KOOOOM!!!
The sound wasn't just loud. It was felt. A physical shockwave that rippled through the training yard, kicked up dust in a expanding circle, made recruits stumble back with hands over their ears. The wooden frame holding the dragon scale board trembled violently, supports creaking under stress they weren't designed to handle.
Noah's rear foot had driven down through the cracked ground, sinking maybe three inches into packed earth that should have been solid. His whole body had coiled and released like a spring, immense amount of strength channeled through his arm, through his fist, into a single point of impact.
When the dust settled and the ringing faded from everyone's ears, the training yard went absolutely silent.
The dragon scales had cracked.
