Everyone went quiet after Ronan spoke.
"…The Head of the Dragon."
Lebo leaned forward a little. "What do you mean?"
Ronan looked at them. "In this world, there are three paths."
He raised one finger. "First…the Talons of the Dragon."
Ams nodded. "Supporters,right?"
"Yeah," Ronan said. "They cook,heal,fix people…keep the village alive."
Zeliex shrugged. "We know."
Jane added calmly, "Nothing runs without them."
Lebo nodded. "Got it."
Ronan raised a second finger. "Second…the Claws of the Dragon."
He looked at them. "…You."
Adam smirked. "That part sounds better."
"You fight,you go on missions,and protect the village," Ronan said.
Zeliex stretched. "Yeah."
Ronan paused.
"And above both…"
"…The Head of the Dragon."
Ams tilted his head. "The elders?"
"Yeah," Ronan said. "They control everything.Missions,orders,decisions."
Zeliex nodded. "Figures."
Jane stayed calm. "Obviously."
Ronan turned like he was done—then stopped.
"…Wait."
He sighed.
"There's something I forgot to address."
Zeliex smirked. "Of course."
Ronan ignored him.
"…Echo Ranks."
Adam leaned forward. "Ranks?"
Ronan nodded. "For Claws,your rank shows how strong you are and what missions you can take."
He stepped forward.
"Echo F…the lowest."
Ams pointed. "Us."
"Yeah," Ronan said. "You have power,but barely control."
Lebo looked at his hand calmly. "Fair."
"Echo D…better control.You train seriously."
Zeliex nodded. "We know."
Jane added, "Still not enough."
Ronan raised his hand.
"Echo C…"
His tone shifted.
"…this is where you become a real fighter."
Adam's eyes lit. "What happens?"
Ronan looked at him.
"At Echo C,you unlock Uniqe Orp."
Ams leaned forward. "That move?"
Ronan nodded. "Uniqe Orp is a controlled release of your Uniqe…focused into one action."
He pointed to Adam. "Flames into one strike."
Then to Lebo. "Gravity into one point."
Lebo nodded. "More control."
"Exactly."
Zeliex smirked. "That's when fights get good."
Ronan gave a small nod.
"Echo B and A…your Uniqe becomes natural.Faster,stronger."
Zeliex cracked his neck. "Good."
Jane said, "You're not there yet."
"And Echo S…"
"…the highest rank."
Zeliex nodded. "Elders."
Jane: "Obviously."
Ronan: "Yeah."
Ams raised his hand. "What about Uniqe Echo?"
Ronan looked at him.
"When you use your Uniqe normally,you force it."
"When you use Uniqe Orp,you release it."
He paused.
"But Uniqe Echo…"
"…your Uniqe responds to you."
Ams blinked. "Responds?"
Ronan nodded. "Faster,stronger…like it understands you."
Adam said quietly, "So it becomes part of you."
"…Exactly."
Zeliex smirked. "That's worth it."
Jane added, "If you can control it."
Ronan nodded. "That's the problem."
Ronan looked at them.
"Right now…"
"Jane and Zeliex…Echo D."
Zeliex smiled. "Of course."
Jane: "Still climbing."
"Lebo,Adam,Ams…Echo F."
Ams: "We'll fix that."
Adam smirked. "Fast."
Lebo nodded. "Yeah."
Ronan crossed his arms.
"Train six months.You'll be ready for missions."
Zeliex laughed. "We'll see."
Jane: "Focus first."
Lebo stretched. "We done?"
"Yeah," Ronan said. "Go home.Rest."
Ams cheered. "Finally."
They started leaving.
"Don't be late," Jane said.
Zeliex added, "Or we leave you."
Adam smirked. "Try."
Jane said "zeliex you never changed*
Outside—
They split paths.
Adam looked at them. "I'm heading to my clan."
Lebo nodded. "Alright.See you."
Ams waved. "Bye!"
Adam walked through the village.
People greeted him.
He nodded back.
Soon—
He reached his clan house.
The home of the Orange Dragon.
He stopped for a moment.
"…I'll get stronger."
Then he walked inside.
Later—
At Lebo's house.
Lebo dropped down, tired.
Ams fell next to him. "I'm dead…"
Lebo laughed. "Same."
Adam returned later that night.
He sat down with them.
"…Long day."
Lebo nodded. "Yeah."
Ams mumbled, "Sleep…"
They didn't even talk more.
They just—
slept.
End of chapter 10