Ignoring the burning instinct to flee, I leapt at the nearest xaptor, the one away from Rexcelsis, tackling it to the ground. I balled up my fist, and punched it on the nose.

Chaos broke out. Hoots and clicking teeth sounded out.

In the background, as blood rushed through my ears, I could hear a savage roar.

While the xaptor was still dazed, I unloaded on it, slicing, biting, and punching it in the face. I grabbed its shoulders and raked my feet across its belly.

Blue boxes filled my view, but I was too focused on taking somebody down with me to pay them any mind.

The dino under me spasmed, and finally regained its wits, throwing me to the ground with a mighty shove. Then it leapt to its feet, prowling and growling while it clicked its teeth.

I faced it, circling as observed it, keeping watch out of the corner of my eyes for its allies. I didn’t see them, though, and let my focus remain on the enemy I was immediately facing.

Little Deotrexaptor [Lvl 13]

The xaptor charged me while I read the tag. I was in for an insanely unfair fight. It jumped into the air, grinning savagely at me. Daggerlike talons came for my face, and I quickly rolled to the side to dodge.

As I stood up, a tail came whipping around through the air, slamming my jaw. I stumbled backwards, holding my bloodied face with one clawed hand.

I charged it, slicing and snapping, but the xaptor danced away from me effortlessly, whapping me over and over with its tail as I recovered. My health ticked down, and I could detect the foul taste of blood in my mouth, like old coins. It was time to stop losing!

I retreated away from the xaptor, deciding to pursue a new tactic.

That’s it. I thought. Time to get fancy.

I raised my head to the sky and, in lieue of my usual battle cry, attempted to roar. It was better than before I’d evolved, that was for sure.

Then I charged the dino, dipping down to the ground and running my hands along the loose red dirt of the desertlike plains.

Bet you never thought of… this!

I reached the xaptor, and slid along the ground, throwing the dirt into its eyes.

“Skrraaaawwaaw!” it shouted in pain, as the dirt and small rocks dug into its eyes.

That’s what you get for being a dumb lizard!

I delivered a fierce kick to its neck, my claws ripping deeper into the slice I’d left there earlier. As the xaptor swung back blindly, I ducked, grabbing the hanging skin on its belly, and pulled!

Riiiiiiiiip!

Blood spurted like a fountain out of the wound, and the xaptor stumbled back, falling on its side as it reached towards its belly, eyes shut tight in pain. It’s head rested on a rock jutting up from the dirt, trying hopelessly to stay the bleed.

“Skrreeeeh…” it moaned.

I didn’t waste any time, slamming my strong leg down upon its head.

Snap!

The creature’s neck broke against the rock, and its breathing finally stopped. I finally took a glance to read all the boxes filling my vision.

Your [Slam] has leveled up. It is now level 2. You’ve developed a new skill: [Punch Lvl 1] Your [Punch] has leveled up. It is now level 2. Your [Claw] has leveled up. It is now level 2.

Your [Bite] has leveled up. It is now level 2. Your [Claw] has leveled up. It is now level 3. Your [Punch] has leveled up. It is now level 3. Your [Claw] has leveled up. It is now level 4. You’ve developed a new skill: [Dirty Trick Lvl 1] You’ve developed a new skill: [Kick Lvl 1] Your [Kick] has leveled up. It is now level 2. Your [Stomp] has leveled up. It is now level 3. Your health is critical! [17/100] You have received 1235 experience for killing [Little Deotrexaptor]. Congratulations! You have leveled up! X5

You are now level 6 [115/300]. Your [Health] and [Stamina] are restored.

I almost died. And I killed something.

As I looked towards the dino I’d slain, and saw its jaw hanging loosely from its skull, the blood oozing out across the dry ground, the dirt drinking thirstily, my heart pounded in my chest.

I… killed something.

I mean… it was life or death, right? So I shouldn’t feel bad about it… right?

I stood in shock over the victim of my murder, having forgotten about the other xaptors that had come with it.

They’d probably go into a blood fury now, and swiftly descend upon me, as I stood no chance to fight them.

This was the end. I dropped to my knees, staring in horror at the creature I killed.

It was like killing a dog. The beast was just doing what it thought it needed to do in order to survive.

Or… was it?

After all, the xaptors had pursued me across the forest, and out to the plains I’d found only the day before. There was an entire truckload of food back there for them, and yet they’d chased me down to kill me.

All on Sailboat’s orders, no doubt.

I snarled. No dino would be killing me over something as greedy as food!

Rage coursed through me, and I jumped to my feet, swirling back to face the rest of the xaptors. I might go down, but I was taking as many of those damnable things with me as possible!

I roared, with vengeance and fury.

And then I saw that there was nobody to roar at.

Well, nobody I expected.

The Deotrexaptors that had flocked around me were now laying in a row, their heads neatly severed from their bodies, and staring at the sky with empty eyes.

No, there were no xaptors left for me to fight.

One dinosaur remained.

Rexcelsis, Chaotic Monarch sat, unperturbed by my roar, as he gazed down at me with a look upon his face.

That...

Was he… smirking?