Dimension System: SSS Rank Talent Awakening

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"You're good," the Inferno leader said, grinning through the flames. "But not good enough."

"We'll see about that," Dabi replied, his eyes glowing with determination. In the end, it is teamwork that won the day.

The battlefield was a vast expanse of blackened stone, heat waves rising from the cracked surface. Lava pits bubbled in the distance, filling the air with the scent of sulfur. This was an arena designed for one team's advantage— Team Inferno.

Dabi's team stood at one end, their expressions set in grim determination. Across from them, Team Inferno exuded confidence. Their leader, a tall warrior with flame-wreathed arms, cracked his knuckles, his smirk barely concealed by the heat distorting the air around him.

The announcer's voice echoed across the battlefield.

"BEGIN!"

The moment the battle started, a surge of fire erupted from the Inferno team's side, forcing Dabi and his team to scatter. The wave of heat singed the edges of their clothing, and even Jeni, the ice specialist, winced at the intensity.

"They're not holding back," Zen muttered, drawing his twin blades.@@novelbin@@

Kiba crouched low, summoning a spiraling shield of water around his arms. "We'll have to put them out."

Althea, standing near the rear, extended her hands, sending a pulse of healing energy toward the team to counteract the effects of the heat. "We need a plan. Fast!"

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Dabi's eyes locked onto the Inferno leader, who raised his arms. The flames around him coiled like living creatures, licking the ground hungrily.

"You're good," the Inferno leader called, his voice thick with amusement. "But not good enough."

Dabi clenched his fists. "We'll see about that."

Jeni wasted no time. With a flick of her wrist, jagged spears of ice materialized in mid-air before launching toward the Inferno team. The moment they got close, however, the flames consumed them, evaporating the ice before it could reach its targets.

"Tch." Jeni clicked her tongue. "They're using raw heat to nullify my attacks."

"Then we'll have to cool things down faster," Kiba said, stepping forward.

He extended both arms, and from the ground beneath him, water began to flow—his own energy pulling moisture from the air, forming a swirling vortex of liquid.

Team Inferno's second fighter, a woman with blazing red eyes, snapped her fingers. Fireballs shot toward Kiba, but his water barrier absorbed the blasts, steam erupting as they collided.

"We can't win in a direct clash," Dabi realized aloud. "They have the home-field advantage."

Jeni smirked. "Then we change the battlefield."

Jeni and Kiba moved together.

Kiba sent a spiraling column of water upward, the liquid dispersing into mist. Jeni took a deep breath, raised her arms, and unleashed a wave of frost. The mist instantly froze, turning into a thick fog of ice particles that spread across the battlefield.

The heat still burned, but now, visibility was cut in half.

"Smart," Dabi muttered. "Now they can't use their flames as effectively."

Zen took advantage of the confusion, darting through the fog with lightning speed. His blades found their mark, slashing through the defenses of Team Inferno's third member. A cry of pain echoed through the haze as the fighter stumbled backward.

"You'll pay for that!" the Inferno leader roared.

He slammed his fists together, and the ground beneath him cracked, molten rock seeping through the cracks. A powerful burst of flame followed, clearing the mist and forcing everyone back.

Dabi barely had time to react before a column of fire rushed toward him. He sidestepped at the last moment, rolling to safety. His own power flared within him, and he sent a concentrated blast of energy forward, striking the Inferno leader in the chest.

The man staggered but didn't fall. Instead, he grinned, flames dancing in his palms.

"You'll have to do better than that, champion."

Dabi exhaled sharply. "Fine. I will."

The battlefield became a blur of fire and motion. Dabi charged forward, his fists crackling with energy. He dodged the Inferno leader's fire whips, countering with precise, calculated strikes. Their battle became a deadly dance of speed and power, each of them testing the limits of the other.

Meanwhile, Zen and Kiba kept the remaining Inferno fighters occupied. Jeni, using her ice to its fullest potential, managed to trap one of them in a thick layer of frost, forcing a forfeit.

One down.

