Troy Orbital was many things. A survivor. A fire-wielding heretic. A farmer of cows that birthed like a bug-infested Minecraft mod. But right now? He was a very confused, very shirtless man, being dragged through the jungle by a feather-scaled, hyperventilating Velociraptor wearing what looked suspiciously like a vest made from dried banana leaves.
"Wait, wait, slow down—where are we going?!" Troy shouted, legs flailing as he was unceremoniously yanked over moss and tree root.
"Shut up, Shaman!" barked the Velociraptor. His bright yellow eyes were wide with a mix of reverence and panic. "You made the Fire! That means you have magic! You are the Shaman now!"
"I—what?!" Troy blinked. "Fire doesn't mean magic! It means combustion, oxygen, heat—science, man!"
"Com-bu-what?!" the raptor snarled, before yanking him into a massive clearing surrounded by towering ferns. Standing there, arms folded, was the familiar golden-crimson form of Ravaxara—his T-Rex lover, apparent tribal heiress, and the reason his last house was in ruins and his downstairs felt like soggy clay for two days.
"Oh, great. Ravaxara," Troy muttered, brushing twigs off his shoulders.
"Twig man," she greeted with a smirk. Her tail swished sharply behind her—a tick Troy had learned meant she was anything but dismissive. The smirk deepened as she added, "Still soft-looking. But your food was good. That sausage and butter-rice..."
Troy grimaced. "You broke my floor."
"You broke me first," she whispered with a fangy grin, just loud enough for his ears alone.
Before Troy could respond (or combust from the sheer heat of her words), another figure zipped into the clearing.
This one was a Velociraptor too—shorter than the male who'd dragged him, but clearly smarter. Green scales covered her from head to talon, with a jagged black scar running down her left eye. She wore makeshift sandals crafted from bark and had what looked like a scroll made from flattened tree leaves tucked under one clawed arm.
"Velvii!" Ravaxara introduced, pointing at the excitable newcomer. "Smartest of the tribe."
"HI!" Velvii exclaimed. "Are you really the Fire-Maker?! Do you really farm things?! Is it true you survived the Heiress' Trial Mating Ritual?! How long is your mating spear? What's this 'cheese' you speak of?! Is that a rock on your wrist?! Why does it glow?!"
"Whoa—whoa, okay!" Troy held up his hands. "I'm… okay-ish, yes, yes, I guess?! Farming is just making plants behave. And my 'spear' length is not up for discussion."
"Five inches," Ravaxara interjected. "Six at best."
"Don't encourage her!"
Velvii was vibrating with manic interest, literally scratching notes into bark with a sharpened claw.
"We need you," Ravaxara said seriously, stepping forward. "You are my mate. My forever mate. And you must see what your... legacy has caused."
Troy blinked. "Wait, what? You don't mean—"
"Come."
Ravaxara turned and led the way through winding paths and swinging bridges made from thick vines. Velvii never stopped talking beside him, asking questions about "metal cooking boxes" and "egg scrambling fire wands."
Then they entered the village.
And everyone… knelt.
Dozens of dino-women—ranging from triceratops-horned warriors to tall, brontosaurus-esque priestesses—dropped to one knee. Their eyes locked not just on Ravaxara, but on him.
Troy swallowed hard.
"Why are they staring at me like that?"
"You are my mate," Ravaxara said as though that answered everything.
"I'm starting to realize that means more than just… y'know, night stuff."
They stepped into the grandest hut in the village—an enormous dome woven of hanging moss and hardened tree sap. Inside, incense burned, and the scent of crushed berries filled the air.
Sitting in the middle, surrounded by vines shaped like a throne, was Mammara.
And good Lord.
Mammara was a MILF in every sense. Tall, plush, and curvaceous, with soft pink scales flecked in silver, her body draped in the sheerest of woven leaves that did nothing to hide her generous physique. Her eyes sparkled as she took in Troy.
"So," Mammara purred, "this is the human who survived our heiress. Come closer."
Troy cautiously stepped forward. "Hi. I'm… Troy. I make eggs. No—wait. I mean—"
"She makes the eggs," Ravaxara corrected with pride.
"Right, yes," Troy mumbled, flustered.
Mammara chuckled softly and lifted something with both hands. Something that glowed slightly from the radiant heat within. It was…
"…An egg," Troy whispered.
It was almost half his size. Dark red with golden flecks. Slightly pulsing with warmth.
"She laid it past morning," Mammara said. "Strong shell. Powerful life force. You are the sire."
"I—uh—holy crap," Troy said.
"Congratulations," Mammara continued. "You are officially the 'Forever Mate.' That means, by tradition, you are also now…" she waved her hand dramatically, "King of the Tyrannosaurus Tribe."
Troy froze.
"Whaaaaaaat."
The System chimed with a subtle ding in his brain:
[System → Harem List]
Ravaxara
[Heiress to the Tyrannosaurus Tribe]
[Affinity: 100%]
[Title(s) Unlocked: First Mate - Forever Mate]
[Power(s) Copied: GOD-LVL Endurance, T. Rex Muscle Density]
"Why does everything come with titles and responsibilities?!" Troy whispered to himself.
"Oh! Oh! Can we go over inventions now?" Velvii piped in, practically bouncing up and down. "My 'Stabby Sticks' need more poke and less bend! And the 'Feet Steps'—sandals—they're cracking in mud!"
Troy looked at her, then at the giant egg. Then at the drooling Ravaxara, who seemed to be replaying their mating night on loop in her head. Then back at Velvii, who was now sketching diagrams with clawed enthusiasm.
Troy dropped to his knees.
"…This is my life now."
From somewhere in the distance, a cow mooed—probably giving birth again, maybe a blue shirted blocky man was feeding two of them Wheat.
[Narrator Voice]
And so, Troy Orbital—former outcast, current fire-wielder, reluctant king, and exhausted new father—found himself at the start of something grand. Cows that birthed too fast. Tribes that knelt when he walked by. Velociraptors obsessed with spears and sandals. And one very powerful T-Rex woman who had made him her Forever Mate.
Things were only going to get harder from here. (Insert eyebrow raise and knowing smirk)
But hey, at least breakfast was good...