Ximi didn’t want to die.

He ran. He ran as fast as he could.

As he ran away, he saw the Draco focus its attention on the small but infinitely braver human. After being constantly beaten, he evolved but even then, he wasn’t able to do much against the monstrous Draco. It didn’t make sense but Ximi decided that the Draco was an enemy that didn’t make sense.

Despite that, the small human that was so weak in comparison to Ximi continued to fight.

Ximi rushed back home in shame.

The faces of his family and tribe appear in his head. They would look at him with anger and disappointment.

After all, he returned while the Draco was still breathing. How would they know? The Draco hasn’t released its death throes which meant that Ximi failed. His tribe would ostracize him.

Ximi stopped running. He slumped down as he thought of being shunned by everyone he cared for and loved. He grabbed his head in frustration. He didn’t want to be exiled or isolated.

But he suddenly had an epiphany.

It didn’t have to be that way. Forcing himself to stand up, Ximi looks at himself.

His new evolution gave him a tall and imposing visage. He flexed his muscles, demonstrating his new immense strength. Excluding a few creatures that were unchallenged in their parts of the forest, Ximi was one of the world's strongest creatures. He grabs a nearby branch and effortlessly snaps it in half.

He stares at the thick shattered branch in his hand. He knew that he was stronger than before. He couldn’t defeat the Draco but unlike before, he could effortlessly put himself on top of the tribe.

No one in the tribe could defeat him. And he felt that he could somehow prevent the other from evolving like him.

Thinking about it, did Ximi really lose? Yes, he lost against the Draco but now that he was out of imminent danger, did he truly lose?

Ximi quickly realizes that he gained something immensely precious in the fight against the Draco. He didn’t survive an encounter with the strongest creature on the planet to only be bound by tradition.

Ximi confidently roared, releasing a powerful shockwave that spread around his part of the forest.

It was not a roar of victory but rather, a roar of challenge. A roar that challenged his tribe’s laws.

At first, there was no response. After all, Ximi’s tribe lived in fear of the Draco so they only roared when it was necessary or they were far away front the Draco’s territory. At any other time, Ximi’s tribe would mostly communicate through body language.

Their fear was justified. After all, even if Ximi’s entire tribe banded together, they would not be able to defeat the Draco. This was not even considering the Draco’s kin, the super reptiles.

A war against the Draco was something that no one wanted. Michael, Evelyn, and Ximi were unique in that they wanted to actively fight the Draco. But most creatures didn’t want to die or risk their family being attacked.

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Ximi roared again, challenging his tribe.

For a few seconds, there was nothing but silence. Ximi thought that his tribe could not recognize his new voice but a reply came.

The roar was loud but it did not possess the ability to generate shockwaves, a power reserved for superspecies.

Ximi roars back, louder and stronger than before. Like earlier, he releases a shockwave but with effort, he manages to direct it toward his home.

This time, the entire tribe releases a combined roar, greeting Ximi’s challenge.

Ximi felt pressure suddenly surround him as the roar of his family traveled outward.

While none of the berserker apes were awakened, including Ximi, their collected roars were infused with their beliefs and thoughts, creating an effect that was similar to a psionic roar. It was not strong enough to harm anyone but it was enough to temporarily pressure someone to submit.

Ximi felt the collective roar try to force him to submit but he couldn’t give in now. Taking in a large breath of air, Ximi conjures his most powerful roar yet. It was a roar befitting an alpha.

The pressure surrounding him was quickly destroyed as Ximi’s roar traveled across the forest and into his tribe. That roar carried with it Ximi’s desire to shatter old rules and overturn tradition. It was empowered by his desire to become the leader.

He wanted to be alpha but also wanted to be with his people.

That roar arrived at the tribe, causing the old leaders and elders to panic.

Ximi’s tribe consisted of 25 berserker apes. There were 3 elders which acted as its leaders, 4 warriors that fought off large enemies, 3 hunters that regularly filled the meat supply, 2 gatherers that collected edible fruits and vegetables, 3 nursemothers that are responsible for taking care of their young, 5 juveniles, and 6 younglings.

All of the berserker apes were panicking. The elders were strongly panicking because they have never felt a berserker roar that powerful before.

The 3 elders summoned adults of the tribe for a quick meeting. Once the members were present, the elders presented the current issue. It was their champion Ximi.

Before Ximi was sent to slay the Draco, Ximi was crowned as the strongest of the tribe but the 9 gatherers, hunters, and warriors weren’t too far away in terms of ability. It meant that even if Ximi decided to become a tyrant, the others could come together to kill him but now, it was different. Even if the tribe fought Ximi together, the outcome was not guaranteed.

The elders felt a qualitative difference between Ximi’s previous and present roar.

The nine strongest berserker apes felt their fear but at the same time, they couldn’t decline a challenge. It was the very backbone of their culture and life. But Bravery isn’t enough in this world.

Only strength can prevail. Ximi learned this truth the hard way. And the truth is that the berserker apes would not win against the newly evolved Ximi.

During their meeting, the tribe needed to decide on what they intended to do against Ximi, now that their previous champion wanted to be the alpha.

They could ignore it but they knew that Ximi was coming so that wasn’t a sensible choice. They could accept the challenge and send forth a champion but they knew that whoever they sent would lose or worse, die. They could band together to kill Ximi but even if the evolved berserker ape was being arrogant, it wasn’t a just cause to kill him, especially one so strong. They would gain nothing by killing Ximi. That meant that their only real choice was to surrender to Ximi’s demand.

The elders were unsure of what to do.

The warriors didn’t want to surrender without a fight.

The hunters agreed with the warriors but mostly because they wanted to see Ximi’s new strength.

The gatherers, on the other hand, were fine with either choice as long as it resulted in better leadership.

The nursemothers were excited to see Ximi’s new strength. If he was truly stronger, it meant that the next generation would be more powerful.

Some of the juveniles that were allowed to join tried to act tough but a roar from the second-strongest warrior shuts them up.

The younglings did not participate in the meeting.

The meeting started in the afternoon but they were unable to settle on a decision. The tension brought upon by Ximi’s demand caused the berserker apes to become more and more agitated. If a decision wasn’t made soon, a fight would break out.

Argo, the 2nd strongest warrior in the tribe, and the final enemy Ximi had to defeat before he was allowed to challenge the Draco, roars. While not an elder, Argo’s strength allowed him some leverage in this meeting.

He wanted the tribe to band together and kill Ximi so that he could take the spot of the champion. He knew that Ximi evolved but he refused to believe that he was that much stronger.

Roaring once more, Argo forced the others to submit to his decision. There was a nursemother that tried to argue against Argo but with a single threat, he was easily unchallenged.

Looking around, Argo saw the reluctant but agreeing faces of his tribe.

He smiles as he basks in the silence.

If no one challenged his decision, then it meant that the tribe agreed.

Excited, Argo wanted to close the meeting but as it was about to declare the meeting’s end, a terrifying and powerful roar came from the forest.

The trees around the village shook.

The warriors felt their fur stand on end.

Argo felt a sweat climb down his back.

Ximi was here.