rastq12

Jack’s past life ended in betrayal—sold for parts by those he trusted. Reincarnated into a world of dragons, magic, and monstrous wonders, he awakens as a beggar with nothing but his wits and a mysterious quantum computer-like plug-in. Armed with his **photographic memory** and the ever-evolving system, Jack must rise from the slums to the pinnacle of power.

In this world, where strength is measured by monster cores and alliances are forged in blood, Jack outsmarts enemies, uncovers ancient secrets, and builds his own faction to challenge the world’s corrupt powers. But as he ascends, he must decide whether to save this world—or burn it to the ground

Ascendant Shadows

The Thunderclaw Bear's core pulsed in Jack's hand, its energy unstable and erratic. The recruits gathered around, their faces a mix of awe and unease. Even Garrick, still nursing his burns, couldn't take his eyes off it.

"That thing's dangerous," one of the recruits muttered. "What if it explodes?"

"Analyze the core," he said quietly.

**[Thunderclaw Bear Core: Highly Volatile.]**

**[Anomaly Detected: Artificial Enhancements.]**

**[Recommendation: Handle with Extreme Caution.]]

Jack's eyes narrowed. Artificial enhancements? That didn't make sense. Monsters didn't exactly have the means to modify their own cores.

"Plug-in, cross-reference the anomaly with known data," he said.

**[Anomaly Matches: Obsidian Hand Experimental Techniques.]**

Jack's mind raced. The Obsidian Hand was involved? That changed everything.

Kaela approached, her crimson cloak fluttering in the wind. Her eyes were fixed on the core, her expression unreadable.

"Well done," she said, her voice calm. "That core is worth a fortune. Hand it over."

Jack hesitated. He didn't trust Kaela, and the plug-in's analysis only deepened his suspicions. But outright refusing her could raise questions he wasn't ready to answer.

Chapter 9: "The Core’s Secret"