The Draconic System: Rise of To Ascendance

The cheers of the crowd still echoed in the underground chamber, but Raizen's mind was already shifting to his next move. He had earned his victory, claimed an E-tier combat technique, and now he had the Vault's respect. That meant access.

The bald merchant who had first let him into the underground market approached with an impressed nod. "Not bad, kid. You've got some real potential."

Raizen smirked. "I tend to hear that a lot."

The merchant chuckled before motioning for Raizen to follow. "Come on. You won the trial, so you get more than just the technique. You've proven yourself. That means you're allowed into the Inner Vault."

Raizen's eyes narrowed slightly. Inner Vault? This was new.

They moved past the fighting pit and through a reinforced archway that led to a more secluded area of the underground complex. The corridors were dimly lit, lined with steel doors and biometric security panels—a stark contrast to the chaotic nature of the marketplace.

The merchant placed his palm against a scanner, and the door slid open with a low hiss.

Inside, Raizen found himself in what looked like an armory mixed with a data vault. Shelves lined the walls, filled with old combat manuals, experimental weapon schematics, and classified data drives stolen from powerful factions.

The merchant gestured broadly. "This is where the real power lies. You're free to look around—but be warned. Some things in here come at a price far greater than credits."

Raizen stepped forward, scanning the shelves. If he played this right, he could leave here with more than just a single technique.

The system chimed.

[New Quest: Unravel the Vault's Secrets]

Objective: Acquire hidden knowledge from the Inner Vault.

Reward: Unknown.

A slow grin spread across Raizen's face. Time to see just how deep this rabbit hole went.