Chapter 3: Will to Live / A Power of My Own

As the colossal dragon closed in on Zeix, its monstrous form casting a shadow over him, Zeix struggled to crawl away in a desperate bid to escape. Despite the excruciating pain coursing through his body from the poison, Zeix pushed himself forward with sheer determination.

"Why is he still moving?!" the dragon growled in disbelief. "My poison is the strongest in this region! How is he still alive?!"

Zeix's every movement was a battle against agony. With each labored breath, he fought to put distance between himself and the relentless predator. But the dragon, annoyed by Zeix's persistence, unleashed a devastating beam of energy that struck Zeix's right arm, severing it instantly.

"Arghhhhhhh! It hurts!" Zeix screamed, collapsing to the ground in agony as blood gushed from his wound.

Taking advantage of Zeix's vulnerability, the dragon swiftly devoured his severed hand. Yet, as the dragon consumed Zeix's flesh, a shocking turn of events unfolded. The dragon recoiled in pain, blood dripping from its mouth.

"Aghhhh! Damn you, human! What have you done?!" the dragon roared furiously, enraged by the unexpected reaction.

In its fury, the dragon launched another beam of destructive energy, slicing Zeix in half. Helpless and unable to move, Zeix lay on the ground, staring into the abyss of death. Memories flashed before his eyes—memories of his grandfather, smiling warmly from his hospital bed.

"I'm sorry, Grandpa," Zeix murmured weakly, tears mixing with blood. "I wish I could have lived 149 years like you... I'm sorry..."

Everything faded into darkness, and just as Zeix surrendered to the void, a faint voice echoed through the darkness.

"Don't lose hope, Zeix. Stand tall and keep fighting, even at the edge of death."

Suddenly, Zeix's eyes shot open, and he let out a primal scream that shook the very ground beneath him.

"Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

The dragon recoiled in shock, disbelief etched across its monstrous visage. "What?! How is he alive after being cut in half?!"

Zeix's entire body began to glow with an ethereal light, radiating with an intense aura of determination and resilience.

"I've always been running away... Always seeking an end to my life..." Zeix muttered, his voice steady despite the circumstances. "But right now, I have something stronger."

In an instant that defied all logic, Zeix's severed hand regenerated, whole and unscathed. Then, in the next heartbeat, his bisected body knit itself back together seamlessly.

"What?!" the dragon gasped in astonishment, its eyes widening in disbelief at the miraculous sight unfolding before it.

"Will to live," Zeix declared, his voice ringing with newfound strength and conviction.

To be continued...

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