I fail for a third time, trying to overcome the waterfall as I lose my grip on the rock, then I'm forced back down into the river.

I splash into the water and sink, then I just wait until I'm brought up to the surface again and gasp for air.

Fuck… me… in… the… ASS!

I turn around and swim back to the shore, then I stare at my clothes and the pile of armor I left on the sand.

I clench my fist, and my breath gradually speeds up as a wave of seething anger wells up inside of me.

My fist flies towards my face, and I almost knock myself out.

WEAK, WEAK, WEAK, WEAK! I'M SO FUCKING WEAK!

I kneel down on the sand and pull on my hair.

I had her in my arms, in my arms!

I glare at the crack in the back of my helmet.

FUCKING USELESS PADDING!

I writhe in anger and agony until the fire within me slowly fades away, then panic sets in. I look back at the hole I fell through and freeze in despair.

I need to go back…

But my muscles don't obey. I'm so tired that I can barely move anymore. I can't go back.

"Wolfy… what should I do?" I ask in my soul space, but there's nothing there anymore.

I blow fire into my cupped hands and warm myself up in silence. After I stop shivering, I throw the [Proximity Warning] crystals around me and stare hatefully up at the hole until the exhaustion finally takes over, letting me fall asleep.

I open my eyes and see the path of glowing crystals on the green sand. It's the only light source in this entire fucking wet cave, and it's an obvious path for me to follow.

"Fuck you," I mutter to the Dungeon Master.

I have no energy to move even a single muscle right now, so I just stare at it, trying to get angry enough to stand up again, but my heart now only holds emptiness with everything important ripped away.

My stomach rumbles, and I weakly sit myself up, then I pull out my [Conjure Bland Meal] magic tool and force-feed myself.

You want to challenge me? Bring it on!

I glare at the glowing path with hate. Even a small flame can ignite into an inferno, so blow air into it to make it grow.

But you'd better have saved Roxanne, or else we'll get Wolfy to use [Necromancy Magic] to rape your spirit.

I use the [Conjure Water] gem on my mouth to wash it all down, then I put on my clothes and armor again.

I don't give a shit about what the Gods would say. You don't fuck with a dragonkin like this.

I stretch, then I give one last look up at the hole.

Everyone will be going through their own challenges, so I can't just stay here wasting my time.

I walk towards the glowing path while grumbling out whatever insults I can come up with.

The green dunes start to get larger, and the path tilts upwards. They even get so tall that they almost block the way forward, forcing my head to brush against the low ceiling.

I can't see that far ahead, so I cautiously advance, wary of any monsters that might try to sneak up on me.

I cross over a dune, and the cave suddenly opens up, making me raise an eyebrow at the sight.

The glowing path leads to a green stone wall, then goes vertical, continuing up through a hole in the ceiling for hundreds and hundreds of metri.

I notice the glow of uncountable elementals randomly spread out on small platforms all along the climb. They're completely unmoving, except for the flames and sparks that have a mind of their own.

"What the fuck…" I mutter as I look around.

I can't see as far as Alissa, but I can still make out the details of the closest elementals, and they all seem to be staring straight at me.

Creepy fuckers…

I feel a small breeze leading up, which tells me which direction is my way out of this cave.

I look forward and find that the glowing path passes by a gray platform of smooth stone, then I notice the glint of a white gem in the center of it.

I cautiously take a few steps forward while I watch the elementals, and I notice their inexpressive faces following me as I do.

I decide to ignore these fuckers for a moment and just walk up to the platform to inspect it.

The moment I step onto it, the gem flashes, and a spell is cast on me, then I shiver from the gentle pleasure of having [Heal] coursing through every centumetri of my body.

I freeze mid-step for a moment, then I get back off the platform and sigh.

Well… that's nice, I guess.

I look up again and frown.

Oh… I can guess what this is for…

I lost my enchanted sword and shield in the rapids, and I have no other weapons on me besides the two daggers hidden within my armor. Wolfy carried every other weapon I had because my [Item Box] is smaller than Lina's asshole. Not literally.

I doubt I can kill them with just magic or my fists. It'd take months to even try.

I believe I can see the exit of the hole, but It's so far up that it just looks like a bright blue dot to me.

There's no way I can fly all the way in one go with my level of [Summon Wings]. I'll need to rest on those platforms a few times on the way up.

