The branches crunched into splinters as Brass crashed through the underbrush, rolling to a halt nearly thirty feet from where he’d been moments ago. The impact drove the wind from his lungs, and for a moment, his vision swam with stars. His ribs protested violently, sending sharp pain through his torso as he pushed himself up, groaning. A sickening pop followed as his back snapped into alignment, the pain ebbing away unnaturally fast.
Activating his Blood Magic, Brass felt a cold, crawling sensation sweep through his veins, draining his mana as it mended his battered body. His health ticked upward, but his Mana bar dropped by a glaring 7 points.
“That’s half my reserves… One more use at most,” he muttered, wiping blood from his chin as the dragon roared again, its guttural challenge vibrating through his chest.
Before he could regain his footing, a burst of flame lit up the night, exploding against the dragon’s scaled face. The beast snarled in fury, its glowing green eyes locking onto Serra as she darted through the clearing.
The fiery runes dancing along her staff, voice ringing out with frantic taunts. She flung another fireball, the flames crackling in the night as she tried to lure the dragon away, but he knew she wouldn’t outrun it for long.
“Damn it, you scaly bastard,” he cursed, his beast blood roaring in his veins. “Let’s dance.” He couldn’t afford to keep holding back—it would get them both killed.
The joints through his body clicked ominously as he channeled all his supernatural strength, launching himself toward the dragon just as its talons closed around Serra. He hit the beast’s side like a battering ram, his momentum slamming into the thick, scaled hide.
The dragon staggered, dropping Serra, she rolled clear just as it spun to retaliate, its tail lashing out in a whip-like arc.
Brass ducked under the tail’s trajectory, feeling the rush of air as it narrowly missed taking his head off. As it swung past, he twisted his axe handle, catching the pick-like back end between two of the jagged spikes along the dragon’s tail. The force jerked him into the air, the impact jolting up his arms.
Gritting his teeth, he used the momentum to spin and deliver a solid kick to it's head.
"Wow, now where was that level of tenacity in the hunt against the deer?" The zooming form of the system taunted as it enjoyed the scene.
The beast recoiled, roaring in fury, its breath spilling a noxious green mist that stung Brass’s eyes and throat. Before he could drop back to the ground, his hand shot out, latching onto one of the dragon’s jagged neck spikes. His body slammed into its neck with bone-rattling force, his claws digging in as he clung for dear life.
The dragon reared up suddenly, its full, terrifying height towering above the trees. For a split second, he was paralyzed by the sheer size of it, its shadow engulfing the forest as it stood on its hind legs. He barely had time to react before it swatted at him with a foreleg that would send him hurtling toward the ground like a ragdoll.
"If you think that is large you should see the adults" Once again the system piqued, interjecting itself.
Ignoring it and focusing just before impact, he activated Soul Siphon, his vision pulsing as a surge of energy exploded through him.
The ability pulled at the very essence of the dragon’s vitality. The world seemed dimmed, his senses locked onto the creature’s lifeforce. Tendrils of energy, dark and pulsating, flowed from the dragon into his own body.
It was intoxicating—a flood of power that momentarily dulled the pain of battle and filled him with primal euphoria.
[Ability Triggered: Draconic Mutation - Wings Manifested]
A searing, alien sensation bloomed in his back as something ripped through his flesh. Brass gasped in agony as two massive wings tore free, their membrane stretching wide in the moonlight. The newfound limbs twitched and flapped instinctively, halting his descent as he hovered awkwardly above the ground.
“Holy—what the hell?!” Brass barely had time to process the notification flashing in his periphery before the dragon noticed his new advantage.
The beast bellowed its fury, flames curling in its maw before it unleashed a massive torrent of fire straight at him. The heat surged toward him, blistering the air as he flailed clumsily, his wings flapping wildly to carry him upward. Flying wasn’t like running—it was disorienting, every flap of his wings throwing him off balance as he struggled to coordinate his limbs. His muscles screamed in protest, unused to the unnatural movement, but instinct—likely borrowed from the dragon itself—kept him aloft.
