The Great Hall was massive. A ceiling enchanted to resemble the sky stretched high above them, its colors shifting with the time of day. At the far end of the room stood a raised platform where a group of powerful-looking dragons, both in human and partial-dragon forms, sat watching the new students.
Azrath stood at the center of the platform. "Welcome, fledgling dragons and aspiring warriors. You have entered the Dragon Academy, where the strong rise and the weak are devoured—sometimes literally." His golden eyes gleamed with amusement at the nervous chuckles from the human companions of the Dragons.
"This is not a place for the timid," Azrath continued. "Here, you will learn to fight, to command magic, and to survive in a world where only power is respected. You will train until your bones break and your spirit shatters, and if you are worthy, you will rise stronger than before."
He gestured behind him to an enormous mural depicting dragons locked in battle. "The history of dragons is one of war and conquest. And now, all of you—dragons, humans, and everything in between—will prove if you have what it takes to carve your own place in our world."
The students exchanged glances. Some were excited, others nervous.
Azrath's gaze swept across them. "Now… let's see what you're made of. Your first test begins now."
The floor beneath them suddenly shifted, glowing runes activating beneath their feet. Before anyone could react, the entire hall was swallowed in a flash of light.
When Asher's vision cleared, he found himself standing in the middle of a vast, open field—no, an arena. The other students were scattered around, looking just as confused.
A voice echoed from the sky. "Survive."
"the Test will Determine the rankings"
"You can all go out as no on will die here"
Asher narrowed his eyes. Of course, it wouldn't be that easy.
Cua cracked his knuckles, his excitement practically radiating off him. "Alright! Time to see who's weak and who's worthy!"
Serena groaned. "Why do I feel is going to be a long year?"
Asher smiled. "Because it definitely will be."
Without warning, a group of students leaped into action, their forms shifting. Some transformed into their draconic forms—claws, wings, and scales bursting forth—while others unleashed magic, sending fiery projectiles and razor-sharp winds across the arena.
Cua laughed, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Finally! Let's see what these so-called future warriors are made of!" With a single leap, he launched himself forward, slamming his fist into an opponent's gut and sending them flying.
"Asher, what's the plan?" Serena asked, stepping closer to him while dodging a stray fireball.
Asher's crimson eyes glowed slightly as he activated Sanguine Supreme, his body feeling lighter, sharper. "We watch first. Let the reckless ones tire themselves out." Read latest chapters at Novel~Fire. (n)et
Serena smirked. "Smart. Let them weed each other out before we step in."
Suddenly, a shadow loomed over them. Asher barely had time to react before a massive, armored dragon descended, landing with a deafening crash. The force of the impact sent dust and debris flying, momentarily obscuring their vision.
Through the settling dust, a voice rang out—deep, powerful, and filled with challenge.
"You," the dragon growled, his golden eyes locked onto Asher.
"I am the Butler of—" Before he could finish speaking, Asher's scythe flashed through the air. In an instant, the dragon's head was severed from its body, the massive form collapsing to the ground with a heavy thud.
"Not interested," Asher said coldly, stepping past the fallen dragon without a second glance.
Meanwhile, Cua was fully immersed in battle, tearing through opponents—both dragons and their human companions—without hesitation. His laughter echoed through the battlefield as he fought, reveling in the chaos.
"The apple doesn't fall far from the tree—he's just as crazy as his mother," Serena muttered, watching Cua tear through his opponents with reckless excitement.
Asher nodded in agreement. "Yeah… but at least he's effective."
They both stood back, letting Cua enjoy himself, while Asher kept his guard up.
The ground trembled beneath them as another surge of power filled the arena.
From the shadows, a massive dragon, easily twice the size of the previous ones, emerged. Its crimson scales shimmered under the artificial light, and its eyes locked onto Cua with a mixture of fury and recognition.
"Cua Nhiliys," the dragon rumbled, his voice like rolling thunder. "The heir of the Dragon Queen dares to participate in this trial like a mere commoner?"
" you should just let your butler and handmaiden do things "
Cua grinned, wiping blood from his cheek. "Of course! What's the point of power if you don't test it?"
