Leveling Up With My Dragon System

"Do not intervene, we'd like to see to what extent his powers can be used." The communication device held by the Colonel spoke. He was about to issue orders for the fight between Erik and Kai to be stopped when he received instructions from the higher-ups.

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Erik waited for him with a cocky smirk, his yellow-ranked lightning crackling around his body. Kai took a deep breath, focusing on the heat in his fists. He knew he had to be careful; if he lost control, it would be a disaster.

The crowd fell silent as the match began. Erik shot forward, his speed surprising Kai, but he was ready. He dodged the first few bolts of lightning with ease, his reflexes sharper than ever before. The dragon within him roared for a taste of the fight, but he held it back, keeping it in check.

Erik's smirk turned into a snarl as he saw that Kai wasn't going to be an easy opponent. He unleashed a barrage of lightning strikes, the air crackling with electricity. Kai dodged and weaved, feeling the heat of the bolts as they grazed his skin. His heart pounded, but he remained focused. He knew he had to keep his cool if he was going to win this.

As the fight progressed, it was clear that Erik had underestimated Kai's power. The dragon within was more than a mere source of fire; it was a beacon of strength and agility that flowed through his veins. With each dodge and counter, Kai grew more confident, the fiery glow around his fists growing brighter.

Frode, Ingrid, and Annika watched from the sidelines, their hearts racing. They had never seen Kai this focused, this powerful. The crowd murmured, their whispers turning to gasps as the fight grew more intense. The air was thick with the smell of ozone and the scent of burning earth.

Erik's attacks grew more desperate as he realized he couldn't land a hit. His once confident smirk had twisted into a snarl of frustration. Sweat beaded on his brow, and his yellow-ranked lightning began to flicker. Kai saw the opening he had been waiting for. With a roar that echoed through the arena, he lunged forward, his fist a blaze of fiery determination.

He threw a punch that was more than just a punch; it was the culmination of his rage, his pain, and his newfound strength. The dragon's fire collided with Erik's lightning in a spectacular explosion of power. The crowd gasped as the energy rippled through the air, shaking the very walls of the arena.

Erik stumbled back, his eyes wide with shock. He had never seen anything like it. The dragon's power was unlike anything the academy had ever seen. The lightning that once surrounded him flickered out, leaving him vulnerable.

Kai took a step back, his breathing heavy but controlled. His fists still burned with the remnants of his power, but he didn't move to attack again. The message was clear.

Erik stared at him, his chest heaving. The crowd had gone silent, their eyes glued to the spectacle before them. The silence was deafening, a stark contrast to the thunderous roar of the dragon's fire moments ago.

"Is that all you got?" Kai taunted, his voice echoing in the hushed arena.

Erik's face contorted in anger, his eyes wild. He knew he had lost, but his pride wouldn't let him concede. With a roar of his own, he charged at Kai, throwing everything he had into a last-ditch effort to land a hit.

Kai braced himself, his dragon instincts taking over. He felt the earth tremble as Erik's power surged, but it was no match for the fire burning within him. With a swift, powerful kick, Kai sent Erik flying across the arena floor. The impact was so great that a crater formed where Erik landed, the sound of his body hitting the ground resonating through the stunned silence.

The arena held its breath, the anticipation of the crowd hanging in the air like a thick fog. Erik groaned, trying to push himself up, but his body would not respond. The lightning around him had completely dissipated, leaving him weak and vulnerable.

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"I yield," Erik choked out, his voice strained.

The crowd erupted into cheers, the tension in the air dissipating like mist in the sun. Kai's teammates rushed to his side, their eyes wide with a mix of amazement and relief. Even the instructors watched with newfound respect. The slave boy from Ground Zero had proven himself a force to be reckoned with.

As Kai helped Erik to his feet, he could see the defeat in the yellow-ranked recruit's eyes. He offered a hand, not as an enemy, but as a rival who had earned his respect. "We're not done," Kai said, his voice firm but not unkind. "But let's leave the fighting for the training grounds."

Erik took his hand, the weight of his pride heavy in his gaze. "Fine," he muttered. "But this isn't over."

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"He has barely touched the tip of his full potential from the dragon node and we have to ensure it stays like that for now." The board in charge of Prime Earth all communicated in hushed tones. Kai was the new spectacle for them and keeping a keen observation on him was a key mission.

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The crowd dispersed, and the four friends made their way back to the dorm, the buzz of whispers and excitement following them. Frode slapped Kai on the back, his smile wide. "That was incredible, man! You're unstoppable!"

Ingrid nodded in agreement, her eyes shining with admiration. "You're a natural-born leader," she said. "With power like that, we're going to be unbeatable."

Annika, ever the pragmatist, added, "But we have to be careful. The higher-ups won't like that we've drawn so much attention."

Kai knew she was right. The academy was a place of power and politics, where every action had a consequence. The colonel had warned him about the dangers of revealing too much, too soon. But the dragon's fire inside him was too strong to be contained. He had to learn to harness it, not just for himself, but for those who looked up to him.

The days passed in a blur of training and whispers. Kai's victory over Erik had spread through the academy like wildfire, and everyone wanted to know the truth about his powers. Rerna remained a constant presence, her earth-based abilities a silent reminder of the dangers that lurked beneath the surface of their newfound fame.

"We have to be more careful," Kai murmured to her as they sat on the edge of the training ground, watching the sunset. "Erik won't give up easily."

Rerna nodded, her gaze thoughtful. "He's not the only one watching us now," she said softly.

Kai knew she was right. The academy had taken notice of them, and not all of it was positive. There were whispers of fear, of jealousy, of recruits who resented the attention he was receiving. But amidst the tension, their friendship grew stronger, a bond forged in the fires of adversity and shared secrets.