Leveling Up With My Dragon System

Chapter 73 The Mind Maze

Erik saw an opportunity and struck, sending a concentrated bolt of lightning directly at Leif. The Fairy node bearer was fast, but not fast enough. The lightning hit him square in the chest, sending him flying back into his vine fortress. The vines shuddered and went still as Leif lay unconscious on the ground, his body smoking.

The crowd erupted into cheers, their excitement echoing through the arena. The recruits watched with bated breath as the results were announced. "Victor, Team 12's Erik Esben!" The cheers grew louder, and the team rushed to their fallen comrade, helping him to his feet. Despite the pain etched on his face, Erik's grin was unshakeable.

Colonel Skai descended from the viewing platform, his eyes gleaming with a mix of pride and scrutiny. "Well done, recruit," he said, patting Erik on the back firmly. "Your ability to adapt under pressure is commendable. However," he added, his tone sharpening, "you must learn to control your power. Brute strength and speed will only take you so far in the battles to come."

Erik nodded, his chest heaving with exertion. "Yes, Colonel."

"Good," Colonel Skai said before moving to the next match. "Now, let us proceed."

The crowd's excitement didn't die down as the next recruits entered the arena. Team 12 watched anxiously, hoping to maintain their momentum. The battles that followed were equally intense, showcasing the diverse array of node abilities. Some recruits excelled in brute force, while others demonstrated finesse and strategy. Each victory brought the team closer to the finals, but the path ahead was fraught with danger.

As the battles progressed, Kai felt a growing sense of unease. Despite their triumphs, the academy was still a place of secrets and hidden agendas. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the trials than met the eye. The whispers about the Dragon Node grew louder, and he knew he had to be careful. His sister's health was the ultimate prize, but the cost of that prize was growing steeper with each passing day.

The next challenge was the Mind's Maze, an exercise designed to test their mental acuity and teamwork. The recruits were paired up and sent into a series of interconnected rooms filled with illusions and puzzles.

"Remember," Professor Dastain's voice echoed through the arena, "this is not a competition of speed but of cohesion. You must work together to find the exit within the allotted time."

Kai paired with Frode, Ingrid with Annika, and Rerna with Ake. Each pair stepped into their respective entrances of the Mind's Maze, ready to face whatever lay ahead.

Inside, the walls shimmered and shifted, playing tricks on their eyes. Frode's magic node allowed him to see through some of the illusions, guiding Kai through the first few chambers with ease. However, as they ventured deeper, the puzzles grew more complex, requiring both of them to use their wits and their nodes in tandem.

In one room, the floor looked like a bottomless pit but was a flat, illusory surface. Frode stepped out confidently, but Kai hesitated, his dragon node instinctively sensing the deception. "It's an illusion," he murmured, reaching out a hand to touch the 'void' before stepping forward.

The walls whispered secrets and taunts, trying to unsettle them. Frode focused intently, his eyes scanning the room for clues. "The pattern in the walls," he said, pointing out faint etchings that swirled and danced with the light. "They form a map. We have to follow it to find the exit."

Kai nodded, his dragon eyes seeing the pattern more clearly than Frode's human ones. "But which way do we go?"

Frode squinted, trying to make sense of the swirling lines. "The pattern is the key," he murmured. "It's like a maze within a maze."

They worked together, Frode casting light into the shadows to reveal hidden doors and Kai using his enhanced hearing to detect any traps or concealed pathways. Their synergy grew stronger as they progressed, each compensating for the other's weaknesses.

"This way," Frode whispered, and Kai nodded, the two of them moving swiftly and silently through the maze.

The air grew colder as they approached the final chamber. Frode's magic was almost depleted, but the light from his eyes remained a beacon in the darkness. Suddenly, the walls shifted, and a fierce wind howled around them. The room had transformed into a stormy sky with lightning crackling in the distance.

"This is it," Frode said, his voice strained. "The last challenge."

Kai nodded, his eyes narrowing as he studied the room. The lightning in the distance was no mere illusion; it was the essence of the room's test. "We have to harness the lightning to activate the exit mechanism," he murmured, his dragon instincts whispering to him the nature of the room's power.

Frode nodded, his eyes gleaming with determination. "I can guide the lightning with my node," he said, raising a hand. "But I need you to protect us from the storm."

Kai took a deep breath, focusing on his dragon node. The air around him grew heavy with electricity, his skin tingling as he called upon the power of the dragon. He raised his hand, summoning a barrier of wind to shield them from the storm. The wind whipped around them in a protective cocoon, leaving them in a bubble of relative calm amidst the chaos.

Frode, feeling the shift in the room's energy, took a moment to gather his power. He began to chant in an ancient language, his eyes glowing brighter with each syllable. The lightning in the distance grew closer, drawn by Frode's magic. Kai's heart raced as the bolts grew more frequent, the thunder echoing through the chamber.

With a final incantation, Frode flung his hand forward. The lightning bolts, now under his control, streaked toward the center of the room, where a large crystal orb hovered. The bolts struck the orb, which pulsed with power, sending a surge of light through the maze. The walls shimmered and faded, revealing the exit.

The two recruits looked at each other, a mix of shock and triumph on their faces. Frode leaned against the wall, panting heavily, while Kai's dragon eyes glowed with fierce pride. They had done it, together.

"Five minutes remaining," Professor Dastain's voice announced over the speakers. "Teams 12, 8, and 3 are the first to reach the final chamber."

Their hearts raced as they sprinted through the newly revealed exit. The maze had tested their limits, but they had come out on top. They emerged into a large, brightly lit chamber where the other pairs were already waiting. Ingrid and Annika looked up from their victory, their faces etched with exhaustion but glowing with satisfaction.

"Team 12, welcome," Professor Dastain said, his gaze flicking over the two of them. "Your performance has been quite impressive, Mr. Sigurd."

Frode gave a tired smile, his cheeks flushed from the exertion. "Thank you, Professor. Couldn't have done it without Kai."

"Indeed," Dastain said, his gaze lingering on Kai. "Your dragon node is quite the enigma."

The air was thick with anticipation as the final minutes ticked away. Team 12 gathered in the chamber, catching their breath and watching as the other pairs struggled to find their way out of the maze. The light from the crystal orb grew brighter with each successful escape, casting a rainbow of colors across the room.

"Looks like we're not the only ones who made it," Ingrid noted, her eyes scanning the competition.