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**Beijing, Dragon Empire Alliance, June 12, 2045**
Lin Feng slouched in his dorm, fiddling with the **Mystery Egg** on his desk. Its red-gold veins pulsed faintly, like a dragon's heartbeat trapped in a shell. Xiaohuo, his Flame-Tailed Drakeling, glared at it from the bed, tail flicking like he was plotting arson. "That thing better not steal my spotlight, human," Xiaohuo growled, singeing a sock for emphasis.
"Chill, you diva," Lin said, tossing the drakeling a strip of jerky. "You're my OG. This egg's just… backup."
Xiaohuo snorted, munching the jerky. "Backup better know its place."
Lin grinned, checking his stats:
**[Status: Lin Feng, Level 5]**
- **Stats**: Strength 23 (18 +5 from Iron Bracer), Agility 20, Intelligence 18, Vitality 14, Luck 12
- **Skills**: [Dragon Bond Lv. 1], [Dragon Claw Strike Lv. 1], [Celestial Evasion Lv. 1], [Dragon Roar Lv. 1], [Dragon Scale Armor Lv. 1]
- **Pet**: Xiaohuo (Flame-Tailed Drakeling, Level 5, Evolves at Level 10, Skills: Ember Shot Lv. 2, Drake Slash Lv. 2, Flame Pulse Lv. 1, Fire Wing Slash Lv. 1)
- **System Points**: 1850
- **Inventory**: Mystery Egg, Alpha Fang, Crimson Pelt, Wolf Pelts x5, Rat Tail Bundle x3, Mana Shards x3, Shadowclaw Claw, Iron Bracer
The [System]'s quest pulsed in his mind: **[Quest: Train in F-Rank Dungeon Again. Reward: 600 System Points, Random Dragon Item, +10% Mystery Egg Hatch Progress. Deadline: June 17, 2045. Penalty: Xiaohuo Eats Your Notes.]**
"No one's eating my calculus notes," Lin muttered, though he hadn't touched them since reincarnating. The F-Rank dungeon run was his chance to grind XP, loot, and egg progress before the next ranking match. With Li Hao plotting revenge and the **Global College Entrance Trials** looming, Lin needed every edge.
Fatty Wang knocked, lugging a sack of glowing [Spirit Buns] (+3 Vitality). "Feng! Ready for another dungeon? I made extra buns for luck!"
Su Mei trailed him, her **Mana Weaver** aura flickering as she adjusted her glasses. "Li Hao's spreading rumors you cheated in the ranking match. He's got a guild scout watching you."
Lin smirked, strapping on his **Iron Bracer**. "Let Hair Gel cry. I'll give that scout a show." He grabbed his dagger and the **F-Rank Dungeon Pass**, Xiaohuo flapping to his shoulder. "Let's farm some monsters and make Xiaohuo jealous of his future sibling."
Xiaohuo sparked, singeing Lin's collar. "Sibling? I'll roast it!"
The [System] chimed: **[Host, your pet's loyalty is 85%. Keep taunting, and it'll drop to 84%.]**
Lin laughed. "Worth it."
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**Hunter's Gate: Dungeon Prep**
The **Hunter's Gate**, Beijing's dungeon portal hub, buzzed with activity. Hunters in glowing armor traded loot, while drones scanned passes. Lin's team flashed their **F-Rank Dungeon Pass**, earning nods from guards. A guild scout—a lean man in a black cloak with a **Silver Fang Guild** badge—watched from a distance, likely Li Hao's spy.
"Showtime," Lin whispered, leading Fatty and Su Mei to the portal. It shimmered, displaying their dungeon: **F-Rank, Ironroot Grotto. Enemies: Ironfang Wolves, Gloom Rats, Ironroot Treant (D-Rank Boss). Clear Condition: Defeat Treant.**
"Another D-Rank boss?" Fatty gulped, clutching his spatula. "My buns better work."
Su Mei's eyes narrowed. "Treants are weak to fire but resist physical attacks. Xiaohuo's our ace."
Xiaohuo preened. "Obviously. Bow to your VIP, mortals."
Lin stepped through the portal, his team behind him. The vortex spat them into a humid cave, its walls tangled with iron-hard roots. Glowing moss lit the path, and the air smelled of earth and decay. "Stay tight," Lin said, activating [Dragon Bond Lv. 1]. Xiaohuo's senses sharpened his own, every rustle amplified.
