Hey guys! How are y'all doing? Sorry for being gone for a while, but I'm back now, and the chapter you've all been waiting for is here! The long-awaited beast, the king of storms... The Skrill.
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Kaarik's POV
"This is getting annoying…" I grumbled while staring at the clouds. My patience was wearing thin.
I had been tracking the Skrill for a week, and it's hardly left the storm's cloud cover. I was beginning to wonder if the Skrill had even noticed my pursuit, but I quickly discarded the thought.
Skrills were an extremely smart dragon species, and considering this, I seriously doubted that this one hadn't already noticed me. Either it didn't mind that I was following it, or it didn't view me as a significant threat to warrant any action. It was likely the latter.
Though that wasn't too much of a bad thing, at least for now. Anyway, on to a more pressing issue I was facing, which would be food scarcity. My rations had been slowly depleted while tracking the Skrill.
Then, there was the fact that I didn't do well stocking up before I left on this escapade to begin with. I blamed myself for rushing off after the Skrill too quickly.
However, it wasn't all bad. After tracking the Skrill for another day, I was eventually led to an island. Judging by how far away I could see it, it was fairly sizable too.
Good, I was sure the Skrill had to stop to rest and eat just like I did, which was fortunate because otherwise, I wouldn't be able to continue much longer without eating something filling.
Now, all I had to do was reach the island, hunt for food, and keep tracking the Skrill.
Easy… right?
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Finally, after many hours, I reached the island. Beaching my boat, I quickly grabbed my supplies and rushed into the forest. I needed to act swiftly.
I didn't know how long I'd have before the Skrill left this island, and after the many days I've already spent tracking it, I didn't want to waste more time than was necessary.
First things first, shelter. I didn't want to remain out in the storm longer than needed. Next was food. I was hungry, starving, I'd say.
It would be hard to find any animals to hunt in the dense forest combined with the rain, but it was that or die of starvation.
There were bound to be at least a few animals I could hunt, but let's focus on finding some shelter as quickly as possible.
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It didn't take me too long to find a cave that I found suitable enough to shelter me from the rain. Walking into the cave, I heard no sounds that would warrant alarm, so I moved deeper in.
Setting my things down against the wall, I started to take off my clothes before spreading them on the floor to dry.
"Argh, this is getting more difficult than it was supposed to be." My stomach growled as I looked out of the cave.
'Screw it.' I grabbed my bow and put my boots back on before strapping a dagger to them and heading back into the rain to hunt for something to feed me.
I started scouring the area, looking for signs of any animals nearby. It was hard to spot any since the rain made it difficult to spot movement, but I eventually found one, a boar.
Taking an arrow from its quiver, I took a deep breath, steadying my aim as I watched the boar and waited for the perfect moment to fire.
When it turned its head in my direction, I released the arrow. The arrow sailed through the air, finding its mark in the boar's side.
"Damn, I hate using the bow…" Ranged weapons weren't my strong suit. However, it wouldn't take me too long before I refined my use of them.
Squealing in pain, the boar writhed on the ground. Not wanting it to suffer more than it had to, I drew my dagger and rushed toward the boar, preparing to stab it.
Spotting me, the boar immediately charged me. It was hardly anything noteworthy, as it had already lost a lot of blood and was easily dispatched by me with a quick stab through its skull.
"Alright, let's get you back now." Grabbing the boar's legs, I sling it over my back and carry it back to the cave.
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Now back at my camp, I had built a fire with some sticks I had to dry before finally being able to cook the boar. I couldn't eat the whole thing right now, so I cut off its legs and skinned them before chucking them over the fire.
I watched as the boar's legs cooked, wondering how I'd capture the Skrill. I knew it wouldn't be easy, far from it. My memories weren't exactly the most reliable thing to go off of. Especially as fragmented as they were.
From what little information I could scrounge from said memories, it seemed like Skrills were attracted to metal objects because of their conductive properties for lightning. However, that doesn't necessarily help me deal with this situation.
Sure, you could lure them in with metal objects, but then what? You'd be cooked alive for one wrong move. The dragon was stronger, faster, and its abilities… broken as hell. So, how am I supposed to fight something like that?
Not to mention that I have zero-to-no experience fighting dragons capable of blitzing you in the blink of an eye. Sighing, I take some deep breaths to calm myself down. There was no use in thinking about it any further.
I was confident in the skills I've amassed so far and was capable enough to wield a sword and shield, so I should be fine… I think. While I struggled to think of a plan, my stomach began to growl.
"Ah, right… food." Looking toward the legs, they looked cooked through enough, but I decided to let them cook a bit longer just in case. I didn't want to get sick or get some type of parasite screwing me over out here on my own.
Finally, the meat was done, and I'd like to say that eating after starving for a few days was the best thing ever. After finishing the leg, I ate another before sighing in relief. I was finally satiated.
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It was now the next morning, and I realized that I had dozed off after eating. Thankfully, I didn't freeze to death.
