The coastal plain stretched before him, open and sun-drenched. Though the soil was thin, the abundant light fueled a vibrant tapestry of hardy shrubs and grasses. In the distance, the deep blue sea shimmered with molten gold under the rising sun, the rhythmic crash of waves a constant, soothing whisper on the wind.
Then, a thunderous roar shattered the peace.
Logan's scales tightened instinctively. Heavy, earth-shaking footsteps heralded the arrival of a behemoth. From the forest's edge emerged a creature of immense bulk and power—an Anjanath.
It was a tyrannosaurian monster, its eighteen-meter length supported by pillar-like hind legs. Pink, leathery hide was adorned with tufts of deep blue feathers along its back and tail. Its most terrifying feature was its massive, underslung jaw, lined with serrated teeth like daggers. Its forelimbs were comically small in comparison, but its rear legs, armored in thick scales, left deep craters in the sandy soil with each step.
The Anjanath lumbered to a sun-warmed rock outcrop and settled with a ground-shaking thud. It stretched out, unfurling two large, semi-transparent wing-like membranes along its back like solar sails.
What's this big lug doing here? Logan thought, recognizing the species. Seeing it was more a force of nature than an immediate threat, he peered openly from the underbrush.
The creature's sides heaved with each breath. The sunlight illuminated the wing membranes, revealing a dense network of crimson capillaries pulsing beneath the skin like flowing magma.
A creature that breathes fire and overheats from exercise… needs to sunbathe? A few good stomps would warm it up just fine.
Seeing the Anjanath was settled in for a while, Logan decided to explore elsewhere. He needed to establish a proper territory. This coastal plain was perfect: fresh water, abundant sunlight, plentiful grazing animals. An ideal home base.
He moved on, the landscape shifting. Wind-carved rock formations rose like giant stone mushrooms. The terrain grew more rugged, forming a small range of hills. A waterfall cascaded down a rocky face, feeding a wide, crystal-clear pool at its base.
Near the pool, he found his prize: two massive, leaning boulders forming a natural, inverted 'V' shelter. It was spacious inside, with a narrow entrance—perfect for a den.
Shelter secured. Next priority: a reliable food source. The pool teemed with small fish and crustaceans, but his anatomy wasn't built for aquatic hunting. His gaze lifted to the nearby coastal cliffs.
The sheer rock faces were pockmarked with ledges, bustling with life. Pteryx—grey-skinned, feathered flyers with three-meter wingspans. Their beaks were long and sharp, filled with backward-curving teeth, their feet ending in grasping talons. It was their breeding season; crude nests of dried seaweed and twigs dotted the ledges, holding clutches of eggs.
Logan scouted the base of a less steep section of cliff, observing the Pteryx's comings and goings. He waited for his moment.
When one adult took flight to hunt over the waves, he moved. His curved claws found minute cracks and protrusions. He scaled the rock face with agile precision, reaching a wide ledge in seconds.
The nest was a crude circle of sun-bleached, brittle sticks nearly two meters across. In its center, on a bed of downy feathers, lay three eggs, each slightly larger than a goose egg.
Time was critical. He grabbed one egg and smashed it against the rock, quickly lapping up the rich contents. He took a second egg carefully in his jaws, preparing to descend.
He was a moment too late.
As his paws touched sand, the frantic beat of wings sounded behind him. He turned to see an enraged Pteryx diving toward him, a silvery, foot-long fish still clutched in one talon.
Logan dropped into a defensive crouch, muscles coiling. He spat the egg onto the sand and raised his tail, the black spike gleaming.
SKREEEEE!
The Pteryx shrieked, diving faster. At the last possible instant, Logan threw himself into a sideways roll. As he moved, his tail lashed out like a whip.
Thwip.
The spike punched into the membrane of the Pteryx's right wing. Muscles at the base of his tail contracted, squeezing the twin venom sacs. A potent cocktail of neuro- and hemotoxins flooded into the wound.
The Pteryx cried out in pain and fury, beating its wings to gain altitude. But the effect was immediate. A creeping numbness spread from the wound, disrupting the precise neural signals to the wing muscles. Its flight became lopsided, clumsy. Within moments, it was forced into an ungainly landing on the sand.
It wasn't finished. Rage burning in its eyes, it charged on foot, using its wings for balance, its long neck giving it a striking range of over two meters. Its sharp beak stabbed downward.
Logan backpedaled, scanning for an escape. A dense thicket of coastal scrub lay nearby. He bolted for it.
The injured Pteryx gave chase, but its lopsided gait hampered its speed. Just as Logan reached the thicket's edge, a strange whistling sound made him duck.
The Pteryx had used its good wing like a giant fan, hurling a cloud of stinging sand and sharp gravel at him.
The distraction was enough. The creature lunged, its beak slicing down toward Logan's back.
Sssskritch!
Agony flared as the beak tore through his keratinous scales, opening a shallow gash. Gritting his teeth, Logan whipped his tail backward blindly.
Thud.
The spike sank into the Pteryx's thigh. He emptied the remainder of his venom reserves into the wound.
The dual assault—nerves misfiring, blood cells rupturing—took a devastating toll. The Pteryx's movements turned sluggish and uncoordinated.
Logan didn't wait. He rolled into the thicket, vanishing into the dense foliage.
From the safety of a thorn bush, he watched. The Pteryx's cries grew weak and ragged. Blood began to seep from its nostrils and eyes as its capillaries failed. Its chest heaved with paralyzed lungs. It stumbled, swayed, and finally collapsed onto the sand.
Two blue notifications appeared in Logan's vision.
Slayed Pteryx. Evolution Points +1.
Consumed Pteryx Egg. Evolution Points +1.
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