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**Ironroot Grotto: Monster Mash**
The first wave hit fast—eight **Gloom Rats**, Level 3, scurrying from root crevices. Lin grinned. "Xiaohuo, warm-up time!"
Xiaohuo unleashed [Flame Pulse Lv. 1], a fiery shockwave frying three rats (-60 HP each). Su Mei's [Mana Thread Lv. 1] boosted Xiaohuo's attack speed, letting him spam [Ember Shot Lv. 2], popping rats like firecrackers. Lin activated [Dragon Scale Armor Lv. 1], glowing scales forming over his skin (+10% Defense), and slashed with [Dragon Claw Strike], cleaving two rats. Fatty's [Spicy Toss Lv. 1] stunned the rest, their squeaks turning to sneezes.
"Fatty, your sauce is a bio-weapon!" Lin laughed, collecting **Rat Tails** and 25 EXP. **[EXP +25. Level 5: 325/500 EXP]**.
Deeper in, four **Ironfang Wolves**, Level 4, lunged from the shadows. Lin used [Dragon Roar Lv. 1], the sonic blast staggering them. Xiaohuo's [Fire Wing Slash Lv. 1] sliced a wolf's flank (-90 HP), its crit chance triggering a fiery explosion. Su Mei's buffs kept Lin's Agility high, letting him dodge bites with [Celestial Evasion]. Fatty, braver now, clonked a wolf with [Iron Pan Strike], shouting, "Back off, Rover!"
The last wolf charged Lin, but his [Dragon Scale Armor] absorbed the bite (-10 HP). He retaliated with [Dragon Claw Strike], gutting it. Loot piled up: **Wolf Pelts x3**, a **Mana Shard**, and 50 EXP. **[EXP +50. Level 5: 375/500 EXP]**.
A trap triggered—roots snapping like whips. Lin shoved Su Mei aside, taking a lash to his arm (-15 HP, Total: 85/100). Su Mei's [Mana Thread] healed him (+5 HP), but she snapped, "Stop playing hero, Feng!"
"Hero's in my job description," Lin grinned, though his arm stung. Xiaohuo scouted ahead, muttering, "Dumb human, getting whipped by plants."
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**Boss Arena: Ironroot Treant**
The cave opened into a vast chamber, roots forming a dome around the **Ironroot Treant**, a D-Rank boss. The tree-like beast, Level 7, loomed 15 feet tall, its bark pulsing with mana, branches tipped with iron spikes. Stats flashed: **800 HP, Weak to Fire, Resists Physical, Skills: Root Snare Lv. 2, Iron Spike Barrage Lv. 1**.
"Big salad," Lin whistled. "Xiaohuo, you're the chef."
Xiaohuo smirked. "Roasted veggies, coming up."
Before they could strike, a rumble shook the cave. Another portal opened, and Li Hao's team—**Li Hao (Inferno Warlock)**, **Chen Wei (Ironclad Knight)**, and **Zhao Min (Shadow Assassin)**—stumbled in, looking battered. "You again?!" Li Hao snarled. "This dungeon's ours!"
Lin rolled his eyes. "Hair Gel, you're like a bad rash. Go itch somewhere else."
The [System] pinged: **[Side Quest: Steal Li Hao's Boss Kill. Reward: 250 System Points, Random Loot. Penalty: Li Hao Claims Your Loot.]**
"Jackpot," Lin muttered.
The Treant roared, slamming branches with [Iron Spike Barrage]. Spikes rained, forcing both teams to scatter. Chen Wei tanked a hit (-60 HP), his armor dented. Zhao Min's [Shadow Stab] scratched the bark (-20 HP), useless against its resistance. Li Hao's [Blaze Spear Lv. 1] pierced the trunk (-100 HP), but the Treant's [Root Snare] trapped him, roots coiling his legs (-30 HP).
Lin's team moved. Su Mei's [Mana Thread] supercharged Xiaohuo's fire skills (+15% Damage). Fatty's [Spicy Toss] coated the Treant's roots, making them writhe (-10% Accuracy). Lin activated [Dragon Scale Armor], then used [Dragon Roar] to stun the boss, its branches freezing mid-swing.
