Chapter 104: Echoes of the Dead

Chapter 104: Echoes of the Dead

The station was awake.

As the vault's doors slid open, a low, resonating hum pulsed through the walls of Outpost Haven-12. The energy field that had concealed the inner chamber for centuries vanished, revealing what lay within—a sight that sent a chill through Raizen's spine.

Lined against the far walls were dozens of stasis pods, untouched by time, their surfaces shimmering with ancient Draconic inscriptions. Unlike the derelict remains of the rest of the station, this place was preserved, as if it had been waiting for someone worthy to open it.

But Raizen's focus remained locked on the central pod—the one that had activated upon his touch.

Inside, a woman lay suspended in cryo-stasis. Her long, silver hair drifted weightlessly, her pale skin adorned with faintly glowing Draconic markings. Unlike anything he had encountered before, her very presence radiated dormant power, restrained only by the confines of the stasis field that had kept her sealed away for centuries.

And then—her eyes snapped open.

The Awakening

Liana's scanner beeped wildly. "Raizen—her vitals just stabilized. She's waking up."

Joran took an instinctive step back. "That's not normal. Cryo-revival should take longer, even for an enhanced human."

Kain's weapon remained raised. "You sure she's human?"

Raizen ignored them. His gaze was locked onto the silver-haired woman, her piercing violet eyes meeting his golden ones. For a brief moment, everything else faded—the station, the warnings, the uncertainty.

She was staring directly at him, as if recognizing something within him.

Then, she spoke.

"You… finally came."

Her voice was soft, yet filled with something ancient—something that carried weight beyond simple words.

Raizen's smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "I get that a lot."

The stasis pod's final locks released, sending out a pulse of energy. The woman took a slow step forward, her bare feet touching the cold metal floor of the vault. Steam curled around her form as she took in the surroundings, her gaze flickering between Raizen and the rest of the team.

Joran tensed. "I don't like this."

Liana's readings spiked again. "Raizen… her energy levels are off the charts. Whatever she is, she's not just some preserved survivor."

Raizen finally spoke. "Who are you?"

The woman tilted her head slightly, studying him in return. Then, she smiled.

"My name is Seraphina. And you… are my awakening."

A Forgotten Legacy

Seraphina's Draconic markings pulsed faintly, the ancient inscriptions running along her skin glowing in response to Raizen's presence. There was recognition in her expression—not just at him, but at his bloodline.

Raizen crossed his arms. "Alright, Seraphina. Mind explaining why you were locked in a pod on a dead station?"

Seraphina's expression remained unreadable for a moment before she slowly exhaled. "This station was never meant to be found. I was never meant to be found."

Kain raised a brow. "And yet, here we are."

Seraphina's violet eyes flickered to the other pods lining the vault. "This was a sanctuary—a last refuge for the Draconic Ascendants who survived the fall of our world. But only I was sealed with the ability to wake again."

Liana furrowed her brows. "Why?"

Seraphina turned her gaze back to Raizen. "Because I was waiting for you."

Silence followed.

Joran scoffed. "That's way too cryptic."

Raizen, however, felt it. A pull, a connection woven in his very blood.

Seraphina continued, stepping closer. "You carry the mark of the lost Draconic Sovereigns. That is why the vault recognized you. That is why it opened."

Raizen's smirk faded slightly. The implications were clear.

This station… these pods… were remnants of his own lost people.

And now, he was standing before a woman who had been waiting for his return for centuries.

A Sudden Warning

Before Raizen could ask more, alarms blared across the vault.

Liana's comm unit crackled to life. "Raizen, we've got a problem—multiple ships just dropped out of hyperspace."

Raizen's instincts sharpened. "How many?"

Liana's voice was tense. "At least four. Medium-class cruisers. No official markings, but their heat signatures match mercenary vessels."

Kain cursed. "Great. More scavengers?"

Seraphina's gaze darkened. "No. They are here for me."

Raizen's golden eyes flickered. "Explain."

Seraphina turned toward the sealed pods around the vault. "Not everyone wished for my awakening. There were those who sought to ensure no Draconic lineage would ever rise again."

Raizen exhaled slowly, the weight of the situation settling in.

They weren't just dealing with scavengers.

They were dealing with those who wanted to erase every last trace of his lost empire.

And now, they had found him.

Raizen smirked, his Draconic Aura flaring subtly. "Well… I guess it's time we properly introduced ourselves."

Seraphina smiled. "Yes. Let's."