The transition from the lush valley to the lower reaches of the Glass-SpiresMetabolic Efficiency

  After five hours of uphill grinding, the sound of rushing water cut through the thin mountain silence. A melt-water stream, crystalline and jagged with ice-shards, cut across the rocky path.

  Kael knelt by the bank, his Ministry-issue glaive resting within arm’s reach. He cupped the freezing water in his hands, the cold shocking his senses into a state of hyper-alertness.

  The sound of a heavy branch fracturing under tension echoed from a dense cluster of Aether-Ferns

  Kael didn’t hesitate. He didn’t stand up to look. He rolled—a low, controlled lateral movement—and vanished into a thicket of grey-leafed shrubs, his hand gripping the cold hilt of his weapon. His heart skipped, but he forced a deep, rhythmic breath. Biofeedback

  He parted the leaves just an inch.

  There, standing in the dappled morning light by the water's edge, was the "Ghost of the Spires."

  It was a Zephyrix DrakeAerodynamic Evolution

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  The beast stood roughly seven feet at the head crest, its bipedal stance surprisingly stable on the slick, mossy rocks. Its scales weren't just teal; they were Light-Refractive

  . He wasn't just looking; he was .)

  

• The Crest:Pitot Tube
• The Stance:Achilles Tendon
• The Tail:Stabilizing Rudder

  Kael thought, his eyes narrowing.

  The Drake raised its head. Its soft, teal-green eyes scanned the perimeter. It was beautiful, but Kael saw the Vulnerability300-degree Field of VisionBlind Spot

  The beast let out a soft, whistling breath. A small spark of Static Discharge

  . The beast was naturally shedding electrons to reduce the of the air against its scales. It was literally "greasing" the atmosphere with electricity.)

  His heart hammered against his ribs like a piston. This was it. The fastest burst-runner in the Light-Class. If he could bridge the gap, if he could apply Taren’s silk-lined leads without triggering that Fight-or-Flight Reflex

  But then, the Drake’s ears flicked. It didn't look at Kael. It looked toward the ridge him.

  Something else was watching the water.

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