The Draconic System: Rise of To Ascendance

Chapter 61: Return of an Old Flame

The frigate's medical bay hummed softly as Seraphina rested, her systems stabilizing with each passing minute. Liana had taken the task of monitoring her vitals, while Kain was busy securing the ship's critical systems. Raizen, however, found himself distracted.

A notification pulsed in his vision.

[New Message Received: Selene]

His breath stilled. It had been weeks since they last spoke. He had been too caught up in the chaos of survival, battles, and the acquisition of his warship. But now… she was reaching out.

Raizen opened the message.

Selene: "I heard what you did. The underground tournament, House Valen's crackdown, even the ship. You're making waves, Raizen."

He smirked. She always knew how to get under his skin.

Selene: "Meet me. The usual place. Tonight."

Raizen's fingers curled into a fist. This was the moment he had been waiting for. The quest to make Selene his wife had always been there in the background, but she had remained just out of reach. Now, she was initiating the next step.

The system pulsed.

[New Quest Update: Selene's Challenge]

[Objective: Meet Selene and prove your worth]

Liana noticed the shift in his expression. "Something wrong?"

Raizen exhaled. "No. Just something I've been waiting for."

Kain smirked. "A woman, huh?"

Raizen chuckled. "Something like that."

With the ship secured and Seraphina recovering, it was time to face the woman he had always chased—Selene.

The meeting spot had not changed. A hidden terrace overlooking the neon-drenched skyline of the city, perched high above the crumbling lower sectors. It had once been their escape—where they talked about the future, away from the suffocating expectations of the world below.

The air was thick with the scent of rain, a fresh storm rolling in from the east. Lightning flickered in the distance, illuminating the endless sprawl of skyscrapers and hovering transports. The city was alive, yet here, in this secluded space, it was silent.

Raizen leaned against the metal railing, his golden eyes scanning the horizon. Then, he felt her presence before he saw her.

Selene.

She stepped forward, her silhouette sharp against the neon glow. Dressed in a sleek black combat suit that hugged her form, she carried herself with the same quiet confidence that had always drawn him in. Her long, silken hair was tied back, revealing sharp blue eyes that studied him carefully.

"You actually showed up," she said, voice smooth but edged with something unreadable.

Raizen smirked. "I figured you'd be disappointed if I didn't."

Selene crossed her arms. "You've changed."

He raised an eyebrow. "For better or worse?"

She didn't answer immediately. Instead, she stepped closer, eyes locking onto his. "You tell me. The boy I knew was reckless but had something pure about him. Now, you're making enemies with House Valen, claiming warships, building power in the shadows." She tilted her head. "Is this who you wanted to become?"

Raizen held her gaze, unshaken. "I became who I needed to be."

Selene's lips quirked into something almost like amusement. "Good answer."

The system pulsed again.

[Quest Update: Selene's Challenge]

[Objective: Gain Selene's trust before the two-year deadline]

She turned toward the skyline, her expression contemplative. "So, tell me, Raizen. What happens now?"

He exhaled slowly, stepping beside her. "That depends on you."

Selene's eyes flickered toward him, something unreadable in their depths. Then, she smirked. "We'll see."