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**Beijing, Dragon Empire Alliance, June 28, 2045**
Lin Feng leaned against a neon-lit railing in Beijing's Night Market, the air thick with the sizzle of mana-infused street food and the hum of hover-drones selling trinkets. For once, he wasn't dodging traps or tossing dragons—he was just a 16-year-old soaking in the city's pulse. Xiaohuo, his Flame Drake, perched on a streetlamp, eyeing a vendor's spicy skewers, while Qingyue, his Frost-Winged Drakeling, hovered nearby, frosting a soda can for kicks.
"Stop flirting with the food, Xiaohuo," Lin said, tossing him a glowing [Spirit Skewer] (+2 Strength) from a vendor. "And Qingyue, don't freeze my drink again."
Xiaohuo chomped the skewer, flames flickering. "This beats your dorm slop." Qingyue smirked, her icy tail flicking. "Slop's generous. His cooking's a war crime."
Lin laughed, sipping a mana-charged cola that sparked on his tongue. The Night Market was a rare escape from the grind—holographic billboards flashed guild ads, street performers juggled fire orbs, and hunters swapped dungeon tales over glowing drinks. With the **Global College Entrance Trials** looming, Lin needed this breather before diving into two E-Rank dungeons. His **8500 System Points** burned a hole in his pocket, but he resisted the [System Shop]'s lure, saving for a game-changer like a **Dragon Core** (2000 Points).
His stats flashed:
**[Status: Lin Feng, Level 10]**
- **Stats**: Strength 33 (28 +5 from Iron Bracer), Agility 40 (35 +5 from Windstep Cloak), Intelligence 23, Vitality 25 (20 +5 from Flameweave Belt), Luck 17
- **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], [Dragon Swift Strike Lv. 1]
- **Pets**:
- Xiaohuo (Flame Drake, 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, Inferno Dive Lv. 1)
- Qingyue (Frost-Winged Drakeling, Level 1, Skills: Frost Breath Lv. 1, Ice Claw Lv. 1, Frost Pulse Lv. 1, Frost Wing Slash Lv. 1)
- **System Points**: 8500
- **Inventory**: 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, Drake Scale, Magma Core, Blazehorn Tusk, Iron Bracer, Swift Boots, Flame Drake Talisman, Flame Crest Ring, Flameweave Belt, Emberheart Amulet, Windstep Cloak, Mana Vial
The [System]'s quest pulsed: **[Quest: Clear Two E-Rank Dungeons by July 9. Reward: 1200 System Points, Random Dragon Item, +20% Next Mystery Egg Hatch Progress. Deadline: July 9, 2045. Penalty: Xiaohuo and Qingyue Burn Your Dorm.]**
"Burn my dorm, and you're both on a vegan diet," Lin warned, earning dual glares from his dragons. The E-Rank dungeons were a step up—higher risks, better loot, and likely **Silver Fang** sabotage. Rumors swirled that Li Hao's family had bribed officials to rig the dungeons with C-Rank threats.
A hover-drone buzzed by, projecting a newsfeed: **"Silver Fang Guild accuses SSS-Rank prodigy of cheating in ranking matches!"** Lin snorted. "Hair Gel's desperate."
Fatty Wang waddled over, munching a glowing [Spirit Bun] (+3 Vitality). "Feng! You're chilling? Thought you'd be training!"
Su Mei, **Mana Weaver**, joined, sipping a mana tea. "Li Hao's team's been spotted at the **Hunter's Gate**. They're prepping for the same dungeons, and Silver Fang's mentor gave them **Blaze Cores** for extra fire power."
Lin tossed Qingyue a frozen berry, which she caught mid-air. "Let Hair Gel play with his matches. I've got dragons and style."
Fatty chuckled, but Su Mei's eyes narrowed. "Don't get cocky. Silver Fang's pushing for a trial point deduction. One slip, and you're out of **Celestial Dragon Academy**."
The [System] chimed: **[Host, Silver Fang's influence runs deep. Their dungeon traps could include mana suppressors or rival ambushes. Live a little, but don't die.]**
Lin smirked, buying a glowing yo-yo from a vendor and spinning it with mana flair. "Live a little? I'm living large."
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**Night Market: Unexpected Sparks**
As Lin weaved through the market, showing off yo-yo tricks to amused kids, a street performer—a **Flame Dancer** with C-Rank talent—challenged him to a friendly duel. "Think you're hot, Dragon Tamer? Match my flames!"
