Chapter 46: Shadows of Rivalry
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The air around Astral Heaven Academy was thick with tension. After the recent battles, Dabi had been keeping a low profile, training hard and preparing for what was to come. He could feel his strength growing, but with it, a sense of unease began to creep in. He knew something was coming—something that would test him like never before.
As Dabi was leaving his house one morning, walking alongside his siblings, Eli and Mira, a chilling presence stopped him in his tracks. He turned to see a figure standing at the edge of the path, arms crossed and eyes burning with malicious intent. It was Reniel Vantore, the noble who had once blocked Dabi's admission into the top five academies.
Reniel's sneer sent a chill down Dabi's spine. "I've been hearing stories, Dabi. It seems you've been getting too comfortable with your newfound strength."
Dabi clenched his fists, but he remained calm. "I don't have time for this, Reniel."
"Oh, you'll make time," Reniel growled, taking a step forward. "You think you're safe, don't you? That you can just live your life peacefully with your weak little siblings and pets. But I'm here to remind you that you're nothing."
Eli and Mira flinched, moving closer to Dabi. He put a protective arm around them, eyes narrowing. "You touch them, and I'll—"
"You'll what?" Reniel interrupted with a laugh. "Face it, Dabi. You're a bug to me, and it's time to squash you."
Without another word, Reniel raised his hand, and dark energy surged around him. Before Dabi could react, Reniel launched a strike aimed directly at Eli and Mira.
Dabi's instincts kicked in as he threw himself in front of his siblings, raising his hand to cast Space Control, creating a barrier that deflected the attack. The force of the impact sent Dabi sliding back, but his barrier held strong.
"You won't get away with this, Reniel," Dabi said through gritted teeth, feeling the pressure of Reniel's power.
Reniel's eyes flashed with anger. "You've gotten stronger since the academy exam, but it won't matter. I'm just getting started."
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The Battle Begins
Before Dabi could retaliate, Reniel summoned a horde of creatures from the shadows—monstrous beasts with razor-sharp claws and glowing red eyes. The ground trembled as the beasts charged at Dabi.
Dabi's heart raced, but his resolve hardened. "Stay behind me!" he shouted to Eli and Mira. He summoned his Elemental Mastery, channeling his advanced combinations to fight back. Thunder crackled in the air, and Lava erupted from the ground, scorching the monsters as they neared.
With each slash and strike, Dabi's attacks grew more precise. His pets, Fen and Whity, jumped into the fray. Fen, now stronger after unlocking his new skills, used his dark energy to tear through the monsters with ease, while Whity displayed incredible agility, dashing around the battlefield with grace and ferocity.
As the battle raged on, Dabi felt the familiar surge of power as he gained a level.
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System Notification
Ding! You have reached Level 46!
Ding! You have gained 3 Stat Points!
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Dabi smirked, feeling the new strength course through him. He fought harder, tearing through Reniel's monsters with a combination of elemental attacks and pure strength. For every beast he felled, another took its place, but Dabi didn't falter.
Reniel, meanwhile, watched from a distance, his expression darkening. "Impressive," he muttered. "But this is far from over."
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A New Threat
As Dabi continued to fight, Reniel launched another wave of attacks. This time, they were directed at his friends. Kira, Zen, and Remi, who had been heading to meet Dabi, arrived just in time to see the chaos. Kira unsheathed her blade, Zen powered up his magical barriers, and Remi used her plant-based magic to bind the advancing monsters.
"Dabi! We've got your back!" Kira shouted.
Dabi glanced at his friends and nodded. "Take care of the smaller ones! I'll handle Reniel!"
With renewed focus, Dabi pushed through the swarm, his heart pounding. Every step felt heavier, but he wasn't going to back down. Thunder roared from his hands, electrifying the beasts in his path. Lava melted the earth beneath them. Fen and Whity continued to tear through the enemies, their ferocity unmatched.
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System Notification
Ding! You have reached Level 47!
Ding! You have gained 3 Stat Points!
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Dabi's confidence surged as he leveled up again. He was now one step closer to becoming stronger, but he knew that Reniel wasn't done yet.
"Enough games!" Reniel shouted, his voice echoing through the clearing. He raised both hands, and the ground beneath him began to crack, releasing a new wave of monsters—larger and more powerful than the previous ones.
These were no ordinary beasts. They were elites—creatures imbued with dark energy, much stronger than anything Dabi had faced so far.
But Dabi didn't flinch.
He raised his hands once more, channeling all of his power into one final strike. His Elemental Mastery surged as he combined Thunder and Lava into a devastating blast of Thunderstorm Flames, sending the attack barreling toward the advancing elites.
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System Notification
Ding! You have reached Level 48!
Ding! You have gained 3 Stat Points!
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The elites were vaporized by the sheer force of Dabi's attack, and the battlefield fell silent for a moment. Dabi stood there, panting, feeling the immense power coursing through him.
But Reniel wasn't done. His eyes narrowed as he prepared to make his next move. "You may have gotten stronger, Dabi," Reniel said, his voice low and menacing, "but this is far from over."
Dabi's eyes met Reniel's, and he could feel the intensity of the rivalry between them.
"I'm not afraid of
you, Reniel," Dabi said, his voice firm. "I won't let you hurt the people I care about."
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