The True Dragon System

Fame

As Barlor stood in the alley, watching Vax disappear into the shadows, a sudden realization washed over him. He wasn’t alone. Dozens of people crowded at the alley’s entrance, their faces lit up with awe. Phones hovered in the air, recording every moment of the duel he’d hoped to keep under wraps. His brow furrowed, and his wings twitched slightly as his eyes scanned the sea of glowing screens. The whispers had already begun to swell, rippling through the crowd.

"Is that... Barlor S’roar?" one person murmured, their voice brimming with excitement.

"Did you see those flames? Golden and black... like something out of a myth!" another said, their phone raised high, capturing the last moments of the spectacle.

Barlor let out a low, frustrated sigh, running a hand through his hair as he dropped to the ground, sitting with a thud. His dragon wings folded neatly against his back, but the tension in his posture made it clear he wasn’t pleased with the attention. "Well, so much for keeping things quiet," he muttered to himself, his eyes scanning the crowd once more. The sight of their eager faces, oblivious to his irritation, only made his frown deepen.

The murmurs continued, growing louder as more people gathered at the scene, drawn in by the spectacle. Conversations floated through the air—excited chatter about the dragon scales and the fierce battle they’d just witnessed.

"Did you get that on video? That breath attack was insane!" someone exclaimed, holding up their phone to share the footage with a friend.

"He’s a System Bearer, right? You think he’s S-Grade?"

Barlor grumbled under his breath. His fingers drummed against his knee as he sat there, watching them share videos and discuss his abilities like he was some kind of sideshow attraction. There was no going back now. The word was already spreading, and it wouldn’t take long for this fight to make headlines.

He closed his eyes, exhaling sharply before muttering, "People don’t know how to mind their business..." His words were low, almost drowned out by the buzz around him, but there was no mistaking the edge in his tone. He’d hoped to settle this quietly, away from prying eyes, but secrecy wasn’t an option anymore.

The next morning, Barlor woke to the persistent pinging of notifications. His phone buzzed relentlessly on the bedside table, flashing with messages and alerts. Groaning, he reached over, grabbing it with one hand and rubbing his face with the other. As he scrolled through the endless barrage of headlines, his eyes narrowed.

"Vax the Shining Star Defeated by Barlor Slash!" blared one headline in bold letters.

Another screamed, "New S-Grade System Bearer Revealed—Divine Dragon System Awakens!"

Clips of the fight filled his feed, shared across every social media platform imaginable. Barlor winced, watching short videos of himself unleashing the TEMPEST Breath, the fiery torrent colliding with Vax’s Bright Slash. The crowd’s gasps and cheers echoed faintly from his phone as he scrolled through more posts, each one dissecting the duel like it was the event of the year.

"Great..." he muttered, tossing the phone onto the bed as he sat up. His wings sagged slightly, betraying his frustration. He wasn’t used to this kind of attention. Sure, he knew System Bearers were famous, but this? This was a whole new level. He sighed deeply, staring at the headlines on his phone screen.

"System Bearers are more famous than celebrities," he grumbled, dragging a hand down his face. He knew what was coming next—reporters digging into his past, fans clamoring for autographs, interviews, and questions. Endless questions.

His mind drifted to the chaos that was sure to follow. There would be cameras, reporters crowding his doorstep, and fans eager to know everything about him. Where did he come from? How did he get his powers? What were his plans now that he’d revealed himself to the world?

Barlor shook his head, feeling the weight of it all settle on his shoulders. "This is going to be such a drag..." He rubbed his temples, already dreading the distractions that would flood his days. Meetings, interviews, and people prying into his life—none of it appealed to him.

He leaned forward, resting his face in his palm, his voice barely above a whisper. "I just wanted a good fight... Now, I’m a headline."

Barlor sat on the edge of his bed, his gaze wandering over the messy stack of mail that had accumulated over the past few days. There were sleek envelopes, formal ones from news stations, each one eager for an exclusive interview. A few were thick and embossed with guild insignias, all hoping to recruit him. He sighed heavily, picking up one of the thicker ones, turning it in his hands as he felt the weight of it. Without even bothering to open it, he tossed it onto the growing pile on the floor.

“I have no intention of joining a guild,” he muttered under his breath, pushing the rest of the unopened mail into the drawer beside his bed. He wasn’t the type to be tied down to a guild, especially not one with its strict rules and rigid hierarchy. He shook his head, shoving the thought away. Right now, he needed to clear his mind.

Barlor made his way to the park, needing space to breathe, space to stretch his wings. The open area, with its wide expanse of trees and sky, gave him just that. With a sharp beat of his wings, he took to the air, soaring above the treetops. The wind rushed against his scales, cool and refreshing, and for a moment, everything else faded away.

