Leveling Up With My Dragon System

Erik, with his lightning agility, darted around the battlefield, disrupting Team Thunder's strategies with swift and precise attacks. His speed was unparalleled, and his control over his power had reached new heights since his rank up. The crowd watched with bated breath as the match grew more intense with every passing second.

The second member of Team Thunder approached Kai, wielding twin swords that crackled with electricity. Kai knew he had to be careful; even a graze from those weapons could be debilitating. He focused, feeling the dragon's instinct to adapt. He enveloped his sword in a thin layer of water, courtesy of Annika's assistance from the sidelines, effectively grounding the lightning strikes aimed at him.

The crowd gasped as Kai's blade met the lightning swords in a display of power versus speed. The water steaming off his sword created a cloud of mist, obscuring the view of the fight. Taking advantage of the confusion, Ingrid struck from the shadows, her fist connecting with the back of the opponent's neck. The sound of bones crunching was faint but clear to those who knew what to listen for. The opponent crumpled to the ground, out of the fight.

With one member down, Team Thunder grew more desperate. Their leader, a blue-ranked earth-and-wind dual node bearer, called upon the elements to create a fierce tornado that barreled toward Kai's team. The team dispersed, using their skills to avoid the whirling vortex of earth and wind. Frode sent a volley of magic missiles to disrupt the tornado's formation, while Annika created a wall of water to absorb the impact.

Amid the chaos, Kai saw an opening. He leaped into the air, his blade glowing with a fiery aura as he sliced through the tornado's core. The winds died down, and the earth scattered, leaving Team Thunder's leader momentarily stunned. Kai landed gracefully beside the leader, who was now isolated from his team.

"You're good," the leader said, his voice strained but filled with a hint of admiration.

"Thanks," Kai replied, his grip tightening on his sword. He knew this wasn't the time for banter. The match was still on, and they had to win.

The leader of Team Thunder recovered quickly, his eyes narrowing as he summoned a boulder from the ground, sending it hurtling toward Kai. Kai's dragon instincts flared up, and he roared, the sound echoing through the arena as he met the boulder with a fiery blast from his sword. The stone fragmented into a hundred pieces, showering the area with debris.

The crowd erupted into cheers, the intensity of the fight reaching new heights. Rerna watched, her heart racing, as Kai continued to push himself, each clash of steel and flame more impressive than the last. He was a force to be reckoned with, and she felt a swell of pride towards him.

"Three minutes remaining," the mechanical voice boomed from the speakers. Kai's team had managed to take down two of Team Thunder's members, but the match wasn't over yet. The leader of Team Thunder was a formidable opponent, his wind and earth combination proving to be a deadly pairing.

The leader of Team Thunder, seeing his disadvantage, retreated and took a moment to assess the battlefield. Kai's blade never left his hand, his eyes following the opponent's every move. He knew that this was the time to strike, to show his true strength. He took a deep breath and felt the dragon's power surge within him.

"Now!" Kai shouted, charging at the leader with a fiery rush. The leader barely had time to react before Kai was upon him, his sword a blur of fire and steel. The two clashed in a frenzy of power and strategy, the arena floor trembling with each blow.

Rerna felt the tension in the air as she watched Kai's dragon instincts take over. His movements were no longer just human but a blend of man and beast. The dragon node was not just a symbol of power but a living part of him.

The leader of Team Thunder, realizing he was outmatched, tried a new tactic. He raised his hand, and a gust of wind picked up Kai, sending him soaring through the air. Kai's blade lost contact with the ground, and for a moment, he was vulnerable.

But Kai was not one to be bested so easily. He channeled the dragon's breath within him and exhaled a stream of fire, propelling himself back towards the leader. The crowd held their breath as Kai spun through the air, sword aflame. The leader attempted to dodge, but Kai's fiery blade sliced through his defenses, leaving a trail of smoldering earth in its wake.

