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Yuki's wings beat furiously as he soared toward the towering guardian. His body felt awkward—he wasn't yet accustomed to the weight of his wings, or the pull of the air around him. The wind whistled past his ears, and every muscle in his body burned as he struggled to gain control. His instincts, however, told him to push forward.
Below, the guardian's massive form moved with terrifying purpose. Its roots twisted and coiled as it advanced, making the earth quake beneath its steps. The air around it seemed thick with ancient power, and Yuki's mind sharpened. He had no experience fighting creatures like this, but his new instincts—his dragon instincts—told him that this was a test. This guardian wasn't just a mindless beast; it was something far more ancient, connected deeply to the forest.
Without thinking, Yuki breathed in deeply, and the fire within his chest surged to life. His flames flickered, weak but growing with each passing moment.
*Focus,* he told himself. *You have fire. You are a dragon. You can fight.*
The guardian raised its arms and slammed them into the ground. A wave of roots shot toward him, fast and deadly. Yuki's wings beat harder, and he flew upward with all the strength he could muster, narrowly avoiding the deadly attack. The earth beneath him cracked as the roots surged upward, tearing apart the ground.
Yuki let out a roar, the deep growl vibrating his entire body as he inhaled sharply. A wave of flame burst from his mouth, streaking toward the guardian. The fire was stronger than before, but it was still wild, unrefined. The flames hit the massive creature, but instead of burning it, the guardian's bark-like skin seemed to absorb the fire, glowing with a faint, eerie light.
The guardian let out a deafening roar in response, its eyes glowing with a powerful, ancient light. Yuki had underestimated it. The creature wasn't just a forest guardian—it was a force of nature, something he couldn't defeat with mere fire.
Yuki gritted his teeth. He needed more. His fire alone wasn't enough. He needed control. He needed to think, to adapt, to tap into something more than just raw power.
Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind. *Wind.*
The word echoed in his mind. He had fire. But what else did he have? His senses were keen—he could feel the air around him, shifting and moving, though he couldn't yet control it. Still, there was a whisper of something more, something in the wind, like an unseen force calling to him.
The guardian advanced, its limbs cracking as the roots shot up once again. This time, Yuki was ready. With a determined growl, he flapped his wings, forcing himself higher into the air. The wind around him whipped harder, gusts of air flaring up as he tried to command the force beneath him.
It wasn't perfect. He couldn't direct the wind as he wanted. But as he fought, a strange connection grew. The more he struggled, the more the wind seemed to respond, pushing him faster, lifting him higher. With each beat of his wings, he could feel the elements stirring, though his power was still weak.
The guardian lashed out, but Yuki was too quick now. He darted out of the way, flapping his wings hard and using the wind beneath him to accelerate. As he ascended, he breathed in again, summoning more fire, this time stronger than before. His flame streaked through the air, hitting the guardian's limbs. The fire didn't burn it, but it made the guardian falter. The force of the flames, combined with the wind's current, forced the guardian back.
Yuki let out a triumphant roar. He had made progress. His powers weren't fully refined, but he could feel them growing with each passing moment. The guardian was not defeated, but it was momentarily pushed back. For the first time, Yuki felt the rush of victory.
As the guardian retreated, Yuki hovered in the air, his wings beating steadily. His fire flickered out, and the wind calmed, but his heart still raced. He wasn't ready to defeat the guardian just yet, but he knew this was only the beginning of his journey. The forest was vast, and the challenges ahead would be even greater.
But for now, he had proven something—he was no longer just a human. He was a dragon.
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