Below, the inferno scorched the earth, trees igniting in a blazing line as the dragon’s fire carved destruction through the forest. The roar of flames drowned out his frantic thoughts, but he managed to rise higher, narrowly avoiding the deadly attack.
“Alright,” he panted, his wings stabilizing as he found his rhythm. “This might actually be useful—if I don’t die first.”
The dragon’s head snapped upward, its fiery gaze tracking him with a predator’s focus. Letting him know he had only seconds before it made its next move.
“Let’s see if these wings come with a user manual,” he muttered grimly, banking hard to the left as the dragon’s jaws snapped where he’d just been hovering.
“Come on, system! You’re supposed to make this easy, right? Help me out with a flight skill or something!” Brass shouted as his wings flailed wildly, sending him careening straight into the side of a tree. The impact rattled his bones, and the system helpfully pinged in his mind.
[Damage Taken: 3 HP]
“Oh, now you’re willing to talk to me? And here I thought you’d just keep ignoring me,” the system responded in its usual snarky tone.
Brass groaned, grabbing onto a sturdy branch to halt his fall, his fingers digging into the rough bark. “Not the time for commentary, bud,” he muttered, hoisting himself up onto the branch. He could see the dragon prowling below, its cunning eyes gleaming in the flickering firelight.
Meanwhile, Serra was a whirlwind of focused energy. She stood firm, her staff raised high as she created an intricate lattice of glowing magic circles in the air before her. Each twist of her hand caused new runes to flare to life, the spell growing denser and more volatile with every second.
The ground beneath Brass shuddered violently as the dragon, with unnerving precision, reared back and slammed a clawed fist into the base of the tree. The sound of splintering wood echoed through the forest as the beast struck again, its form towering and terrifying. Brass couldn’t help but marvel at its technique—this dragon wasn’t just a brute; it had intent, strategy.
“Is it punching trees now?” he muttered incredulously as he sprinted up the length of the tilting trunk, flames licking at his heels from the inferno spreading below.
The moment Serra’s voice rang out behind him, sharp and commanding, it was as if the very air had stilled. “Ignis Ultima: Lance of the Inferno!” she cried.
The completed spell ignited with a deafening roar. From the blazing magic circle, a concentrated bolt of fire shot forth, streaking through the night like a comet. The sheer intensity of the spell left Brass blinking away afterimages, his night vision struggling to recover from the brilliant flash. The bolt slammed into the dragon’s side with explosive force, a shockwave rippling outward as scales cracked and smoke billowed from the searing wound.
For a moment, Brass dared to hope.
But the dragon wasn’t done. It reared back, an unholy roar splitting the air, and then retaliated. With a whip of its tail, it sent a massive chunk of debris hurtling toward Serra. She tried to dodge, but the dragon’s cunning aim was true. A jagged rock slammed into her side, sending her tumbling through the air and crashing hard into the ground.
Brass’s heart seized as he saw her crumpled form lying still. “Serra!” he roared, his voice raw with panic. Something inside him snapped.
The rage coursed through him like a tidal wave, washing away all hesitation, all restraint. His wings flared out instinctively, the leathery appendages responding to his emotions. Before he even realized what he was doing, he had launched himself into the air.
The sensation was disorienting at first. Wind roared past his ears, the muscles in his back straining as he fought to maintain balance. Each flap sent him lurching upward with more force than he expected. The system chimed in again, but he barely registered it, his fury driving him forward.
“You’re not killing her!” he snarled, his vision narrowing on the dragon below.
High above the battlefield, Brass folded his wings, letting gravity take over. He descended like a meteor, the air burning against his skin as he clutched his axe tightly. The world blurred, the dragon’s massive frame growing larger and larger until—
The impact was catastrophic. Brass slammed into the dragon’s neck, the force of his descent causing the earth beneath them to quake. His axe bit deep into the beast’s scales, splintering its protective hide with a sickening crack. The weapon shattered in his hands, the blade embedded in the dragon’s neck, leaving behind a deep, jagged wound that oozed golden ichor.