'I must have been more tired than I thought. It's still storming… good, that means the Skrill hasn't left yet.' Taking a piece of meat I had set aside for later, I quickly ate it before checking the clothes I had laid on the ground.
They seemed dry enough. Putting my clothes back on, I grabbed my gear and started to head out of the cave.
I already knew where I'd find the Skrill. Honestly, it was pretty obvious where it would be, the top of the cliff. After all, it would want to be as close to the storm as possible.
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Third POV
After an hour of hiking, Kaarik finally reached the top of the cliff. Looking around, there wasn't much to see. Some boulders here and there, vegetation that way, but no sign of the Skrill. Crouching down, Kaarik inspects the ground.
'Scorch marks. Looks like I was right.' As if on cue, a shriek reverberated through the sky.
His eyes widened as he saw a massive lightning bolt burst through the clouds and rapidly approach him. Turning, he barely dodges as it lands directly in front of him, knocking him to the ground before he rolls to a stop.
Kaarik quickly got to his feet and looked toward the spot where the lightning bolt had struck. He could see electricity emanating off the smoke as growls came from within. Squinting his eyes, Kaarik sees what looks like the silhouette of a large dragon, one he didn't recognize.
Drawing his sword and shield, he puts his guard on high alert. As the smoke cleared, it revealed the dragon, its scrutinizing glare glued to the boy. Kaarik couldn't help but let out a small but nervous chuckle.
'The hell is that…' The hairs on Kaarik's body stood on end. He began to break out in a cold sweat as he gazed upon the beast before him.
The beast before him resembled a Skrill, except mutated, like a hybrid dragon. The dragon was big. Though calling it such was an understatement, it was massive. A single hit from it could kill the boy instantly if he weren't extremely cautious.
Its scales were a deep shade of purple. He would've thought they were grey or black if not for the darker shades of black spreading like waves on its body. The dragon had four legs, each looking like they could crush a Viking's house with minimal effort.
It had two large wings, almost double the length of its body, and looked as if one flap would send the boy flying. It had metallic-like spines lining its back, lightning arcing off them. Finally, a spined crown, similar to the Deadly Nadder, sat upon its head.
Kaarik noted every detail of the dragon. This dragon represented more than a beast he could tame on a whim. To him, it represented his very future. Standing on its hind legs, the Skrill let out a thunderous roar.
Lightning arced off its body as it spread its wings toward the sky, as if to show Kaarik it was superior. Kaarik clenched his jaw tightly, tightened the grip on his sword, and readied it.
"Come at me." A smirk played at his lips. This was it, no going back. The fight of his life was starting now.
The Skrill charged at Kaarik, each step shaking the ground beneath it. The dragon leaped at the boy, its speed taking him by surprise due to its large size. Rolling to the side, Kaarik slashed the dragon's legs as it passed him, but was barely able to do any damage due to its tough skin.
Growling, the Skrill swung its arm back, attempting to slap the boy away. Unable to get away, the dragon's arm slammed into Kaarik. Lifting his shield, he allowed it to absorb most of the impact, but it barely helped him. It felt like his arms were about to shatter as its claw connected with his shield, sending him flying.
"Argh!" Crashing into a boulder, he grunted in pain. His arms were numb, and the hit he took knocked the wind out of him.
Looking up, he sees the Skrill ready to blast him with lightning. Kaarik's eyes widened in panic as he forced himself to jump out of the way just as the lightning struck the boulder, reducing it to rubble.
"..."
Kaarik equipped his bow and immediately began shooting arrow after arrow. Some bounced off its skin, while others somehow managed to stick. The dragon roared in annoyance as it dashed toward Kaarik, its jaws wide open as it attempted to bisect him.
"Shit!" Rolling to the side, the dragon crashed into another boulder, throwing clouds of dust and debris into the air.
Kaarik dodged the falling rubble before refocusing his attention toward the Skrill. Once the dust had settled, he found a very pissed-off dragon looking at him.
The dragon unleashed blasts of lightning at the boy, forcing him to flee for his life. He ducked and weaved as best he could, but the lightning strikes seemed unending.
Kaarik's frustration grew. He knew he couldn't dodge forever, so with no other plan in mind, he dug his heel in the dirt, twisting his body around, and bolted straight at the Skrill.
Dodging more lightning blasts, he somehow managed to close the distance. Lifting its arm, the Skrill attempted to crush Kaarik. Seeing this, he slid under it and thrust his sword into its chest. He pushed the sword as hard as he could, only managing to get a third of it through, before he was knocked away.
Roaring in pain, the dragon snatched the sword from its chest and threw it aside. Snarling with rage, the Skrill began absorbing lightning into its body, drawing power from the storm to charge itself. Kaarik knew immediately what this meant.
"Damn it!" Running away from the Skrill, he bolts toward some boulders.
As he ran, he looked back only to see the dragon finish charging itself with lightning. Then it released it. A lightning pulse shot out of its body, disintegrating the grass beneath it.
'Come on, make it. Please, make it!' He told himself as he ran faster than he had ever run before.
Kaarik jumped for the boulders, the lightning growing ever closer, and then…