The vendor's grin widened at Raizen's confidence, but his eyes held the calculating glint of a man used to dealing in deception. He leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice. "An E-tier combat technique isn't something you just buy, kid. You earn it."
Raizen crossed his arms, unfazed. "Then tell me how."
The vendor tapped his fingers against the table, as if weighing his options. "You've got three choices. You can pay a ridiculous sum of credits—assuming you even have that kind of money. You can try to steal one—though I'd give you about five seconds before someone guts you. Or…" His grin widened. "You can fight for it."
Raizen smirked. "Figured it would come to that."
The vendor nodded toward a reinforced door on the far side of the market, guarded by two burly men with cybernetic arms. "Behind that door is the Trial Pit. You step in, you fight against others who want the same prize. Win, and you earn your pick of an E-tier technique."
The system chimed in Raizen's mind.
[Trial of Strength Unlocked: Defeat All Challengers in the Vault's Arena]
Objective: Survive the Trial Pit and claim an E-Tier technique.
Reward: Power Advancement – E-Tier Combat Unlock.
Raizen rolled his shoulders, a familiar heat burning in his blood. He had fought in the academy's VR battlefields, in the underground arena against Ayaka, and had already taken on House Valen's ambush. This was just another stepping stone.
He nodded. "Sign me up."
The vendor chuckled and gestured to one of the guards. "Take him in."
The Trial Pit was a circular fighting arena carved into the underground rock, illuminated by flickering neon strips along the jagged walls. The air was thick with sweat, blood, and the anticipation of violence. Around the pit, a dozen spectators stood on raised platforms, some exchanging bets, others watching in cold amusement.
The guard shoved Raizen forward. "Wait here. They'll call you in soon."
Raizen exhaled slowly, keeping his stance loose as he analyzed the other fighters. There were three already inside the pit—two men and one woman—bruised and breathing heavily, but standing. The announcer, a grizzled man with a cybernetic eye, raised a hand. "Next challenger—Raizen Izumoto!"
A murmur spread through the crowd. The name was recognized.
Raizen stepped into the pit, his body loose, his heart steady. The Draconic Ascendancy System pulsed in his mind, feeding him combat data, tracking his opponents' stances, weaknesses, and movement patterns.
His opponent—a muscular man with short-cropped hair and a jagged scar running down his cheek—smirked. "Heard about you. Think you're something special, huh?"
Raizen's smirk mirrored his. "Why don't you find out?"
The announcer raised his arm. "Begin!"
His opponent lunged first, throwing a powerful right hook aimed at Raizen's jaw. Too slow.
Raizen dodged, shifting his weight and driving his knee into the man's ribs. A sickening crunch followed as his opponent stumbled backward, gasping. Raizen didn't hesitate—he followed up with a sharp elbow strike to the temple, sending the man crumpling to the ground.
The crowd roared.
The announcer grinned. "Looks like we've got a real fighter! Next!"
Another opponent stepped in—a leaner, faster fighter. He wielded a pair of reinforced gauntlets, each humming faintly with energy.
Raizen exhaled. This one was going to be tougher.
The system chimed.
[Combat Analysis Updated: Adaptive Reflex Boost Temporarily Engaged]
His muscles tightened, his blood thrumming with the raw potential of battle.
The second fight began.