The dragon roared in pain, staggering back on its hind legs. Brass clung to its neck, his claws digging into the exposed flesh. His rage hadn’t abated; if anything, it burned hotter.
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
But the beast was far from defeated. It lashed out wildly, green mist pouring from its jaws as it shook its massive body, trying to dislodge him.
[System Update: Status Effect Applied – Poison Cloud]
Brass felt his lungs burn as the mist surrounded him, the system chiming warnings in his mind. He snarled, refusing to let go, even as the dragon’s blood slicked his hands and his grip began to falter.
Below, Serra stirred slightly, her fingers twitching as the gemstone atop her staff flickered weakly.
Gritting his teeth, he growled, pulling himself closer to the dragon’s neck.
The dragon’s furious roar was deafening, its massive body bucking like a wild beast as it tried to dislodge Brass. Every violent shake threatened to send him tumbling, but he clung to the jagged scales with sheer determination, his fingers slick with its hot, gold blood. The poison mist stung his lungs, making each breath feel like swallowing fire, but he refused to let go.
The dragon twisted its head, its cunning eyes locking onto him. Then, with terrifying precision, it lunged backward, smashing its spine into a nearby boulder. The impact sent a shockwave through Brass’s body, his ribs groaning in protest as pain exploded through him.
[Damage Taken: 12 HP]
[Warning: Critical Health Threshold Approaching]
“Damn it!” Brass spat blood, his grip faltering for a split second. His wings instinctively flared out, catching the air to steady him, but the movement exposed him.
The dragon seized the opportunity. With a sharp twist of its neck, it snapped its massive jaws toward him. Barely he managed to kick off the beast’s neck, launching himself into the air just as its fangs clamped down where he’d been a heartbeat ago.
“I’m not going out like this,” Brass muttered, forcing his wings to carry him higher. His muscles burned from the strain, his unfamiliarity with flight still throwing off his balance. But there wasn’t time to think—only act.
Below, the dragon reared back onto its hind legs again, its chest swelling. Brass recognized the telltale signs immediately: the beast was preparing another inferno.
“Oh, hell no,” he growled, diving toward the ground.
The dragon unleashed a torrent of fire, the blazing orange wave racing upward like a volcanic eruption. Twisting midair, his wings straining as he veered to the side, narrowly avoiding the scorching heat. The edges of his clothes singed, and the air around him shimmered with the intensity of the flames.
He landed hard on the ground, rolling to absorb the impact before scrambling to his feet. His system chimed again, this time with a faint ping of hope.
[New Skill Unlocked: Adaptive Flight (Level 1)]
[Skill: Enhances aerial maneuverability. User’s proficiency improves with usage.]
“About time!” he shouted, his wings twitching in anticipation. But before he could take off again, the dragon roared and slammed its claws into the earth, sending a shockwave rippling outward. The ground beneath cracked and buckled, throwing him off balance.
To his left, Serra’s weak voice called out. “Brass…!”
He turned to see her struggling to lift her staff, her face pale and blood smeared across her temple. Her fiery spell had taken everything she had. She looked up at him, her eyes pleading.
“Stay down!” he barked, his voice sharper than he intended. “I’ll finish this.”
The dragon’s attention snapped back to him, its serpentine eyes narrowing with intelligence and malice. It began to stalk forward, its massive tail swishing through the air, demolishing trees with every swing.
Brass’s heart pounded as he gripped the broken haft of his axe, the splintered wood digging into his palm. He had no weapon, no real plan—just anger and desperation.
The dragon lunged, its talons crashing down where he stood. He activated his new skill, his wings snapping open as he launched himself upward with newfound grace. This time, the flight felt less disorienting, the air currents beneath his wings steadying him as he soared.
He shot high above the battlefield, the cold wind biting at his skin as he rose higher and higher. The dragon roared below, its massive form illuminated by the flames still smoldering around them. His blood boiled with fury, his mind racing as it prepared to strike.
