Awakening the Dragon

Awakening the Dragon

Basil slumped under the shade of a massive tree, his body bruised and battered from the previous fight. Every breath he took sent a sharp pain through his ribs. He glanced at the ground, his blood staining the dirt, and muttered to himself, "Damn... this is tougher than I thought."

Before he could rest any further, Nytheria appeared out of nowhere, her usual teasing smirk plastered on her face. Without warning, she grabbed him by the hair and dragged him upright.

"Get up, Mama's boy," she said mockingly, ignoring his groans of protest. "You're not done yet."

Basil winced, staggering as he tried to stand on his own. "Nytheria, can you at least give me a—"

She cut him off by tossing him forward, pointing toward a new challenger. A massive beast, twice the size of the previous one, stood before him. Its body was covered in scales that shimmered with an eerie light, and its glowing eyes radiated pure malice.

"Are you kidding me?" Basil muttered, staring at the creature in disbelief.

Nytheria crossed her arms, watching from the sidelines. "Let's see if the great son of the Dragon Queen can handle this one. Or are you going to run back to your mother crying?"

Her words lit a fire in Basil's chest, even as exhaustion weighed heavily on him. "Fine," he spat, glaring at her. "But when I win, you're carrying me back."

Nytheria smirked. "If you win."

A Battle Against the Odds

Basil began the fight with the same strategy he used before—concealing himself with dark magic, boosting his speed with wind, and striking with electricity. But this beast was faster and smarter than the last.

As he lunged toward it, the beast anticipated his movement, swiping him aside with a massive claw. The force sent Basil crashing into the ground, dust and debris flying everywhere.

Nytheria laughed, her voice dripping with mockery. "Is that all you've got? You're not even entertaining."

Basil gritted his teeth, pushing himself up despite the pain. His body screamed in protest, still reeling from the injuries of the last battle. "Shut up," he muttered, his voice barely audible.

He tried again, switching up his tactics. This time, he used ice magic to create barriers and traps, hoping to slow the beast down. But it shattered them with ease. Fire magic? The creature brushed it off. Earth magic? It leapt over his traps effortlessly.

Each failure only fueled Nytheria's mocking commentary. "Wow, you're really giving it your all, huh? I think even a hatchling could do better than this."

But despite her taunts, she was secretly observing him closely. His mana capacity is incredible, she thought. Even after all this, he hasn't run out. What are you hiding, Basil?

Pushed to the Limit

Basil's frustration grew with each failed attempt. His body was reaching its limit, but his mind refused to give up. He muttered under his breath, "Fuck... fuck... this is impossible."

The beast roared, charging at him again. Basil dodged, barely avoiding a fatal blow. His vision blurred, his breath came in ragged gasps, and yet he kept going.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck!" he shouted, his voice rising with anger. His emotions boiled over, the frustration of constant failure and Nytheria's endless teasing pushing him to his breaking point.

He screamed, "Enough!"

Suddenly, the air around him shifted. A powerful, primal energy erupted from within him, shaking the ground. Basil's eyes began to glow with an intense light, and small horns started to sprout from his head. His aura turned wild and uncontrollable, radiating a power that made even the beast hesitate.

Nytheria's mocking grin vanished, replaced by shock. What is this? she thought, stepping back instinctively. This isn't normal.

The temperature around Basil dropped sharply, frost forming on the ground as a chilling wind swirled around him. Cracks of lightning danced across his body, and his presence became overwhelming.

The beast, sensing the danger, roared in defiance and charged at him. But Basil didn't move. He stood still, his glowing eyes locked onto the creature.

Nytheria's voice was a whisper, filled with both awe and fear. "What... are you?"

As Basil took a step forward, the chapter ended, leaving the air thick with anticipation.