I have played this game on and off for a few years. I have just recently started playing again. However: now with the empowered levels through the lens, I gave missed out on and my highest dragons are at level 35. In both league battles and the element battles you keep putting me up against much higher empowered dragons. At this point I cannot win in these, and winning them is part of the goals etc... Even when I try to change them that is limited and I repeatedly give up because I can't win against such high levels. A little fairness in that would be appreciated.

Sadly this is a progressive game and your opponents are selected by game level nit by the dragons themselves. And since you stopped playing you most likely fell behind. I suggest you send this to support via the in game support system, hopefully they will one day change how opponents are selected. In the mean time I suggest you try getting at least 2 or 3 of each Element empowered to get you a fighting chance if surviving. If you have duplicate eggs in storage, hatch them feed them to level 30 and recall them to empower the originals. Also try using the winstance tower to boost your strength.