Just to make sure, I look around at the dunes for another path, but there's none I can see. It's either this or somehow going up the waterfall I fell through.

Why do I have the feeling that going this way will be easier than the waterfall…?

I grumble out a few more insults.

Well, duh. Of course the Dungeon Master won't let me go back.

I summon my wings, then I spread them wide to stretch them out.

My armor is going to make this a bit more difficult… but Wolfy would try to test things out first, wouldn't he? I mean, what's the worst that could happen…? Well, death, but I won't die so easily.

The platform nearby gives me a degree of assurance about that.

"Alright, fuck it," I growl, then I flap my winds and kick up a cloud of dust as I dart upwards.

[Battlefield Perception] triggers, and my cockiness gets chopped off between my legs as a storm of spells starts to smash into me.

My armor holds up against most of the hits, but my wings aren't protected, and the blunt attacks also slow me down on impact.

I fly towards a platform, then I grab the earth elemental that was on it and throw it off.

I stop there to catch my breath, yet the attacks continue, and I can't do anything here but try to defend myself.

I try to cast Illusion spells, but there are so many enemies that my magic has almost no effect. My [Rainbow Shield] has run out of time, and I don't even have enough points for a Wall-type spell, so I have no way to stop the punishment of my armor.

I activate [Enhanced Endurance] and launch myself up into the air again.

My wings get cut, burned, shocked, and broken the longer I fly upwards, decreasing my speed. "Endurance" won't do anything for me if I don't even have wings to make me fly.

This won't work.

I grit my teeth in anger and dive back down. "FUCK YOOOOOU!" I scream as I retreat.

I have trouble slowing down, so I nearly splat myself on the gray platform, but then it flashes, and all of my wounds are gone, except for the one on my pride.

I start grumbling, then I bark out, "Your mother was an orc and your father smelled of rotten goblin cum! Go die by a Breeder-type you…" The anger quickly dies down as my energy runs out, and I sigh in defeat, ashamed about my own failure.

I watch as the earth elemental I pushed off suddenly disappears, then it instantly reappears on its platform again. Destroying them all doesn't seem to be an option.

I raise my arm and inspect the cracks on my vambrace. I have a [Growth] magic tool to help mend it, but I don't have any special dirt to fully repair it.

A stupid idea enters my small lizard brain.

Can I use [Conjure Bland Meal] to repair?

I chuckle at my dumb idea, but then I decide to test it out.

I mix conjured water and the meal bar together in my hands, turning it into a disgusting mush, which I spread over the crack on my vambrace, then I activate the [Growth] gem.

After just a few seconds, a weird smell starts to come from the vambrace, and a dark moss quickly grows all over the crack, then some weird, tiny mushrooms appear, so I stop feeding the gem.

I touch the vambrace and notice that it feels softer than it was before, then it releases a cloud of moss and spores.

Well, fuck.

I clean the vambrace and realise that I've only made it weaker overall.

"Fucking piece of fucking…" I start to grumble, but tiredness washes over me, so I lay down on my back.

I stare up at the exit for a long time while my lizard brain thinks about absolutely nothing interesting.

"Is this what you wanted?" I whisper, then I throw my vambrace to the side and glare at the elementals. "To show me how useless and weak I am when I'm alone? Well, I ALREADY KNEW THAT, YOU ROTTING CORPSE!"

I grab a fistful of sand and pathetically throw it away, only to have it scatter back onto my face.

I spit out the sand, then I glare at the exit.

"But I get what you're doing… You want me to push past my limits, right?" I sit up, then I start to take off my armor. "You're challenging me? Me?! You're challenging a dragonkin to push further than ever before?"

I throw the wooden plate and the scale mail down onto the sand. I don't have any room for them in my [Item Box].

"You're challenging Hanafuria Ry-… Hanafuria soon-to-be Ryder?!" I take off my clothes, then I stare up towards the exit and summon my now-healed dragon wings. "ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THAT?!" I roar and laugh.

You'd better not be watching, though.

"I WON'T STOP TRYING, NO MATTER WHAT IT COSTS, NO MATTER HOW LONG IT TAKES! I WON'T LET ANYTHING STAND BETWEEN ME AND WOLFY'S COCK!"

I clench my fists and begin to breathe faster as anger courses through my veins.

"DON'T YOU FUCK WITH MEEEEE!" I flap my wings and roar as I shoot upwards.

