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**Beijing, Dragon Empire Alliance, June 18, 2045**
Lin Feng tore through the school's training grounds, weaving between holographic targets as Xiaohuo, his Flame-Tailed Drakeling, zipped overhead, spitting [Ember Shot Lv. 3] at drones. "Faster, you lazy lizard!" Lin shouted, ducking a laser. Xiaohuo retaliated with a spark that singed Lin's sleeve, growling, "Call me lazy again, and I'll torch your pants!"
"Try it, and I'll trade you for that egg!" Lin shot back, patting his pack where the **Mystery Egg** pulsed at 30% hatch progress. Its red-gold veins glowed, driving Xiaohuo into a jealous fit. Lin's **4600 System Points** tempted him to hatch it, but he eyed the [System Shop]'s **Mana Ring** (500 Points) or a **Dragon Treat** (300 Points) to boost Xiaohuo's loyalty.
His stats flashed:
**[Status: Lin Feng, Level 9]**
- **Stats**: Strength 31 (26 +5 from Iron Bracer), Agility 33 (28 +5 from Swift Boots), Intelligence 22, Vitality 18, Luck 16
- **Skills**: [Dragon Bond Lv. 1], [Dragon Claw Strike Lv. 1], [Celestial Evasion Lv. 1], [Dragon Roar Lv. 1], [Dragon Scale Armor Lv. 1], [Dragon Flame Burst Lv. 1], [Scorching Roar Lv. 1]
- **Pet**: Xiaohuo (Flame-Tailed Drakeling, Level 9, Evolves at Level 10, Skills: Ember Shot Lv. 3, Drake Slash Lv. 2, Flame Pulse Lv. 2, Fire Wing Slash Lv. 2, Dragon Flame Burst Lv. 2, Scorching Roar Lv. 1)
- **System Points**: 4600
- **Inventory**: Mystery Egg, Alpha Fang, Crimson Pelt, Wolf Pelts x14, Rat Tail Bundle x9, Mana Shards x4, Shadowclaw Claw, Serpent Fang, Ironroot Core, Treant Bark, Hyena Claw, Shadow Pelt, Bonefang Tusk, Iron Pelt, Iron Bracer, Swift Boots, Flame Drake Talisman, Flame Crest Ring, Mana Vial
The [System]'s quest blared: **[Quest: Survive Silver Fang's Trap in Next Ranking Match. Reward: 600 System Points, Random Equipment, +10% Mystery Egg Hatch Progress. Deadline: June 25, 2045. Penalty: Xiaohuo Burns Your Notes.]**
"Burn my notes, and I'll burn your snacks," Lin told Xiaohuo, who smirked, clutching a stolen jerky strip. The ranking match tomorrow, June 19, was a high-stakes gauntlet, and rumors swirled that **Silver Fang Guild**, backing Li Hao, had rigged it with traps to tank Lin's rep before the **Global College Entrance Trials**.
Fatty Wang jogged up, spatula gleaming with [Spirit Buns] (+3 Vitality). "Feng! You're pushing it! Instructor Zhang's already mad you skipped class!"
Su Mei, **Mana Weaver**, followed, glasses flashing. "Silver Fang's mentor gave Li Hao a **Blaze Core**—it amps his fire skills. They're planning to ambush you mid-match."
Lin twirled his dagger, grinning. "An ambush? Cute. I'll make Hair Gel wish he stayed home."
The [System] chimed: **[Host, Silver Fang's traps include enhanced monsters and environmental hazards. Your Luck stat (16) won't save you from stupidity.]**
"Stupidity's my charm," Lin shot back, sprinting to the arena.
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**Ranking Match Arena: Trap-Filled Chaos**
The coliseum thrummed with energy, drones broadcasting to thousands. The leaderboard glowed: Lin's team ranked second, Li Hao's first after a rigged training score. Instructor Zhang, **Thunderstrike Halberd** sparking, bellowed, "Today's match: survive a trapped gauntlet with three monster waves, then PvP against a rival team. Top three teams get 600 trial points. Don't die!"
Lin's team—himself, Fatty, Su Mei—faced a holographic arena: a lava-lit canyon with crumbling bridges and spiked traps. Xiaohuo muttered, "This place smells like a setup."
The [System] pinged: **[Warning: Silver Fang Traps Detected - Enhanced Monsters, Lava Geysers, Spike Pits.]**
"Great," Lin said, activating [Dragon Bond Lv. 1]. "Let's speedrun this."
Wave one: 25 **Gloom Rats**, Level 5, with E-Rank speed. Lin's [Dragon Scale Armor] glowed, tanking bites (-10 HP). Xiaohuo's [Scorching Roar Lv. 1] stunned them with a fiery AOE (-80 HP each), followed by [Ember Shot Lv. 3] (-90 HP). Su Mei's [Mana Thread] boosted Xiaohuo's speed, while Fatty's [Spicy Toss Lv. 2] blinded the swarm. Lin's [Dragon Claw Strike] shredded five rats, earning **Rat Tails x5** and 60 EXP. **[EXP +60. Level 9: 110/900 EXP]**.
A lava geyser erupted, a Silver Fang trap. Lin's [Celestial Evasion] dodged the spray, but Fatty took a burn (-15 HP). Su Mei's [Mana Thread] healed him (+5 HP), snapping, "Feng, watch the traps!"
Wave two: eight **Ironfang Wolves**, Level 6, with E-Rank claws. Lin's [Dragon Roar] staggered them, and Xiaohuo's [Dragon Flame Burst Lv. 2] scorched the pack (-120 HP each). Su Mei's buffs kept Lin's Agility at 33, dodging with [Celestial Evasion]. Fatty's [Iron Pan Strike Lv. 2] cracked a wolf's skull (-100 HP), but a spike pit triggered, nearly impaling him. Lin yanked him back, taking a graze (-10 HP, Total: 90/130).
