The Teostra let out a weary sigh as he stared at the tiny blond human in front of him.
Flames rolled from his throat, but instead of attacking the Commander, they drifted harmlessly to the side like an exhausted cough.
If only someone understood his suffering.
This blond human simply had no sense of empathy.
He was exhausted. Completely exhausted.
Couldn't anyone understand the plight of a male Elder Dragon during mating season?
His mate was demanding, fierce, and seemingly insatiable. For two straight months, he had been forced to fulfill his marital obligations again and again.
Even half a month ago, she had shown no sign of stopping.
But he had reached his limit.
Two months!
Did anyone know what he had endured during those two months?
He had already fled all the way to the Elder's Recess to escape.
Even flying made his wings tremble, and his hind legs shook constantly.
At this rate, his wife would be the death of him.
Forget attacking human settlements.
He could barely stay airborne.
Couldn't they just let him rest?
Thinking this, Teostra raised his head and released a low, exhausted roar.
"Roooar... cough, cough..."
Even the roar gave out halfway.
He was too tired.
All he wanted was a quiet place to lie down and recover.
Lowering his head, he looked helplessly at the blond human.
Of all times to meet someone like this.
The human was tiny, but far more ferocious than a Rajang. He could block breath attacks with boulders and punch an Elder Dragon directly in the face.
Under normal circumstances, Teostra would have enjoyed fighting him.
Humans challenging dragons was something he respected.
But couldn't this human take a hint?
He truly had nothing left.
"Awoooo!"
After another miserable roar, Teostra spread his wings and flew away.
As he flew, he glanced back at the relentlessly pursuing human.
The little human was incredibly fast.
Even if he escaped, he probably wouldn't get much rest before being found again.
Still, a short nap was better than nothing.
How ironic.
For most of his life, mating had been one of his favorite activities.
Now, at the end of mating season, he had realized that not mating was true happiness.
Then he noticed two additional humans floating ahead.
Huh?
At the same time, Ciri stared at the Elder Dragon in amazement.
"It really is a dragon. It's enormous... and beautiful.
"I know it's dangerous, but it's also magnificent.
"I wonder what other dragons look like.
"But..."
She frowned.
"Axel, look at its eyes.
"It looks exhausted.
"There's something strangely human about them.
"It's like every thought in its head is screaming the same thing: fatigue."
She tugged lightly on Axel's sleeve.
Axel nodded, amused as he studied Teostra's posture.
His gaze lingered briefly on the dragon's awkwardly tucked hindquarters before understanding dawned.
It was mating season.
Even Rathalos and Rathian spent most of this period occupied with reproduction.
For a Teostra to abandon the Old World halfway through mating season and flee to the New World?
The answer was obvious.
He couldn't keep up anymore.
Axel released Ciri and smirked.
"You know, Ciri, dragons generally have very strong reproductive instincts.
"And that applies to females just as much as males.
"Sometimes even more.
"Take Rathian, for example.
"During mating season, multiple Rathalos compete for the right to mate.
"After each round, the weakened males are driven out and replaced by stronger challengers.
"The process continues until the female finally produces eggs.
"Only then does she settle down with a mate."
He paused and looked sympathetically at Teostra.
The Elder Dragon couldn't understand the words, but somehow felt Axel understood his pain.
Then Axel continued.
"But this guy is different.
"Teostra are rare.
"There aren't replacement males waiting in line.
"He has to handle everything himself.
"Honestly, that's practically a one-dragon war.
"No wonder some dragon species seek out other creatures.
"Maybe it's not ambition.
"Maybe they're just looking for a less demanding relationship."
Axel burst into laughter.
The exhausted Teostra stared at him.
For the first time in weeks, he felt seen.
Beside him, Ciri rolled her eyes.
"Are you talking about dragons?
"Or are you trying to explain why you didn't make a move on me last night?"
"What kind of nonsense is that?"
Axel smacked her lightly on the backside.
"Don't start with me.
"And even if I were one of the dragons I just described, you're not the female dragon in that story.
"You're one of the other creatures."
Before Ciri could retaliate, Axel casually waved a hand.
She immediately floated through the air and landed beside the Commander.
The Commander had already been struggling to understand Teostra's bizarre behavior.
Now there were flying humans as well.
Looking at Ciri, he scratched his wild mane of hair and laughed.
"Hey, miss, you're from the Fifth Fleet, right?
"Your partner is facing Teostra alone. Aren't you worried?
"And how are you two flying?
"Is it some new technology from your homeland?
"If possible, I'd love to learn."
