The forest beyond the cave stretched endlessly, a maze of green shadows and rustling leaves. He had never seen a place like this before—never smelled it, felt it, heard it. Every sound, every movement was amplified in his senses: the scurry of small animals, the distant roar of a predator, even the faint rustle of leaves in the wind.
He crouched at the cave's mouth, wings trembling. Small. Weak. Useless, almost. But they were there. A promise of power he had yet to claim.
> [Wing Development: Beginner | Flight Possible After Growth Threshold Met]
His tail twitched as he stretched his claws into the dirt, testing his balance. His body was stronger than yesterday. His reflexes faster. Hunting had taught him more than mere survival—it had honed him into a predator.
And yet… flight? That was another matter entirely.
He lowered his body, crouching like a cat before a leap. His wings unfurled awkwardly, too short, too thin, trembling with each movement. He leapt.
Nothing.
The jump barely carried him forward. He landed hard, scraping stone and dirt with claws. Pain shot up his legs, but the system blinked reassuringly.
> [XP gained: +20 | Wing coordination improving]
He tried again. Flap, flap, stumble. Again. And again. Each failure was frustrating, but instinct kept him moving. Hunger gnawed at him—not for food this time, but for mastery.
Then it happened.
A gust of wind hit him at the perfect moment. He leapt from a small rock, flapped with all his might—and for the first time, his claws left the ground.
Not far. Not high. But he was moving in the air, suspended, if only for a heartbeat.
> [Skill activated: Basic Flight | Flight Successful: Duration 2 sec]
He let out a breathless roar—an instinctive, joyous sound that echoed through the trees. His heart raced with exhilaration. Flight. He could fly.
Movement sharpened. He twisted in midair, claws grazing a tree branch. His landing was clumsy, but controlled. Each attempt made him stronger, more confident.
Below, a rustle caught his attention. A rabbit, small and nimble, froze as he hovered nearby. Hunger gnawed. Instinct surged.
> [Target detected: Prey | Difficulty: Low]
He dived, claws slicing through the air. The rabbit didn't stand a chance. Warmth filled his mouth again as he bit down. XP flashed on the system screen.
> [XP gained: 100 | Level 3 → 4 progress: 50%]
[Skill Progress: Flight improving | Duration +1 sec]
The forest became his playground. He leapt from rocks, glided through trees, claws tearing at bark and leaves. Every movement taught him balance, speed, and control. Hunger became less of a threat—it was a tool, a fuel that kept him moving, kept him growing.
And yet, he couldn't ignore the feeling gnawing in the back of his mind: humans. They hunted dragons. He had survived the last encounter, but stronger hunters existed. Ones who would not hesitate. Ones who could kill him if he was careless.
> [Notice: Danger level increasing in area. Recommend caution.]
He folded his wings slightly, landing softly in a clearing. His chest heaved, golden eyes scanning the horizon.
"Soon," he whispered to himself. "I will not just survive. I will dominate."
The system chimed faintly, and new information appeared.
> [Quest Updated: Survive | Grow | Evolve | Explore]
Exploration. That was the next step. The forest was vast, full of prey, monsters, and danger. Every encounter would test him. Every hunt would make him stronger.
And somewhere out there, hunters and monsters waited. Some to test him. Some to kill him.
He lowered his head, sniffing the wind. He had tasted power. He had felt the thrill of movement, the strength in his claws and wings. But this world would not forgive weakness.
> [Objective: Survive | Hunt | Gain Power]
A small thrill ran through his chest as he took to the sky again, clumsy but determined.
This was only the beginning.
And the dragon was just waking.
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