The elementals fire their projectiles, and [Battlefield Perception] triggers, so I start taking evasive maneuvers while continuing to rapidly climb upwards.

Without my armor weighing me down, I'm much faster and more nimble, but every single spell that hits me hurts like a bitch.

I climb and climb, my eyes glued to the finish line, desperate to cross it, but it swells in my vision far too slowly.

My skin is burned, slashed, and pounded. My blood starts to drip from multiple wounds, but I soldier on. My anger numbs the pain, so I don't even need [Pain Conversion] to endure it, and I refuse to use that Skill with anyone outside the harem.

A stone boulder collides with my head, and my vision goes dark.

I open my eyes and notice that I'm falling. I try to steady myself, but my wings are almost completely torn apart.

The elementals stop firing and just watch me as I glide back down again, then I crash onto the gray platform, and my whole body is immediately healed.

My pride is wounded even deeper, but I'm a masochist. The pain only makes me want to try harder.

I get up and try again.

And again.

And again.

And again.

And again…

As long as I can fly, I try to shoot even higher than before. As long as I can stand, I train my body for the next day. Every second that I'm awake, I prepare my mind for the battle ahead.

I'm not a very pious person since I don't fully understand the Gods, but I still ask them for help anyway because the God of War said that pride is a deadly disease.

I pray to the God of Sun to let me stand back up every morning. I pray to the God of Endurance to give me the strength to continue training each day. I pray to the Goddess of Will to give the clarity to focus on each attempt. I pray to the Goddess of Growth to help me get closer to my goal.

My [Summon Wings] levels up once, then again, then my [Enhanced Endurance], then my [Enhanced Stamina]. Every level up allows me to fly higher, so little by little, the exit grows closer.

My soul potential quickly goes into the negatives, and it slows down my growth, but I don't give up. There's no other way except to continue trying, day after day.

The exit is now so close that I can see the crystal lights surrounding it. The next day, I fly a little higher, and I manage to count them.

Victory is right at my fingertips, I just need to grasp it.

Suddenly, a burst of mana comes from the top of the passage, and a flame flares up far ahead of me.

It rapidly grows into a huge ball of fire until it fills the entire tunnel, then it darkens as it's filled with molten metal.

I stop in fear and stare at it. That's [Meteor].

It launches towards me, then I turn tail and retreat.

I land on the platform and collapse.

"And I thought Wolfy was sadistic…" I mutter, then I roll over onto my back and glare up at the [Meteor]. Without warning, it disintegrates into nothing well before it can even warm me up. "I wasn't serious, though. How the fuck do you expect me to punch a [Meteor]?"

There's no response because this fucking shitty Dungeon Master likes to taunt but doesn't let anyone fuck with him in return.

"Well, fuck you!" I exclaim, and my echoes tell me to fuck myself. I used to enjoy doing exactly that, but after having a taste of my own personal shape-shifting dildo, I think masturbation is beneath me.

I sigh and stare at my hand. My emerald scales are far too few to protect me against that spell, let alone punch it.

Wolfy managed to form scales on his skin, though they were weaker than mine.

I close my eyes and go over every memory I can about Wolfy's [Soul Manipulation].

I remember talking about it with Alissa.

"Being part animal and part something else is just what you are, so you shouldn't be trying to hide it. You should push it out and allow it to help you become stronger," I tried to advise her.

"Being animal or human is what we are. Wereanimals need to learn how to have two sides before they can properly change forms," she calmly replied.

"Then you also need to learn how to be both so that you can pick the best of the two sides."

I meditate while I practice [Soul Manipulation], steadily covering my fist with my soul.

I have a dragon inside me, so I just need to bring it out.

An old memory of a rather similar situation drifts to the surface.

"How's your heart?" Mom's stern voice echoes inside my mind.

"Stable, I don't feel any anxiety," the young me answered.

"Desire?"

I remember that Wolfy's monstrous multi-cock will never fuck me again if I don't get out of here.

"Strong," I growled, though at the time I was thinking about another cock instead of Wolfy's.

"Anger?"

"In control."

"Energy?"

"Full."

"Confidence?"

I open my eyes and look at my own hand. No matter how much I want to punch that [Meteor], there's a limit to everything.

"It won't get any better than this," I whisper.

Mom's reproachful tone makes me wince even now, "You're a dragon, Hanafuria. You won't fly if you don't believe that you can fly; you won't ravage if you don't believe that they'll die; you won't burn anything if you don't believe that you can destroy it. Either you can, or you can't. Now, confidence?"

