Leveling Up With My Dragon System

Chapter 72 Anticipation

Indeed, Erik hovered in the air, his feet a few inches from the ground. He took a deep breath and focused his lightning node, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. This was a trick he had been working on, a secret he had kept hidden from everyone, even his team.

Leif's eyes narrowed in surprise, his vines retreating into the earth. The crowd's murmur grew to a whisper as they witnessed something no one had ever seen from a lightning node bearer. "How?" he whispered.

"It's all in the balance," Erik quipped, his body a blur of motion as he zipped around the arena. "The earth supports me as I harness the skies."

The crowd below erupted into whispers and gasps, the realization of what they were seeing spreading like wildfire. The lightning node was not just about speed and power; it was about control and precision.

Erik's movements grew bolder, his fists crackling with more energy than before. He knew he had to end this quickly; his secret could not be revealed for too long. He charged at Leif, dodging the incoming vines with ease, his newfound airborne agility giving him the edge he needed.

Leif, though surprised, was not one to be outdone. His plants grew more ferocious, their thorns sharper, their speed more alarming. The air was electric with the clash of their abilities, the smell of ozone and burning vegetation filling the arena.

The battle grew more intense as Leif conjured a tornado of vines, aiming to swallow Erik whole. Erik, however, was ready for this. He shot towards the twister, his eyes locked on his opponent, and at the last possible moment, he unleashed a concentrated bolt of lightning. It pierced the center of the tornado, causing it to implode into a shower of charred plant matter.

Leif staggered back, coughing, but he wasn't out of the fight yet. He called forth a wall of vines, thick and impenetrable, to shield him from Erik's next attack. The lightning node bearer hovered in the air, his eyes scanning the wall for weakness, his mind racing with strategies.

"Now, where would you hide if you were a fairy in a forest?" Erik murmured to himself. He knew Leif was clever; he had to anticipate his next move.

Leif took a deep breath, his eyes darting around the arena. He knew he couldn't hold the wall of vines forever. He had to find a way to counter Erik's newfound ability. His mind raced, searching for a strategy that could bring him victory.

As if reading his thoughts, Erik smirked and dashed towards the wall of vines. Just as he was about to collide with it, he stopped abruptly, his body glowing with a bluish light. The vines quivered in anticipation, but Erik hovered there, his hands outstretched.

The light grew brighter, and a sudden burst of lightning shot out from his fingertips, slicing through the vines like a hot knife through butter. The crowd gasped as the vines shriveled and fell away, revealing Leif standing in the center, his expression a mix of shock and determination.

Erik didn't waste a moment. He zipped closer to Leif, his fists crackling with electricity. Leif tried to retaliate, but Erik was too quick. He weaved in and out of the remaining plants, his movements fluid and graceful. The sound of lightning and the rustle of leaves filled the air as the two danced around each other, each waiting for the other to make a mistake.

It was a dance of death, a battle of wits, and a display of power that neither had shown before. The recruits and staff watched with bated breath, their eyes glued to the spectacle unfolding before them. Colonel Skai's gaze was intense, his mind racing with thoughts of the implications of Erik's newfound ability.

Leif, though surprised, remained focused. He knew he had to adapt or fall. With a grim smile, he called forth a barrage of thorn-covered vines, aiming them at Erik's midsection. The lightning node bearer anticipated the move and, with a flick of his wrist, sent a lightning bolt to meet the vines in midair. The explosion was deafening, the light blinding.

When the light cleared, both combatants stood unscathed. The vines had been obliterated, and Erik hovered slightly lower to the ground, his eyes narrowed in concentration. He knew he had to push his limits if he wanted to win this fight.

Leif, on the other hand, had a newfound respect for his opponent. He had seen the power of lightning before but never wielded it with such precision and finesse. He took a moment to gather himself, his chest heaving as he took in deep breaths. The air was thick with tension as the two young warriors sized each other up.

"Your speed is uncanny," Leif said, his voice strained. "But let's see how you fare against the true power of the Fairy Node." With a wave of his hand, the floor of the arena began to crack open, revealing a sea of vines ready to ensnare Erik.

Erik hovered above the vines, his eyes scanning the area for any signs of movement. The vines grew thicker and longer, reaching up towards him like the arms of an angry beast. Leif's control over them was almost unsettling, each vine moving with purpose and malice.

SUMMARY^1: Despite Leif's new respect for Erik's precision with lightning, he retaliates with a vine barrage, which Erik counters. The arena floor cracks open, revealing a sea of vines ready to ensnare Erik, showcasing Leif's powerful Fairy node abilities and setting a tense atmosphere for the continuation of the battle.

"Let's go!" Colonel Skai's voice boomed through the arena, snapping Erik out of his thoughts. He took a deep breath, focusing on the electricity that surged through his veins. He knew this was going to be the most critical moment of the fight.

Erik shot into the air, zigzagging through the vines that shot up from the ground like snakes. He could feel the air around him crackling with the energy of his node. His eyes searched for Leif, who had gone into hiding within his forest of thorny vines.

Suddenly, a vine shot out, wrapping around Erik's ankle. He gritted his teeth and tried to shake it off, but it only tightened its grip. He sent a surge of lightning through the vine, only to find it had grown too thick and dense for the electricity to pass through.

"I've learned from our previous engagements," Leif called out from the thicket. "Your lightning is swift, but my vines can be swift too."

Erik's heart raced as the vine yanked him towards the ground. He knew he had to act fast before the situation grew worse. He focused his energy, and his eyes began to glow a vibrant blue. He sent out a pulse of lightning, not directly at the vine, but into the air surrounding it. The electricity danced around the vegetation, creating a momentary barrier between him and the vine's grasp.

With a swift jerk, Erik freed himself, landing deftly on the arena floor. He took off again, the vines snapping at him like the jaws of a predator. His mind raced, searching for a strategy to counter the relentless onslaught. He saw an opening and shot towards it, only to realize it was a trap as the vines converged from all sides.

Leif emerged from the foliage, a wicked grin on his face. He had underestimated Erik's speed and agility. "Your power is a sight to behold," he said, his voice filled with a mix of admiration and challenge. "But can you keep up?"

Erik felt the sting of the vine's grip, the thorns digging into his skin. He clenched his fists, his eyes burning with determination. He knew he couldn't let this fight end in defeat, not when his team was counting on him. He channeled his lightning into his legs, propelling him forward with a burst of speed. The vines snapped and crackled as he broke through the barrier, leaving a trail of charred plant life behind him.

Landing in an open space, Erik took a moment to catch his breath. He knew he couldn't rely solely on speed and power. He had to outsmart Leif, to find a way to penetrate his vine defenses. He observed the pattern of the vines' growth, looking for any sign of weakness.

Leif was not idle, his vines grew in a complex web, closing in on Erik from all sides. The arena's energy was palpable, the anticipation of the crowd hanging in the air like a storm waiting to break.

Erik studied the pattern, looking for an opening, and spotted it. With a smirk, he launched himself towards the densest part of the vine web. The crowd gasped, expecting a gruesome collision, but Erik's speed and precision were unmatched. He zipped through the vines, leaving a trail of sparks as his lightning danced along their surface.

Leif's eyes widened in surprise, but he didn't miss a beat. He sent a flurry of vines to ensnare Erik again, but this time, Erik was ready. He twisted in midair, his lightning wrapping around the vines like a serpent. The vines writhed and convulsed, the lightning's electricity causing them to spasm and break apart.