There's something wrong. It isn't just a subtle feeling, he knows it deep in his gut. Something horrific is on the horizon and it's only a matter of time until it comes crashing down. He's tried to think it through logically, pinpoint the source of his unease: is it the lighthouse that has suddenly changed color? Maybe the forest spirits? Their surroundings?
The more he tries to rationalize it the more it slips away, making his unease worse.
He hasn't slept in days, out on patrol around the town, heading in a loop from The Invincible to the Library and the Village then back again. Round and round he goes certain that the moment he turns his back or gets some rest that all hell will break loose.
The worst part is that every person he sees triggers alarm bells. Could it be the problem is the residents themselves? Is someone plotting something?
How can he find out?
January 25: Arctic Dragon Transformation || CW: Body Horror | Blood
It happens without warning.
Kuai is walking from the Invincible to the General Store when his lantern abruptly bursts with red light, the coppery surface turns black and the glass seems to crack, threatening to shatter.
But he doesn't notice, the lantern is all but forgotten as he cries out in pain, dropping to his knees and bracing himself on his hands. The ground beneath him freezes solid a good distance around him and icicles shoot out of his back like spines. That's not what's causing him so much distress though, blood is oozing from his arms freezing into long rivulets as his skin peels away to reveal blue scales, shimmering with the red light of his lantern. His fingers stretch and break, nails growing into sharp claws that dig into the ground as he pants.
A ridge of sharper scales dusted with frost jut up along his spine, following his neck to disappear beneath his hair. What's visible of his side beneath his tunic is covered in the same icy reptilian skin. Blood is dribbling down continuously freezing into odd icicles themselves.
Invisible beneath his armor is the source of the blood, deep slashes along his back where his ribs have separated from his vertebrae to make way for wings that didn't form.
January 26-29: Arctic Dragon After the initial transformation, this is still incredibly painful. His ribs feel like they're only being held in place by his skin which has changed to be something leathery and reptilian from the neck down. Eating hurts. Sleeping hurts.
But what's most alarming is that his ice powers don't seem to be working properly. Maybe it's because his hands have become clawed or that he's in enough physical distress to not be mentally managing them, but he's always emitting a slightly frosty aura now. Not enough to freeze anyone nearby, but the temperature around him is significantly lower than anywhere else. It's visible as a bluish smoke that seems to roll off him and gather around his feet, his breath huffing out in a white cloud every time he breathes.
Everywhere he goes he's followed by footsteps that melt almost instantly, as if he's constantly walking through freshly frosted grass.
Kuai Liang || OTA
There's something wrong. It isn't just a subtle feeling, he knows it deep in his gut. Something horrific is on the horizon and it's only a matter of time until it comes crashing down. He's tried to think it through logically, pinpoint the source of his unease: is it the lighthouse that has suddenly changed color? Maybe the forest spirits? Their surroundings?
The more he tries to rationalize it the more it slips away, making his unease worse.
He hasn't slept in days, out on patrol around the town, heading in a loop from The Invincible to the Library and the Village then back again. Round and round he goes certain that the moment he turns his back or gets some rest that all hell will break loose.
The worst part is that every person he sees triggers alarm bells. Could it be the problem is the residents themselves? Is someone plotting something?
How can he find out?
January 25: Arctic Dragon Transformation || CW: Body Horror | Blood
It happens without warning.
Kuai is walking from the Invincible to the General Store when his lantern abruptly bursts with red light, the coppery surface turns black and the glass seems to crack, threatening to shatter.
But he doesn't notice, the lantern is all but forgotten as he cries out in pain, dropping to his knees and bracing himself on his hands. The ground beneath him freezes solid a good distance around him and icicles shoot out of his back like spines. That's not what's causing him so much distress though, blood is oozing from his arms freezing into long rivulets as his skin peels away to reveal blue scales, shimmering with the red light of his lantern. His fingers stretch and break, nails growing into sharp claws that dig into the ground as he pants.
A ridge of sharper scales dusted with frost jut up along his spine, following his neck to disappear beneath his hair. What's visible of his side beneath his tunic is covered in the same icy reptilian skin. Blood is dribbling down continuously freezing into odd icicles themselves.
Invisible beneath his armor is the source of the blood, deep slashes along his back where his ribs have separated from his vertebrae to make way for wings that didn't form.
January 26-29: Arctic Dragon
After the initial transformation, this is still incredibly painful. His ribs feel like they're only being held in place by his skin which has changed to be something leathery and reptilian from the neck down. Eating hurts. Sleeping hurts.
But what's most alarming is that his ice powers don't seem to be working properly. Maybe it's because his hands have become clawed or that he's in enough physical distress to not be mentally managing them, but he's always emitting a slightly frosty aura now. Not enough to freeze anyone nearby, but the temperature around him is significantly lower than anywhere else. It's visible as a bluish smoke that seems to roll off him and gather around his feet, his breath huffing out in a white cloud every time he breathes.
Everywhere he goes he's followed by footsteps that melt almost instantly, as if he's constantly walking through freshly frosted grass.