My DragonicVampiric System

Two days passed before Astra Academy reopened the tournament arenas.

Security around the school had tripled, the entrance to the ancient ruins had been sealed behind several barriers, and the black crystal containing Vorakai’s warning had disappeared into a restricted research facility.

Students were told almost nothing. Officially, the tournament had been interrupted because of a “security malfunction.” Drako almost laughed when he read the announcement.

“Security malfunction? Six four-armed aliens climbing through the floor is a malfunction now?” Adrian shrugged. “Sounds better than ‘ancient enemy returned looking for universe-ending beast.’”

Teck looked up from his holographic screen. “Technically, we don’t know whether the Eternal Demon-Tier Beast could end the universe.” Drako stared at him. “Thank you. I feel much safer.” Kaien walked past them carrying breakfast.

“Maybe it only destroys half the universe.” Drako nodded. “See? Flaming Chicken understands optimism.” Kaien stopped. “I was having a good morning.” “And now you’re having a better one.”

Ruben Veyrox laughed from across the table. Fade remained quiet, though the slight movement at the corner of his mouth told Drako even he was amused. Mira threw a piece of bread at Drako. He caught it. “Free breakfast. Thank you.” “That was supposed to hit you.” “Still counts.”

Despite the jokes, everyone understood that things had changed. They now knew the Azunakkii were returning, that one of the Five Great Families might already know more than it admitted, and that Drako’s combined Dragon and Vampire bloodlines could somehow interact with ancient seals connected to the Eternal Demon-Tier Beast.

But the threat was still distant.

The System itself had warned Drako that he wasn’t prepared. For once, he intended to listen. He needed levels, abilities, experience, transformations, and control before even thinking about another universe.

Right now, his biggest immediate problem was simpler. Fade had eliminated him from the tournament. Drako looked across the table. “I still don’t like you.” Fade took another bite of food. “You followed me here.”

“Because we’re friends. Doesn’t mean I forgive you.” “You asked me not to hold back.” “I didn’t expect you to actually listen.”

Ruben laughed. “That’s probably the worst excuse for losing I’ve ever heard.” Drako pointed at him. “You’re fighting Kaien today. I’ll remember that.”

The tournament resumed with eight competitors remaining, but Drako was now watching instead of participating.

Strangely, he didn’t hate it as much as he expected. Losing to Fade had exposed weaknesses he needed to fix. Dragon Blood Vision could analyze opponents, but Fade had shown him that perfect information meant nothing if his technique couldn’t respond quickly enough.

Drako needed better martial skill, not just stronger abilities. The quarterfinal board updated. Fade would fight a Level 5 spear user named Axton.

Another match featured two veteran students. But the matchup everyone wanted to see appeared in the center of the board:

KAIEN PHEONIX VS. RUBEN VEYROX

Drako smiled. “This should be stupid.” Mira looked at him. “You mean good?” “No. Stupid. They’re going to spend half the fight arguing.”

Kaien heard him from the preparation entrance. “I can hear you!” Drako shouted back, “Good!”

The arena filled quickly. Ruben entered first, wearing simple Veyrox Family combat clothing and carrying no weapon.

Kaien entered opposite him with Phoenix flames already moving lazily around his fingers. Ruben smiled.

“You know I’m going to copy that.” Kaien’s expression changed immediately. “Don’t.” “That’s not how my ability works.” “Copy somebody else’s.”

“Yours is useful.” Kaien pointed at him. “If your fire looks ugly, I’m suing you.” Drako leaned toward Mira. “See? Fight hasn’t even started.” The referee raised his hand. “Begin!”

Kaien attacked immediately. Phoenix fire erupted across the arena in a wide arc.

Ruben raised an energy barrier—one of the abilities he’d prepared before the match. Flames crashed against it.

Ruben slid backward but remained protected. Then silver energy moved around his body. Fire appeared in his palm.

This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

The crowd erupted. Ruben had copied the Phoenix ability. Kaien stared at the weaker orange-red flame. “That is insulting.” Ruben looked at it.

“Looks fine to me.” “It looks cheap.” “It’s copied. Technically it was free.” Drako laughed loudly enough that Kaien looked toward the stands. That moment nearly cost him.

Ruben used enhanced speed and appeared beside him. His stone-covered fist struck Kaien’s ribs. Kaien blocked with a wing-shaped burst of Phoenix fire and jumped backward. “You fight dirty.” Ruben smiled. “You looked away.”

Ruben now had several abilities active: enhanced speed, stone armor, energy barrier, wind control, Phoenix flame, and electricity. Six powers.

What made him dangerous wasn’t simply the number. He switched between them intelligently. Wind accelerated his movements. Stone armor protected him when he couldn’t dodge.

The barrier blocked ranged flames. Electricity enhanced close-range strikes. Phoenix fire gave him another offensive option.

Drako activated Dragon Blood Vision from the stands, studying both fighters. “Ruben’s burning through energy faster.”

Teck nodded. “Six abilities require constant management. His advantage is versatility, not unlimited stamina.” Adrian leaned closer. “What about Kaien?”

