21 - Herbs and Beasts

I strolled through the dense foliage with the morning sun scattered on the ground, illuminating the dirt ground and the intertwining roots. The tall trees cast long shadows, birds sang their song to the chores of rustling leave.

The forest looked peaceful, an illusion that would fool any idiots. 

My senses were tingling, even though their was no enemy. My scales breathed Qi, expanding and contracting in a rhythm. The world was different then when I was still a Rank 1. My vision clear, steps steadier, and my senses evolved. I could see and feel things in a different sense, almost surreal. 

Without my human experience, I wouldn't be able to tell the sight changes my body had gone through.

~Grrrr~

Okay, I need to eat. I looked around to see I was alone before I sat my butt on a thick root. I felt a weight roll off me. I turned to see Fluffy flutter as she got up. She looked annoyed, hmm, no more like angry. 

~caw~

Don't pout, I am sorry

I turned back, invoking my system screen and pulled a chicken corpse from the inventory. I still have eight more left. I used my claw to rip the feather off, at least most of it. I then cut the intestines out and threw them away. I pulled Qi from my core and breathed a small flame to roast the chicken.

~PUSSS~

But, I burned it. 

I breathed a flamethrower instead of a stove. I need to learn control. Maybe that was too much Qi, let me use a bit less Qi. I threw the burnt Chicken into the inventory, which took a different slot. I brought another chicken corpse and cleaned it before trying to cook it with my breath.

But, I cooked it too much.

I was glad that it wasn't burnt. I bit the meat, which tasted a bit rusty and devoured the whole chicken. It wasn't bad, but didn't feel good as raw chicken meat. Hmm, maybe my draconic body is more adapt to eat things raw.

I should go on raw diet then, it takes away the time to burn the chicken.

However, I need to gain mastery over my breath. I can't keep pulling all my energy to do a single attack and fall unconscious. In a case that my opponent survive the attack, I would be defenseless. I need to master it and make my attacks more Qi efficient.

[ Yes ]

[ Blowing up the whole of forest is inefficient ]

I took another chicken and tried to cook it with less Qi this time. The flesh was a bit overcooked but I was nearing the range. I ate the chicken and stood up, ready to continue my exploration for the day. I was going on a search to find immortal herbs. 

From all the knowledge I have gathered from all the Xianxia novels I have read. The immortal herbs are invaluable items with many uses. From removing impurities from bodies to accelerate cultivation.

On the part of impurities, I haven't littered since I woke up. Do I have constipation? Do dragons have constipation? I will wait for another day before confirming that. I hope no hole is clogged.

Okay, back to the herbs. 

Immortal herbs always grow in Qi rich area. And the mountain is a Qi rich area, so, there should be many herbs. I will collect them and exchange them for points or eat them myself to grow stronger. more points more options.

I felt a weight return to my back and knew it was Fluffy. I opened my wings when I arrived near an opening in the dense trees and took flight. I soared into the skies and could see Fluffy grabbing on my spikes and kept her body low to mine. The wind flowed around us, as we gained enough height to be just above the trees.

I closed my eyes for a moment, enjoying the feeling of unbound. The winds caressed my scales, fresh air energized my body. I opened my eyes after enjoying the feeling for few moments.

I kept my eyes down on the ground, looking for any glowing grass or fruits with light effect. I circled around the mountain, look for such things. I could have also used my Qi sense to find these herbs but when I tried, all I saw was a cloud of light dust covering the whole mountain. I can't figure left from right in there.

So, we do it the old way.

With my eyes pealed open, I looped around the mountain looking for these herbs. Yet, even after a long search and flipping some rocks to see under, I found no herb. All I found was meter tall grass and veins that dug into the mountain.

I wonder if there was no immortal herbs, or are there not special effects like it was shown in Manhwas? Do I need to eat them to find if they affect me or not?

[ There are herbs ]

[ But none had grown enough to absorb Qi and gain their affinity ]

[ It might take hundreds of year for one to fully grow ]

I don't want to wait a hundred years, I will be an old man by that point!

[ You are a dragon ]

Oh, yes, I forgot. /ᐠ｡ꞈ ｡ᐟ\

Since the herb I want are still young, I need to search away from the mountain if I want to find one. 

But I don't wanna go. It's dangerous outside.

~URG~

I groaned as I turned my fight path. I need to move away from the mountain to search for herbs, but I can't just choose a direction and fly blind. I need a way to cover more ground while extending my search. 

I should do the spiral technique divers use to search the sea floor.

I should set the mountain as my center point and circle around while expanding out. So, began my treacherous journey. I navigated through the dark foliage, danced around deadly canopy, weaved through the deadly claws and sailed through the slicing winds.

***

I searched,

I searched,

I searched for my immortal treasures,

It may hide,

It may cower,

But, I will find it.

Yet, even after years of searching, I found no treasure, however, I found my mortal enemy. Hidden within the veil of tranquil water, the predator that lurked within. The ruler of fresh water, and ender of fish?

The Bluescale alligator.

I was now gliding above the lake, observing its tranquil water. I know that there is a threat hidden within, but I am prepared.

I got ariel attack.

~hehehehehe~

Its time for rematch,

I let out an evil laughter as I pulled half of my Qi from the core, lighting it up. The star burned, releasing a pressure that was sealed within.

The trees creaked and the lake bubbled.

