Chapter 57: Found the Pack!
The flowing fur shook off, ochre-colored shell plates forming spines that encircled both shoulders.
One by one, Thunder Light Bugs danced around him, finally retreating into his fur to rest.
“Awooo!”
Now transformed into the second-hottest monster of the Fang Dragon Type, Jié Jié confidently raised his head, his wolf-like ears pointing skyward as he let out a howl reminiscent of a Siberian Husky.
“Awooo!”
In the distance, other huskies responded with their own calls from the primeval forest.
“Hmph.”
Self-admiration concluded, Jié Jié, in his Thunder Wolf Dragon form, spun around with a paw supporting himself on the ground, lightly bouncing into the air before clumsily blacking out and falling back down.
The habits of the Savage Jaw Dragon were too over-the-top for this new Thunder Wolf Dragon body. The balance between forelimbs and hindlimbs needed adjustment—Thunder Wolf Dragons had longer front legs, making them more front-driven during sprints and movements.
“Grunt!”
The best way to adapt was through exercise. Jié Jié began sprinting along the path, feeling the distinct structure of the Fang Dragon Type compared to the Thief Dragon.
A physiology built for running—it truly felt like the freedom of a wolf galloping across the plains.
Additionally, the Thunder Wolf Dragon was exceptionally light.
But unlike the Fire Dragon soaring gracefully in the skies or the Swift Dragon gliding under moonlit shadows, the Thunder Wolf Dragon’s lightness was elastic. With a single bound while running, it could leap dozens of meters forward and nearly ten meters high.
And when landing—
Jié Jié focused his spirit into his front claws.
Front claws touched down, folded, bounced, seamlessly leading to another leap.
The Thunder Wolf Dragon’s elasticity made the earth feel like a trampoline, turning the land beneath into a playground where “flying” was possible.
In this lightness, Jié Jié recalled dreams from his past life. He ran wildly across vast fields, leaping into graceful glides, toes barely brushing the ground. His body would spin in beautiful circles before resuming flight, endlessly approaching true flight until his toes no longer touched the ground but the heavens themselves.
Becoming flight itself.
Excitedly, the Thunder Wolf Dragon unfurled its wings, transforming into a Fire Dragon, embracing the eternal sky yearned for by all land-bound creatures.
Tears streamed down his face.
The symbionts’ sudden transformation left the Thunder Light Bugs disoriented. They fluttered their wings chaotically, dancing aimlessly in the air.
The wind pressure from the Fire Dragon forced them back down to lower altitudes.
Jié Jié climbed higher slightly before diving downward, reverting mid-dive back into his Thunder Wolf Dragon form.
“Boom!”
Momentum propelled him forward, his body crashing through the forest like a meatball cannonball, landing heavily on the ground.
Young dragons watched Jié Jié’s abrupt departure, then heard the terrifying crash in the distance, quickly hiding among the low shrubs.
“Awooo!”
Jié Jié pulled himself out of the “crater,” raising his head to unleash an inexplicable ghostly howl.
The Thunder Light Bugs found direction in his howl, flying back into Jié Jié’s fur, connecting with the special fat of the Thunder Wolf Dragon that discharged electricity due to excitement.
They collectively shivered, becoming Supercharged Lightning Bugs, buzzing and generating electricity.
The current feedback looped back to the Thunder Wolf Dragon, charging the capacitive hair while some passed through the natural resistance of the insulating shell and blue scaled plates, leaving only what the body could handle.
Electric shocks could paralyze living beings, rendering them incapable of resistance, but they also stimulated muscles and nerves, unleashing extraordinary athletic abilities.
Under electric stimulation, the Thunder Wolf Dragon’s muscles contracted explosively.
Jié Jié shook his body, scattering a cluster of Thunder Light Bugs who resumed their dance around him.
He jumped higher, farther, and with greater bursts of energy. The current even carried away muscle fatigue during movement! Fully charged, it was pure bliss!
Adjusting his direction, sparks trailing behind him, he bounded back with electrified leaps.
The four little ones peeked out cautiously, only to retreat again upon seeing his glowing, crackling silhouette.
Though not as diligent as the Female Fire Dragons who stayed near the nest, Jié Jié brought them a new horizon and stories different from other fire dragons.
Pots and pans sized up his new form, emerging from the bushes to follow but were kicked back by Jié Jié.
Stay hidden; he was going to meet the Thunder Wolf Dragon pack.
Before parting, he memorized the scent of the young ones, ensuring he wouldn’t lose them later.
To the young dragons, Jié Jié might not be as responsible as most Female Fire Dragons staying close to the nests, but he offered them a new sky and tales unlike those of typical fire dragons.
Pots and pans understood, retreating into the dense forest, ready to wait for Jié Jié’s return while exploring and foraging on their own.
Relieved, Jié Jié departed, still sparking and crackling, sprinting and howling to find other Thunder Wolf Dragons.
As the thunder faded, Jié Jié spotted two Thunder Wolf Dragons ahead and stopped.
How should Thunder Wolf Dragons greet each other? Should he raise his paw?
Jié Jié softly growled, sizing up the two Thunder Wolf Dragons before him.
One large, one small—the smaller one was clearly a juvenile, not yet fully grown.
The larger one appeared less imposing than Jié Jié himself, likely the father teaching his offspring hunting skills.
Both Thunder Wolf Dragons observed him closely. The younger one tilted its head upward, fascinated, tilting so far it eventually flipped onto its back.
The older Thunder Wolf Dragon displayed significant caution, growling softly as it approached Jié Jié from the side.
Sniffing carefully at his scent.
Savage Jaw Dragon, three other Thunder Wolf Dragons, and blood—all these scents dominated, masking others.
Clearly, this wasn’t a Thunder Wolf Dragon from their clan.
Given the frequent howls heard here, this forest was undoubtedly the largest gathering place for Thunder Wolf Dragons, but there were always wanderers drawn to distant lands or exiles driven out by the pack.
These exiles inadvertently spread their lineage outside the main group, and sometimes their offspring returned to the forest.
This foreign Thunder Wolf Dragon was large, strikingly handsome, evoking male rivalry despite already having offspring, though not as hostile as adolescents.
Their fur brushed against each other, creating crackling sounds, some Thunder Light Bugs mysteriously switching hosts.
“Rrrr.”
The Thunder Wolf Dragon growled softly, jumping back, turning around, then looking back at him, growling again.
Was it inviting him to follow?
The young Thunder Wolf Dragon had already started following but paused, turning to look back at him.
“Hmm.”
Jié Jié emitted a gentle call, following the Thunder Wolf Dragon.
Chapter 58