Twisting mid-air, Brass tucked himself into a tight ball, the shift to his lycan form erupting with an almost audible snap as his muscles stretched and reformed. His fur bristled as the searing heat of the dragon’s flames roared beneath him, the blazing inferno licking at his heels. The air smelled acrid—burnt wood, scorched earth, and the unmistakable metallic tang of fear.
By now, the battlefield had transformed into a vision of hell. Trees, once towering and proud, were now charred skeletons reaching helplessly toward the ash-choked sky. The ground beneath him glowed faintly red in places, cracked like the surface of a molten lake. He angled himself downward as he fell, landing on all fours with a ground-shaking thud, claws digging deep into the heated earth. His supernatural speed kicked in, propelling him forward in a blur as flames chased his shadow.
The Forest Dragon rose to its full, terrifying height, its scaled chest heaving as it inhaled, preparing another devastating blast. Brass locked eyes with it, the glow of its serpentine pupils searing into his soul. The beast’s cunning was evident in its calculated movements. Its talons dug into the earth with an audible crunch, and it slammed its body downward, creating a shockwave that radiated like a physical punch.
Brass anticipated the move, leaping just as the ground beneath him quaked and fissured. He soared toward the dragon’s chest, aiming to interrupt its next fiery assault. But then he felt it—a pulse, almost like a heartbeat, resonating through the air.
Mana. It coursed through the ground, twisting the very environment against him. Thick roots exploded from the earth, coiling around his limbs with unrelenting force. He thrashed, growling, but the roots tightened, suspending him mid-air like a fly caught in a web.
Pinned and dangling, Brass glared at the approaching dragon as it lowered itself, exhaling a puff of smoke through its nostrils. Its green eyes gleamed, filled not with blind rage but with intelligence, its pupils narrowing as if appraising him.
The system materialized in front of him, its familiar snark cutting through the tension like a blade. “Oh, look at you! A true predator turned prey. Isn’t this poetic? Finally, you get a taste of what it’s like to be on the menu. Fitting, don’t you think?”
“OH, SHUT UP!” Brass roared, his voice rumbling like a distant storm. Fury surged through his veins, his blood pounding as if his very heart were trying to escape his chest. He could feel his muscles straining against the roots, the sheer force of his rage building like a dam about to burst.
The dragon paused mid-step, its head tilting as it regarded him with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. Slowly, its massive neck arched closer, its nostrils flaring as it inhaled deeply, as though catching his scent. The heat of its breath washed over him, a mix of sulfur and charred earth.
“You speak Drakonis?” it rumbled, its deep, resonant voice vibrating through Brass’s very bones. The sound carried a strange cadence, almost hypnotic, as though each word was laced with an ancient power.
Brass blinked, momentarily thrown off balance by the fact that the massive lizard could speak—and that he could understand it. He shot a glance at the system, which was now floating lazily beside him with a smug expression. “Seriously? Is this part of the package?”
The system almost seemed to shrug. “You’re welcome.”
Shaking off his confusion, Brass shifted in his makeshift root harness, forcing himself into a seated position. “Apparently, yes,” he said aloud, his voice tinged with exasperation. “So, uh… big guy, why are you attacking us again?”
The dragon’s emerald eyes narrowed slightly, and for a moment, its maw curved into what could almost be mistaken for a smirk. “You trespass,” it rumbled. “You tread where you should not, you reek of corruption, your kind is not welcome in my forest.”
From the corner of his eye, Brass spotted Serra, her staff glowing with an intense crimson light as she siphoned the flames from the burning forest. Sweat poured down her face, her hands trembling slightly from the sheer effort. If the dragon noticed her, it gave no sign, but Brass knew the moment wouldn’t last.
“Corruption?” Brass repeated, stalling for time. “Listen, I’m just passing through. No corruption here, just, uh… misunderstood charm.”
The dragon’s gaze bore into him, unamused. “Your blood sings a different truth, creature. But I will not waste words on prey.” Its maw parted slightly, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth. “I will taste it for myself.”
