Chapter 50: A flicker of warmth in the heart

As the moon hung high in the night sky, casting a radiant glow upon the forest, Draven was being pursued by shadow stalkers. The moonlight filtered through the thick canopy of trees, creating an ethereal atmosphere that heightened the tension in the air.

Despite Draven’s injured and bleeding legs, he dashed through the thick underbrush, each stride causing intense pain akin to walking on hot coals due to his wounded and searing leg. Throughout the entire day, he had searched for Rhea, only to fall in the hands of the shadow stalkers.

Shadows danced and flickered around him, adding an eerie element to the chase. The rustling of leaves and the distant hoot of an owl served as a haunting soundtrack to his desperate escape.

The shadow stalkers, relentless in their pursuit, seemed to blend seamlessly into the darkness. Their eyes glowed with an unholy light, piercing through the shadows as they closed in on their prey.

Draven cursed under his breath as he glanced over his shoulder, catching glimpses of their twisted forms and sharp, elongated claws. However, before Draven realized it, the creature chasing him abruptly lunged at him, its claws pierced deep into the side of Draven’s stomach.

Draven stifled a groan and swiftly evaded the creature’s claws. In a swift motion, he snatched the shadow stalker’s metallic hook with his hands and thrust it into its chest.

The shadow stalker’s blood stained his body, but he remained unfazed. He turned around and proceeded onward. Despite having a human body and strength, Draven was already strong enough to kill a few of the creatures. However, there were still too many of them pursing him.

Draven raced swiftly under the moonlit sky, running without pause. However, his icy face was stained with the dark blood of the shadow stalker. The overpowering, metallic taste of the blood filled his mouth. Despite this, he remained composed, his mind carefully analyzing his potential escape routes.

In addition to Draven’s distinct dragon scent, the strong blood odor of the creature he had killed earlier clung to his body, allowing the shadow stalkers to track his every move. No matter how rapid his pace, he couldn’t escape the relentless pursuers. To make matters worst, there was no nearby river for him to conceal his scent.

’If only I still had my dragon form and abilities...’ Draven thought. If he had his dragon powers, one swing of his wings would have been enough to wipe away all these creatures hot on his tail. He thought of countless ways to escape, but no matter how hard he tried, there was only one outcome.

Death. This was his ending. Unless the Heavens showed mercy upon him, there was no other way out of this, but death. There was no way he’d survive, especially with such heavy injuries on his mortal body.

The Heavens had never for once showed mercy upon him, not when he was being betrayed by Alina, and not now when he desperately wanted to survive to take his revenge. It was evident that even the Heavens were against him. Thus, who was he to blame Rhea for also leaving him?

While Draven was making his way through the forest, an iron hook suddenly emerged seemingly out of thin air and latched onto his legs before he had a chance to evade it.

This caused him to lose his balance and tumble to the forest ground, eventually coming to a stop after colliding with a tree. He coughed up blood, which stained his already torn and dirty white shirt. Looking down, he noticed the moonlight casting a gentle shadow of the swaying trees. In his dazed state, it appeared as though the moonlight was transforming the ground into a bright white.

The dark silhouette of the shadow stalker drew nearer and nearer. Draven felt as though he had been transported back in time to when Alina heartlessly stabbed him in the chest. It was the first time he had been so helpless with no strength to fight back. And just like then, he could only watch as the creature raised it’s long iron hook towards him. Remembering his past, Draven couldn’t help but let out a small laugh. It seemed that his fate was destined to end in this manner. No matter how much he struggled, he would be killed one day in this wretched world.

Realizing that resisting in his mortal form was futile, Draven decided to embrace his fate instead. As the creature raised its hook, a sneer formed at the corner of his mouth. He slowly closed his eyes, no longer interested in witnessing the end of his own story. He had already succumbed to the depths of darkness and despair.

The force from the metal hook was so strong that when the creature swung it, it ruffled Draven’s loose black hair. However, right at that moment the hook was about to descend upon Draven, another icy sword blocked it with a loud clang sound that resounded through his ears like a thunderstorm.

The thin moonbeam in front of him was blocked by a silhouette, the breeze blew to his direction carrying along with it a slightly familiar flowery scent that whiffed past his nose. Draven’s eyes snapped open, only to see the back of a slim woman standing protectively in front of him with her icy sword blocking the creature’s huge metal hook from hitting him.

White chilling light swirled around her body. She then spoke with a cold determined tone, "None of you will dare touch this man again!"

Draven lifted his head and looked at Rhea, moonlight shone into his despondent blue eyes.

"If any of you bloody creatures dare to lay your damned hook on him again...you will have to face the consequences of your actions!" She yelled loudly for all the shadow stalkers to hear. Although, she’d uttered those words only because of the pain she’d been experiencing from Draven being hurt by the creatures hook, however, little did she know, her words had kindled a flicker of warmth in his icy heart.

Draven gazed at her resolute figure, his mind still hazy. Rhea swiftly swung her sword, forcefully repelling the creature before her.

She stood protectively in front of Draven, it was like the Heavens had finally decided to show him mercy. Rhea turned her head and shot him a glance,

"Were you planning to get us killed? You better keep your eyes open!"

Although she said those words with a scolding tone, Draven didn’t find it as annoying as before. He only stared at her, the moonlight shone on her slim figure, revealing the clear outline of her pale heart shaped face. He gazed into her black eyes that seemed to spark for a moment, and forgot to respond.

Rhea frowned upon noticing his intense stare on her face. Was this dragon high again? Why was he looking at her like that? Rhea didn’t wait for him to respond before using her ice sword to smack his head, immediately snapping him out of his dazed state.

He blinked and looked at her questioningly.

Rhea raised a questioning brow, "What are you staring at on my face? Is it the first time you’re seeing a brave human girl protecting a dragon?" She asked, then added, "If you are tired of living and want to get yourself killed, at least you should think about this humble innocent girl, I’m not ready to die yet."

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read