I woke to the sound of my sister's excited voice echoing through our family cave.
"Mother! Father! Come quickly!" Emberpaw shouted, her tone bursting with excitement. "There's a strange T-Rex sleeping in Rider's place!"
Groggy and disoriented, I sat up, still adjusting to the powerful energy that had flowed through my body since the spirit pact three days ago.
Emberpaw stood at the entrance of my sleeping chamber, her amber eyes wide as she stared at my slightly larger frame and the faint glow radiating from my scales signs of my successful transformation.
"Sister Emberdance it's me, Rider," I said calmly, my voice still raspy from sleep. "You really don't recognize your own brother?"
Her jaw dropped. "But how? You look completely different!" she gasped, just as our parents rushed into the chamber. "Your height has doubled, your scales are brighter, and you're literally glowing! That can't happen overnight unless you've Awakened!"
Mother entered, scanning me from crown to tail. Her face lit up with pure joy; the exhaustion from gathering my spirit fruits vanished the instant she saw her son standing strong and Awakened.
"Rider, my son," she said warmly, stepping closer to touch my shoulder. "You are truly awakened."
"Yes, Mother," I replied, flexing my claws and marveling at the strength coursing through my arms. "I feel… different, but it feels right somehow."
Father moved forward, pride gleaming in his eyes. His Leader-stage authority filled the chamber as he observed me carefully, testing my reflexes and posture with the sharp gaze of a warrior.
"God has blessed this family," he declared proudly. "All my sons are awakening their bloodline potential."
Emberpaw hopped around me, unable to contain her excitement. She threw playful swipes in my direction, which I effortlessly countered, my movements quicker and sharper than ever.
"This is amazing!" she laughed. "Finally, a brother who can actually spar with me properly!"
As my family rejoiced, a heavy knot of guilt twisted inside my chest. I couldn't forget the image of the sacred tree's withered remains — the tree that died the very night I awakened. Every word of praise felt like a stone pressing deeper into my heart. What if my success had come at a terrible cost?
Then Blazefeng entered, his arms folded and expression grim.
"How is this possible?" he demanded. "He failed his awakening just yesterday — wasted two high-quality flame fruits and now he's awakened overnight? That's impossible!"
"I… I don't know," I stammered, forcing calm into my voice. "Last night I felt strange bloating inside me, then suddenly, a burst of energy exploded. I lost consciousness, and when I woke up this morning… I was awakened. That's all I remember."
Mother's lips twitched, half amused and half shocked. "So digestion issues " she teased. "Seriously, son, did you properly poop on your awakening day?"
My cheeks burned as I hugged myself in embarrassment. "Sorry, Mother. In the rush, I forgot."
Her laughter filled the chamber, warm and musical. "How could you forget on such an important day? Still, I suppose the flame ancestors must have blessed us despite your carelessness. My son is awakened now!"
Father's deep voice came from the doorway, commanding yet tinged with worry. "Yes, yes… I wanted to host a grand celebration to show those sticky-mouthed lizards, but we have a serious situation right now."
The weight in my chest grew heavier. "I need some air," I muttered softly. The joy in the room was suffocating when my heart carried so much shame.
Father nodded understandingly. "Go, son. Awakening changes both mind and spirit. Take your time to adjust."
I spent the morning wandering through our territory. The forest buzzed with activity T-Rex warriors sharpened their claws, organized hunting parties, and discussed military tactics. The air was thick with tension. Our clan believed the Ceratosaurus Legion had attacked the sacred tree, and preparations for war filled every corner.
But what if the true culprit was me?
By midday, I could no longer bear the secret clawing at my conscience.
Am I doing right or wrong by telling them the truth?
I didn't want innocent tribes fall in war and because of my mistake to lose their lives and homes , I couldn't bear it.
With heavy steps, I stood in front of my parents' chamber.
"Mother, Father," I said quietly as I entered. My voice trembled though I forced it steady. "There's something you need to know about my awakening."
Both looked up immediately. Father set aside his work, his gaze sharpening.
"What is it, son?" he asked.
"I have a secret to reveal," I confessed, my claws tightening. "I didn't awaken from the spirit fruits. I… made a spirit pact with Lord Ragnarok the flame of the sacred tree."
Silence fell like a heavy boulder. My parents stared at me, disbelief flickering across their faces.
"A spirit pact?" Mother whispered, her earlier joy crumbling into fear. "Rider Rex, that's incredibly dangerous. How could you even attempt such a thing?"
"I was desperate after failing the ceremony," I said quietly. "I went to the tree and prayed. Then Ragnarok appeared he said my body was different, that normal awakenings wouldn't work for me. He told me he admired my determination… and agreed to fuse with me."
Father repeated the words slowly, as if they were too impossible to believe. "The Flame Tree actually answered you?" he murmured. "When I was young, I once begged beneath it through an entire stormy night it never even stirred."
"Maybe I was lucky," I said, guilt choking my voice. "Or maybe Ragnarok grew tired of being trapped inside the tree. But Father… something went wrong. I think I caused it. My awakening drained the tree's life."
Mother's expression softened, compassion overcoming her fear. She took my face gently between her claws. "You couldn't have known, my son. Whatever happened, you didn't mean harm."
"But the clan believes the Ceratosaurus Legion did it," I said, panic rising again. "They're preparing for war but the real cause might be sitting right here."
Father's eyes hardened. The leader in him surfaced his mind already weighing politics, loyalty, and survival.
"Do not trouble yourself about that, son," he said firmly. "We've had centuries of rivalry with the Ceratosaurus. Their raids have grown bolder lately. Whether they are to blame or not, this war was inevitable. We'll handle it."
"But Father"
He raised a claw, silencing me. "Sometimes, Rider, politics align with fate. If your awakening had a price, that burden is for our family to bear not for outsiders to exploit. What you must do now is train diligently and prepare to leave for the training forest. You've reached the age where every whirling must go after their awakening."
Tears welled up in my eyes as I saw the love and pride in their faces. How could they still look at me that way, knowing what I had done?
"Thank you, Mother. Thank you, Father," I whispered. "I'm the luckiest child in the world to have such parents."
Mother smiled softly and patted my head. "We're the lucky ones too, my son. Now stop crying or I'll make it impossible for you to leave for training."