The crowd gathered, drones recording. Lin grinned, tossing his yo-yo to Fatty. "Watch and learn." Xiaohuo flared his wings, and Lin activated [Dragon Bond Lv. 1]. The dancer spun [Fire Wheel Lv. 1], a flaming hoop. Lin countered with [Dragon Flame Burst], a fiery AOE that shaped into a dragon's head, dwarfing the hoop. Qingyue added [Frost Pulse], weaving ice spirals around the flames for flair.
The crowd cheered, tossing mana coins. The dancer laughed, bowing. "You're a showman, kid!" Lin pocketed the coins, grinning. "Gotta keep the fans happy."
Later, at a rooftop bar overlooking the city, Lin, Fatty, and Su Mei shared mana-charged mocktails. The skyline glittered, but Lin's thoughts drifted to the trials. "This world's wild," he said, voice softer. "Back in my old life, I was just a gamer. Now I'm living the game, dragons and all."
Su Mei raised her glass. "To living, not just surviving."
Fatty belched, earning a glare. "To noodles and not dying!"
Lin laughed, clinking glasses. For a moment, he was just Lin, not the Dragon Tamer, savoring the city's pulse.
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**Hunter's Gate: E-Rank Dungeon One - Cindercoil Nest**
The next morning, June 29, Lin hit the **Hunter's Gate**, **E-Rank Dungeon Pass** in hand. The portal displayed: **E-Rank, Cindercoil Nest. Enemies: Scorch Rats, Emberfang Wolves, Cindercoil Serpent (C-Rank Boss). Clear Condition: Defeat Serpent.**
Xiaohuo and Qingyue flanked him, still bickering. "Stay out of my way, Ice Cube," Xiaohuo growled. Qingyue hissed, "Don't trip over your ego, Torch."
Fatty clutched his spatula, and Su Mei's aura flickered. "Silver Fang's traps are active," Su Mei warned. "Expect ambushes."
The portal spat them into a volcanic tunnel, lava veins glowing. The [System] flashed: **[Silver Fang Traps: Mana Suppressors, Lava Spouts, Rival Portals.]**
Wave one: 20 **Scorch Rats**, Level 8, with C-Rank speed. A mana suppressor flickered, cutting Su Mei's buffs. Lin's [Dragon Scale Armor] tanked bites (-15 HP), and Xiaohuo's [Inferno Dive] torched six (-120 HP). Qingyue's [Frost Wing Slash] froze four (-100 HP), her ice countering the heat. Fatty's [Spicy Toss Lv. 2] blinded the rest, and Lin's [Dragon Swift Strike] slashed five (-110 HP). Loot: **Scorch Tail x6**, 100 EXP. **[EXP +100. Level 10: 530/1000 EXP]**.
A lava spout erupted, singeing Fatty (-20 HP). Su Mei's [Mana Thread] healed him (+10 HP), but a rival portal hummed—Li Hao's team didn't appear, but the threat lingered.
Wave two: 15 **Emberfang Wolves**, Level 9, with flaming fangs. Lin's [Scorching Roar] stunned them, and Xiaohuo's [Dragon Flame Burst] scorched (-130 HP AOE). Qingyue's [Frost Pulse] slowed five (-90 HP), while Fatty's [Iron Pan Strike] cracked a skull (-100 HP). Su Mei's buffs flickered under a suppressor, but Lin's [Dragon Swift Strike] weaved through bites, slashing four (-120 HP). A wolf grazed him (-20 HP, Total: 115/150). Loot: **Emberfang Claws x10**, 150 EXP. **[EXP +150. Level 10: 680/1000 EXP]**.
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**Boss Arena: Cindercoil Serpent**
The tunnel opened into a lava-lit chamber, the **C-Rank Cindercoil Serpent**—Level 11, 1300 HP—coiling around a molten pillar. Its scales glowed, weak to ice, with [Flame Coil Lv. 2] and [Venom Strike Lv. 2]. A **Silver Fang** trap boosted its attack speed.
"Qingyue, you're the star," Lin said. She preened. "Finally, some respect." Xiaohuo huffed. "Don't screw it up, Frosty."