The leader stumbled backward, a look of shock etched on his face. Kai took this opportunity to deliver a swift kick, sending him flying into the barrier that marked the edge of the combat zone. The impact was substantial, and the crowd roared as the leader was defeated.

The timer hit zero, and the arena went silent. The blue light around Kai's team's zone flickered and turned green, indicating their victory. His teammates rushed to congratulate him, slapping him on the back and shouting praises. Kai couldn't help but smile, feeling a sense of camaraderie and achievement wash over him.

As the dust settled, Colonel Skai's face appeared on the large viewing screen above the arena. "Congratulations to Team 12 for a well-fought victory. Your performance today was nothing short of extraordinary." His eyes lingered on Kai for a moment before he continued, "Team Thunder, do not be disheartened. You have shown great promise and will only grow stronger."

The defeated members of Team Thunder slowly made their way out of the arena, their heads held low. Kai felt a twinge of pity for them, knowing all too well the sting of defeat. However, he couldn't deny the thrill of victory coursing through his veins.

"Good job, everyone," he said, turning to his teammates. They were all panting and sweating, but their eyes shone with excitement. "We did it."

Annika stepped forward, a proud smile on her face. "Couldn't have done it without your fire, Kai."

Frode nodded in agreement, "Your dragon moves were something else."

Ingrid added with a smirk, "I didn't know you had that in you, Kai."

Kai's cheeks flushed slightly, but he shrugged it off. "It's all part of the Dragon Knight package."

The team's victory was met with applause from the audience, which grew louder as the next match was announced. Team 13, the Sly Serpents, known for their cunning tactics, was up against Team 11, the Iron Maidens, a team of strong and stoic earth node bearers.

Kai took a seat beside Rerna, who had been watching the battles intently. "How do you feel?" she asked, her voice filled with genuine concern.

"Tired, but good," Kai replied, his breath still coming in short bursts. "I didn't expect to be able to do all that."

Rerna nodded, her eyes reflecting her admiration. "You've come a long way since we first met."

"Thanks to all of you," Kai said, looking around at his friends. "And to our trainers, of course."

Frode grinned. "Don't forget the late-night training sessions we had."

"Yeah," Ingrid chimed in, "you've stepped up your game."

The team sat together, watching the next match unfold with a mix of excitement and exhaustion. The Sly Serpents were known for their strategic use of illusions and stealth, which made them a tough opponent. Kai couldn't help but feel a twinge of nerves for the Iron Maidens.

"They're going to need a good plan to counter the serpents' tactics," Rerna murmured beside him. Kai nodded, his mind racing with possible strategies.
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The Iron Maidens took their positions, their earth nodes glowing with determination. The match began, and the arena transformed into a battleground of earth and shadows. The serpents' illusions danced around the Maidens, making it difficult for them to pinpoint the real opponents. Kai leaned forward, his eyes narrowing as he studied the chaos.

"They need to stay grounded," he murmured to himself. "They have to use their earth nodes to sense the real threats."

The Iron Maidens seemed to read his thoughts, their earthy aura thickening around them. They began to move in unison, each step deliberate and calculated. The serpents' illusions grew more complex, but the Maidens remained unfazed.

Suddenly, the ground beneath the Sly Serpents' leader shifted, and she found herself trapped in a pit of solid earth. The crowd gasped as the Iron Maidens' captain raised her hand, a boulder floating at her fingertips.

"Now," she bellowed, and with a flick of her wrist, the boulder shot towards the pit, shattering the illusion. The real serpent leader lay there, stunned by the sudden turn of events.

The Iron Maidens didn't waste a moment. They swarmed the leader, their earth powers shaking the very foundations of the arena. Kai watched with bated breath as the serpent's leader tried to escape, her illusions flickering wildly. But the Maidens were relentless, their earthy grip unyielding.

The serpents' leader, realizing she was outmatched, called for a retreat. Her team followed, slipping away into the shadows of the arena, their forms fading like smoke. The crowd erupted into applause as the Iron Maidens claimed victory.