the dracogriff tries hard to get rid of the pest, forcing Celes to retreat right before a laser-beam of bright light singes one of the monster's plate-sized eyeballs.

“It works!” Margerie screams with glee. “Magically resist my cute butt! There is nothing that resists everything!”

For some reason, Celes's next blow is even stronger as she propels herself up at the monster's chest, kicking it with all her might.

This time, the creature reels backwards hissing in frustration and pain.

Whatever my personal dragonslayer is doing, it's showing some effect. Slowly but steadily, the creature is pushed back until it does something unexpected.

Surging forward like a cobra, it hits my fiancée with its tail, sending Celes flying through the air before I can distract the creature with my assortment of blades.

“Heal incoming!” Stephen calls out, apparently having regained his mental faculties.

Hoping that I won't lose control over any magic that's inside the monster, I send one of my blades spinning down the monster's open maw. My weapon only disappears without much effect as I instantly lose control over it.

My bright idea of wielding objects with magic-piercing enchantments isn't working. Whatever the dracogriff's defences are, they are sucking the energy right out of anything that enters its body.

Irritated, the creature swings a feathered wing at me and I am forced to reposition myself by jumping aside to hide behind a large stalagmite.

The monster's wing wipes the area where I stood, leaving behind deep gouge marks as if a hundred swords just tried to slice and dice anything in their path.

This allows me to come to the realization that the dracogriff's feathers aren't feathers at all, at least not the soft and fluffy kind. They are made out of dragonbone, just like the monster's scales.

Evading another swipe of the wings, Celes jumps in a third time, placing the third kick on the exact spot she already hit previously.

This time, the dracogriff shows a reaction. Hacking, it coughs up blood, then starts gurgling like it's drowning while it dances left and right, then in a circle as it kicks over stalagmites, causing irreparable damage to the wonderful cave.

Finally, it drops, the strength leaving its body.

Lying on its back, the legs swing through the air in a weak attempt to swim to the surface. Slowly, even that last spark of life leaves the creature and it lies still, the large, round pupils dilating in death.

“Whohoo!” I raise my hands and cheer! “I knew that bringing you as a backup was the right idea.” Running past Celes, I give her a clap on her backside, causing her to yelp.

Placing both hands on the dracogriff's cooling body, I concentrate, pulling the monster's innate magic into me. For a moment, I believe that it didn't work, that I mistook the creature's constitution for dragonbone.

But then the scales meld with my hands, the white mass smoothly flowing over my arms and down my chest as the organic enchantment incorporates the blend of ceramic and organic metal into my own bone structure. What normally would have taken decades to grow the necessary crystalline structures is accomplished within mere minutes.

At last, the process comes to a halt as the energy within the animal dissipates, meaning that I would have had to supply power if I wanted to keep incorporating more of its mass.

I decide that its enough and let go. To test the new version of my full-body armour, I pluck out two of the dracogriff's feathers and swing them around like swords.

“What do you think, guys?” Doesn't that look cool?

“You look like some idiot,” Iris doesn't bother to mince words and turns to Celes, her eyes shining as if she just found a new idol. “How did you do that? Did you break its armour?”

Celes shakes her head. “I just hit it and released as much energy into the creature as possible. I didn't even dent its hide. But alas, even the toughest armour doesn't help if what's inside is soft and squishy.” She throws me a provocative look, implying that I might be the same. “I hit it with enough force to transfer the energy directly to its organs. The first hit was necessary to find out where I had to focus. The last two were aimed at the dracogriff's lungs, busting them like a balloon that was squeezed too much.”

“Fuck, that's why it behaved like it was drowning.” Stephen looks at Celes with increased respect.

“It was drowning in its own blood,” his sister clarifies, joining me at the creature and poking it with her spell-gun. “I never would have thought that I'd get to see one of these in the flesh!”

Feeling left out as if my limelight was stolen, I release my awesome new armour and watch as Tanja and Sandra do their best to take apart the dragon.

It takes two minutes until Tanja finally throws up her hands, giving up. “There is no way for us to take all the valuable ingredients with us! We can't carry it all.”