A massive shadow surfaced on the lakes surface. The blue scales blending with the clear sky reflected. The alligator moved its eyes to look up at the black Dragon in the sky. The alligator remembered the Dragon which had ran from it.

It was slumbering when it was alerted to a danger.

Lijen charged his attack, visualizing his breath. His scales opened, inhaling the Qi from the air as lighting snaked from his mouth. The golden lightning sparked on the void scales as they coiled around the Black Dragon.

Alligator saw that his opponent was ready for his attack.

It opened its mouth and filled its mouth with water. At Rank 2, a beast is able to inject Qi into there affinity element and turn that into an attack. With the Qi mixing with the water, Alligator used its muscles to compress the water and the Qi made it denser.

Alligator charged its attack immediately and pointed its snort at the black dragon. It spit the condensed water bullet at Lijen. The water bullet power by Qi, cleaved through the air covering the distance between Lijen and her.

Lijen saw the approching water bullet. He completely his charge, lightning growing more condensed. He avoided the water bullet by a hair's breath, and opened his mouth, breathing out a pillar of condensed golden lightning.

The beam of destruction and lightning descended like heavenly judgment, punishing the mortals for going against its will. Lightning branched across the sky, creating a frightening spectacle as it descended upon the Bluescale Alligator. The lightning burned the trees and evaporated the water and destroyed everything it touched.

The vaporized lake created a fog that covered the forest. 

Lijen was pushed back by the pure force of the recoil, his tongue felt pricked. A small bit of static sparking his scales. He flew near the destruction, and saw the devastation. The lake had disappeared, the fish that were living it turned to chunks of wet charcoal, trees around burned to cylinders. The lightning breath of the Monster Zero showed to destructive power, a power from another world.

Lijen bobbed his head as a joy rose from the depth of his heart. He flapped his wings, jumping and dancing around the sky. He did the wave dance as he sung.

~Nuke, I got a Nuke~

~I am the Nuclear Dragon~

WHo is the boss?

Who is the bad?

Who is the might?

Me, me

I am Awesome.

Lijen sang and danced in pure bliss of full destruction.

{check for godzilla rap}

Lijen was unable to fully comprehend the power of his attack that created a chasm as he had fainted right after his breath. He had not witnessed the change he had caused. But this time he saw what his breath did live. It was the difference between watching a documentary and experiencing the events yourself.

And the atomic breath was too powerful for him to fully comprehend the attack, but this was withing his limited mental capabilities. 

But the enemy was not down,

A water bullet, sharp and condensed, collided with the dancing dragon. Hitting it before it could even react, knocking it off the air. 

Lijen spiraled towards the ground, the surprise attack knocking the air out of his chest. The bullet had collided straight to his chest, but fortunately the armour was thick on his chest. Lijen struggled to stabilize, but he managed to and opened his wings in the nick of time to slow his fall. 

Yet not slow enough,

Lijen collided with tens of charred trees, breaking through them with ease before he came to a halt. Making his descend a trail of destruction. 

...

..

.

~Urg~

Lijen groaned as his consciousness surfaced. He opened his eyes slowly and saw the black ground of burned forest. It took a moment for him to gain clarity, and he tried to get up. But it was a mistake, currents of pain connected to his pain, causing him to fall back resulting in an another wave of pain.

The pain numbed his thoughts but it also cleared that he was still in danger. He gritted his teeth and stood up, pain jolting at his every movement. He managed to stand up after pushing through the immense pain. 

~Huff Huff~

His breath gasped, each causing agony. Lijen knew that this pain was real, and he was still in danger. He needed to get out of here fast. He can fight another day, he need to live first. He braced for pain as he extended his wings, which made him regret it. His knees buckled at the excruciating agony that it brought.

But he need to escape,

He opened his wings fully, even though he wanted to cry, he wanted to scream, but not now. Need to leave, it was the only thing on his mind. He moved his wings, to fly up, each of his movements causing him to regret the choices.

But he was not alone, the wind arrived. 

It helped him ascend, it carried him to the skies. Out of the destroyed forest. Lijen glided with the wind's assist. He had to grit his teeth as the pressure on the joints were killing him. The wind nuzzled, trying to sooth his pain.

Need to escape, Need to go home

I spoke, as pain that I have never experienced before, a pain so agonizing that wished I died. But no, not today. My survival instincts were stronger than that, I will not die a useless death, not without giving my all. 

I need to escape, to live another day, to get stronger.

I won't die,

I refuse to die,

Not today,

~caw~

A cry, a cry so familiar, for help. I turned my head in that direction. Fluffy, she was covering in fear before the Alligator. Shit! He got her. 

What should I do? 

Ze, what should I do? 

I...

I need to analyze, see the pros and cons. 

Death is not an option.

I gritted and turned, I looked at both. Fluffy was hurt, so was the alligator was. Fluffy had broken her leg, probably from the fall. For the alligator, it had not escaped from my attack unscathed. It was missing its tail and it body had many burned marks. It was still standing, it was still strong.

Me, I can't even moved without flinching in pain. My Qi reserve is halved from the last breath. I should attack him without going near, I should strike from the sky. I can't use my breath. Its too wide, Fluffy will be caught in it.

What to do? Should I go melee?

[ Leave ]

[ Survive ]

You want me to run?

[ Yes ]

But-

[ You are in no condition to fight ]

[ Lijen ]

[Go home and don't turn back ]

[ You are too weak ]

...