**Chapter 9**

With the semi-finals underway, we took a brief respite to recover and allow other dragons to come and witness the matches. Younglings, juveniles, adolescents, and even an adult dragon gathered to watch the spectacle. As the dragons settled in, the first match of the semi-finals began: “Xytherion vs. Zalyndre,” the juvenile dragon declared.

Xytherion started the match with a Tier 3 Electro-Speed spell, enhancing his agility and speed. My sister attempted to cast a similar Tier 3 spell but was too slow. Before she could fully cast, Xytherion was already upon her, attacking with swift strikes. Several factors contributed to this: Xytherion was highly pracited and knowledgeable with this spell, his speed exceeded hers, and she was less adept with magic and was not very experienced in the spell, relying more on physical prowess and breath attacks.

Xytherion landed a powerful blow to her head and continued with a swipe, forcing her to block clumsily. He then struck her throat with his tail, digging deep and causing serious injury. She tried to counterattack with her breath weapon, but Xytherion evaded her and began circling her, landing quick strikes with his claws and tail. Her attempts to respond were futile as he was simply too fast. A major claw strike to her face and a final clamp with his jaws led to the judge declaring Xytherion the winner.

As Xytherion returned to his spot, celebrating his victory, my sister, battered and furious, approached me and our brothers. Vaelrath teasingly remarked, “Is that steam I see coming from you? I knew you had some red in you.” She glared at him, her anger evident, and growled, “Do I need to remind you who is stronger between us?” Vaelrath shrank back, stammering, “N-no.” Zarothan muttered under his breath, “Maybe I should ask Mother if she picked up your egg near a volcano,” where our sister couldn’t hear.

With the first match concluded, the next was announced: “Azruno vs. Aquilorn,” the juvenile dragon declared. I glanced around and assessed my opponent. Aquilorn, a blue dragon like me, was slightly above average for his age in magic and the final clutch mate of Nimbra and average size for his age but not as skilled as Nimbra. I prepared myself, starting with a Tier 3 Electro-Speed spell. Aquilorn attempted to interrupt with a Spark spell, but I moved out of the way and countered with tier 2 Mud Ball, aiming to nullify his Electro Armor. He dodged the Mud Ball and retaliated with a breath attack. I matched his breath attack and cast a Tier 5 Lightning Bolt, hitting him but not causing significant damage due to his Electro Armor.

I then cast my own Electro Armor, but Aquilorn responded with a tier 3 Lightning Spear, trying to dispel my armor before engaging. I dodged and closed in for close combat. Despite the protection of my Electro Armor, Aquilorn managed to break through with a claw attack to my side, causing deep cuts and bleeding. Shocked, I tried to retaliate but was interrupted by Aquilorn’s claw to my throat.

Desperate, I cast a Shock Wave to make him flinch. As my mana was running low, I knew the fight would have to be more physical. I rushed at him, using tier 3 Mud Wall to absorb his breath attack, which was weakened from previous clashes. Aquilorn charged at me, attempting to claw my face and neck. I blocked and grabbed his paw, engaging in a fierce struggle. I bit him, but he countered and blocked with his other paw. I then struck with my right paw to his head while my tail, enhanced with Electric Claw, targeted his neck.

This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

Aquilorn was stunned, hurting and I capitalized on the opportunity, casting a powered-up Spark spell that caused him to stop his attacks. I followed with a Tier 6 Electro Murder spell, unleashing a powerful bolt of lightning. Overwhelmed, he was hit by my final breath of lightning, knocking him out and sending him flying into the sand. I was declared the winner.

Exhausted, I returned to my siblings. Aquilorn was being attended to by an adult dragon, and my siblings praised me for making it to the finals, even my sister, despite her earlier defeat. The final match was set: Nimbra vs. a 4-year-old average male dragon. The outcome was predictable; Nimbra dominated effortlessly.

The final match was a 1 vs. 1 vs. 1 free-for all featuring Nimbra, Xytherion, and me. After a break which was really for all the other dragons to come over and see who were going to make the finals and who would win even though Mother was there, the juvenile dragon announced, “Start!” and the final began. Nimbra quickly cast Spark and charged Xytherion, preventing him from using his speed spell. I took the opportunity to weaken the ground beneath her she sensed this and backed off but that was proven a mistake as Xytherion cast Electro-Speed and rushed at me. I enclosed myself with a Tier 3 Ground Sphere hearing the fighting outside and began casting amplifying spells as I was casting Electro Armor, Nimbra broke through the earth and attacked with a Lightning Bolt, canceling my armor and leaving me vulnerable.

As Nimbra was about to attack Xytherion managed to land a swipe on Nimbra’s hind legs, but she countered with a Shock Wave, stunningng him. I seized this chance to attack, aiming for Nimbra’s throat. However, she cast Spark, hitting me and blocking my attack. She then cast sand hands holding me down and mud slap to blind me and ground coffin to bury me. Nimbra turned her attention to Xytherion, using a combination of claws and spells to overwhelm him.

Xytherion struggled but was eventually overpowered by Nimbra, who then used a Tier 3 Lightning Fist spell to strike him down on his head slamming him into the ground and knocking him out. The judge declared, “Xytherion is out!” The crowd erupted in cheers as I watched from unbeneath the ground as I was struggling to escape I busted out of the bindings and cleared my vision just as she knocked him out.

With Xytherion out, I faced Nimbra alone. She charged at me with fierce determination, her attacks unrelenting. Despite my attempts to defend and counter she clawed away my scales and was draining my stamina, as I bled profusely from the riped of scales I'm pretty sure she broke something too, she used Spark to freeze me momentarily and followed up with a devastating series of strikes. I fought back with a Shock Wave and Mud Wall, but she broke through my defenses and cast a powerful Lightning Breath attack.

I tried to evade, but she tracked me and landed a decisive hit which knocked me over onto my side. As I lay on my back, she growled, “That was a good fight for a 1-year-old. You’re probably one of the best challengers I’ve faced. Come back when we're both young dragons.” Defeated, I sighed and conceded, “Fine, I submit.” With that, Nimbra was declared the winner of the wyrmling tournament.