Far below, a deer suddenly lifted its head.
Something streaked across the sky.
A blue trail and a dark purple trail cut through the winter clouds, moving so quickly that the deer barely had time to follow them with its eyes.
Then it bolted into the forest.
High above the snow-covered trees, Mia and Ebruhan flew side by side, mana glowing around their bodies as their flight left brilliant trails behind them.
Leo looked toward Ebruhan for a moment before glancing down at the landscape below.
"We could've invited Xavier too…"
He sighed.
"But he's mostly staying at his aunt's house these days. Kinda sad for him."
"Mhm."
Mia glanced down as well.
The world beneath them had transformed into a sea of white. Snow-covered forests stretched toward the horizon, their branches glittering beneath the morning sunlight.
Leo leaned slightly to the side, enjoying the view.
"Everything really does look beautiful from up here."
Iyas, sitting comfortably on Ebruhan's back, nodded.
"Agreed."
He paused.
"Although my first flight with Ebruhan wasn't nearly as enjoyable."
Leo immediately laughed.
"Haha! Because Ebruhan threatened to drop you, right?"
Iyas's ears flattened.
"Yeah…"
Mia looked toward Ebruhan.
The Storm Dragon had been unusually quiet for most of the journey, his eyes focused ahead as he maintained their course.
"Ebruhan?"
"Hm?"
"You seem quiet."
Ebruhan didn't look away from the horizon.
"I'm merely focusing on our route. Nothing more."
Mia narrowed her eyes slightly.
She wasn't entirely convinced.
After a moment, however, she returned her attention to the scenery below.
Then another thought surfaced.
"About that pack rule…"
Ebruhan's expression changed slightly.
Mia continued.
"Do you think it's entirely true?"
Ebruhan finally glanced toward her as Mia tilted her head.
"I mean… if that rule really applies to every dragon, then why did my abyss father and mother accept me?"
Her voice became quieter.
"My father could've just ignored me, couldn't he?"
She looked ahead.
"But he didn't."
A small pause.
"And when I was taken to the Abyss…"
Her expression softened.
"Mother welcomed me warmly."
The wind rushed past them, carrying Mia's words away into the open sky.
Ebruhan remained silent for several seconds Then his eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
"You've noticed the contradiction."
Mia nodded.
"Yeah."
Ebruhan looked toward the distant horizon.
"The rule is absolute among the traditional packs. That doesn't mean every dragon obeys it."
Mia blinked.
"So… my parents broke the rule?"
"In a sense."
Ebruhan's voice remained calm.
"Varkryth is the Sovereign of the Abyss. Nythera stands beside him. They aren't exactly dragons who are easily pressured by the customs of ordinary packs."
Mia's eyes widened slightly.
"So they can just ignore it?"
"Not without consequences."
Ebruhan's expression became more serious.
"Even powerful dragons can be judged by other dragons. But your parents chose you regardless."
Mia looked down at the snowy forest.
A small smile appeared on her face.
"So they thought the rule was stupid too."
Ebruhan chuckled.
"Perhaps."
He looked at her.
"Or perhaps they simply decided that you mattered more than the rule."
Mia went quiet.
For some reason, that answer felt warmer than she expected.
Beside them, Leo smiled faintly.
Iyas, meanwhile, looked at Ebruhan.
"And you did the same thing, didn't you?"
Ebruhan's eyes softened.
"Yes."
He looked forward again.
"I suppose I did."
Mia was quiet for a moment.
Then she looked toward Ebruhan.
"Then…"
Her voice was soft beneath the rushing wind.
"I hope your pack accepts you someday too."
Ebruhan's eyes shifted slightly toward her.
Mia smiled.
"You deserve that."
She flew a little closer.
"You're the best dragon I've ever met…"
Her smile grew warmer.
"And the most loyal friend I've ever had."
Leo nodded beside her.
"And the greatest teacher and mentor."
Iyas's ears perked up.
"And a kind dragon."