Dabi saw an opening. He feinted left before twisting and slamming his elbow into the Inferno leader's ribs. The man coughed, staggering back.

"Time to put this fire out," Dabi muttered.

He gestured to Jeni. Understanding immediately, she unleashed a final, freezing blast, covering the battlefield in a thin sheet of ice. Kiba followed up with a controlled wave of water, dousing what little fire remained.

The Inferno leader dropped to one knee, steam rising from his scorched skin. He looked up at Dabi, exhaling heavily.

"You really are something else," he admitted. "I underestimated you."

Dabi extended a hand. "Next time, don't."

The Inferno leader chuckled, grasping Dabi's hand and letting himself be pulled up. The announcer's voice boomed across the battlefield.

"TEAM DABI WINS!"

The crowd erupted into cheers.

As the echoes of battle faded, Dabi turned his gaze toward the stands. A feeling of unease settled over him. He had the distinct impression that someone— or something was watching them.

Jeni noticed his expression. "Something wrong?"

Dabi hesitated before shaking his head. "It's nothing. Let's regroup."

They left the battlefield, but the thought lingered in Dabi's mind.

Something was changing. The tournament was getting more dangerous. And he needed to figure out why— before it was too late.

"We need to figure out what's really going on here," he said as they are ready to left the battlefield.

"And how do we do that?" Jeni asked.

"We start by surviving," Dabi said, his voice firm. "Then we take control of the game."

The tides were indeed shifting, but Dabi was determined to stay ahead of the storm.

The volcanic battlefield's chaos was still fresh in their minds as Dabi and his team returned to their quarters. Their victory against Team Inferno was hard-won, but the toll was evident in their ragged breaths and the uneasy silence between them. Each step back felt heavier, as though they carried the weight of not just their survival but the knowledge that something sinister loomed over the tournament.

Jeni was the first to break the silence as she slumped into a chair. "That was more than just a battle. It was like they wanted us dead." Giving the enemy team a adventages

battleground. It's like they want to eliminate us.

Dabi remained standing, his gaze fixed on the floor. "They're testing us," he said, his tone measured but sharp. "This isn't just about skill anymore. They're pushing boundaries— our boundaries."

"Pushing them or breaking them?" Althea asked, her voice laced with a rare note of uncertainty. She was rarely rattled, but the sheer intensity of their last battle had left even her shaken. "The battlefield wasn't just dangerous— it was designed to kill."

"They underestimated us," Kiba said, his voice tinged with pride, but even he couldn't ignore the unspoken truth that lingered in the room.

Zen, sitting cross -legged on the floor, shook his head. "It's more than that. Raghnall's warning, the note about shadows... Something bigger is happening, and we're being thrown into the middle of it."

Dabi let out a long breath, finally sinking into a chair. "We need to think ahead. The fights are only going to get worse from here. If we want to survive, we have to prepare for anything."

"But how do you prepare for the unknown?" Jeni asked, her voice softer now, as though admitting the thought made it more real.

"We adapt," Dabi said, his tone firm. "We keep our eyes open and our minds sharp. The moment we start to think we've got it figured out is the moment they'll catch us off guard."

Althea nodded. "We should also keep an eye on the other teams. If the organizers are testing us, they're testing them too. Any misstep could mean an advantage for us."

"Speaking of the other teams," Kiba said, glancing at the roster projected on the wall, "have you noticed how Team Sol magna hasn't broken a sweat yet? They're breezing through every round like it's a game."

"Seraphine," Dabi muttered, the name leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. The leader of Team Sol magna was as cunning as she was powerful, and her reputation only grew with each passing battle.

"They're saving their strength," Zen said. "Biding their time until the real challenges begin."

"And when they strike, it'll be calculated," Althea added. "Seraphine isn't the type to leave anything to chance."

Dabi's gaze hardened. "Then neither will we."

The next challenge loomed, but it wasn't just the battles that occupied their thoughts. Late that night, a knock at their door shattered the tense quiet of their quarters.

Dabi, ever cautious, motioned for the others to stay back as he approached. The sight of a cloaked figure on the other side of the door immediately set him on edge.