The Draconic System: Rise of To Ascendance

Raizen had made his choice—he would find his own path to power. The nobles relied on resources handed down through generations, but he had something they didn't—the hunger to climb, no matter the cost.

The first step was finding where the academy kept its restricted knowledge. While most students relied on their families for advanced techniques, there were whispers of a black market within the academy itself, a hidden network where forbidden manuals and experimental cultivation techniques changed hands.

The problem was finding it.

Raizen walked through the lower academy halls, where the students from lesser families trained. Unlike the pristine marble floors of the noble wings, the walls here were cracked, the training equipment outdated. It was the perfect place to hear whispers of the underground.

He spotted a group of students huddled near the sparring ring, their conversation hushed. As he approached, they stiffened, their gazes darting toward him. Most of these students weren't combatants—they were opportunists, information brokers, and gamblers looking for an edge.

"Relax," Raizen said, his tone casual. "I'm just looking for information."

One of them, a lanky student with a scar over his left brow, narrowed his eyes. "Information costs."

Raizen smirked. "Then let's make a deal."

He reached into his pocket and tossed a small data chip onto the table beside them. "Combat analysis from the last underground arena matches. Fighters, techniques, weaknesses. Should be useful for betting, if nothing else."

The scarred student picked up the chip, examining it before nodding. "Alright. What do you want?"

Raizen leaned in slightly. "I need to know where to find the academy's black market techniques."

The student hesitated before glancing around to make sure no instructors were nearby. "You'll need to talk to someone in the Vault, beneath the old storage wing. But be careful. They don't like outsiders."

Raizen's mind processed the information quickly. The Vault—he had heard the name whispered before, always spoken in hushed tones. It wasn't just a black market; it was where dangerous knowledge was sold and traded outside the academy's control.

He nodded, already formulating his next move. "Appreciate it."

As he turned to leave, the system chimed.

[New Quest Acquired: Uncover the Vault]

Objective: Locate the underground Vault and gain access to restricted knowledge.

Reward: Unknown.

A slow grin spread across Raizen's face. Now things were getting interesting.

The old storage wing was on the outskirts of the academy, rarely patrolled and mostly abandoned. Dust coated the walls, and the flickering lights overhead barely illuminated the narrow hallways. If something illicit was happening, this was the perfect place for it.

Raizen kept his steps quiet as he approached a rusted door at the end of the hall. He placed his palm against the surface, feeling the vibrations of movement beyond it. Voices. Multiple people.

The system chimed again.

[Stealth Analysis Active – Eavesdropping in Progress]

Raizen leaned in, focusing.

"…payment is required up front. No exceptions," a gruff voice muttered.

"You think I came here unprepared?" another voice, younger and sharper, responded. A soft clink of metal indicated some kind of trade was being made.

Raizen smirked. Bingo.

Straightening, he took a breath and pushed the door open. The moment he stepped inside, half a dozen pairs of eyes locked onto him.

A large, bald man with a scar down his cheek frowned. "Who the hell are you?"

Raizen met his gaze with a calm smirk. "Someone looking to do business."

Silence stretched in the room. Then, the bald man chuckled. "You've got guts, kid. Let's see if you have the coin to match."