For a moment, Ebruhan said nothing.
The four of them continued flying through the clear winter sky, leaving trails of blue and purple mana behind them as the snow-covered world stretched endlessly below.
Then Ebruhan smiled.
He looked forward again, his expression calm and warm.
"Thank you."
--------
Night had fallen over the mountains.
Snow continued to drift from the dark sky, falling thicker with every passing hour as the temperature dropped. Even the wind had become sharper, making long-distance flight increasingly difficult.
Ebruhan glanced around while flying, searching through the darkness.
Then he spotted a mountain ahead.
"There."
He angled his wings toward it.
"Let's take a break. It's getting difficult to fly in weather like this."
Mia and Leo followed him toward the mountain, eventually landing near the entrance of a large cave.
Once everyone was safely inside, Ebruhan raised a hand.
His magic inventory opened with a faint shimmer.
A lantern floated out of it, carried by his telekinesis, before gently settling onto the cave floor.
The warm light immediately pushed back some of the darkness.
Ebruhan looked outside.
"Wait here."
Before anyone could ask what he meant, he spread his wings and flew back into the snowy night.
A few moments later—
BOOM!
The sound of an explosion echoed through the mountains.
Leo looked toward the cave entrance.
"…What was that?"
Mia tilted her head.
"I don't know."
They waited.
Eventually, the sound of wings approached through the snow.
Ebruhan returned, carrying nothing visible in his claws.
Then he opened his magic inventory.
More several pieces of pinewood dropped onto the ground.
"I found some firewood."
Leo immediately began arranging the pieces into a small fire pit.
Once he finished, Ebruhan leaned forward and released a small breath of flame.
Whoosh.
The wood caught fire.
Within moments, a cozy campfire crackled inside the cave, filling the cold shelter with warmth.
Leo sat down beside it and pulled out some dried meat from one of his bags.
"Dinner!"
He stabbed several pieces onto wooden sticks and held them over the fire, carefully turning them as they roasted.
The smell soon filled the cave.
When they were ready, Leo handed the roasted meat around to everyone.
"Here."
Mia happily accepted hers.
Iyas took his as well, while Ebruhan simply smiled before taking a piece.
For a while, they ate in comfortable silence.
The only sounds were the crackling fire and the muffled wind outside.
Then Leo looked toward Ebruhan.
"Ebruhan…"
"Hm?"
"I never really asked you about it before."
Ebruhan looked at him.
"About what?"
"How you ended up in Lumeris."
Leo hesitated for a moment.
"I want to know."
He glanced at Ebruhan's old scars, then back at his face.
"How did you get injured?"
Ebruhan's expression became quieter.
Leo continued.
"And… what were your parents like?"
A small pause.
"What did your pack look like?"
The fire crackled between them.
Ebruhan stared into the flames for several seconds.
Those questions were simple.
But the memories behind them were anything but.
Finally, he leaned back against the cave wall.
"You really want to hear about all that?"
Leo nodded.
"Yeah."
Mia quietly moved a little closer as well.
She wanted to hear it too.
Ebruhan looked at the three of them sitting around the fire.
Then he smiled faintly.
"All right."
He turned his gaze back toward the flames.
"Then I suppose it's time you learned about the dragon I used to be."
--------
Twenty-one Years Ago
--------
Ebruhan was four years old.
He was still young by dragon standards, but old enough to recognize what he was—and old enough to begin becoming conscious of the weight that came with being a True Dragon.
He was a dragon.
And according to everything he had been taught, that meant he was superior to every other being in the world.
His father, Ebrukian, made sure he understood that from an early age.
"Remember this, Ebruhan."
The young dragon sat before his father, listening carefully.
"You are a True Dragon."
Ebrukian's voice carried the certainty of someone who had never questioned his own beliefs.
"Dragons stand above all other beings. Humans, beastfolk, elves… none of them possess what we do."
Ebruhan listened with wide eyes.
