High in the dark, stormy sky, Kai flew onward, his inner thoughts far more dark and violent than the storm that surrounded him.

It was not due to the discovery of a half-dragon, nor about his father's situation that caused the young dragon to go into an almost murderous rage.

No, now that he wasn't facing immediate danger or focusing on an opponent, what enraged him was the fact that he had been forced by enemies he didn't even know existed less than half an hour ago, to leave his treasure, the dryad behind.

The urge to swoop down and engulf the world in flames was almost as much as the one to turn back and claim what was his yet, he resisted.

Kai knew that if he returned, he would either lose his life or be captured.

Not only that but on an instinctual level Kai, for some reason, trusted Ban Tai.

If he were truly on the young dragon's side, he would adhere to the promise of returning the dryad to her tree, and thus, she would not be in any immediate danger.

Kai felt a moment of self-loathing as he realised he wasn't strong enough. That he had fallen into the trap that was easy wins.

The group of humans on the mountainside had been pitifully weak compared to Ban Tai, leading to a dangerous underestimation of potential opponents. Even then, those people that nearly surrounded him, invisible to his senses, were a far greater threat.

Kai's golden eyes narrowed menacingly as he vowed that not only would he return and reclaim his treasure and the lands around it, forever ensuring the dryads safety, but if Ban Tai did not live up to his promise, the half-dragon and his relatives would not find peace in all of the thirteen worlds.

Kai couldn't help but release a burst of fire, almost using up the meagre reserves he had regained, as his emotions raged.

On one side, it was dangerous to empty his reserves, but on the other, it would only help increase the rate in which he could refine the world energy and, in the long run, the purity of his draconic essence.

Kai sighed, once again revisiting the thought that he couldn't blame his opponents for this outcome.

His victories, escaping the cave, killing the humans and slaying all but one of the woads, had got to his head.

Yes, in nature, he was a natural apex predator and should be able to slaughter his way to the top of the food chain, just like his ancestors but, he hadn't paid attention to the lessons they had learnt when their rule as the dominant species was challenged.

Humans and their subspecies, orcs, elves, dwarfs, gnomes and the like, as well as the many half breed species that were flourishing as those considered monsters, like his kind, were pushed back, were the ones that ruled this world.

Territories were useless, so where the prime resources like fresh water, food and shelter. The god-gifted, mortal species, like a swarm of locusts, would descend upon anything that took their fancy and kill and enslave while plundering any and all resources they could get their hands on.

There had been some good people, and many of the lower classes wanted nothing more to live simple, peaceful lives but because of the mortal species prolific breeding, their numbers rapidly entering the hundreds of millions spreading across the worlds, that those with ill intent and greed outnumbered those unfairly designated as monsters.

A deep, rumbling growl, silenced by the nearby thunder, resonated through Kai's chest as he finally started to pay attention to the backstory of the memories he had gained.

The age of dragons had long since ended, and while he already knew this, this was the first time he truly understood what it meant.

Kai's eyes shone with murderous intensity. While the past was a great teacher, it did not help him in the immediate present, and he knew that if he didn't change his mentality and approach, he wouldn't live very long.

The first issue was, his body was still too weak. He was still an adolescent and needed time and resources to grow. He also required stimulation to ensure his bloodline would evolve and thrive most optimally.

The rabbit in the cave had been a catalyst that had significantly helped, but now that it was dead, at least that is what Kai believed, he needed to find another.

Either a being that he could challenge himself with while remaining mostly safe or an environment that would temper his body and resolve.

The next problem was that he was woefully ignorant of this world and so, at a considerable disadvantage.

The first would be solved with time and a little bit of luck and wasn't an immediate concern yet the second was imperative.

His kind, who never aged, had an insatiable desire for knowledge.

In fact, while their bodies were like walking fortresses, most of the mortal races that had fought dragons feared their intelligence much more for if they were not adequately prepared for the confrontation, they wouldn't even know how they had died.

Kai released another stream of fire, much weaker than the last but still impressive as he repressed his rage and pushed the dryad and insult that he had been forced to flee, to the back of his mind.

