Becoming more accustomed to killing the smaller creatures near the dome, Mike began to realize he would have to venture farther. Since the battle with the glowing-antlered deer, he hadn't encountered any predators or threats he couldn't handle. The fights had been manageable, but the growth that followed each kill was slowing.
Small gains and better control over this body help... but it's too slow, he thought. Too much time has passed, and I need faster progress. I still can't make the horn glow or produce electricity no matter how hard I try to focus. Even under attack, it hasn't activated on its own.
Reflecting on another wasted week, Mike decided it was time to push out farther during the day and return to the dome each night to continue studying the statues.
He headed north, away from the dome, toward the base of the mountains. Jagged boulders and scattered trees broke up the rough terrain. Every shadow looked like it could be hiding something dangerous. He moved carefully, stepping from rock to rock.
As he crested a ridge, Mike spotted a group of larger lizards massive, red-scaled beasts about the size of rhinos. Thick plates of armor covered their bodies, and smoke curled from their nostrils as faint tongues of flame flickered at the corners of their snouts. They had short, powerful legs and thick, blunt tails.
He crouched low, circling around behind one of the creatures, hoping to stay hidden long enough for a surprise attack.
With a deep breath, he lunged, claws extended.
But his attack failed. His claws ricocheted off the red lizard's heavy scales, sending him stumbling. The creature turned, its glowing eyes locking onto Mike as it opened its jaws and unleashed a blast of fire.
Mike barely rolled away, the searing heat licking across his side.
Maybe I can breathe fire if I eat him! he thought, diving behind a boulder as more flames scorched the air.
He waited, heart pounding, as the fire raged past the stone. When it finally stopped, he started formulating a plan.
Weak underbelly? Like armored creatures on Earth? Gotta find the soft spot.
All his past battles against deer, grey lizards, the coyote-things had taught him how to move, how to strike, and how to survive. His body had changed. He had become faster, stronger, more precise. He was becoming a killer.
Using everything he'd learned, Mike darted forward, aiming for the gap between the creature's hind leg and belly.
This time, his claws sank in.
The lizard roared and twisted, snapping its flaming jaws around Mike's right arm—and severed it at the shoulder.
Pain tore through him.
Screaming in his mind, Mike dug deeper into the lizard's abdomen, his back leg slamming into the wound. He thrashed, tearing tissue, kicking through organs.
The beast howled again and swung its tail, striking Mike and sending him crashing into a nearby boulder. He heard something snap, ribs, maybe more.
Dizzy and gasping, Mike scrambled behind the rock just as the lizard lunged. He barely dragged himself out of the way using his remaining arm. The beast smashed into the stone, crumbling part of it on impact.
Mike could hear the lizard's labored breathing, ragged, faltering. He clawed at the ground, trying to pull himself farther back.
Then the lizard collapsed.
Through the pain, he saw it, blood pouring from the deep belly wound, intestines trailing behind like ropes. The creature gave one last twitch and went still.
I have to stop getting torn apart every time I fight a stronger creature, he thought bitterly. But maybe I'll get something useful out of this one.
Crawling toward the corpse, Mike began tearing into its belly, ignoring the blood soaking his face and chest. The moment the meat hit his throat, he felt the first signs of healing. His shattered ribs shifted, muscle fibers knitting back together.
He looked down at the bloody stump where his arm had been and watched in awe as the bone pushed itself outward, slowly rebuilding.
He screamed silently as the nerves and flesh regenerated, the pain excruciating.
But it worked.
The arm regrew. The scales along his body thickened. His muscles bulked up even further. And then, something new, a strange heat filled his mouth. A smoky taste filled his lungs. His throat burned but not from pain.
Fire, he realized. This has to be fire!
Mike's mind roared with triumph.