"To be a dragon is to carry pride."
Ebrukian lowered his head slightly, looking directly into his son's eyes.
"It is your honor. Your strength. Your blood."
He paused.
"And you must never allow another species to make you forget that."
Young Ebruhan nodded.
"Yes, Father."
Ebrukian continued teaching him.
He taught him about dragon pride.
Dragon honor.
The importance of never showing weakness.
The hierarchy between dragons and what they considered lesser species.
He taught Ebruhan that accepting help from weaker beings was beneath a dragon's dignity, and that allowing oneself to become attached to humans could be viewed as abandoning the pride of their kind.
Ebruhan absorbed every lesson.
At four years old, he had no reason to question any of it.
His father was a True Dragon.
His pack believed the same thing.
And therefore, to young Ebruhan, it had to be true.
He didn't know yet that one day, the world would force him to question everything his father had taught him.
He only knew one thing.
He was a dragon.
And he was proud of it.
Ebruhan's childhood wasn't all lessons about pride and honor.
He had a family.
His mother, Emiru, was gentle and affectionate, especially after his father finished teaching him. She would pull him close, groom his scales, and make sure he was warm and comfortable before he inevitably wandered off.
Then there were his older siblings.
His eldest sister, Simiru, was kind and patient with him, while his older brother, Drehan, often let Ebruhan follow him around despite the considerable difference in their ages.
And there were the other seven blue dragons who belonged to their pack.
Together, they made a small but tightly bonded family.
At the center of it all stood Ebrukian, Ebruhan's father and the pack leader.
Every dragon in pack respected him.
He was strong, confident, and proud—a leader who had never allowed another dragon to question his authority.
Ebruhan admired him more than anyone.
Whenever Ebrukian finished teaching him about dragon pride, honor, or magic, Emiru would immediately pull her son close and groom his scales.
"You've had enough lessons for today," she would say.
"But Mother—"
"No buts."
Ebruhan would grumble, but he always ended up curling against her anyway.
His childhood was fun.
Very fun.
He didn't even have to hunt yet.
Whenever Ebruhan asked to accompany the adults on a hunt, Ebrukian would simply refuse.
"You're too young."
"But I'm almost five!"
"Exactly. Almost five."
Ebruhan would puff his cheeks.
His siblings were allowed to accompany their father, but Ebruhan usually stayed behind with Emiru.
He didn't particularly mind.
There were plenty of things to do at home.
Simiru and Drehan would play with him, sometimes teaching him small spells they had learned themselves. His mother would groom him or watch him practice his wings, while Ebrukian occasionally gave him simple combat lessons or taught him basic magic.
Sometime,his father occasionally brought him along with his siblings to observe humans.
On one particular day, the young dragons watched from a distance as a human settlement moved about below.
Ebruhan lifted his head and sniffed the air.
"This is what they smell like? Funny things"
"Humans," Ebrukian answered.
Ebruhan sniffed again.
He was trying his best to memorize the scent.
Ebrukian watched him with amusement.
"Among the lesser species, these hairless monkeys are some of the most annoying creatures we may encounter someday."
Ebruhan looked at the humans below.
"Really? They look weak as hell."
He tilted his head.
"I think I could handle them."
He flexed his tiny claws.
"Look at them. They're so fragile. No claws, no wings…"
He pointed his snout toward one of the humans.
"Not even horns."
Ebrukian chuckled.
"You shouldn't underestimate them."
Ebruhan blinked.
"Why?"
"Because humans are annoying precisely because they always find a way."
Ebrukian's expression became more serious.
"If a human is determined enough, they can possess courage that even dragons sometimes lack. They can make deals, create weapons, and overcome obstacles despite having none of the natural advantages we possess."
Ebruhan stared at the humans again.
"Even against superior beings like us?"
"Even against us."
Ebruhan didn't understand.
Not yet.
To him, dragons were dragons.
Superior.
Powerful.
Untouchable.
There was no reason to doubt it.
