I feel like the newbie is still hiding his strengh. It's like he's using an amount of power that is just high enough to counter the dragon's attack, but also low enough so that he still take the hit to make everyone believe that he was at his max. After the first dragon's attack he was supposed to be knock down, but when the dragon's fire went towards the barrier he appears like he was not hurt at all. And after countering that fire attack he's sent flying in the ruins, but gets up instantly like it was nothing.