Su Mei's [Mana Thread] boosted Qingyue's ice (+20%), and Fatty's [Spicy Toss] reduced the serpent's accuracy. Lin's [Scorching Roar] stunned it, and Qingyue's [Frost Pulse] + [Frost Wing Slash] froze its tail (-250 HP). Xiaohuo's [Inferno Dive] scorched its scales (-200 HP), but [Flame Coil] grazed Lin (-30 HP, Total: 85/150).
A rival portal opened—Li Hao's team: **Li Hao**, **Chen Wei**, **Zhao Min**, **Gao Jun**, **Xu Fei**. "You're mine, Trash Tamer!" Li Hao roared, **Blaze Core** flaring.
The [System] pinged: **[Side Quest: Outshine Li Hao's Team. Reward: 700 System Points, Random Dragon Skill Shard. Penalty: Li Hao Steals Boss Kill.]**
Lin smirked. "Hair Gel, you're crashing my party again?"
Li Hao's [Inferno Lance] pierced the serpent (-150 HP), but [Venom Strike] poisoned Chen Wei (-40 HP). Zhao Min's [Shadow Stab] scratched it (-50 HP). Lin's team struck: Qingyue's [Frost Breath] froze its head (-200 HP), and Xiaohuo's [Dragon Flame Burst] blasted (-180 HP). Fatty's [Iron Pan Strike] cracked scales (-90 HP), and Su Mei's buffs held despite suppressors.
A lava spout trap erupted, forcing Lin's [Celestial Evasion] to dodge. He taunted Li Hao, "Nice lance, miss much?" Lin "stumbled," shoving Gao Jun into Xu Fei, triggering a mana suppressor that zapped Li Hao's [Blaze Storm] (-80 HP to his team). The crowd, watching live, roared.
Lin tossed Qingyue, who spun into [Frost Pulse] + [Ice Claw], freezing the serpent's core (-300 HP). Xiaohuo's [Scorching Roar] stunned it (-150 HP), and Lin's [Dragon Swift Strike] crit (-200 HP). The serpent fell, dropping a **Serpent Fang**, **Cinder Scale**, and 200 EXP.
**[Boss Defeated! EXP +200. Level Up! Lin Feng, Level 11]**
- **Stats**: Strength 35 (30 +5), Agility 42 (37 +5), Intelligence 24, Vitality 27 (22 +5), Luck 18
- **Xiaohuo Level Up! Level 11, Skill Upgrade: Inferno Dive Lv. 2 [+20% Damage]**
- **Qingyue Level Up! Level 2, New Skill: Ice Shard Lv. 1 [Ranged ice attack]**
- **[Side Quest Completed: Outshine Li Hao. Reward: 700 System Points, Dragon Skill Shard - Flamefrost Barrage Lv. 1 (Dual fire-ice AOE for Xiaohuo and Qingyue)]**
- **[Quest Progress: 1/2 E-Rank Dungeons Cleared]**
Li Hao's team retreated, fuming. The crowd chanted, "Dragon Tamer!"
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**Post-Dungeon Life**
That night, Lin hit a virtual reality arcade with Fatty and Su Mei, playing a mana-charged racing game. He piloted a holographic dragon, weaving through rifts, laughing as Fatty crashed into a virtual asteroid. "Stick to noodles, man!" Lin teased.
Su Mei, topping the leaderboard, smirked. "You're all talk, Feng."
Later, at a noodle stall, Lin savored spicy [Spirit Ramen] (+5 Strength), watching Beijing's skyline. "This is the life," he said, tossing Xiaohuo and Qingyue meat buns. "Fighting, eating, living."
Fatty burped. "Silver Fang's not giving up. They're bribing trial judges now."
Su Mei nodded. "Next dungeon's your last shot before the July match. Don't let them rig you out."
The [System] chimed: **[New Quest: Clear Second E-Rank Dungeon by July 9. Reward: 1000 System Points, Random Equipment, +15% Next Mystery Egg Hatch Progress. Deadline: July 9, 2045. Penalty: Xiaohuo and Qingyue Freeze/Burn Your Gear.]**
Lin grinned, spinning his dagger. "Freeze or burn my gear, and you're both on dish duty."
Xiaohuo and Qingyue glared, sparks and frost clashing. "Keep up, human," Xiaohuo growled. Qingyue added, "Or we'll ice your dreams."
As Beijing's lights pulsed, Lin felt alive—battles, banter, and the city's heartbeat fueled him. The trials, Silver Fang's plots, and Li Hao's grudge loomed, but his **Immortal-Rank Talent** was a secret fire.
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