I laugh. “Just take as much meat as you can carry. We have a few days of camping ahead of us. Once the transports fly in to get us we can load the whole monster onto one of them.”

“Oh...” Tanja looks at the carcass, then at me. “That's also why you didn't plan to march back.”

“Exactly!” I point at the large cave exit which allows some light into the wet cavern. “And right out there, is our recreational camping site. The dracogriff's personal lair should be safe. I was told that nothing dangerous would dare to enter its hunting grounds for months, even after its death.”

Loaded up with dracogriff-steaks, we leave the cavern through the waterfall which we already heard from the inside. It means getting a little wet, but we are rewarded by the sight of a lush valley, surrounded by mountains.

The water supplies a little lake, its water blue and crystal clear.

A small meadow next to the lake is the perfect camping site, just a hundred metres down the lair's entrance.

The waterfall itself feeds a series of little pools until it ends in the lake, providing natural bathtubs.

“This place is marvellous!” Iris claps her hands and jumps up and down. She leans over to Stephen, tugging at his arm. “Right there, in the side of the mountain. Wouldn't that be the perfect place for a little house?”

Thankfully, the others are also enchanted by the little nature reserve.

Stepping past me, Sandra stretches, raising her hands towards the sun. “Finally! Daylight!” Oblivious, the bunny-kin unzips some clasps on her upper body-armour and pulls off the heavy jacket, revealing a soaked tank-top.

I can't help but notice the fact that her perfect tits are straining against the wet fabric. Normally, it would be okay, but given the current circumstances, it's quite obvious that she isn't wearing a bra, her perky nipples revealing entirely too much.

The natural reaction follows and all three males in our group stare like lecherous bastards, myself included. Not even the shy Sven can keep his eyes away from the treat.

A prickling sensation in my neck forces me to look away. Some age-old instinct tells me that I am about to lose something precious, so I clear my throat and pay my full attention to Celes, her tail flicking left and right while she glares at me.

She surely was the source of the intense killing intent I just felt.

I clear my throat. “Why don't we get down to the meadow and put up the camp? We need to start a fire for the steaks!”

“Right!” Stephen pulls his eyes away from the frowning bunny-kin and starts marching like a soldier, Iris digging her fingers into his arm while holding onto him.

“Sandra.” Margerie joins the bunny-girl. “Why don't we go down to the lake and you use some of your ice-magic to cool down the steaks and the drinks?”

I am about to follow when Celes takes my hand, holding me back.

She waves for the others to go on. “Why don't you guys set up the camp? I have to talk about something with my fiancé.”

I frown and watch the others leave, assuming that Celes wants to talk about something that's better not overheard by mortals.

While the others search a trail down to the meadow, Celes sits me down next to one of the small pools which are a part of the waterfall. She puts down her backpack and spreads out two blankets. “You were looking.”

I roll my eyes. “Please don't turn this into a major incident. I am seventeen and this body is male. I can't help but look when something like that is practically forced into my face.”

“I didn't complain.” Celes kneels down in front of me and starts fumbling with my belt. “It just irks me that you are not looking at me like you should!”

“Hey!” I try catching her hands. What's gotten into her? Is this another of her episodes where she gets something into her head that must be done at all costs? “What are you-”

Looking up, Celes kisses me right on the lips, effectively shutting me up. Her mouth and tongue are insanely hot and it feels like each touch of her lips lingers on my skin like liquid fire.

I know that there is something wrong with this situation, but her lips feel so insanely good that I just have to close my eyes and enjoy it. “This feels too good. We shouldn't do this.”

She huffs. “Why?”

“We aren't-” I want to say that we aren't even married. Or that we are too young. Everything that comes to mind just seems stupid, given the fact that we are immortals. It's not like we are some bumbling teenagers who are ashamed of sexual desire.

“Just shut up and give me some payment for slaying your dragon.” She returns to kissing me, doing a marvellous job with her tongue.

When I open my eyes again, I realize that Celes somehow got our jackets off. Her pants are lying carelessly next to the blanket. All she is wearing is a black shirt and scandalously thin panties.