"Xiaohuo, combo!" Lin shouted, tossing the drakeling like a flaming comet. Xiaohuo spun, unleashing [Flame Pulse] + [Fire Wing Slash], a fiery whirlwind that charred the Treant's trunk (-200 HP). Lin dodged a spike with [Celestial Evasion], landing a [Dragon Claw Strike] on a weak spot (-80 HP, crit).
Li Hao, freed from the roots, fired [Flame Wave], but Lin "slipped," bumping his arm. The spell hit a root, igniting it harmlessly. "Clumsy me!" Lin grinned, as the crowd watching via live feed laughed. Li Hao roared, "Stop interfering, Trash Tamer!"
"Interfering? I'm winning," Lin shot back. Xiaohuo's [Ember Shot Lv. 2] peppered the Treant (-150 HP), while Fatty's [Iron Pan Strike] cracked a branch (-50 HP). Su Mei's buffs kept their momentum, but the Treant's [Root Snare] caught Fatty, squeezing (-20 HP).
"Fatty!" Lin dove, slashing the roots with [Dragon Claw Strike], freeing him. The Treant, down to 200 HP, swung wildly. Lin saw his chance. "Xiaohuo, finish it!"
Xiaohuo soared, scales blazing, and unleashed a new combo: [Flame Pulse] + [Drake Slash Lv. 2], a fiery claw storm that shredded the trunk (-200 HP). The Treant groaned, collapsing into ash and loot: **Ironroot Core**, **Treant Bark**, and 150 EXP.
**[Boss Defeated! EXP +150. Level Up! Lin Feng, Level 6]**
- **Stats**: Strength 25 (20 +5), Agility 22, Intelligence 19, Vitality 15, Luck 13
- **Xiaohuo Level Up! Level 6, Skill Upgrade: Flame Pulse Lv. 2 [+20% AOE Damage]**
- **[Quest Completed: Train in F-Rank Dungeon. Reward: 600 System Points, Random Dragon Item - Flame Drake Talisman (+10% Fire Skill Damage), +10% Mystery Egg Hatch Progress]**
- **[Side Quest Completed: Steal Li Hao's Kill. Reward: 250 System Points, Random Loot - Mana Vial (Restores 50% Mana)]**
The **Mystery Egg** glowed, now at 10% hatch progress. Li Hao's team, empty-handed, glared as the crowd chanted, "Dragon Tamer!" Lin pocketed the **Ironroot Core**, tossing Li Hao a mock salute. "Better luck next time, Hair Gel."
Li Hao's eyes burned. "You'll regret this, Lin."
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**Post-Dungeon Fallout**
Back at the **Hunter's Gate**, the **Silver Fang Guild** scout approached Lin, his cloak rustling. "Impressive, SSS-Rank. Our guild's watching. Don't disappoint."
Lin nodded, wary. "No pressure, right?"
In his dorm, Lin equipped the **Flame Drake Talisman**, boosting Xiaohuo's fire skills. His points hit **2700**, enough to hatch the **Mystery Egg** (1000 Points) or buy [System Shop] items like a **Mana Ring** (500 Points). "Egg's tempting, but I'm not Level 10 yet," he mused. "Let's grind more."
Fatty and Su Mei crashed in, eating [Spirit Buns]. "Feng, you're a legend!" Fatty said. "Li Hao's face was redder than Xiaohuo's flames!"
Su Mei frowned. "That guild scout's bad news. Li Hao's family has ties to Silver Fang. They might rig the next match."
Lin leaned back, petting Xiaohuo, who was eyeing the **Mystery Egg** like a rival. "Let them try. I've got dragons, buns, and a system. Hair Gel's got… a grudge."
The [System] chimed: **[New Quest: Win Next Ranking Match. Reward: 500 System Points, Random Skill Shard, +5% Mystery Egg Hatch Progress. Deadline: June 18, 2045. Penalty: Xiaohuo Steals Your Snacks.]**
Lin laughed, tossing Xiaohuo a bun. "Steal my snacks, and I'll feed you to the egg's hatchling."
Xiaohuo snapped it up, growling, "Hatchling better not touch my jerky."
As Beijing's neon lights pulsed, Lin felt the stakes rising. The trials, Li Hao's schemes, and the **Mystery Egg**'s secrets loomed. His **Immortal-Rank Talent** was a hidden blade, but the [System]'s hints about the **Level 1000 Gods** nagged him. For now, he'd grind, troll, and tame his way to glory.
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