This thing is notoriously bad-tempered - enormous in size, thick-skinned, with an insanely strong territorial instinct, and on top of all that, it can breathe fire. It's an absolute brute!
Not caring about the branches scraping painfully against him, Kael Drakethorne could only run forward with all his might. If caught by the Anjanath, he'd probably turn into a crispy dragon-flavored snack. Given the Anjanath's bite force and digestive capabilities, it definitely wouldn't mind swallowing him whole, skin and bones included.
Right now, he could only pray this Anjanath wasn't targeting him. After all, he'd run earlier than those three Jagras and was farther away, so the chances of the Anjanath focusing on him were lower.
But unfortunately, the Anjanath ultimately set its sights on him. To the Anjanath, those Jagras were just petty thieves who liked scavenging its leftovers—completely unworthy of attention.
Kael Drakethorne, however, was different. Even if he was just a hatchling, as a Rathalos, his very existence made him an invader in this Anjanath's eyes—an invader who dared linger in its marked territory, practically provoking it!
The heavy stomping of footsteps, the sound of branches and bushes being crushed, and the occasional roar from the massive beast behind him—all these combined sent chills down Kael Drakethorne's spine.
The Anjanath behind him was like a heavy tank, plowing through anything in its path—branches, whatever—brutally smashing through and forcibly carving a path through the dense forest.
But Kael Drakethorne up ahead was different. His small frame could at most ignore soft ferns; branches and vines were things he had to avoid. So even though the Anjanath was recklessly charging forward, the distance between them was closing fast.
"What do I do? What do I do?!"
The shadow of death loomed over him—and no, that wasn't a metaphor. Literally.
Because of the angle of the sun, the distance between the Anjanath and Kael Drakethorne was now close enough for the Anjanath's shadow to engulf him. If not for his Acceleration trait continuously boosting his speed, he would've already been swallowed whole.
But Kael Drakethorne also realized that the Acceleration trait didn't infinitely increase his speed. Like now, his speed had stopped improving—probably limited by his physical condition. And at his current speed, he couldn't outrun the Anjanath.
"Is this the end? I thought becoming a dragon meant no more limits? Did I stop being human for nothing?"
Despair spread from the depths of his heart. Kael Drakethorne could only mechanically move his legs, doing everything to delay death's arrival.
As for turning around for a last-ditch counterattack, biting off a chunk of flesh before dying—forget it! Impossible. His current bite force would at best leave a faint mark on the Anjanath. Trying to tear off a piece of meat? He'd break his teeth before succeeding.
Better to just keep running—maybe there was still a sliver of hope.
Perhaps his silent plea was heard. His vision suddenly opened up, his feet slipped, and he plummeted off a high ledge, straight into a raging river below.
Before hitting the water, Kael Drakethorne thought he heard the Anjanath's furious roar of frustration. But the next second, the current swallowed him whole, sweeping him away.
On the ledge, the Anjanath screeched to a halt, its cold eyes burning with resentment. It never expected a mere hatchling—a male Rathalos, no less, one terrible at running on land—to be this fast!
It had chased him through an entire stretch of forest, nearly caught up, already fantasizing about ripping off those annoying wings, crushing those still-fragile scales between its teeth, and swallowing that scalding blood.
But it was just a little short—just a little! That was a Rathalos!
Flames flickered at the corners of the Anjanath's mouth, its eyes bloodshot, its flared nostrils resembling a crown. The heat-dispersing membranes on its back spread like tiny wings. Right now, it couldn't suppress the fury boiling inside, but there was nothing around to vent on.
All it could do was let out roars of frustration from the ledge, wildly unleashing its rage!
Kael Drakethorne tumbled endlessly in the turbulent current. He'd lost count of how many times he'd been slammed around. His body was numb from pain, but he could only desperately lift his head to gasp for air whenever possible.
After what felt like an eternity, the water gradually calmed, the terrifying force fading away.
In a lake, the young Rathalos spread his wings, using them to slowly float to the surface. Instinctively, he swam to the shore and collapsed onto the sand.
He coughed up mouthfuls of water. The pain and exhaustion covering his entire body screamed one thing at him—he'd survived. He'd escaped the jaws of that brute!
He wanted to laugh but lacked the strength. The dragon just lay there on the sand, panting heavily.
Gone. Completely drained.
His stamina had been utterly exhausted. If something attacked him now, he probably couldn't even resist.
The Acceleration trait did grant him a massive speed boost, but the stamina cost remained the same. His scales were cracked in multiple places, blood seeping out, leaving him looking utterly pitiful.
So why?