Teck displayed a Phoenix energy model. “Higher energy efficiency. His bloodline is naturally his. Ruben’s copied version costs more to maintain.” Drako smiled. “So Ruben needs to finish quickly.” Mira looked at Kaien. “And Kaien probably knows that.”

Kaien suddenly stopped attacking. Ruben launched Phoenix fire. Kaien walked directly through it. The copied flames bent around his body and were absorbed into his own aura. Ruben blinked.

“Well, that’s inconvenient.” Kaien smiled. “My fire.” His Phoenix aura exploded outward. The temperature inside the arena rose instantly. Ruben created his barrier, but cracks appeared across it.

Kaien launched forward, wings of fire briefly forming behind his shoulders. Ruben used wind and enhanced speed simultaneously.

The two disappeared into streaks of red and silver. Impacts echoed across the arena. Ruben struck first with an electrified stone fist. Kaien blocked. Kaien countered with a Phoenix-coated elbow. Ruben’s barrier appeared between them.

CRACK! Both jumped apart.

Drako watched closely. Something about Kaien’s movements was different. He was evolving too.

Not unlocking abilities every few fights like Drako, but becoming more efficient and precise with the powers he already had.

Drako liked that. He didn’t want his friends becoming background characters while he raced ahead. He would grow faster because of the System and his two bloodlines, but they would keep developing their own paths.

Ruben changed strategy. Electricity vanished. The copied Phoenix fire disappeared too. Drako frowned.

“He’s dropping abilities.” Teck understood first. “Creating open slots.” Ruben looked toward Kaien.

Silver energy surrounded him again. This time, rather than copying Kaien’s flames, he copied the temporary fiery movement technique Kaien had just used.

Wings of weaker flame formed behind Ruben. Kaien’s mouth fell open. “You copied my Phoenix Step?” Ruben smiled. “Thanks.” “I hate your family.” Ruben launched forward.

The speed surprised everyone. Ruben appeared above Kaien, stone armor covering one leg. Kaien crossed both arms.

BOOM! The impact drove him into the arena floor. Ruben followed using wind, appearing from another direction. Kaien blocked again. Ruben switched angles repeatedly.

For several seconds, the Veyrox descendant controlled the fight completely. Drako leaned forward. “Kaien’s getting cooked by his own technique.” Mira looked at him. “Please never say that again.” “It was good.” “It wasn’t.”

Kaien suddenly laughed from inside the smoke. Ruben stopped. Phoenix fire exploded upward in a massive pillar. Ruben’s barrier activated, but Kaien emerged through his own flames completely unharmed.

His eyes glowed bright gold-red. “You copied the movement,” Kaien said. “Not what makes it mine.” His wounds were already beginning to close.

Phoenix regeneration. Ruben’s expression became serious. He couldn’t copy everything at full effectiveness, especially deeper bloodline traits. Kaien disappeared. This time even Ruben reacted late. A flaming fist struck his barrier.

CRACK! Another strike.

CRACK! Ruben used wind to escape, but Kaien followed. Ruben switched to stone armor. Kaien’s flames wrapped around the stone and heated it until Ruben had to deactivate the ability.

“That’s the weakness,” Drako whispered. Ruben could adapt to almost anything, but switching between six powers required decisions. Kaien had fewer abilities, but they were completely natural to him. The fight had become versatility against mastery.

Ruben suddenly smiled. “Fine. No more copying Phoenix.” He dropped the flame and Phoenix Step entirely. Kaien raised an eyebrow. “Giving up?” “Changing the problem.” Ruben activated wind, electricity, speed, barrier, stone armor—and a sixth ability Drako hadn’t seen before. His body briefly split into three identical images. Kaien stopped. “Oh, come on.”

All three Rubens attacked.

Kaien blasted one. Illusion.

He punched another. Illusion.

The real Ruben appeared beneath him and struck his defensive shield with an electrified palm.

The shield flickered violently.

Kaien spun and released Phoenix fire at point-blank range.

Ruben’s barrier activated.

Both shields flashed.

Then the arena screens froze the exchange.

CONTACT DIFFERENCE: 0.07 SECONDS.

Drako stood. “Not this again.”

The result appeared.

WINNER: RUBEN VEYROX

The arena erupted.

Kaien stared at the screen, then slowly looked at Ruben. “Seven hundredths?”

Ruben smiled. “Still counts.”

Drako shouted from the stands, “WELCOME TO THE CLUB!”

Kaien looked up. “SHUT UP!”

Even Fade laughed.

Ruben extended his hand. Kaien stared at it dramatically before finally accepting. “Next time you lose.”

“Probably not.”

“I’m burning your hair.”

“Copying your fire again.”

“Don’t.”

Their argument continued as they left the arena together.

Drako smiled while watching them. Rivalries were changing. Strangers were becoming teammates. Teammates were becoming friends. None of them knew that one day these same people would stand together inside Drako’s faction against enemies far beyond Astra Academy.

For now, Ruben Veyrox had reached the semifinal.

And Kaien had just discovered something Drako already knew very well.

Losing to a friend was extremely annoying.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!