Chapter 101: Echoes of the Past

Chapter 101: Echoes of the Past

The Draconic Flagship drifted through the void, its stealth systems fully engaged, rendering it an invisible specter in the darkness of space. From the outside, it was undetectable—no energy signatures, no visible distortions. But within, the tension aboard the ship was palpable. Raizen sat in the command chair, golden eyes narrowing as he processed the reality of his situation.

The Noble Houses of Eltross were sniffing around, searching for the same thing he had just uncovered—his heritage, his legacy. The mere thought of it ignited a storm of emotions within him. Was it a coincidence, or had the signal from the shipyard's awakening alerted them? He wasn't naive enough to believe in chance. They were already looking.

Liana's voice cut through the quiet. "I ran deeper scans on the flagship. There's something buried in its data archives, but it's encrypted beyond conventional methods."

Raizen turned his gaze toward her. "How deep?"

Liana flicked through multiple screens, frustration flickering across her face. "It's not just a security lock—it's genetically sealed. Only a direct Draconic bloodline match can override it. And given the ship's reaction to you, I'd bet my entire share that it's tied directly to your genetic signature."

Joran folded his arms. "So, in simple terms, we're locked out until Raizen levels up his dragon side."

Liana nodded. "Exactly. And there's more. The flagship's AI is partially fragmented. I was able to recover some pieces of data—nothing useful yet, but the way the files are structured? It's meant to be revealed gradually, like a system unlocking as you grow stronger."

Raizen exhaled, his jaw tightening. If this ship truly came from his lost homeworld, then the only key to unlocking its full potential was his evolving Draconic bloodline. The weight of that realization sank into him. This wasn't just a ship—it was a legacy vessel, a remnant of the civilization that had once thrived before being wiped from existence. His people. His past.

And he would be damned if he let the Noble Houses of Eltross claim it.

Unraveling the Mystery

The flagship's holographic display flickered, displaying fragmented memories of a war long forgotten.

Titanic battleships waged war over a burning planet. Golden insignias, eerily similar to the markings on his own flagship, glowed against the backdrop of destruction. He could see massive draconic creatures intertwined in combat with mechanized monstrosities, the sky filled with streaks of energy fire.

Joran, watching the projection, exhaled. "That's not just any war… that's a tier-nine planetary battle. The amount of firepower on display is enough to wipe out an entire sector."

Kain leaned forward. "But who were they fighting?"

Liana magnified one of the images. The opposing fleet was unmarked—faceless, shadowy ships with no clear insignia. Whoever had attacked Raizen's ancestors had erased their own identity from history.

Raizen clenched his fists. These were the echoes of his past—the ruins of a forgotten empire.

Joran crossed his arms. "So, what now? We sit on this ship and wait for your bloodline to upgrade?"

Raizen smirked, shaking his head. "No chance. We move forward. Liana, what's the closest system where we can gather Draconic Alloy?"

She tapped a few keys before pulling up a star map. "There's a wreckage field near Vordran-7, a battlefield from an ancient war. The reports indicate there's Draconic-infused debris still floating in that sector. If we're lucky, we might find something salvageable."

Raizen nodded. "Then that's our next destination."

Joran scoffed. "Great. Another graveyard dive. You really know how to pick 'em, Captain."

Raizen smirked. "It's where the best treasure is buried."

A Sudden Interruption

Before the flagship could initiate the jump, alarms blared across the ship.

Raizen's instincts sharpened immediately. "Report."

Liana's fingers moved rapidly across her interface. "A sudden energy signature appeared at the edge of the system. It's not a ship. It's a probe. And it's scanning this sector."

Joran's smirk faded. "Shit. Someone's watching us."

Raizen's eyes darkened. "Send a tracer pulse—I want to know where it's transmitting."

The system ran its calculations in seconds, and then—

Joran's voice was grim. "It's sending data back to Eltross."

Silence hung over the bridge. Then Raizen spoke, his voice calm but sharp as a blade.

"Destroy it."

A precise rail shot tore through the void, obliterating the probe before it could finish its transmission. The explosion was small, barely noticeable in the vastness of space.

But the damage was already done.

"They know something's here," Kain muttered, his grip tightening on his weapon.

Raizen clenched his fists. "Then we make sure they regret ever looking."

Preparing for War

The silence in the room was thick with unspoken tension. They all knew what was coming. The Noble Houses of Eltross weren't just some minor faction—they were a Tier 3 power, a force capable of wiping out entire fleets if they so desired.

And now, they had been given a reason to investigate this sector.

Raizen exhaled, his mind racing. "We move to Vordran-7 immediately. We don't just need Draconic Alloy anymore—we need weapons, armor, whatever tech we can salvage. We're no longer just salvaging a ship…"

Joran smirked. "We're building an army."

Liana nodded. "I'll set the course."

Raizen stood from his chair, his golden eyes burning with a mix of rage and determination. The pieces were falling into place. His past was calling him. His enemies were hunting him. And his bloodline was waiting to awaken.

But one thing was clear.

No one was taking what was his.

And if Eltross wanted war?

He'd give it to them.