For the first time, he had a cheat ability. For the first time, he'd successfully hunted real prey.
Shouldn't these two happy things combined bring double the joy?
Why did it turn out like this?
Kael Drakethorne didn't understand. Shouldn't activating his cheat immediately launch him into protagonist mode? Later, standing atop the food chain, collecting Golden Rathians, Dreadqueens, and Pink Rathians like trophies?
How did he almost become a snack instead?
Rustling footsteps approached. Kael Drakethorne tensed, barely lifting his eyelids to look before relaxing again.
"Aptonoth. Okay, no problem."
These things weren't aggressive. Though being surrounded by Aptonoth did feel a little embarrassing.
"Hey! I'm a Rathalos! The scary kind!"
Chapter 4: Queen of the Land
The Aptonoth couldn't hear Kael Drakethorne's thoughts. They'd gathered out of simple curiosity—why had a half-dead hatchling suddenly popped out of this peaceful lake?
But after watching for a while and seeing no movement from him, they dispersed, leisurely wandering nearby again.
As for Kael Drakethorne's threat level? They couldn't care less.
These herbivores were emotionally stable, mild-tempered, living by the philosophy of "live if you can, die if you must." Predators come? They run. Predators leave? They graze. Their whole vibe was pure zen.
The only reason they hadn't been eaten to extinction was their insane reproduction rate and sheer meat volume—even large Brute Wyverns could only eat half of one under normal circumstances.
Plus, their herds migrated cyclically. If powerful carnivores fought over territory and thinned their numbers, the Aptonoth could even spawn new herds.
Kael Drakethorne paid no attention to the Aptonoth. Once sure they meant no harm, he closed his eyes again to recover.
Though he looked miserable, his injuries weren't fatal—the bigger issue was stamina depletion.
But whether it was unique to him or true for all dragons in this world, when he closed his eyes and focused, he could sense the energy veins deep underground. With deliberate effort, wisps of this energy seeped through layers of rock into his body, speeding up his recovery and wound healing.
Right now, his body was like a parched sponge, the earth's energy like water, rapidly absorbed.
Mixed with the energy were specks of silver particles, also entering his body.
The lake was surrounded by vast plains—lush grass, plump berries, juicy plants. To the Aptonoth, it was a natural, delicious buffet.
But to Flying Wyverns, it was also prime hunting grounds.
High above, a deep green figure weaved through the clouds, using them for cover. Its layered scales shimmered brilliantly under the sunlight.
With eagle-like sharpness, its gaze swept the land below, quickly locking onto a target. Its beautifully patterned wings trembled slightly, feeling the wind howl past. Then, the dragon dove at incredible speed.
Before any Aptonoth could react, the wyvern's powerful claws clamped around its target's neck. The momentum of the dive effortlessly slammed the herbivore into the ground.
A heavy thud shook the earth as if it might split apart. Razor-sharp talons sank deep into flesh, blood gushing out.
The sound of shattering bones echoed across the plains like a macabre symphony.
This hunt displayed extreme violence and brutality, yet also a strange beauty of raw power.
Every movement was precise, decisive, without hesitation or waste. The beauty of strength was awe-inspiring.
Only then did the surrounding Aptonoth react, screeching as they fled toward distant woods.
The victorious predator ignored them. It had already secured its ideal prey.
Now, it proudly raised its head, scanning the area. Its powerful, thorn-covered tail swayed menacingly, daring anything to challenge the Queen of the Land's authority.
This sweep brought Kael Drakethorne into view. The hatchling was staring wide-eyed at her, catching the proud queen off guard. From the sky, she'd assumed this young Rathalos was dead—who knew he was still alive?
From Kael Drakethorne's perspective, this Rathian was sleek, muscles elegantly defined, every scale flawless like premium jewels glittering under the sun.
The venomous spines on her back draped like a royal mantle, accentuating her nobility. The symmetrical patterns on her wings were mesmerizing. Her powerful frame remained steady even after the high-speed dive. The way she stood atop her kill, surveying her domain, showcased her perfect proportions.
That imperious attitude—though not yet fully grown—already radiated queenly majesty.
Yes, this Rathian wasn't fully mature, only about eight meters long. In human terms, she was a tall, athletic beauty with a haughty demeanor!
More importantly, her clean, efficient hunting proved she wasn't just a pretty face but genuinely skilled.
Every aspect of her perfectly matched Kael Drakethorne's aesthetic preferences. If choosing a future mate, he wouldn't hesitate for a second.
"Wait—what am I thinking?!"
