The Draconic System: Rise of To Ascendance

Chapter 59: Echoes of the Past

Raizen's body tensed as the distant clang reverberated through the frigate's corridors. Liana had her rifle raised, scanning the dimly lit interior, while Kain instinctively reached for his sidearm.

"Unidentified presence?" Liana whispered, her voice sharp. "This ship's been abandoned for years. What the hell could still be here?"

Raizen smirked, cracking his knuckles. "Let's find out."

The system pulsed.

[New Event Triggered: Echoes of the Past]

[Objective: Identify the unknown presence]

Raizen activated Draconic Step, his movements silent and precise as he took the lead. The air inside the ship was stale, thick with the scent of old wiring and metal. The further they walked, the clearer the sound became—faint scraping and shuffling deeper inside the ship.

Then, a flicker of movement in the shadows.

Liana reacted first, snapping her rifle up. "I see something."

Raizen darted forward, closing the distance in an instant. His eyes adjusted to the dark just in time to see a humanoid figure slumped against the bulkhead, barely moving. A metallic arm was clutched tightly around its chest as if shielding itself.

Kain cursed. "That's a… cyborg."

The system pulsed.

[Scanning…]

[Identification: Unknown Cyborg – Status: Power Critical]

Raizen crouched down, taking in the figure's appearance. The silver-haired woman, barely conscious, looked half-human, half-machine. Her body bore scars from battle, her armor plating cracked, and her breathing was weak.

Liana narrowed her eyes. "She's been here… all this time?"

Raizen reached out, his fingers barely grazing her shoulder when her eyes snapped open. Bright silver irises locked onto him, and in a blur of motion, she lashed out with her metallic arm.

Raizen dodged, narrowly avoiding a razor-sharp energy blade that extended from her wrist. The woman pushed herself up, but her body trembled, lacking the strength to fight.

She coughed, her voice hoarse but defiant. "Who… are you?"

Raizen smirked. "The guy who just saved this ship."

Her eyes flickered between him and the others before her strength gave out, and she collapsed back against the bulkhead.

The system pulsed again.

[New Quest Unlocked: Restore the Cyborg]

[Objective: Repair and stabilize the unknown cyborg]

[Bonus: Unlock her identity]

Liana sighed, lowering her rifle. "Great. First, we need parts for the ship. Now we've got to fix a half-dead cyborg."

Raizen grinned. "Looks like this ship came with a bonus."

Kain shook his head. "I hope she's worth the trouble."

Raizen glanced at the unconscious woman. Something about her felt… familiar. Whoever she was, he wasn't about to leave her behind.

With a warship, a cyborg, and a black-market deal on the horizon, Raizen's path was becoming clearer—and more dangerous.

And he wouldn't have it any other way.