[Skill: Roar of Dominion]

"RRROOOOOAAAAAARRRR!!!!!"

Kael roared, his voice sounding draconic.

A shockwave of golden-red light erupted, and suddenly, Kaiden felt all his strength leaving his body.

"Grrr!"

The Soldier felt a chill run down his spine as Kael, with his golden eyes and red veins all over his face, turned towards him.

Kaiden felt like he was being stared at by some Primordial Being who could kill him with his thoughts alone.

His entire body gave in, and suddenly, he realized Kael had grabbed his head with his now scaly hand.

Yes, the cooldown was over. Kael had activated Draconic Strike again. Then, with his enhanced strength, he lifted Kaiden's body and threw him towards Sarah, who stood on the floor, frozen, while her legs trembled continuously.

Bam

Kaiden's flying body clashed with Sarah's. Both fell on the floor as Kael appeared next to them, placing his scaly arm on their chest, marking the end of the battle.

"I guess I win, eh?"

He chuckled, his voice, face, and arm returning to normal.

Both Kaiden and Sarah snapped out of their reverie and,

"W-What was that?"

Kaiden questioned, his body still trembling as he recalled what he saw.

"I-I couldn't move… my thoughts froze... It felt like some higher power took away my ability to think…"

Sarah stuttered, her voice still shaky.

Kael just patted her shoulder and,

"It was just my skill. Don't think too much about it. You did great."

"T-That was just a skill…?"

Sarah questioned, her out-of-control heartbeat slowing down as she felt Kael's calming presence near her.

"Mhm."

Kael nodded with a light smile on his face as he then extended his hand,

"Need help?"

He questioned.

"Ah? O-Oh, okay."

Sarah nodded with a flustered look on her face as she held Kael's hand.

Kael pulled her up, and once he was sure she was alright, he turned towards Kaiden and picked him up as well.

"What was that, you brat?"

By this time, Arlan and Deren had appeared next to them as well, and Arlan questioned impatiently.

Kael turned towards the gorilla man and smiled,

"It was the new skill I learned yesterday. Pretty neat, eh?"

"Neat?"

Arlan raised his eyebrow as he then stared at two soldiers who still seemed shaken.

"If you call terrifying your allies 'neat,' I guess?"

"Come on, it wasn't that bad."

Kael shook his hand, and the instant he said those words, both Kaiden and Sarah stared at him, and in that instant, Kael decided it was better to not look back. So he stared at the screen in front of him instead.

[Skill: Roar of Dominion]

[Description:]

[Allows the Host to let out a Draconic Roar imbued with the Authority of Dragons. The roar weakens and terrifies enemies in its range, reducing their combat abilities.]

[Effect:]

[Emits a powerful Draconic roar that affects all enemies within a 20-meter radius.]

[Weakens enemy combat abilities, reducing their attack power, speed, and defense by 50%.]

[The roar instills fear, causing enemies to hesitate and reducing their accuracy and evasion by 30%.]

[Chances of paralyzing the enemy are 10%.]

[The effects depend on the strength and the will of the enemies.]

[Does not affect allies.]

[Duration: 6 seconds.]

[Cooldown: 1 minute.]

...

It was a skill Arlan and the others didn't know about since he got it yesterday when he became level 10.

This was also the reason why Kael was confident in facing three soldiers at the same time. An ability that covers an area of more than 1200 square meters—it was simply absurd. Not to mention, the effects of this ability were quite strong as well.

Even someone as experienced as Kaiden was frozen for a second.

"But to think you learned another skill. That's the third one in a week."

"What can I do? Lord Feraos must really love me."

Kael answered smugly, and Arlan's face twitched in annoyance.

"I have no clue what he sees in someone like you."

"It is okay. I never thought of you as the thinker type anyway. But I still accept you despite your faults because that is what Heroes do."

"You little…"

Arlan's mouth twitched.

Then suddenly,

"Silence."

Deren ordered, and both Arlan and Kael straightened their backs, not saying anything.

Deren then turned towards Kael and nodded.

"You did well. You fought bravely, you hid your trump card till the final moment, and used it to get all your opponents at the same time.

Despite your opponents being stronger than you, you rose to the challenge and came out victorious.

You were calm throughout the battle and were constantly on the lookout for a way to turn your disadvantage into an advantage before finally defeating your opponents.

It was a good display of your bravery, determination, tactics, and quick thinking."

"Thank you for your praise, Instructor Deren."

Kael bowed respectfully. Deren, however, wasn't done there.

"But you should know you would have lost if it was a real battle because, in a real battle, instead of the shield, you will be hit with a sword. And knowing your status as the Hero, the enemies will not underestimate you."

"I understand, and I will continue to improve."

Kael nodded.

He knew what the General said was the truth.

Yes, Kaiden did use a shield even in a real battle, but he had more than a few opportunities to attack him with his sword. Kael wasn't arrogant enough to not know that the soldier held back.

The General nodded back with a satisfied look on his face.

"We will now analyze your fight and see what you could have done better, before that, Althea, heal him."

"Yes."

Althea nodded as she walked towards Kael.

The training continued. Since Deren and Arlan had now combined their sessions, the training continued for hours, where Kael was made to fight the soldiers again and again. Every time, these soldiers pushed him to his limits.

Once the soldiers were tired, General Deren took over and worked on Kael's physical conditioning, making him do exercises Kael didn't even know a human could do.

Time passed, and soon, it was time for Kael's Magic Training.

Elira made her entrance with her novel in her hand, and the moment her eyes fell on Kael, her smile widened.

"How's it going, little show-off?"

Seeing her, Kael smiled as well.

Actually, Elira was the person he wanted to meet the most right now.

After all, he wanted to see what face she would make when,

"Well, I do have something to 'show off,' Instructor."

"Hmm? What is i—"

Elira wanted to question but froze midway, as her eyes fell on Kael, who stood in front of her, forming a Spell Matrix.

Not just one, but two.

Yes, Kael was now a Second Circle Mage.