He needed to learn and grow. Then he would reclaim his treasures, free his father and find the surviving dragon clans. After that... if the situation allowed, maybe he would have some vengeance on any of the gods that had been involved with the demise of his clan.

A terrifying, tooth-filled grin appeared on Kai's features as the storm seemed to intensify around him, lightning arcing through the sky as if announcing the arrival of a thunder god.

Those that stood in his way, be it beast, man or even god, would be turned to ash.

Meanwhile, far below at one of the many outposts surrounding the Frozen forests, the occupants who had been training, despite the looming clouds and thunder, stared into the sky at the silhouette passing over, its form illuminated by occasional flames and sporadic lightning.

Many of them were cultivators or their bonded servants, so had excellent vision and could clearly see the outline of the creature flying above.

Its bat-like, reptilian wings, long neck and tail and, to those with exceptional eyesight, rows of jagged spikes, revealed a creature that seemed to be built to dominate the land and sky.

The normally busy camp sight was silent, those watching frozen with fear and confusion dancing in their eyes.

It wasn't because of the creature, as they had seen far more terrifying creatures up close but the waves of unfocused bloodlust that emanated from the being caused their blood to chill as the hairs stood up on the backs of their necks.

Some of the weaker cultivators momentarily had visions of being engulfed in flames, the method of death being transmitted from the source, one of the many side effects of intense killing intent. Yet within a heartbeat, they were staring at the sky again while their backs were damp with sweat.

Suddenly, a spear launched into the air, flying upwards at an incredible speed before slowing and, as if it had lost the will to hit its target, arching downwards and falling into the distance.

Kai was already nothing more than a spec on the horizon so many of those present turned to the origin of the spear, only to find Mira, shaking as a mixture of joy and rage danced across her features.

The rabbit who was still in her humanoid form, had trained to the point of collapse, again and again, had, after such a long time, found her goal. The fire-breathing lizard that, unbeknownst to her, had become both a shadow and blinding light to her soul.

The creature that, after eighteen years of nearly constant, life and death struggles had become so engraved into to her being that the world seemed dull and insignificant without, had returned.

"It's him, it's him, it's him," muttered Mira as she stared, her appearance similar to a manic.

Her nemesis had returned.

Throwing away the useless training sword she had been using, deciding she would find a weapon more appropriate to fight her foe, Mira started walking in the direction that Kai had flown.

Most of the cultivators and bonded made way for the Mira, allowing her to pass due to her violent reputation becoming almost legendary in the small outpost yet when she had almost reached the exit, two guards, blocked her.

One of the guards, his hand on the hilt of his sword, tried to appear intimidating. "You know you are not allo-"

Before the first guard, dressed in light chainmail, could finish his sentence, he was vomiting his breakfast onto the ground while the other, was already unconscious on the floor.

A few teeth, along with a copious amount of blood, pooled under the poor guards head as his body twitched.

Everyone who had witnessed the scene took a step backwards, and even the few guards that were running over paused their steps as Mira continued walking at an unhurried pace.

A few, wolf-like humanoids watched her leave with fascination and hunger, yet they did not act.

Watching from his office's window, Mark watched the rabbit leave the camp as the sun finally rose past the horizon.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" asked Helen, her face pressed up the glass like a kid looking in on a sweet shop.

"She will never rest until she finds the creature and, as my one of my bonded, I will always know where she is." Mark scratched the stubble on his chin. "Let's inform the clan elders and prepare for a long journey. If we can capture the creature before the others, it should bring our clan great fortune."

Helen pouted. "But I hate field work."

"Would you rather stay with my kids?" smiled Mark as he turned around and started walking towards the door.

"I'd rather be skinned alive and turned into an ornament," spat Helen as she moved towards the floor, appearing as if she was walking towards her execution.

Mark could only chuckle as he disappeared through the doorway. "But they love you so much. You'll warm up to them someday."

"Only if they were ours," mumbled Helen as her shoulders slumped, knowing that when Mark had made his mind up, that no small amount of effort would change it.