Chapter 97: Testing the Draconic Flagship
The newly awakened Draconic Flagship loomed before Raizen, humming with latent power. Though its systems had been reactivated, the ship was still incomplete—its core unstable and key functions locked.
Liana's fingers danced over a holographic interface, eyes flicking between fluctuating energy readings. "The ship is responding to your presence, but until we stabilize its core, we can't activate its full capabilities."
Joran crossed his arms, staring up at the massive warship. "So, what can it do right now?"
Raizen ran a hand along the smooth, scaled-like plating of the hull. It felt almost alive, pulsing faintly with Draconic energy. The ship's AI answered, its deep voice resonating through the hangar.
"Current operational status: 37%. Primary weapons offline. Hyperlight drive unavailable. Cloaking systems… functional."
Raizen smirked. "Cloaking, huh? That's something."
Kain nodded. "Enough to get us in and out of situations without being detected. That could be useful."
Liana pulled up a projection of the ship's internal schematics. "We should run a test flight, see how much control you have over it."
Raizen stepped forward, his Draconic bloodline stirring as he placed his palm against the ship's command interface. The moment he did, the ship responded—a golden light flared through its circuits, and Raizen felt a connection forming, as if the ship was becoming an extension of himself.
The hangar doors rumbled open, revealing the vast darkness of space beyond.
Raizen exhaled slowly. "Let's take it for a spin."
Flight Test
The Draconic Flagship lifted smoothly off the platform, its silent propulsion systems effortlessly guiding it through the wreckage-filled void surrounding the shipyard. Unlike conventional vessels, the ship didn't emit the usual roar of engines—it glided through space, moving with an almost organic grace.
Inside the cockpit, Raizen sat in the command chair, the holographic controls forming around him instinctively. He didn't need to manually pilot—it was as if the ship responded to his thoughts.
Joran whistled, gripping his seat. "This thing handles smoother than any ship I've ever been on."
Kain checked the readings. "And its stealth system is holding. We're invisible on all external scans."
Liana nodded. "Good. But let's push it further."
Raizen smirked. "Agreed. Let's see how fast this thing can go."
He willed the ship forward, and in an instant—
The Draconic Flagship surged ahead, the stars stretching into streaks as it reached speeds beyond conventional understanding.
The crew held onto their seats as the ship darted through the asteroid field, effortlessly weaving between massive celestial bodies. The ship felt alive, adapting to Raizen's instincts rather than following a programmed flight path.
A deep thrill coursed through him. This ship was his. A vessel worthy of his ambitions.
But just as he settled into the sensation of complete control—
Liana's console beeped. "Raizen, we have a problem. Multiple ships entering the system."
Raizen's gaze sharpened. "Friendlies?"
She shook her head. "Not likely. Unknown faction. They're scanning the shipyard."
Joran gritted his teeth. "Great. Just what we needed."
Raizen clenched his fists, his Draconic Aura flickering to life. "Let's see who they are."
The first real test of his newfound warship had just begun.