So the days continued.
Lessons.
Training.
Play.
Family.
Hunting trips that Ebruhan wasn't allowed to join.
And evenings spent curled up beside his mother while his siblings returned from their adventures with their father.
Everything was perfect.
Until it wasn't.
---
One Year Later
Ebruhan was five years old.
His body had grown considerably, nearly reaching the size of an adult horse.
His wings were broader, his claws sharper, and the magic inside him had begun to strengthen.
He was still young.
But he was no longer a helpless hatchling.
Then one day—
ROOOOOOAAAAARRRRRRR!
The mountains shook as a challenging roar travelled through their territory .
Ebruhan's head snapped upward.
Outside the pack's territory, a massive group of green dragons had gathered, there are twenty five of them, which clearly outnumbered Ebrukian pack easily.
Ebrukian immediately spread his wings, making his already massive body appear even larger as he stood before his pack.
Behind him, Emiru, Simiru, Drehan, and the other blue dragons took their positions.
Ebruhan stayed close to his mother.
A large green dragon stepped forward from the opposing group.
Judging by the way the others followed his movements, he was their pack leader.
"Hear me, weaklings!"
His voice echoed across the valley.
"This territory belongs to us now."
His eyes narrowed.
"You can leave peacefully and save yourselves."
Ebrukian stared him down.
"And if we refuse?"
The green dragon's lips curled into a vicious grin.
"Then we can settle this the bloody way."
Ebrukian lowered his body slightly as his wings spread wider.
"Do you really think we would simply stand down?"
His voice rumbled through the valley.
"How stupid of you to demand another dragon's territory as though we would surrender it without a fight."
The green leader laughed.
"Oh, I might be stupid…"
His claws dug into the earth.
"But I'm not foolish enough to challenge a pack that's clearly outnumbered."
He looked across the blue dragons.
"Twenty-five against eleven?."
A smug smile appeared on his face.
"This is your final chance, Storm Dragons."
He raised his head.
"Leave."
Ebrukian slowly lifted his head.
"We would rather die than abandon our territory."
His eyes burned with pride.
"So come on, you green bugs!"
Mana began gathering around his claws.
"I'll crush every single one of you if you refuse to leave."
The green dragon's smile vanished.
"So be it."
He opened his jaws.
ROOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAARRRRRRRRR!
The entire green pack charged.
"FIGHT!"
Ebrukian launched himself forward.
The two packs collided.
The valley erupted into chaos.
Claws struck scales. Fangs snapped. Mana exploded through the air as dragons unleashed spell after spell, each attack lighting up the battlefield.
Ebrukian slammed his head into an incoming green dragon.
BOOM!
The impact sent the dragon tumbling across the ground.Then green dragon pack leader immediately rushed toward him and Ebrukian met him head-on.
Their jaws snapped together as they crashed into each other, claws scraping against scales while their wings beat violently against the ground.
Neither gave an inch.
Elsewhere, the rest of the pack fought desperately.
Emiru was surrounded by three green dragons, weaving between their attacks and striking whenever an opening appeared.
Simiru and Drehan fought alongside the other members of the pack, each struggling to hold their ground against the overwhelming numbers.
Ebruhan watched from the edge of the battlefield.
His heart hammered.
He had never seen his family fight like this before.
Then—
A shadow passed over him and Ebruhan looked up as he see a green dragon was diving straight toward him with its jaws opened.
Ebruhan's instincts took over.
He spread his wings.
His claws dug into the earth.
And instead of retreating—He charged.
The young blue dragon met the incoming dragon head-on.
CRASH!
The green dragon snapped its jaws at Ebruhan, but he twisted aside just in time. Its teeth clamped shut on empty air.
Ebruhan immediately retaliated.
Several blue mana spikes materialized around him before shooting toward the green dragon like arrows but the attacks never reached their target.
A translucent shield appeared in front of the green dragon, absorbing the mana spikes with a series of sharp impacts.