Floating in a sea of bliss, I only realize at the edge of my awareness that she is pumping my erection while trailing kisses down my neck.

Then I curse involuntarily as her lips suddenly envelop my length and she settles down between my thighs. She is so soft and hot that it only takes a few quick pumps to push me over the edge.

I am still breathing heavily when she releases me with a wet slurp, smiling mischievously. “I hope you are happy with that little preview.”

“Preview?” I blink, watching her perfect body as she gets to her feet. Then I look down at my raging erection, not in the least bit close to being satisfied. Is she serious? She gets me into this state and then wants to walk off before I am done!? Well, to be exact, I was done. But I am ready to go again!

“Yes.” She turns around, presenting me her well-rounded rear. Her panties are wet, showing proof that she played with herself while taking me to nirvana.

Celes is about to walk off towards the pool when I grab her tail, no longer giving a shit.

I know that doing this might get me killed. She might fold me over backwards for forcing myself on her, but right now I don't care.

Pulling, I cause her to stumble as I place a foot against her ankle. She lets out a cute yelp as she falls into my lap. Groaning, I slip one hand beneath her panties and into her privates while I run the other up her shirt to cup her magnificent breasts. Celes is certainly not as humongous as the bunny-girl, but her assets are large and heavy, enough to satisfy all my fantasies.

“Angrod!” She squirms in my lap, her attempt at resistance only encouraging me as I push one finger into her, then add a second. Her thighs shudder against mine as I kiss her neck.

It takes her over a minute to wind down enough to regain her wits. When she does, she tries to stand up, actually attempting to get away. “There is something you should probably know. We-mh-”

“No talking!” Covering her mouth with one hand and guiding her hips with the other, I force her back down onto my lap, this time hitting the mark as I plunge into her. Groaning, I feel her insides grip me like a fist as she shudders. Hugging an arm around her belly, I pull her down onto me, revelling in our union.

Unhappy with my inability to move properly, I push her forward onto all fours. Then I settle in behind her.

Deciding to start slowly, I pull out, then push back in, teasing her without going all the way in either direction. Breathing heavily, I continue while holding onto her tail, guiding her movements right up to the point when I can't take it anymore.

Realizing that I am entering dangerous territory, I try to pull out, only to realize that I can't. There is a stinging sensation every time I am about to pass a certain threshold. All the while, her heavenly insides are massaging me. It's as if she is moving while her body is absolutely still.

“Celes?” I wince. “Why can't I pull out?”

Instead of answering, she groans and slams her hips backwards, taking me all the way.

“Fuck!” The surprising action takes me off guard and I feel my balls tightening while I pulsate inside her. Hugging her hips, all I can do is to push deeper inside, allowing both of us to bask in the afterglow.

“You came inside me, idiot,” Celes complains immediately once her own orgasm ends.

“You started it!” I retort. “And it's not like I can pull out! What's happening? How is that even possible!?” A few ideas come to mind, a few hilarious, and others are quite frightening. “Actually, I don't want to know the exact how...”

“Didn't you pay any attention in biology?” Her words say one thing, but her hands tell a different story when she guides my hands back to her breasts. “And why are you still hard?”

“Asks the one who is telling me to pay attention in biology!” I pull out slightly and thrust, causing her to gasp with pleasure.

“And why is your cat here!?” She points at my familiar who is lying a few feet away in the grass, frowning at our clumsy attempts at procreation.

“He is just watching out for us. Don't worry.” I decide that right now I really don't need an animal's point of view, so I cut my mental connection with Ghost. “Do you know what? I don't care anymore.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean that I'll keep doing you until I can't go on.” I lift her leg, encouraging her to turn around. “And since my organic enchantment is also providing stamina, I think it will be a while before you get out of this situation.” I just hope that I can pull out once she gets tired. There is no way that I am going to explain to the others how I got stuck inside my fiancée.

I would rather cut it off and regrow it with healing magic than have to suffer that humiliation.

“Ah!” Celes let's out a string of curses when I settle in between her smooth thighs for another round. “I should have broken your arm when you smacked my butt instead of saying thanks for killing the dragon!”