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The days that followed were a blur of confusion and discovery.
Yuki had flown deep into the forest, unsure of where he was going but driven by an instinctual need to explore. The fire inside him burned constantly, a roaring inferno that never quite quieted, but his control over it was still shaky. Every time he breathed out fire, it was unrefined—wild and unpredictable. He couldn't trust it to be precise yet.
He landed near a dense patch of trees, the underbrush thick with roots and vines. The air was heavy with the smell of damp earth and ancient growth.
*Time to practice,* Yuki thought, though the thought of practicing in such a strange, alien world made him feel both nervous and excited.
He focused on his breath, summoning a small flame to the tip of his claws. The heat that radiated from it was intense, but it was still manageable. He held it for a moment, testing its strength, then released it with a sharp exhale.
The flame sputtered, then died, leaving only a faint smoke trail in the air.
"Not enough," Yuki muttered, frustration bubbling up.
As if in response, a loud crack echoed through the trees, followed by the rustling of leaves. Yuki's dragon instincts flared, and he immediately crouched, lowering his wings in preparation for battle. His eyes narrowed, scanning the trees for movement.
A low growl echoed from the underbrush, followed by the sudden appearance of a creature bursting through the thicket. It was a massive boar-like beast, covered in thick, bristling fur, with tusks as long as Yuki's arm. Its eyes gleamed with primal hunger as it charged toward him with astonishing speed.
Yuki barely had time to react before the creature was upon him. His instincts kicked in, and he sprang into the air, narrowly avoiding the boar's goring tusks. The creature slammed into a nearby tree, sending splinters flying as it recoiled from the impact.
Yuki's heart raced as he hovered above the creature. The boar wasn't just fast—it was strong. His mind worked furiously, analyzing the situation. He could feel the heat in his chest again, a familiar warmth. His fire.
This time, he focused. He didn't let the flame grow too wild. He controlled it, drawing it into his mouth. The boar charged again, its tusks aimed straight at him.
At the last moment, Yuki let out a blast of flame, aiming it directly at the creature's head. The fire struck true, engulfing the boar in a fiery burst.
The creature screeched in agony, its body writhing in the flames. Yuki's wings flapped harder as he pulled himself back into the air, watching as the creature fell, its charred body twitching before it lay still.
*I did it,* Yuki thought, a sense of accomplishment filling him. *I can control it… a little more.*
His flames were still wild, but they were starting to become more manageable. With each battle, with each victory, Yuki felt himself grow stronger. The fire inside him was no longer something to fear—it was something he could wield.
Before he could relax, another growl filled the air. This time, a pack of smaller creatures emerged from the trees. They were wolf-like in appearance, but their fur was dark green, and their eyes glowed with a predatory hunger. They were the forest's guardians, sentinels that roamed its depths.
There were five of them, all circling him with predatory grins, their fangs bared and ready to tear into his flesh. Yuki tensed, his wings spread wide, ready for another fight.
*This is it,* he thought. *No turning back now.*
The first of the wolves lunged at him, its sharp claws reaching for his exposed underbelly. Yuki twisted in mid-air, narrowly avoiding the strike, then retaliated with a tail swipe that knocked the wolf back. Another wolf charged, and Yuki reacted instinctively, firing a burst of flame. The wolf screeched as the fire scorched its side, but it didn't go down. Instead, it bared its teeth and came at him with even greater ferocity.
Yuki's heart hammered in his chest as he flapped his wings harder, darting around the wolves in a dizzying blur of motion. He wasn't used to fighting like this—he wasn't used to being hunted. But the fire inside him burned brighter with every attack, each flame lashing out more precise, more controlled.
One by one, the wolves fell. First, the one that had been scorched by his flame. Then the others, as Yuki used his tail, his claws, and his flames to fight them off.
Finally, only one wolf remained, its fur singed and its eyes filled with wary respect. It growled, circling him warily, but Yuki could feel its fear. The beast knew it couldn't win.
With a final, powerful burst of flame, Yuki sent the last wolf fleeing into the forest, its pained howls echoing through the trees.
Yuki took a moment to catch his breath, his body still buzzing with the rush of battle. His wings ached, and his chest heaved with exertion, but he had done it. He had won. He was getting stronger.
But even as he basked in the moment, he knew one thing for sure: This was only the beginning. The forest was vast, and its challenges were endless. But with each fight, with each trial, he was beginning to understand what it meant to be a dragon.
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