The night air was cool against John's scales as he made his way deeper into the forest. His belly full from the meal, he felt a growing sense of confidence. He wasn't just surviving—he was thriving, learning quickly about his new dragon body and how to navigate this unfamiliar world. But as he walked, something nagged at him, a restless energy that he couldn't quite shake.
His wings twitched every now and then, a subtle reminder of their presence. He had noticed them ever since he hatched—small, leathery, and tucked tightly against his back—but he hadn't given them much thought beyond that. Now, as the forest canopy cleared in spots to reveal the darkening sky, he wondered about them.
"Can I actually fly?" he murmured, looking over his shoulder at the thin, dark wings folded against his body. They were still small, like the rest of him, but he had seen birds fly with wings even smaller than his.
The thought stirred a strange feeling within him. He remembered loving the idea of flight in his old life—the freedom, the power. But this was different. This was real.
"I guess there's only one way to find out," he muttered to himself, walking toward a small clearing where the ground sloped slightly downward. It wasn't a cliff or anything, but it would give him enough space to try.
Taking a deep breath, John extended his wings as far as they would go. He could feel the muscles in his back straining as he flapped them experimentally. The air caught under his wings, lifting them just slightly, and his heart raced with anticipation.
"Alright, let's do this," he said, his voice tinged with excitement.
He crouched low to the ground, using his hind legs to push off with as much force as he could. His wings flapped awkwardly at first, and for a moment, he was sure he would crash back down. But then, the wind caught beneath him, and he felt a sudden lift.
For a brief moment, John was airborne. The ground disappeared beneath him as his wings flapped again, propelling him upward. He could feel the rush of the air against his face, the exhilaration of flight filling him with a sense of awe and wonder.
"I'm doing it!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the trees. "I'm flying!"
It wasn't graceful—his wings flapped unevenly, and he wobbled in the air like a fledgling bird—but he was flying. The world below him looked different from above, the forest stretching out in all directions like a sea of green and shadow. The sensation was incredible.
But the thrill of his first flight was short-lived. After only a few seconds, his wings grew tired, and he felt himself losing altitude. His body wobbled, and before he could regain control, he tumbled back to the ground with a crash, landing in a patch of soft dirt.
"Ow…" John groaned, rolling over onto his back. "Okay, maybe not perfect. But not bad for a first try."
He lay there for a moment, catching his breath. His wings ached from the effort, but the feeling of having taken to the sky, even briefly, left him eager for more. With practice, he knew he would get better. Stronger. Faster. And once he did, the skies of Terraxos would be his to explore.
As he lay there, staring up at the night sky, his thoughts drifted back to the system and the strange new powers he had access to. The hunt had gone well, and he had learned how to use his claws and flame breath, but there was so much more to discover.
"System," John called out in his mind, "I've been wondering—how exactly do I get stronger? Besides eating and hunting, I mean."
The familiar voice of the system responded instantly.
[Host can grow stronger by consuming food, gaining experience through battle, and absorbing magical resources found in the world. Additionally, completing quests will grant experience and rewards.]
"Quests?" John sat up, intrigued. "Like what, exactly? Do I have any quests right now?"
[Quest Available: "The First Hunt" (Completed)]
[Reward: 5 Experience Points, 1 Stat Point]
[New Quest Available: "Master the Skies" – As a dragon, flight is essential to survival and growth. Learn to fly and gain mastery over the skies. Reward: 10 Experience Points, 1 Skill Point.]
John smiled. "Looks like I was on the right track with the flying. I just need to get better at it."
He opened his stat menu to see the newly awarded points. A small window appeared in his mind, showing his current stats.
**Name:** John Davis (Dragon Name Pending)
**Species:** Black Dragon
**Age:** Hatchling
**Strength:** 15
**Dexterity:** 12
**Endurance:** 14
**Mana:** 18
**Skills:**
- Flame Breath (Level 1)
- Claw Strike (Level 1)
- Dragon Roar (Level 1)
He had earned one stat point from his first hunt, and after a moment of consideration, he decided to allocate it to **Dexterity**. If he wanted to improve his flying skills, it made sense to enhance his speed and agility.
"Alright, let's do this," he said, standing up. "Time to master the skies."
For the rest of the night, John practiced flying. It wasn't easy—he crashed into trees, stumbled on takeoff, and sometimes barely got off the ground—but every time he tried, he got a little better. His wings grew stronger with each attempt, and soon, he was able to stay airborne for longer stretches of time.
As the moon rose higher in the sky, John finally managed to glide from one end of the clearing to the other without falling. His heart swelled with pride as he landed gracefully, his wings folding neatly against his back.
"That's more like it," he said, grinning. "I'm getting the hang of this."
[Quest Completed: "Master the Skies"]
[Reward: 10 Experience Points, 1 Skill Point]
[Level Up! You have reached Level 2. Choose a new skill.]
The system's notification filled him with a surge of excitement. Leveling up so quickly made him feel like he was progressing, but more importantly, it offered him a chance to grow stronger.
A new window appeared, showing the available skill choices.
**New Skills Available:**
- **Shadow Cloak**: Become one with the shadows, allowing for stealth and invisibility in dark environments.
- **Dark Flame**: Upgrade your flame breath to a more potent, shadow-infused flame that deals additional damage over time.
- **Wing Gust**: Unleash a powerful gust of wind with your wings, knocking back enemies and controlling the battlefield.
John's eyes widened at the options. All three skills sounded useful, but he was particularly drawn to **Dark Flame**. It felt like a natural evolution of his existing flame breath, and the idea of having an even more destructive power at his disposal excited him.
"I'll take Dark Flame," he said, and the system acknowledged his choice.
[Skill Acquired: Dark Flame (Level 1)]
John felt a surge of energy flow through him as the new skill became part of his arsenal. He could feel the difference, a darker, more intense power coursing through his veins.
"Now we're talking," he said, flexing his claws. "I'm really starting to feel like a Black Dragon."
As the night wore on, John curled up beneath a large tree, his wings folding protectively over his small body. For the first time since waking in this new world, he felt a deep sense of accomplishment. He was growing stronger, learning more about his abilities, and slowly but surely becoming the dragon he was meant to be.
But as he drifted off to sleep, one thought lingered in his mind: **This is just the beginning.**
The world of Terraxos was vast and filled with challenges, but John was ready for whatever came next. With his newfound powers and the system guiding him, he would carve out his place as a mighty Black Dragon in this dangerous, magical world.