**Chapter 8**
The second match of round two was about to begin when the juvenile dragon called out, "Xytherion vs Zarothan." My brother stepped into the center of the stage, facing the 3-year-old Xytherion. He was slightly smaller than the average dragon his age, standing at 216 centimeters, compared to the usual 220.
The fight began with Zarothan casting a Tier 2 spell called *Electric Armor*. The spell enveloped him in a crackling layer of electricity that would shock anyone who dared to touch him. The downside was that the spell consumed mana continuously, and the shocks, while uncomfortable, weren't lethal to dragons at our age. We wyrmlings had just started to develop resistance to our elemental types, but that resistance was minimal compared to the immunity we'd gain as we aged, eventually becoming fully resistant to all magic by our late primordial stage. Right now, however, Zarothan's electric armor would still sting.
Xytherion began with a Tier 1 ground spell, *Mud Slap*, aiming to blind my brother by flinging sand at his eyes. He then rushed in from the side, attempting to strike while Zarothan was distracted. However, Zarothan dodged and countered with a *Spark* spell, a Tier 1 lightning spell that sent a small wave of electricity, causing muscles to cramp. Xytherion cast his own *Spark* in response, the two spells colliding mid-air. Dust stirred up by Xytherion's quick *Ground Manipulation* spell blinded Zarothan temporarily, giving Xytherion the opportunity to close the gap.
Xytherion was agile, darting forward with claws outstretched, aiming for Zarothan's throat. My brother, sensing the danger, flapped his wings, creating distance between them as he breathed a bolt of lightning toward Xytherion. But Xytherion was fast. He dodged the breath attack and retaliated with his own, his lightning breath finding its mark and stunning Zarothan.
With Zarothan flinching from the hit, Xytherion seized the moment, casting *Electro Speed*, a Tier 3 spell that infused his body with lightning, increasing his speed and strength. In a blur, he slashed at Zarothan's side, but as soon as his claws made contact, Zarothan’s *Electric Armor* activated, sending a shock through Xytherion's body, making him recoil. My brother took advantage of the moment, lunging forward with his claws aimed at Xytherion’s throat. But Xytherion dodged, leaving Zarothan overextended.
Xytherion, now with the upper hand, clawed at Zarothan’s neck, flipping him onto his back. He dove at Zarothan’s exposed underbelly, but my brother, desperate, cast *Shockwave*, a Tier 2 spell that emitted an electrical pulse in all directions. Xytherion, thanks to his enhanced speed, managed to back off just in time, but he quickly followed up with another lightning breath, hitting Zarothan squarely in the face.
As Zarothan tried to rise, Xytherion charged, casting *Spark* once more. The spell caused my brother's muscles to cramp up, leaving him vulnerable. Xytherion clamped down on Zarothan’s throat, growling, "Submit."
Zarothan, his pride wounded, whimpered, “I give.”
Xytherion released him, and the juvenile dragon declared, “Xytherion is the winner!” The surrounding wyrmlings cheered as the two dragons walked back to their resting spots. Though defeated, my brother didn’t seem too disheartened. He had put up a good fight against one of the strongest wyrmlings.
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The next two matches passed uneventfully, and then it was Nimbra’s turn again. The juvenile called out, “Nimbra and Thalrion!”
Thalrion was an average 2-year-old blue dragon wyrmling, standing at 212 centimeters. The match was a complete blowout. Nimbra, who had shown great promise in the earlier rounds, wasted no time. As soon as the match began, she unleashed her lightning breath. Thalrion tried to dodge, but the bolt struck his right foreleg. From there, it was over. Thalrion attempted to cast a spell, but Nimbra interrupted him with a *Spark* spell, her superior control over magic shining through.
Before Thalrion could recover, Nimbra was upon him, clamping down on his neck with her jaws and pinning him to the ground. The juvenile dragon declared her the winner, and she walked back to her spot amid awestruck gazes from the male wyrmlings.
And then it was my turn. The juvenile announced, “Azuron and Kaldros!”
I glanced at my opponent. Kaldros was five and a half years old, from the same clutch as Nimbra. He was massive, even larger than me, standing at 280 centimeters to my 260. While Nimbra’s size was impressive, Kaldros was on a whole different level, rivaling a gold dragon in size. He was likely a variant with enhanced strength and size, but what he gained in physical power, he lacked magical ability. His breath attack was weak, and from what I’d heard, he struggled with even Tier 1 spells.
This match would be magic versus strength. I knew I wouldn’t overpower him physically—at least, not yet. I would have to rely on my spells and keep my distance.
I stepped into the arena, ready. The juvenile dragon called out, “Begin!”
Kaldros charged at me immediately, using his brute strength. I quickly cast *Electro Speed*, increasing my agility, and followed up with *Harden*, a Tier 3 ground spell that boosted my durability. Just as I finished casting, Kaldros was upon me, swinging his massive paw. I blocked with my own right claw and prepared to unleash my lightning breath, but his tail whipped around and struck me in the cheek, disrupting my attack.
I retaliated with my breath weapon, but Kaldros managed to dodge, disengaging and backing off. I took to the air, casting *Ground Coffin*, a Tier 3 spell that caused the earth to swallow my opponent’s legs, attempting to immobilize him. I poured in enough mana to trap him momentarily, giving me time to cast *Electro Knife*, a tier 3 lighting spell sharpening my claws with electricity to deal extra damage.
Kaldros broke free of the ground and charged again. I tried to stall him with a *Spark* spell, but he dodged. He was too experienced in close combat for me to win in the air, so I landed, knowing I would have to face him on the ground.
He clawed at my side, drawing blood, but I countered with tier 2 *Sand Arms*, summoning arms of sand to grab him. He shattered them easily. This was turning into a physical fight, and I knew I had to be clever. As he swung again with his right paw, I dodged to the side, but he turned on a dime, swiping again. I tried to meet his strike head-on, but his strength overpowered mine, and I found myself struggling to keep up.
In a moment of desperation, I feigned another claw strike to his face. Expecting a direct hit, Kaldros moved to block, but I wrapped my tail around his left forepaw, preventing him from deflecting the blow. My claws, enhanced by *Electro Knife*, struck his face, shocking him.
Stunned by the unexpected attack, Kaldros exposed his neck. I used this brief moment to cast *Mud Slap*, blinding him, and followed it up with my lightning breath, aiming for his head. The dual attacks hit their mark, leaving Kaldros disoriented. I cast *Ground Coffin* again, trapping his legs in the earth, and dove onto him, biting down on his neck while raking his sides with my claws.
“Submit!” I growled, casting *Spark* for good measure, causing his muscles to seize up.
Kaldros struggled, but with his legs buried in the ground, his muscles cramping with my continued use of the spell, and my claws digging into his flesh, he sighed and growled angrily, “Fine. I submit.”
The juvenile dragon declared me the winner, and I walked back to my resting spot, advancing to the semi-finals. Only six dragons remained: my sister, Nimbra, Xytherion, two other blue males, and me.