Leveling Up With My Dragon System

"Now, for speed," the sergeant announced. Annika's heart pumped as she faced the challenge. Her power was in her control and precision, not her speed. The crystals zipped around her, and she took a deep breath, focusing on the flow of the water within her. To her surprise, her movements grew fluid, and she managed to hit more targets than expected, though not as many as Rerna.

The room shifted again, and it was time for the agility and reflex assessment. Annika had always been nimble, but the essence of water didn't naturally grant her the same speed or reaction time as others. She dodged and weaved, using her control over the water around her to push off the walls and floor, creating a dance of evasion and attack that was mesmerizing to watch.

Sweat beaded on her brow as the exercise drew to a close. She knew she hadn't performed as well as Rerna in speed, but she had given it her all. The essence chair awaited her, and she walked over, steeling herself for the extraction process. The light grew brighter, and she could feel the energy in the room pulsing with the power of the water node.

Her heart raced as the chair took hold, and she felt her power surging through her. The essence extraction was always the most nerve-wracking part, but she had faith in her abilities. The chair hummed to life, and she could feel the essence of water being drawn out of her, swirling around her in a maelstrom of power.

As the light dimmed, she heard the sergeant announce her new rank. "Annika Randi, your new rank is..." The anticipation grew heavier. "Blue, level 10, ranked sixteen." Annika's face fell slightly, but she knew she had done her best. It was enough to be in the top fifty, and she wasn't about to let anyone take that away from her.

The crowd's applause grew louder as Kai was called next. He stepped into the chamber, his eyes scanning the room for any signs of what was to come. He had been preparing for this moment since he discovered his dragon node. The dragon within him stirred, feeling the excitement of the impending challenge.

The first exercise was strength, and the weighted barrel grew before his eyes. Starting at 100kg, it grew heavier with each step he took closer to it. He took a deep breath and focused on his dragon's power, lifting it with ease. The barrel grew heavier, the numbers climbing to 250kg, then 300kg, 400kg... and finally stopping at 950kg. He could feel the strain in his muscles, but he held firm.

"Impressive, Kai," Rerna called out, her eyes wide with amazement.

The sergeant nodded, making a note on her pad. "Very well, now for the next exercise, agility and reflexes."

Kai took a moment to gather himself, then nodded. As the room dimmed and the timer began to count down, he felt the dragon's energy pulsate within him. The first gormorker emerged, and he launched himself at it, the weight of the dragon's power behind every blow.

The creature was fast, but Kai's reflexes had grown sharper with each training session. He danced around it, dodging its claws and teeth with ease. His movements were a blur, a symphony of power and precision. The gormorker was no match for the dragon's agility. Find your next read on empire

As the ten-minute timer ticked down, the room grew more treacherous. More monsters emerged, each one more deadly than the last. Kai's heart pounded in his chest, and sweat dripped from his brow, but he didn't falter. He could feel the dragon's essence within him, guiding his every move, making him swift and fierce.

The crowd watched in awe as Kai's body morphed slightly, scales appearing and disappearing as he dodged and struck with almost inhuman ferocity. He took down each creature with a grace that seemed to defy the very laws of physics. The air was thick with the scent of burnt stone and metal as he unleashed bolts of fire at the mechanical monsters that had been programmed to test their limits.

Finally, the timer chimed, signaling the end of the assessment. Kai stood, panting, surrounded by the debris of his foes.

"Remarkable," Professor Dastain murmured. The crowd had gone from tense silence to an eruption of cheers.

Sergeant Valkyrie stepped closer to the exhausted Kai. "Now, for the final test."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

The essence chair beckoned, its metallic arms extending towards him like the embrace of fate. Kai took a deep breath, his heart racing with excitement and dread. This was it, the moment that would define his place in the academy.

As he sat down, the chair's restraints locked into place, and the sergeant's voice echoed through the chamber. "Initiating essence extraction." The room grew brighter as the chair began to glow with an eerie red light, the color of Kai's dragon node. The energy surged through him, a mix of pain and power that made him want to roar with the might of the beast within.

The process was unbearable, but Kai gritted his teeth and held on. He could feel the dragon's essence being drawn out of him, and he focused on the warmth it brought, the strength it promised. The room swam before his eyes, and he heard the sergeant's voice as if from a great distance. "You're doing well, Kai. Stay focused."

As the light grew dimmer, the pain began to subside, and a strange calmness washed over him. He could feel the essence of the dragon coalescing around him, a swirling storm of power that made his skin tingle. The chair's arms retracted, and Kai stood, his body now fully engulfed in a fiery aura. The room grew silent as they all stared at him, awed by the raw power on display.

"Kai Halsten, your new rank is..." The sergeant paused dramatically. The anticipation in the room was palpable. "Blue, number five." The crowd exploded into a thunderous applause. The recruits watched as Kai's name flashed in a fiery hue on the board, a stark contrast to the cool blues and greens around it.

The dragon node was rare and powerful, and having one of them rise through the ranks so quickly filled them with excitement and hope. Kai felt a mix of pride and relief washed over him. He had done it. He had proven to himself and everyone else that he was worthy of being here, worthy of bearing the dragon's essence.

As the applause died down, the sergeant called out the final recruit of the day. "Erik Esben, 141. You may begin your assessment."