Leveling Up With My Dragon System

Kai took a deep breath, his heart pounding in his chest. "Sir, I didn't mean to," he began, but the colonel waved a hand to silence him.

"You have dragon powers," the colonel stated, his voice still calm yet now carrying a hint of accusation. "The first and only one in Prime Earth. Do you understand the implications of this, Kai?"

Kai swallowed hard, his fists slowly returning to normal. "Yes, sir," he replied, his voice trembling slightly. "But I swear, it was an accident."

The colonel's gaze bore into him as if he could see straight through to the dragon's heart beating in Kai's chest. "Accidents have consequences, Kai," he said gravely. "And so does power."

Kai nodded, his mind racing. What would happen now? Would he be expelled? Imprisoned? Or was there something else?

The colonel leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving Kai's. "Your talents are... exceptional," he mused. "But they are also dangerous."

Kai felt his throat constrict, fear mingling with the adrenaline still coursing through his veins. "I just wanted to...," he blurted out, his voice hoarse.

The colonel held up a hand, silencing him. "I know what you wanted, Kai. But now that your powers are known, you can't go back. You have to be prepared for the scrutiny, the envy, and the danger."

Kai felt his heart sink. He had never wanted any of this. He had just wanted to be a hero, like the ones he had read about in books. But now, he was something else entirely.

"We'll need to keep this under wraps," the colonel continued, his voice low and serious. "For your protection. And for the academies. Some would do anything to harness your power for themselves."

Kai nodded, his mind racing. He hadn't thought about that. The colonel's words were a stark reminder of the precarious position he now found himself in.

"I understand, sir," he managed to say, his voice barely above a whisper.

The colonel leaned forward, his eyes searching Kai's. "Do you? Because if you don't, you won't survive here. This place isn't just about power and strength. It's about strategy and control."

Kai nodded, feeling the weight of his newfound status pressing down on his shoulders. He knew he had to be careful. "I won't let you down, sir," he promised.

The colonel studied him for a long moment before nodding curtly. "Good. Now, go. Train harder. Control your powers. We'll speak of this again when the time is right."

Kai left the office, his heart racing. The gravity of the situation was now fully realized. He knew he had to be more careful, more vigilant. The academy wasn't just a place for learning and growth anymore; it was a minefield of politics and hidden agendas. He had to protect not just himself, but Rerna and his friends as well.

Rerna was waiting for him outside, her eyes filled with concern. She had felt the tremors of their battle from the abandoned wing and had come to check on him. "Are you okay?" she asked, her voice laced with worry.

Kai nodded, still reeling from his encounter with the colonel. "Yeah," he replied, trying to sound nonchalant. "Just had a little chat with the boss."

Rerna raised an eyebrow, sensing his tension. "Little chat?" she repeated skeptically.

Kai managed a weak smile. "Let's just say it was... enlightening."

Together, they walked back to the dorms, the whispers and stares of their fellow recruits following them like a shadow. Frode and Ingrid waited anxiously outside their room, their expressions a mix of fear and excitement. "What happened?" Frode blurted out as soon as they were in earshot.

Kai sighed heavily, rubbing his temples. "Erik found out," he said simply. "And now the whole academy knows."

Frode and Ingrid's eyes widened in horror, while Annika's face remained stoic. "What are we going to do?" Ingrid whispered, her voice shaking.

"We keep training," Kai said firmly, his eyes burning with a newfound resolve. "We get stronger. We stick together."

The four of them huddled closer, the gravity of their situation weighing heavily on their shoulders. Annika was the first to speak up. "But Kai, you can't just ignore the fact that you're a target now. Everyone's going to be watching you."

Kai nodded, his jaw set. "I know," he said. "But I won't let them use me."

The weeks that followed were a whirlwind of intense training and heightened tension. Kai and Rerna pushed each other to new heights, their bond growing stronger as they faced their fears and honed their powers. Frode and Ingrid remained steadfast, their loyalty unwavering as they supported Kai in any way they could. Annika, though still guarded, had come to see the value in their friendship, offering her strategic mind and her growing power to the cause.

Erik, on the other hand, had gone quiet. The beating had left him bruised and humiliated, and though he hadn't told anyone the full extent of what had happened, it was clear to all that Kai was no longer the underdog. The once-cocky yellow-ranked recruit now avoided Kai's gaze, his confidence shaken. But Kai knew better than to trust appearances; he could feel the resentment simmering beneath the surface, waiting for the perfect moment to boil over.

The academy was ablaze with rumors and speculation about Kai's true power. Whispers of "the dragon of Ground Zero" echoed in the corridors, and Kai could feel the shift in the air. Some recruits looked at him with awe, others with envy, and some with fear. It was a dangerous cocktail that could easily turn toxic.

During training sessions, the instructors watched him with a mix of curiosity and wariness. They knew something was different about him, but none dared to confront him directly. The colonel's words had rung true; Kai was now under a microscope. Yet, he felt a strange sense of liberation. The secret was out, and he didn't have to hide anymore.

But the price of this newfound freedom was etched into every tense silence and sideways glance. He could feel the power dynamics in the academy shifting, the delicate balance of fear and respect shifting in his favor. It was both exhilarating and terrifying.

One evening, as they were leaving the training ground, a figure stepped out of the shadows, blocking their path. It was Erik, his eyes cold and calculating. "We're not done," he spat.

Kai's stomach tightened, his hand unconsciously curling into a fist. "What do you want?"

Erik smirked, his hand flexing slightly, the hint of lightning flickering at his fingertips. "Just to make sure you remember your place," he said, his voice low and venomous.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om