The green dragon glanced at Ebruhan through the shield, a mocking grin spreading across its face.
Green Dragon: "Weak."
Before Ebruhan could react, the dragon lunged forward. Its front claws swept toward Ebruhan's back, forcing him to twist his body aside. The claws still caught him, leaving several painful scratches across his back.
The green dragon immediately followed with a bite.
But—
CRASH!
A concentrated blast of mana struck the dragon from the side.
Drehan had arrived.
The green dragon was thrown several meters away, rolling across the ground before quickly regaining its footing.
Drehan rushed to Ebruhan's side.
Drehan: "You okay, brother?"
Ebruhan steadied himself, breathing heavily as he looked at the scratches across his side.
Ebruhan: "Y-yes…"
Drehan gave him a quick nod before turning back toward the battlefield.
Two more green dragons were already charging toward them.
Drehan stepped forward and intercepted both attacks, blocking their claws before pushing them back with a burst of mana.
The two dragons immediately surrounded him.
Drehan growled and launched himself into the fight.
Ebruhan watched his brother for only a moment before another roar shook the battlefield.
Then the sky changed.
Rain suddenly began pouring from the dark clouds overhead.
Thunder rumbled through the mountains as lightning briefly illuminated the battlefield, revealing dozens of dragons fighting beneath the storm.
The ground quickly became soaked, turning muddy beneath their claws.
Ebruhan wiped the rain from his eyes and looked around.
His mother.
Emiru had already defeated three green dragons.
But she was far from unharmed.
Scratch marks covered her body, and several wounds left her movements slower than before. Yet despite her injuries, she continued fighting without hesitation.
Then Ebruhan looked toward his father.
Ebrukian was still fighting the green pack leader.
The two massive dragons collided again.
Ebrukian's front claw slashed across the green leader's snout, forcing his opponent backward. Before the green dragon could recover, Ebrukian swung his tail and sent him stumbling away.
The green pack leader immediately charged back.
The two dragons collided once again, locking their claws together as they struggled for control.
Then another green dragon saw an opening as It lunged toward Ebrukian's exposed side and bit down.
GRRAH!
Ebrukian roared and immediately retaliated.
He slammed his head into the green pack leader, knocking him backward, then fired a concentrated mana blast that struck the rival leader and forced him away.
Before the other green dragon could attack again, Ebrukian pinned it to the ground with one massive paw.
The dragon struggled beneath him, but Ebrukian held firm before forcing its jaws to rip opened,
Green dragon struggling a bit before it jaw got force opened upwards with a bone crack sound and went still.
Another green dragon charged from behind.
Ebrukian sensed it at the last moment.
He twisted aside, allowing the attack to pass him, then fired a mana bomb directly into the dragon's path.
BOOM!
The blast sent the attacker tumbling away but Ebrukian barely had time to breathe because the green pack leader was already coming for him again.
Ebrukian raised a shield just as the attack struck.
BAAAM!
The shield trembled under the impact.
A moment later, Ebrukian pushed forward.
The two pack leaders clashed once more.
Around them, the battle was becoming increasingly desperate.
The Storm Dragon pack was fighting with everything they had, refusing to surrender their territory despite being heavily outnumbered.
But the green dragons kept coming.
One by one, the blue dragons were being pushed back.
Four members of Ebrukian's pack had already fallen.
Simiru, meanwhile, had become surrounded by four green dragons.
She fought desperately, striking one after another, but the sheer number of enemies was beginning to overwhelm her.
Ebruhan stared at the battlefield in disbelief.
His family was still fighting.
His pack was still fighting.
But they were losing.
Then he heard his mother.
Emiru: "Ebruhan… flee!"
Ebruhan froze.
He looked toward her.
Ebruhan: "But, Mother! I shall—"
Emiru: "No!"
Her voice cut through the thunder.
She turned toward him, her expression firm despite the exhaustion in her eyes.
Emiru: "You must flee. I will not allow any harm to come to you."