But then, out of nowhere, a figure appeared in front of him, startling Barlor as he had to bank hard to avoid a collision. His wings flared, his body twisting mid-air as he stabilized himself. Hovering not far away was a large, bulky man with broad shoulders and a wide grin plastered across his face. Barlor blinked, narrowing his eyes in confusion. The man wasn’t flying or levitating—he had leapt into the sky to meet him.

Barlor watched, his brow furrowed as the man landed on a nearby tree branch, bending it under his weight but not breaking it. The guy stood there, arms crossed, grinning wider as if this were all part of some grand plan. "Barlor S’roar!" the man boomed, his voice loud enough to echo through the park. "I, Boomer, deem you worthy to join my guild!"

Barlor hovered in place, his suspicion growing with every passing second. This wasn’t the first time someone had tried to recruit him, but it was definitely the most… dramatic attempt. He descended slowly to the ground, watching as Boomer jumped down to meet him, the large man landing heavily on the grass.

"So let me get this straight," Barlor began, folding his arms across his chest as he faced Boomer, "you just decided that because you think I’m worthy to join your guild, it’s already a done deal? Like, I don’t get a say in the matter?"

Boomer’s grin stretched even wider, his enthusiasm completely ignoring the sarcasm dripping from Barlor’s words. "You’re welcome!" Boomer declared, standing tall with his hands on his hips. "I know it’s a great honor to be considered for membership in my guild. But listen, with your strength and my leadership, we could conquer the world!"

Barlor couldn’t help it—he rolled his eyes. "Yeah, no thanks. Pass." His voice was flat, the dismissal coming without hesitation.

For a moment, Boomer’s grin faltered. He blinked, clearly not expecting to be turned down so easily. He plopped down onto the grass, looking genuinely baffled by Barlor’s refusal. The bystanders who had gathered around chuckled at the sight, amused by the man’s dramatic reaction. But Barlor’s senses sharpened when he felt a shift in the air. A dense, swirling aura began to emanate from Boomer, thickening the atmosphere and making it harder to breathe.

‘He’s strong,’ Barlor thought, his gaze narrowing as he took in the raw power radiating from the man. This wasn’t just some recruiter with a loud mouth—Boomer was dangerous.

"I, the great Boomer, never take no for an answer!" Boomer bellowed, standing up with renewed intensity. The aura around him grew heavier, pressing down on the air, making it ripple as if the park itself could feel the weight of his power. Some of the onlookers began to back away, their curiosity turning into wariness as they sensed the danger.

Barlor raised an eyebrow. "Oh, in that case... HELL NO!" His voice rang out, cutting through Boomer’s oppressive aura with a defiant edge. The force of his refusal was loud enough to startle a flock of birds from the nearby trees, sending them scattering into the sky. Barlor smirked as the onlookers erupted into laughter, finding the scene far more entertaining than they probably should have.

Boomer’s eyes widened in disbelief, as if he couldn’t fathom that anyone would turn him down, especially not with such confidence. His wide grin faded for the first time since their encounter began, replaced with a frown that deepened the longer he stared at Barlor.

Barlor turned, ready to walk away. "I don’t have time for this," he muttered, starting to head back to where he’d begun his training. But before he could take more than a few steps, his instincts flared, his Dragon Insight kicking in with a sharp warning. Danger was close—too close. Without thinking, he twisted to the side just as Boomer’s massive fist came hurtling toward him.

The punch missed by mere inches, but the force behind it was enough to send a gust of wind ripping through the park. Leaves scattered like a sudden storm, swirling around as the nearby trees shook. Barlor straightened, his eyes locking onto Boomer’s, now filled with a burning intensity.

Boomer’s stance was aggressive, his fists clenched as he took a step forward. "I told you, I don’t take no for an answer!" he growled, his voice heavy with anger.

Barlor didn’t flinch. His scales glinted under the sunlight as he squared his shoulders. "So, you wanna fight about it?" His voice was calm, but the challenge was clear. If Boomer thought he could force Barlor into submission, he was in for a rude awakening.

Without warning, Boomer lunged. Despite his size, he moved fast, closing the gap between them in a blink. Barlor’s arms came up, his dragon scales hardening just in time to meet Boomer’s fist. The impact was explosive, sending a shockwave through the park. The grass flattened beneath their feet, and a nearby bench toppled over from the sheer force of the collision.

The bystanders gasped in unison, the air now thick with tension as the confrontation escalated. Barlor held his ground, his dragon scales absorbing the brunt of Boomer’s strike, but even he could feel the power behind it.

"If he thinks brute force is enough to get what he wants," Barlor thought, a smirk curling at the edge of his lips, "then he’s in for a surprise." He wasn’t going to back down. Not now. Not ever.