“Yeah, not happening,” Brass muttered, his eyes darting to the glowing runes around the roots. His mind raced. If this thing wanted a fight, it was going to get one. The roots holding him weren’t just physical—they were laced with mana. He gritted his teeth and reached deep into his reserves, activating his blood magic. A surge of crimson energy flowed through his veins, and with a roar, he sent a pulse outward, shattering the roots in a spray of splinters and glowing fragments.
The dragon’s head reared back in surprise, but Brass wasn’t done. He didn’t wait for a counterattack, instead launching himself into the air with a feral growl. His claws extended, and as he shifted back to his hybrid form, the rage within him ignited a newfound energy.
“Let’s see how you like being grounded,” Brass snarled, his gaze locked on the dragon’s throat, his muscles coiled like a spring. With a burst of speed, he launched himself toward the beast, aiming for the vulnerable spot where the scales along its neck thinned.
But once again, the dragon proved it wont be so simple. Its massive wings unfurled with a thunderous whoomph, creating a shockwave of air that hit him like a battering ram. The force slammed into Brass mid-flight, twisting him through the air like a ragdoll before sending him hurtling back into the forest.
He twisted, forcing himself upright mid-fall, and growled in frustration. His own wings flared instinctively, catching an updraft of heated air from the blazing battlefield below. The sensation of flight returned in a rush—a mix of exhilaration and disorientation. His muscles strained as he willed the alien appendages to cooperate, pumping hard to carry him higher. The air grew cooler as he ascended, the chaotic roar of fire and destruction below fading to a dull hum.
Brass hovered for a moment, catching his breath and trying to steady his spinning head. The sensation of wings—muscles he wasn’t born with, tendons that shouldn’t exist—was both surreal and exhilarating. Each beat felt like pushing against the weight of the world, yet his body adjusted with unnatural ease. The system chimed in, as unhelpful as ever.
“Getting the hang of it? I’d rate your form about a four. Maybe five on a good day.”
“Shut up,” Brass hissed, his eyes scanning the ground below.
A new sound caught his attention, faint at first but rapidly growing—a rhythmic rumble that rolled through the forest like distant thunder. His heart sank as the realization struck him. If this dragon had called for reinforcements, he and Serra were done. No amount of luck or rage could save them from a second dragon entering the fray.
“Backup?” he muttered through clenched teeth, angling his wings to circle back over the clearing.
The smoke below buckled and swayed as something massive moved through the forest. Brass tensed, preparing for the worst, when the first figure broke through the tree line. His breath caught. It wasn’t another dragon. It was… glowing horses? No, not just horses—riders, their armor gleaming with an ethereal light, their banners fluttering as they charged forward like a vengeful storm.
“What the fuck?” Brass growled, his mind reeling. He half-expected the system to have a quip ready, but instead, it whirred with delight.
“Oh, right,” the system said, its tone positively gleeful. “Remember that little joke about an army of elves hunting you down? Well… surprise! There they are!”
The contingent poured into the blazing clearing, their formation flawless even amid the chaos. Spears tipped with glowing crystal, shields bearing intricate runes, and their mounts—powerful steeds that almost seemed to shimmer, as though carved from moonlight. At the head of the group rode an imposing figure clad in white armor, their cape trailing behind them like liquid fire.
Brass hovered above the scene, his claws twitching as he processed the sudden shift in the battlefield. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” he muttered. Between the dragon’s relentless fury and the arrival of this elven cavalry, their odds of survival had just plummeted to near zero.
The dragon turned its massive head toward the newcomers, its eyes narrowing. It inhaled deeply, the telltale glow of fire building in its throat.
“Don’t tell me they’re going to fight the dragon and me,” Brass groaned, shifting his wings to steady himself in the air. Below, the elves shouted commands in a language he couldn’t quite hear over the clamor. Spears were raised, glowing like stars, and one of the riders held up a staff that pulsed with radiant energy.
The system’s cackling grew louder in his ear. “Good luck explaining this mess! Might want to work on your diplomacy skills… or, you know, just keep punching things. That seems to be your strong suit.”
Brass snarled under his breath. “If we make it out of this alive, I’m reprogramming you into a toaster.”