Strax panted heavily. Each breath felt like a burn from within, as if he had swallowed burning coals. His wings throbbed, the membranes torn from the collision with the tentacles still dripping with blood, dripping in drops that mixed with the salt of the ocean. He knew he couldn't sustain this form for long. Every second as a dragon drained his energy reserves, and there was nothing left to face here—only the liquid darkness that churned around him, as if mocking him.
With a suppressed growl, Strax closed his eyes and let the transformation fade. His scales disappeared in rapid waves, his massive body shrinking into his human form. But he didn't completely abandon the beast. He still kept his wings, even if they were damaged. They were his only anchor, his only way to stay above water without being devoured by the hostile sea. The membranes hung in tatters, torn, but they were enough to support him, like patched sails on a doomed ship.