"Fatty, you owe me buns!" Lin grinned, slashing a wolf with [Dragon Claw Strike] (-90 HP). Loot: **Wolf Pelts x6**, 120 EXP. **[EXP +120. Level 9: 230/900 EXP]**.
Wave three: a D-Rank **Lavafang Viper**, Level 8, 800 HP, weak to fire but with [Magma Spit Lv. 2]. A geyser trap boosted its speed, a Silver Fang trick. Lin's [Scorching Roar] stunned it, and Xiaohuo's [Fire Wing Slash] + [Flame Pulse] combo charred its scales (-200 HP). Su Mei's [Mana Thread] amped Xiaohuo's damage (+15%), while Fatty's [Spicy Toss] reduced its accuracy. Lin's [Dragon Flame Burst] blasted it (-180 HP), but [Magma Spit] grazed him (-25 HP, Total: 65/130).
"Hot sauce, meet hot snake!" Lin shouted, tossing Xiaohuo like a flaming dart. The drakeling's [Ember Shot Lv. 3] crit (-150 HP), and Lin's [Dragon Claw Strike] finished it (-120 HP). Loot: **Viper Scale**, 150 EXP. **[EXP +150. Level 9: 380/900 EXP]**.
The crowd roared, "Dragon Tamer!" Lin's team ranked first, but the PvP loomed.
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**PvP Ambush: Silver Fang's Trap**
The arena morphed into a spiked fortress, traps glowing red. Lin's team faced Li Hao's: **Li Hao (Inferno Warlock)**, **Chen Wei (Ironclad Knight)**, **Zhao Min (Shadow Assassin)**, all boosted by **Silver Fang** gear. Li Hao's **Blaze Core** pulsed, amplifying his flames.
"Ready to burn, Trash Tamer?" Li Hao sneered, **Flameweave Cloak** flaring.
Lin grinned. "Hair Gel, your cloak's uglier than your personality."
The [System] pinged: **[Side Quest: Trigger Silver Fang's Trap Against Li Hao. Reward: 400 System Points, Random Skill Shard. Penalty: Trap Hits Your Team.]**
The match exploded. Zhao Min vanished, her [Shadow Cloak Lv. 3] active. Chen Wei charged, hammer glowing with [Iron Smash Lv. 2]. Lin's [Dragon Scale Armor] tanked a hit (-20 HP), and [Celestial Evasion] dodged Zhao Min's [Shadow Stab] (-25 HP, Total: 40/130). Su Mei's [Mana Thread] boosted Xiaohuo's speed, letting him blast Chen Wei with [Scorching Roar] (-80 HP, stun). Fatty's [Spicy Toss] blinded Zhao Min, forcing her out of stealth (-60 HP).
Li Hao unleashed [Blaze Storm Lv. 1], a fiery AOE powered by the **Blaze Core** (-100 HP potential). Lin spotted a trap—a spiked wall rigged to crush. He taunted, "Nice storm, Hair Gel! Bet you can't hit me!"
Li Hao, enraged, chased Lin toward the trap. Lin's [Celestial Evasion] weaved through flames, and he "slipped," shoving Chen Wei into Li Hao's path. The wall triggered, slamming Chen Wei (-120 HP, KO). The crowd howled, and Li Hao's [Blaze Storm] fizzled as he dodged spikes.
"Xiaohuo, combo!" Lin tossed the drakeling, who spun into [Dragon Flame Burst] + [Fire Wing Slash], a fiery tornado hitting Li Hao (-110 HP). Lin's [Dragon Claw Strike] knocked Zhao Min out (-80 HP). Fatty's [Iron Pan Strike] stunned Li Hao (-70 HP), and Xiaohuo's [Scorching Roar] finished him (-90 HP, stun + KO).
**[Side Quest Completed! Reward: 400 System Points, Skill Shard - Dragon Swift Strike Lv. 1 (Fast melee attack, +10% Speed)]**
**[Quest Completed: Survive Silver Fang's Trap. Reward: 600 System Points, Random Equipment - Flameweave Belt (+5 Vitality, +5% Fire Resistance), +10% Mystery Egg Hatch Progress]**
Lin's team took first, earning 600 trial points. The crowd chanted, "Dragon Tamer!" Li Hao, revived, stormed off, his **Silver Fang** mentor glaring daggers.
---
**Post-Match Blitz**
In the cafeteria, Fatty's [Spirit Noodles] (+5 Agility) fueled the victory feast. Su Mei smirked, "Feng, you turned their trap into a clown show. Legendary."
Lin equipped the **Flameweave Belt**, boosting Vitality to 23 and fire resistance. Xiaohuo, munching noodles, muttered, "That egg better not hatch a better dragon."
The **Mystery Egg** hit 40% hatch progress, glowing fiercely. Lin's points reached **5600**, and [Dragon Swift Strike Lv. 1] gave him a speedy melee option. "One level to Level 10," he said. "Then we meet your sibling, Xiaohuo."
Fatty whispered, "Silver Fang's furious. Li Hao's mentor's calling in favors—next match might be worse."
Su Mei nodded. "They're targeting your trial points. Lose once, and you're out of **Celestial Dragon Academy**."
The [System] chimed: **[New Quest: Clear E-Rank Dungeon by June 28. Reward: 1000 System Points, Random Dragon Skill Shard, +20% Mystery Egg Hatch Progress. Deadline: June 28, 2045. Penalty: Xiaohuo Eats Your Gear.]**
Lin tossed Xiaohuo a noodle, grinning. "Eat my gear, and I'll feed you to the egg's hatchling."
Xiaohuo smirked. "Hatchling touches my snacks, it's toast."