Ebruhan stared at her.
His heart pounded.
Ebruhan: "I…"
Emiru stepped toward him, her voice becoming even more commanding.
Emiru: "NOW! No explaining and no complaining! You will survive, no matter what. Do you understand?"
Ebruhan could barely find his voice.
Ebruhan: "…I…"
Emiru stared directly into his eyes.
Emiru: "Promise me that!"
Ebruhan swallowed.
He wanted to refuse.
He wanted to stay.
His father was still fighting. His siblings were still fighting. His mother was still fighting.
How could he simply leave them behind?
But Emiru had already turned away.
Without waiting for another answer, she charged back into the battle.
Simiru was still surrounded, and Emiru immediately threw herself into the fight beside her daughter, driving one of the green dragons away.
Then, for just a moment, Emiru looked back.
Her eyes met Ebruhan's.
Emiru: "GO!"
Ebruhan hesitated.
His claws dug into the wet ground as he looked at his mother, then at his siblings, then toward his father.
Thunder rolled across the sky.
Rain poured down around them.
He didn't want to leave.
Every instinct inside him screamed to stay with his family.
But his mother's final command echoed in his mind.
You will survive.
Ebruhan finally spread his wings.
With one powerful beat, he launched himself into the sky.
A green dragon noticed him immediately and broke away from the battle, attempting to follow.
But before it could take off—
CRASH!
Drehan slammed into it from the side.
The two dragons tumbled through the mud and crashed back onto the battlefield.
Drehan: "You're not getting him!"
Ebruhan continued flying.
Higher, Farther.. until the battlefield slowly became smaller beneath him.
Yet he couldn't stop looking back.
Through the rain, he could still see flashes of blue and green mana illuminating the ground below. He could still hear distant roars and the thunderous sound of dragons colliding.
His family was down there.
His pack was down there.
And he was leaving them behind.
Ebruhan's wings carried him farther into the storm, but his eyes remained fixed on the battlefield until it disappeared behind the mountains.
A sharp sting suddenly spread across his back.
He flinched.
Rainwater had seeped into the scratches he had received earlier, making the wounds ache beneath his scales.
But he kept flying.
He didn't stop.
Because his mother had told him to survive.
And for the first time in his young life, Ebruhan had to learn what it meant to obey a command that broke his heart.
Ebruhan continued flying through the storm, forcing his wings to carry him farther and farther away from the battlefield. Rain struck his scales relentlessly, soaking his body and making every wingbeat heavier, while thunder rolled across the mountains like distant roars. He could still feel the ache in his body from the battle, but he refused to slow down. His mother had told him to flee, and although every part of him wanted to turn around and return to his family, he knew he had to obey.
I have to survive.
That was what Mother had asked of him.
Ebruhan tightened his claws as he flew through the dark clouds, trying not to think about what was happening behind him and he was leaving them behind.
He suddenly sensed something.
Ebruhan's ears twitched as he slowed his flight and looked over his shoulder. The scent carried through the rain was faint, but unmistakable.
Green dragon.
His eyes widened.
He immediately turned around, but the moment he did, a green blur shot through the rain and slammed into him from behind.
CRASH!
The impact sent both dragons tumbling through the sky. Ebruhan lost control of his flight as the green dragon hooked its claws around him, and the two of them plunged toward the forest below. They tore through the treetops, snapping branches and scattering leaves before crashing into the muddy ground near the base of a mountain.
Ebruhan rolled several times before striking a large stone.
CRACK!
Pain shot through his body.
He tried to spread his left wing, only for a sharp jolt to run through it. The wing hung loosely at his side, refusing to respond properly.
Before he could recover, the green dragon grabbed him by the scruff and dragged him upright.
"Going somewhere, weakling?"
The dragon threw him aside.
Ebruhan crashed against another stone and struggled to keep himself from collapsing.
The green dragon slowly approached, its expression filled with contempt.
