The Draconic System: Rise of To Ascendance

Raizen landed with a controlled roll, absorbing the impact as he hit the cold steel floor of the underground maintenance tunnels. The air was thick with dampness and the faint scent of rust, the dim emergency lighting casting eerie shadows along the curved walls.

The system chimed in his mind.

[Escape Route Status: Viable]

[Security Pursuit: High – Hostile Units in Vicinity]

He pushed himself up, ears tuned to the distant echoes of boots hitting metal above. House Valen wasn't giving up easily.

Raizen adjusted his pack, ensuring the artifact was secure before taking off at a steady jog. He had to move fast.

The tunnel system stretched far beneath the academy grounds, a remnant of older infrastructure. Most students didn't even know it existed, but Raizen had studied every layout he could find. He turned a sharp corner, eyes darting along the walls until he spotted a rusted maintenance hatch.

His system highlighted it in a soft blue glow.

[Possible Exit Identified]

Raizen pressed his palm against the control panel. A warning beep sounded, followed by a red error message.

[Access Restricted – Manual Override Required]

"Figures," he muttered. Nothing was ever easy.

He crouched, pulling a compact plasma cutter from his belt. The blade flared to life, its faint blue glow illuminating the confined space. He traced a precise arc along the panel's edge, careful not to trip any further alarms.

Halfway through, the system chimed another warning.

[Enemy Units Detected – Approaching Fast]

Raizen cursed under his breath. They were tracking him down here.

He doubled his pace, slicing the last section of metal just as a burst of gunfire rang out behind him. Sparks flew as plasma rounds struck the tunnel walls, melting metal upon impact.

Raizen dove forward, rolling through the opening as the hatch gave way. He hit the floor and kicked the severed panel behind him, sealing the entrance as another barrage of fire slammed against it.

[Exit Secured – Temporary Block]

Breathing hard, Raizen pushed himself up and scanned the new area. It was a lower maintenance sector, abandoned for years, its systems flickering between life and death.

A sudden clank echoed through the corridor.

Raizen stilled, muscles coiled. He wasn't alone down here.

His system pulsed with a new warning.

[Unidentified Lifeform Detected]

His hand tightened around his blade. As if things weren't bad enough.