Birth of a dragon

Emerging from the void, I surveyed my surroundings with keen eyes. I knew that all that lay before me would either revere me or pose a threat, for I am one of the supreme beings that dwell above lesser creatures.

As I soared through the clouds, the humans below cowered in fear, their eyes filled with awe and reverence. They worshipped me as if I were one of those capricious deities who toyed with their lives for amusement. But unlike those fickle gods, I had a purpose.

I took on the name Rahu, a moniker that resonated with power and nobility, as the humans performed their rituals and offered me sacrifices. Their tribe chieftain kneeled before me, presenting a barrel of livestock blood as an offering.

With a hunger that had never plagued me before, I devoured the bloodless livestock, savoring the taste of their life essence. Taking the barrel of blood with me, I replied to the chieftain, "I will grant your wish."

Though I had never needed sustenance, I understood that this was the way to reciprocate the humans' admiration and fear. I hurled the barrel of blood onto their farmlands, accelerating the decomposition process to enrich the soil for the next harvest.

It wasn't a godlike act, but I needed to live up to their expectations. In their eyes, I was a deity who watched over their pitiful lives, and I had to maintain that facade. For centuries, I had protected them from external enemies, blessed their crops, and averted famines.

But deep down, I despised being associated with the capricious gods who played with mortal lives for their amusement. I longed for something more meaningful, a purpose that transcended the trappings of godhood.

As I soared through the skies, I couldn't help but feel a sense of isolation. I was a solitary being, adored and feared by the humans, but never truly understood. Despite my fearsome exterior, I craved companionship, someone who could see beyond my facade and understand the being that I truly was.

But as I watched over the humans from my lofty vantage point, I realized that they could never comprehend the complexities of my existence. To them, I was a god, a distant and untouchable entity that they could never truly know.

And so, I continued to play my role, granting their wishes and protecting them from harm. But deep within me, a longing grew, a yearning for something more. For I was not just a god, but a being with desires and emotions. And until I found that which I sought, I would forever remain an enigma, a godlike figure who walked among mortals, but could never truly belong.

The gods were not pleased with my actions, and so they sent yet another being to confront me. This one appeared as a colossal bird, as large as me, with a massive beak that was said to swallow the sun itself.

"Greetings, Rahu, or should I say, fake dragon," the being called out to me from a distance as I casually soared through the sky.

"I assume you are one of those lackeys the gods always send when trouble arises," I retorted, coming to a halt in mid-air.

"Indeed, I am Minokawa, messenger of the gods, bearer of all disasters," the being declared, spreading its enormous wings in an attempt to intimidate me.

"Ah, yes, the famine humans talk about. You're not particularly imposing," I mocked, unfazed.

"The gods find your actions unacceptable, unworthy of their eminence. They demand that you stay out of their affairs and cease all interaction with their subjects," Minokawa proclaimed with pride.

"I am merely fulfilling the basic responsibilities of a god towards their subjects, and they want me to stop? I am more than capable of governing these lands, unlike those petulant old deities," I replied with dignified confidence.

"Watch your words, fake dragon, or this will be the last tale you tell!" Minokawa roared, incensed by my taunts.

"Or what...? Are you planning to devour me whole like the sun? Quite the fearsome little birdie you are with that oversized beak," I taunted him again.

"Die, fake dragon!" Minokawa screamed in a fit of rage.

He ascended towards the clouds, reaching a higher altitude than me, enveloped in a blazing aura. It seemed that he earned his reputation as the sun-eater from the searing heat emitted by his aura.

With incredible speed, he charged at me like a meteor hurtling from the heavens, his beak wide open, ready to snap my head off.

Spectators on the ground cried out in fear at the meteor-like spectacle, thinking it was their final hour.

But using my "blessing of the sea" skill, I splashed seawater into the air, extinguishing the flames that surrounded him.

Surprised, Minokawa slowed down, thinking he had failed, and attempted to bite me instead.

To defend myself, I submerged half of my body in the ocean, deftly evading his attacks and patiently waiting for the opportune moment.

In the midst of our battle, I concealed half of my movements beneath the colossal waves generated by our clash, until I seized Minokawa's leg from behind. With a swift motion, I dragged him into the sea, strangling his neck and rending his wings to prevent escape.

Finally, I dug into his life core, ensuring that he could not be resurrected. Taking his head as evidence, I proclaimed to all humanity that I had saved them from famine.

"Behold, people of this land, for I am the mighty dragon who has vanquished famine with my own hands. Henceforth, you shall address me as an omnipotent god!" I bellowed, my voice resounding across the land.

As the people worshipped me, a surge of power surged within me. A golden light enveloped my form, and I underwent a profound transformation.

Sharp claws and limbs emerged from my serpentine body, while antlers sprouted from my head. My back was now adorned with a mane of flowing hair that extended from my nape to my tail.

But the most astonishing change was the appearance of a reverse scale, marking me as a true divine being, a genuine dragon.