"You really thought you could escape? Your pathetic pack is already finished. You're the only one running away."
Ebruhan raised his head despite the pain.
"I'm not running away."
The green dragon laughed.
"Then what are you doing?"
Ebruhan's claws dug into the wet earth as he forced himself to stand.
"I'm surviving."
The green dragon's grin widened.
"Then survive this."
It lunged.
Ebruhan twisted aside just before its jaws snapped shut, then immediately counterattacked with several mana spikes. They shot toward the green dragon in rapid succession, but a translucent shield formed around its body and blocked every projectile.
The mana spikes shattered against the barrier.
The green dragon barely moved.
"That's all?"
Ebruhan didn't answer. He charged instead, lowering his head as he rushed forward. The two dragons collided, claws striking against scales as Ebruhan desperately tried to find an opening. He managed to land a slash across the green dragon's shoulder, forcing it back for a moment, but the larger dragon quickly recovered and swung its wing.
The blow caught Ebruhan across the side and sent him skidding through the mud.
He immediately rolled away as another claw swept through the space where his head had been. The green dragon kept attacking without giving him time to recover, forcing Ebruhan to rely entirely on his instincts. He dodged one strike, blocked another, and barely avoided a third before lunging forward and biting into the green dragon's neck.
The green dragon roared and slammed its wing against Ebruhan's head.
Ebruhan was thrown away.
Before he could get back up, the green dragon was already on top of him.
One heavy claw pinned him to the ground while the dragon lowered its head and clamped its jaws around Ebruhan's neck.
Ebruhan's eyes widened.
He clawed desperately at the ground, trying to break free, but his strength was rapidly disappearing.
"You're persistent," the green dragon muttered.
Its jaws tightened.
"Tell me, little Storm Dragon. Where do you think you're going to go after your pack is gone?"
Ebruhan struggled beneath it, his claws slipping against the mud.
"Get... off…"
The dragon pressed him harder into the ground.
"You're weak."
Ebruhan's breathing became increasingly difficult as the pressure around his neck increased. His vision began to blur, and the rain falling against his face seemed strangely distant. He could barely hear the thunder anymore.
Then memories began flashing through his mind.
His mother's warm embrace.
His father's lessons.
Simiru teaching him magic.
Drehan playing with him.
The entire pack gathered together.
His home.
His family.
I can't die.
Ebruhan's claws dug into the earth.
Mother told me to survive.
He pushed against the dragon with everything he had left.
The green dragon growled and tightened its grip.
"You're still struggling?"
Ebruhan's vision darkened.
"I…"
His claws trembled as he forced himself to keep moving.
"…will survive."
Then the sky exploded.
BOOOOOOM!
Lightning struck a nearby tree, and an electrical shockwave ripped through the clearing.
The green dragon was caught directly in the discharge and was thrown away, its body momentarily locked up by the electricity before it crashed into the ground.
Ebruhan was struck as well.
For a moment, his entire body went numb.
But unlike the green dragon, he remained conscious.
Dragons were naturally resistant to lightning, and although the electricity left his muscles tingling and unresponsive, it wasn't enough to incapacitate him.
Ebruhan slowly pushed himself upright.
Across the clearing, the green dragon was doing the same.
Both dragons struggled to stand.
The green dragon looked at Ebruhan with disbelief before forcing itself upright.
"You're little lucky bastard"
Ebruhan breathed heavily.
"Looks like... you are too."
The green dragon snarled.
Then it charged.
Ebruhan lowered his head and met it head-on.
CRASH!
Their bodies collided with enough force to shake the ground beneath them. Ebruhan tried to hold his position, but the green dragon gradually pushed him backward until his claws began carving lines through the mud.
Ebruhan twisted at the last moment and redirected the dragon's momentum, sending both of them stumbling sideways.
He immediately followed with a mana blast.
BOOM!
The attack struck the green dragon's side and forced it back.
