Ultimate Dragon System: Grinding my way to the Top-Chapter 146: The lurking Dabbas

Without wasting any more time, Olmo, Jelo, and Mira approached the portal in the room. Olmo pressed the correct button on the remote, and the portal hummed to life. A ripple of blue light spread across its surface before swallowing them whole.

Entering the portal felt strange, as always — like being twisted through dimensions, even though they weren’t actually moving through any. The sensation passed in a blink.

They arrived at a quiet region where Dabas were fewer in number, yet still roaming — hunting, hiding, surviving. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Olmo had chosen this location carefully. There were enough Dabas to make it worthwhile, but not enough for things to spiral out of control. He had been here before. He knew the terrain. He knew the blind spots.

"Stick with me," Olmo said firmly. "Do exactly as I say."

"Yes, sir," Jelo replied almost instinctively.

Olmo glanced at them both, then nodded. "There are Dabas here, but not too many. We can handle whatever we encounter. I don’t know their exact positions yet, but we’ll find them soon enough."

He paused before adding, "Once we spot them, you two will handle the fighting. If things get out of hand, I’ll step in. Think of this as training — an opportunity to grow stronger."

Jelo looked at him sideways. So much for not wanting to endanger us.

Mira had clearly heard that, but she pretended she hadn’t.

What was the point of Olmo stressing about her not coming, only to make them do the fighting anyway? She wasn’t against the idea — in fact, she welcomed the challenge. Still, Olmo was... confusing. His protective nature seemed to clash with his willingness to throw them into danger. Perhaps that was just how masters operated — caring deeply while knowing that true growth only came through real combat, not simulated exercises in safe environments.

The landscape around them was desolate, marked by jagged rocks and sparse vegetation that had somehow survived in this hostile territory. The sky overhead held an odd tint, neither fully blue nor gray, as if caught between two states of being. It was the kind of place that made you constantly look over your shoulder, where silence itself felt threatening.

After walking for what felt like an eternity, their footsteps crunching against the dry earth, Jelo suddenly stopped.

"We’re close," he said quietly.

Olmo turned to him immediately. "Can you pinpoint their location?"

Jelo closed his eyes briefly, his brow furrowing in concentration. "A few miles away. Two o’clock."

"Good. Stay alert," Olmo replied, his hand instinctively moving closer to his weapon.

Then Jelo stiffened again, his eyes still closed, his breathing becoming more measured.

"Wait... at our nine o’clock too. I can sense more Dabas."

The air around them suddenly felt heavier, as if the atmosphere itself had thickened with the weight of impending danger.

Two directions.

Two groups.

And they were right in the middle.

"This is tricky," Olmo said, his eyes narrowing as he glanced at Jelo. "There are Dabas at our two o’clock and more at our nine. Can you sense their exact numbers?"

Jelo closed his eyes and focused, his breathing steady. He had been practicing this skill for months now, learning to distinguish between individual energy signatures, to count them even when they moved. It was exhausting work, requiring a level of concentration that left him drained afterward, but it was proving invaluable in situations exactly like this one.

"At nine o’clock... about five," he said after a moment. "At two o’clock... three."

"Good," Olmo replied immediately. "We’ll head to two o’clock."

Jelo’s eyes snapped open. "Wait. The ones at two o’clock... their energy levels are higher. Much higher. They’re stronger than the five at nine o’clock . It would be better if we handle the nine o’clock group first."

Olmo stared at him for a moment, then slowly nodded. His eyes widened slightly as he processed the information, clearly impressed by Jelo’s ability to not just count but also assess the relative strength of their potential enemies from this distance.

"That leaves us with one option. Fine. We move to nine o’clock. No need to face something too strong when all we need is a Daba’s heart for Jelo."

Without another word, he turned and began heading toward the nine o’clock direction, his stride purposeful and confident.

Olmo and Mira walked side by side at the front. Jelo followed behind them.

And that’s when his brain betrayed him.

He had always known Mira was beautiful. That wasn’t new. But now, walking behind her, he suddenly noticed how well-shaped she was. The way she moved with such grace and confidence, her posture straight despite the danger they were walking into.

His eyes shifted to Olmo walking beside her.

From the back, they almost looked like a couple strolling on a quiet evening date, their steps somehow synchronized without any apparent effort.

Jelo froze internally.

What the hell am I thinking about?

We’re literally on a mission to get a Daba’s heart for me. Why am I thinking about Mira’s shape... and her dating Master Olmo?

He shook his head hard, trying to physically dislodge the inappropriate thoughts.

Is it the headache? Am I possessed or something? I need to focus.

Still... he couldn’t deny it.

Master Olmo looked young for his age. Despite being middle-aged, he carried himself with the confidence of someone who could wipe out an army of Dabas alone. And from the little glimpses they’d seen during training, it was obvious he was holding back most of his true power. The way he moved, the casual efficiency with which he demonstrated techniques — it all spoke of someone operating at a fraction of their actual capability.

And he wasn’t even ranked among the strongest Superas in the world.

Can you believe that?

Jelo let out a quiet chuckle at the absurdity of it all.

"I’ve got a long way to go..."

Mira suddenly turned, her sharp eyes catching his moment of amusement.

"What’s so funny?"

Jelo hadn’t realized he’d laughed out loud.

His face flushed slightly, embarrassment creeping up his neck.

"Mind your business," he muttered, almost grudgingly.

Mira blinked, clearly taken aback. For a second, it looked like she was about to snap at him, her mouth opening to deliver what would undoubtedly be a cutting response.

But she held it in.

Somewhere ahead... five Dabas awaited them.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​