Tens of kilometers from Mount Ranji, the dense forest was teeming with restless creatures.
Awei, crouching, showed a pained expression as he knelt beside a large tree, his body convulsing violently.
The hand propped against the tree had skin that was cornified like a dragon's, with a blue hue, taking on the shape of claws.
Sweat beaded on Awei's forehead, his pupils thin as threads and his iris a brilliant gold flecked with black.
Resisting the pain he was suffering, Awei's hand clenched involuntarily, easily crushing the tree trunk.
At that moment, several pterosaurs flew across the sky, and not far away a Rapids Dragon sped past, their bodies trembling just like Awei's, as if in the grip of fear.
"Damn it!" Awei had bitten his gums so much that they bled, but his body became increasingly uncontrollable, his kneeling knees shifting, moving in the direction where the False Dragons were heading.