Ebruhan charged before it could recover, slamming his head into its chest and knocking it several meters away. He followed with another mana strike, then another, refusing to give the dragon an opportunity to regain control.
But each attack took something from him.
His breathing became rougher.
His movements became slower.
His injured wing dragged beside him.
The green dragon finally caught one of his attacks and violently threw him aside.
Ebruhan crashed into the stone wall at the mountain's base.
CRACK!
He dropped to one knee.
For a few seconds, he could do nothing but breathe.
The green dragon approached through the rain.
"You fought harder than I expected."
Ebruhan slowly raised his head.
"But you're still weak."
The dragon suddenly charged.
Ebruhan pushed himself away from the wall just as the claws came down. He rolled across the mud, narrowly avoiding the attack, but the green dragon immediately turned and pursued him.
Ebruhan dodged again.
And again.
The green dragon was faster now, and Ebruhan could feel his strength disappearing. He couldn't keep fighting like this much longer.
He needed something else.
His eyes moved across the clearing.
Trees.
Rocks.
The mountain.
Then he noticed something above the green dragon.
A massive section of stone protruded from the mountainside.
It was cracked
Ebruhan stared at it for a moment.
I can't beat it.
His gaze shifted back to the green dragon.
But I don't have to.
The green dragon charged once more.
Ebruhan waited until the last possible moment before jumping aside.
The green dragon's head slammed into the stone wall.
BOOM!
Ebruhan immediately fired a mana bomb upward.
The projectile flew past the green dragon and struck the cracked section of the mountain.
BOOOOOOM!
The explosion shook the entire mountainside.
The green dragon looked upward.
"What are you—"
A deep rumbling sound answered.
The enormous stone formation fall down as Ebruhan immediately moved away.
The green dragon realized what was happening and tried to run, but its injured and weakened body couldn't move quickly enough.
The rock came crashing down it head
CRAAAAASH!
A massive cloud of dust and rainwater erupted through the clearing as the boulder slammed into the ground.
The green dragon head disappeared beneath it, it body struggles a bit before it went still.
Ebruhan stood several meters away, breathing heavily as he stared at the fallen stone.
He waited.
Nothing moved.
He waited a little longer.
Still nothing.
Only the rain answered him.
Ebruhan finally lowered his head.
He had won.
Not because he was stronger.
Not because he had overpowered his opponent.
He had survived because he refused to give up, adapted to the situation, and used the environment around him when brute strength was no longer enough.
For a young dragon who had spent his entire life believing that strength was everything, it was perhaps the first time Ebruhan had truly learned that surviving a battle did not always mean defeating an enemy through superior power.
But there was no pride in his victory.
Ebruhan slowly looked back toward the direction he had come from.
The battlefield was far beyond the mountains now.
He couldn't see it anymore.
Yet he could still imagine it.
His father fighting.
His siblings surrounded.
His mother standing between him and danger.
His claws tightened against the muddy ground.
I left them.
Ebruhan knew the truth. His mother had ordered him to flee because she wanted him to live. She had looked him in the eyes and demanded that he promise to survive.
But knowing that didn't make leaving any easier.
They stayed.
His chest tightened.
And I left.
Ebruhan lowered his head as rainwater streamed down his face.
"I'm sorry…"
His voice was barely louder than the rain.
"I'm sorry, Mother."
He closed his eyes.
"I should have stayed."
A tremor ran through his exhausted body as the guilt settled deeper inside him. He knew that returning would have meant disobeying her final command, yet some part of him still believed that a dragon who abandoned his pack had failed them.
For the first time, Ebruhan didn't feel like the strong dragon his father had taught him to become.
He simply felt like a child who had survived when everyone else had remained behind.
His injured wing trembled.
His legs finally gave out.
Ebruhan collapsed into the wet ground, too exhausted to fight the storm or his own thoughts any longer.
The rain continued to fall around him.
His breathing became slower.
His vision faded.
And before he could see anything else, Ebruhan finally lost consciousness.