This isn't just a question of "can" or "can't" because, if I fail, then I'm not worthy of being Wolfy's wife. It's "do" or "die."

"I'll burn, I'll rape, I'll kill. Not literally because the Gods don't like it, but yeah, I'll do what I want. I will do what I want!" Young me thought to herself, trying to ignite the fires of savagery within her heart.

I was so angry and ferocious before I met Wolfy, but where did that anger go?

As a sex beast, celibacy gave me strength, but I refuse to go back to those times. It worked, sure, but I don't need something that "just works," I need something better.

I am part dragon, so why can't I use that strength whenever I want?

"I got this, I know it," I whisper the same words that I said that day, but I lack the confidence I had back then.

"Yes, you do, now focus. Gather your anger, your power. Gather the savage blood inside you, the proud being that dominates the realm," Mom encouraged me.

I love you, Wolfy. I love you more than I ever thought possible, but not only you. I love everyone. Alissa, Roxanne, Ciel, Lina, Aoi, Yunia, Klein, Osaria, and even Gify a bit. Of course, you get a special place, too, Roxanne. I love everyone so much that I'd…

Hm… how far would I go for them?

I smirk.

How far is infinite…?

I growl and focus on my hand.

I'd do something really stupid to get back to them. I'd cross the Everlasting Storm! I'd hunt down an ancient dragon by myself! I'd even fight the fucking Emperor!

And I'll show you all the true depth of my feelings by punching that fucking [Meteor]…! But I can't do that if I remain just a small, weak dragonkin.

I glare at my hand and grunt with exertion.

I'll be the biggest, most powerful, most badass, most fucking mean dragon this realm has ever seen! I'll make Wolfy and Mom proud, then I'll make them both suck on my tits! I'll fuck Wolfy and the rest of the wives until there's nobody left to challenge me! I will have my harem of women one day!

I want to bite into an orc and feel his blood dripping down my throat! I want Roxanne's fist inside of my pussy! I want to roast an orc alive and eat it while it screams! I want to fuck Wolfy in front of the entire realm! I want to… I want to…

I glare with even more intensity, and my MP starts to slowly drain.

Love, anger, disgust, arousal, degeneracy, and passion. All of these emotions boil within my heart and fill me with energy.

I want to rip and tear; to rape, fuck, and breed; to fight, conquer, and drown in pleasure atop my throne. This world is mine for the taking because I'm the strongest, the biggest, the apex predator. I'll do what I want and you'll just have to suck it up, bitch.

"I'm not a sex beast anymore, Mom. I'm a love beast! I'll let my love for the harem give me strength! Then I'LL PUNCH THIS [METEOR] WITH THE POWER OF LOVE!"

Glowing emerald wisps twinkle around my hand for a second, then they fade away.

Mages say that direct mana manipulation is dangerous. I say fuck 'em.

I've lost count of how many days have passed while I've been stuck down here. Not that I'd know it for sure even if I had counted since I haven't seen the sun in only-the-fucking-Gods-know-how-many days.

All I know is that today's the day, or night, or whatever…

I pull out the last of my chocolate and devour it all. I need all the energy I can get today. Then I flex and stretch, the same as I always do.

I plunge a finger into my pussy and pinch my clit, then I stop. It just takes a little teasing to awaken the dormant celibate beast.

Today's the day you fuck me, Wolfy.

I summon my huge wings and stretch them out, too, then I stare up at the goal.

I patiently wait in silence as the fire within my heart grows more fierce and the chocolate begins to take effect.

My emotions are boiling within me, but my heart is keeping them fully contained. The dragon inside me was tamed by Wolfy, but now, it's also been tamed by me.

My heart reaches its limit, and the fire within starts spreading through every limb, then I shoot up into the air.

"WOLFYYY! I'M COMIIIIIING!"

I dodge and weave around the projectiles like it's nothing. At this point, they're just an annoyance.

I clench my right fist and focus my power on it.

The exit gradually grows larger in my view, then it's suddenly hidden behind a massive ball of fire.

"DRAGOOOON…" I breathe in deeply and prepare my lungs.

The [Meteor] shoots towards me.

"PUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUNCH!"

Shining emerald scales cover my fist as I activate [Draconic Body].

The [Meteor] suddenly shrinks down to less than half its size.

What?!

Then my glowing fist collides with it.