Serena paled. "That thing is on a whole different level…"
Asher cracked his neck, gripping his scythe. "Doesn't matter. If it stands in our way, it falls."
The dragon roared, unleashing a wave of flames that turned the battlefield into an inferno.
Cua laughed, stepping forward. "Let's see if you're worthy of challenging me!"
Cua's laughter echoed through the blazing battlefield as he stepped forward, the heat of the dragon's flames doing little to faze him. His golden eyes gleamed with excitement.
"You talk big," he taunted, cracking his knuckles. "But can you back it up?"
The massive crimson dragon sneered. "Arrogant whelp. I will show you why lesser beings bow before me."
With a deafening roar, the dragon lunged, claws sharp enough to tear through steel aiming straight for Cua. But in a flash, Asher was there, his scythe intercepting the attack with a clang that sent shockwaves rippling through the air.
"Oi, Cua," Asher muttered as he pushed back against the dragon's force. "You planning to fight or just run your mouth?"
Cua grinned, stepping back slightly. "Relax, Father. I was just letting him have his moment before I crush him."
Serena groaned from the sidelines. "Can we at least pretend this isn't a casual spar and that we're actually in a survival test?"
Ignoring her, Cua finally moved. In a blur of speed, he vanished from sight, only to reappear above the dragon's head, his fist glowing with a brilliant blue aura.
"Let's see if you can take this—Dragon King's Fist!"
His punch connected with a thunderous impact, sending the massive dragon crashing into the ground, shaking the entire arena. Dust and debris exploded into the air, obscuring everything for a moment.
Asher whistled. "Not bad, kid."
Cua landed gracefully beside him, flicking his wrist. "Of course not. I'm your son, after all."
The dust finally settled, revealing the dragon barely able to rise, his body trembling from the sheer force of the attack.
"You… little… brat," he growled.
Cua smirked, stretching his arms. "I'd say I won this round."
Before the dragon could even respond, a loud horn echoed across the arena, signaling the end of the test. The surroundings began to shimmer, the illusion of destruction fading away as the real battlefield returned to view.
A booming voice filled the space. "The rankings have been determined."
Asher exhaled, shouldering his scythe. "Well, that was fun."
Serena crossed her arms. "Define fun."
Cua just grinned. "First day and I'm already making a name for myself!"
As the illusion of the battlefield faded, the students found themselves standing back in the pristine white marble halls of the Dragon Academy's central training ground. The massive stone pillars and towering banners of noble dragon houses fluttered gently in the wind.
A figure descended from the sky, landing gracefully before them. A tall, regal-looking man with sharp, golden eyes and long silver hair stood with his hands behind his back. His aura alone was enough to silence even the most boisterous students.
"I am Headmaster Aldrion," the man announced, his voice carrying across the courtyard without effort. "The survival test has ended. The rankings have been decided. You will be assigned to your respective classes accordingly."
He raised his hand, and golden runes appeared in the air, swirling before forming into glowing names on a massive leaderboard.
Cua's eyes scanned the list quickly, and when he spotted his name, he grinned widely.
"Rank 1: Cua Nihiliys."
"Obviously," he smirked, tossing his hair back.
Serena rolled her eyes. "Of course, the reckless battle maniac gets first place."
"Rank 2: Sylva Drakonis."
A sharp, feminine scoff came from the crowd. A young woman with long silver hair and piercing emerald eyes stepped forward, her arms crossed as she glared at Cua.
"So, you're the Dragon Queen's so-called 'heir,'" she said coolly. "I suppose I'll have to see if you're truly worthy of the top spot."
Cua chuckled. "Oh? Planning to challenge me already?"
She smirked. "Only if you survive long enough."
The headmaster clapped his hands, silencing the murmurs. "Your rankings will determine your privileges, but strength alone does not make a dragon great. Your real trials begin now. If you think today was difficult, then I suggest you prepare yourselves. The true test starts tomorrow."
The golden runes dissipated, and with a wave of his hand, portals opened to different sections of the academy.
"Now, return to your dorms and rest. Dismissed."
Asher turned to Cua, smirking. "Looks like you've already made rivals."
Cua grinned, cracking his knuckles. "That just makes things more fun."
Serena groaned. "I have a bad feeling about this year."