Chapter 10: Fire and Flesh

The jungle had its own rhythm, its own cruel, unspoken rules. Eat or be eaten. Hunt or be hunted.

And today, I was the hunter.

The river was quiet when I arrived. The water shimmered under the early morning sun, peaceful on the surface, but I knew better. Beneath that calm, predators lurked, waiting for something weak and stupid to wander too close.

I was no longer weak. And I was far from stupid.

My stomach growled, a sharp reminder of why I was here. The scraps of small prey were no longer enough—I needed more. Bigger kills. Stronger food.

Then, I saw it.

A fish. No, a beast. Twice the size of the one I caught before, its thick, armored scales glinting as it moved beneath the surface. It glided through the water, silent, deadly.

A challenge.

I waited, crouching low by the river's edge, every muscle tense. The moment it drifted close, I struck.

My claws tore through the water, latching onto the creature's slippery body. It thrashed, powerful and violent, but I held on, my wings flaring to keep my balance.

It was strong.

But I was stronger.

With a fierce yank, I hauled it from the water, my teeth sinking into its neck. The taste of blood filled my mouth, but before I could celebrate my victory, the river exploded.

Something massive shot upward from the depths—a gaping maw lined with jagged teeth. Another predator. A bigger one.

It came for me.

I barely had time to react before it lunged, jaws stretching wide, ready to swallow me whole.

Instinct took over.

My chest burned, heat surging through my throat, and before I even realized what I was doing, I let go.

A burst of fire erupted from my mouth—small, weak compared to what I knew a real dragon could unleash—but enough.

The flames shot straight down the creature's open throat.

It let out a gurgled screech, thrashing wildly as smoke poured from its mouth. The scent of scorched flesh filled the air, and for a split second, I saw its massive body convulse.

Then it sank, disappearing beneath the surface, leaving only bubbles and the stench of burnt meat behind.

I hovered in the air, my wings beating furiously, my chest still tingling from the fire.

I did it.

I breathed fire.

I couldn't stop the grin from spreading across my face, but there was no time to dwell on it. I had my prize.

The fish's body was still clutched in my claws, its weight dragging me toward the water. Gritting my teeth, I flapped harder, carrying it toward the shore. It was heavy, but I refused to let it go.

With a final push, I landed on the riverbank, dropping my catch onto the muddy ground. My body ached, my wings burned, but I didn't care.

I won.

Without hesitation, I tore into the fish, ripping chunks of flesh, savoring every bite. It was rich, powerful.

I could feel it making me stronger.

But before I could finish, a sound cut through the jungle.

A deep, guttural growl.

I froze.

Something was coming.

Something big.

I didn't wait to see what it was.

Abandoning the half-eaten fish, I turned and ran.

Because no matter how strong I was getting—

I wasn't the king of this island.

Not yet.