Kael Drakethorne figured he must be starving if a Rathian was starting to look attractive. How had his tastes and standards shifted so drastically so soon after transmigrating?
Besides, he was a hatchling! What was a hatchling? A dragon that hadn't developed yet! How could he have such sinful thoughts?
He refused to admit he might be a total horndragon!
The Rathian watched the half-dead hatchling occasionally shake its head, then stare at her with a weird look. She didn't understand its behavior.
But if this hatchling wasn't dead, where was its mother? A hatchling this young shouldn't leave the nest, let alone end up in such a sorry state.
A mother Rathian would go berserk if her offspring suffered like this!
Yet after scanning the area, she saw no other Rathians besides herself. Curiosity piqued, she released her kill, folded her wings, and approached Kael Drakethorne. After observing for a bit, she leaned in to sniff.
'Huh? No other scents?!'
Shocking—this hatchling carried no adult Rathalos scent! Was he like her in her youth, losing his mother and forced to survive alone?
But even then, he shouldn't have only his own scent. Even though she hadn't been the only hatchling in her nest.
Chapter 5: Finally Full
Kael Drakethorne lay frozen as the beautiful Rathian inspected him, sniffing all over.
Even with some stamina recovered, he didn't dare move—anything could be misinterpreted.
Besides, his Acceleration trait hadn't triggered, meaning this stunning Rathian meant no harm. Maybe she was just curious.
Sure enough, after her strange inspection, she gave him an inscrutable look before losing interest. She returned to her kill and began tearing into it.
He didn't understand her expression, but her actions clearly showed disinterest. Maybe she'd just been assessing if he was a threat.
After all, outside of mating pairs, Rathians and Rathalos lived separately, with their own hunting territories, usually keeping to themselves.
Relieved, Kael Drakethorne focused on recovering.
He was exhausted, in pain, and starving. The sooner he recovered, the sooner he could hunt.
This plain had so many Aptonoth—there had to be other herbivores. Small creatures like Kelbi or at least mushrooms in the distant woods were guaranteed.
Rathians usually carried prey back to their nests. If they didn't, they'd only eat the tenderest parts, leaving the rest.
Since this gorgeous Rathian hadn't taken her kill, maybe he could scavenge the leftovers?
Even without the best cuts, it was still meat—better than mushrooms!
The thought made drool drip from Kael Drakethorne's mouth. He was seriously hungry.
Thud. Thud.
Heavy footsteps startled him. Opening his eyes, he saw the beautiful Rathian approaching, the kill in her jaws.
He didn't think she'd share, so she was probably taking it back to her nest.
Meaning he wouldn't even get scraps?
Beautiful Rathian, can't you spare a bite for this poor hatchling?
His dreams shattered before they began. Was he doomed to mushrooms? Maybe he should've reincarnated as a Pukei-Pukei—at least those loved mushrooms.
...Then again, imagining the Pukei-Pukei's derpy eyes made him shudder, quickly dismissing the thought.
While lost in his thoughts, the Aptonoth carcass—reeking of blood—was dropped before him. Its belly had been torn open, revealing red-and-white fat layers that made any dragon's mouth water.
Food. Right there. Kael Drakethorne's hunger exploded. He didn't care if it provoked the Rathian anymore—he had one thought: EAT.
NOM NOM NOM!!!
Watching the hatchling tear into the meat, the Rathian's eyes softened. The way he gulped down chunks whole looked like he'd never eaten before.
Poor thing. How long have you starved?
Once Kael Drakethorne was engrossed in eating, the Rathian didn't hesitate either, biting into the Aptonoth's thigh.
The belly was the tastiest, but the thighs and back weren't bad either.
Thus, the Aptonoth was devoured by this odd pair—one big, one small, male and female Rathalos.
Aptonoth had plenty of meat. Just two thighs and a section of back filled the Rathian. Watching Kael Drakethorne still tearing into the belly, she licked blood from her jaws, waded into the lake to wash her face and claws, then settled nearby to observe.
After a while, seeing the exposed belly nearly cleaned out and Kael Drakethorne eyeing other parts, the Rathian stood and approached.
Ignoring his struggles, she clamped her jaws around his nape, lifting him like a hatchling.
Ripped from his meal, Kael Drakethorne instinctively flailed, wings flapping, claws kicking to return to the food.
He'd been starved too long—this was his first full meal since hatching. Even now, stuffed as he was, he still wanted more.
The Rathian wasn't having it. A slight squeeze of her jaws and a shake forced him to still. Then, with a powerful wingbeat, she took off into the sky.
***
T/N: 2.4k huh? Should I lower the word count???