The Draconic System: Rise of To Ascendance

Chapter 62: The Weight of Ambition

Raizen leaned against the terrace railing, watching Selene as she studied the skyline. The silence between them was thick, but not uncomfortable. A test. A challenge. A moment of reckoning. He had known this meeting wouldn't be easy, but that was what made it matter.

Selene sighed, the neon glow reflecting off her striking blue eyes. "You've always been different, Raizen. But I need to know… do you truly understand what you're getting yourself into?"

Raizen exhaled, glancing over the sprawling city. "More than you think."

She turned to him, her gaze piercing. "Then prove it."

The system pulsed.

[Quest Progression: Selene's Challenge]

[Objective: Demonstrate your growth in a duel with Selene]

Raizen smirked. "Didn't think I'd get away without a fight, huh?"

Selene's lips curled slightly. "You've built power, but do you know how to wield it?"

She took a step back, drawing a sleek, modified plasma blade from her waist. The soft hum of the weapon echoed in the air. "Show me."

Raizen's blood thrummed with excitement. His fingers twitched at his side, anticipation bubbling in his veins. This was more than a fight. It was a statement. A declaration.

He activated Draconic Step, his muscles coiling, preparing for the moment she would strike.

Selene didn't waste time. She lunged.

Lightning-fast, her blade cut through the air, aimed directly at his shoulder. Raizen dodged, barely, shifting his weight at the last second. He countered with a sharp kick, but Selene spun, dodging it effortlessly.

Her speed was incredible—faster than before. She had improved too.

Raizen grinned. "Not bad."

Selene smirked. "I'm just getting started."

The battle escalated in a blur of movement and steel. Sparks flew as their strikes clashed, her plasma blade searing against the reinforced material of his gauntlets. Draconic Synchronization activated, pushing his reflexes beyond normal limits.

[Draconic Combat Synchronization: 94%]

Raizen ducked under a sweeping strike, closing the distance between them in a heartbeat. He twisted, aiming a strike toward her midsection, but Selene twisted in kind, using his momentum against him. She flipped over his arm, landing smoothly.

"Your footwork's gotten better," she admitted.

Raizen chuckled. "I've had practice."

Selene lunged again, but this time Raizen anticipated it. He caught her wrist, twisting her arm behind her back in one fluid motion. For a second, their bodies were flush, locked in a moment of tension.

Selene tilted her head. "You're holding back."

Raizen leaned in slightly, his breath warm against her ear. "You want me to stop?"

Her smirk widened. "Hardly."

With an unexpected burst of force, she shifted, slipping out of his hold. A knee shot toward his ribs, but he caught it with both hands, pushing her back.

She landed gracefully, blade humming. "You're stronger than before."

Raizen smirked. "Told you."

The system pulsed.

[Duel Outcome: Stalemate]

Selene sheathed her blade, tilting her head slightly. "I can see it now. You've changed, but at your core, you're still the Raizen I knew."

She stepped closer, eyes locking onto his. "You might actually be worth my time."

The quest notification flashed once more.

[Selene's Trust Gained: Progress 30%]

Raizen exhaled, heart still pounding. "So, what now?"

Selene's gaze flickered with something unreadable. "Now? You keep proving it."

And with that, she turned toward the exit. "We'll meet again soon, Raizen."

He watched as she disappeared into the cityscape, the storm behind her a fitting backdrop for the path ahead.

This was only the beginning.