Laughing heartily, he charged straight toward Teostra.
"Younger hunter, I'll help!
"You keep his attention while I attack his hind legs.
"His lower body seems to be his weakness!"
With that, he launched himself forward like a cannonball.
Just before his punch connected, Axel appeared directly in front of him.
"Commander, right?"
Axel caught the incoming fist with one hand.
The Commander froze.
His arm was thicker than Axel's entire torso.
Yet the younger man had stopped him effortlessly.
After a brief moment of disbelief, he pulled back.
"Whatever you're doing, Teostra has turned around.
"Watch out for the breath attack."
"Haha, don't worry.
"I said I'd hold him down first.
"We can talk afterward."
Axel turned toward Teostra.
The Elder Dragon met his gaze.
After a brief pause, Teostra nodded as if acknowledging a fellow sufferer.
Then he turned and attempted to fly away.
Little human.
He remembered this kindness.
After he recovered, he'd repay the favor somehow.
But right now?
He desperately needed sleep.
With renewed determination, Teostra flew into the distance.
The Commander immediately shouted.
"You said you'd stop him!
"He's getting away!
"We need to find out why he violated the Elder Crossing!"
He prepared to chase again.
Then Axel casually reached forward and made a pulling motion.
"Awooo?!"
Teostra cried out in alarm.
Something caught him around the neck.
An invisible force yanked him backward through the air.
A second later, the enormous Elder Dragon slammed into the ground directly in front of Axel.
"Awooo! Awooo!"
Now Teostra was genuinely angry.
Again?
Really?
Did these humans have some kind of obsession with him?
He tried to struggle.
Then panic set in.
He couldn't move.
Had his wife truly drained him to this extent?
If so, fleeing to the New World had absolutely been the correct choice.
At this point, even Nergigante showing up wouldn't surprise him.
Tears welled in his eyes.
His life was over.
The Commander swallowed hard.
"This... was your doing?"
"Otherwise, was it his wife?"
Axel replied.
He walked over and patted Teostra's head.
The dragon released a miserable grunt and closed his eyes.
Everything was hopeless.
His wife had ruined him.
After giving up entirely, he stopped resisting.
Even when Axel released his psychic restraint, Teostra remained sprawled on the ground.
Only his trembling hind legs continued to move.
The Commander stared at the defeated Elder Dragon before stepping forward.
Although Teostra's body radiated tremendous heat, it meant little to someone of his experience.
As he examined the dragon, he turned toward Axel.
"I've heard stories about a newly risen Hunting Master in the Fifth Fleet.
"But even legendary heroes couldn't subdue an Elder Dragon this easily.
"So you're not actually a hunter from the Fifth Fleet, are you?
"Who exactly are you?
"Though before asking your name, I should introduce myself.
"I'm the Commander of the First Fleet.
"You can simply call me the Commander."
Axel grinned.
"Axel.
"A god from another world.
"Nice to meet you."
He lightly punched the Commander on the chest.
"I arrived in your world yesterday.
"My friend and I found Astera.
"The Commander hosted us, and the Palicoes even prepared a feast.
"After hearing about your situation, I figured I'd help."
He then pulled open Teostra's eyelid, forcing the Elder Dragon to look at him.
The Commander nodded thoughtfully.
"A god from another world.
"That certainly explains a few things.
"But I still don't know why Teostra came to the New World.
"If you can communicate with dragons, could you ask him?
"Or perhaps ask whether he knows anything about the mysterious force we've been tracking?"
Nearby, Ciri flashed over and stared at the Commander in disbelief.
"Wait.
"You accepted the existence of another world and a god that easily?"
"Why wouldn't I?"
The Commander laughed.
"The facts are right in front of me.
"No matter how unusual something appears, reality remains reality."
His smile was simple and sincere.
Axel found himself appreciating the man's straightforward wisdom.
Then he shook his head.
"I can't understand what he's saying.
"But Commander..."
Axel smirked.
"Do you have a wife?"
"Haha, of course.
"I'm nearly ninety years old.
"My grandchildren are already grown."
"Then how can you not recognize a fellow man's suffering?
"This Teostra was clearly driven to exhaustion by Lunastra."
The Commander blinked.
"Exhaustion?
"What do you mean?
"Can a man actually be exhausted by his wife?
"I've never heard of such a thing.
"In my experience, it's usually the opposite.
"My wife and I certainly never had that problem.
"Are you telling me some men actually get exhausted?
"How strange."
The Commander scratched his head in complete confusion while the defeated Teostra lay nearby, silently shedding tears.