The Dragon Ascendant

The Weight Of Chains

CHAPTER 3: THE WEIGHT OF CHAINS

That evening, Raiden walked through the quiet Elthorn compound, his mind occupied with troubling thoughts. His past life had been one of weakness. But Flocki, the man he truly was, would not take the kinds of insults he had taken before. He would find strength, and he would make those who had mistreated him answer for it.

As he was about to step through the portal to the next mission, a voice stopped him.

“Raiden! Where are you off to in such a hurry?”

The voice was womanly, but he sensed the sharpness in its tone. Selene, his sister-in-law.

"Mother says you are running off again to play the hero. You should just give up, Raiden. You will never be more than a servant in this family."

Raiden met Selene's gaze, clear, unwavering. "We will see about that."

Selene stepped closer, her voice now low enough that only he could hear. "Just don’t die out there, Raiden. Mother wouldn’t want you to miss the next round of chores."

Raiden kept his fists tightly clenched but his composure intact. "I'm not dying anytime soon, Selene." He returned her smile, but he was anything but happy.

"We'll see." Selene's laughter filled the hallway as she walked away.

Raiden felt anger welling up inside him, but he pushed it down. There would be a time to deal with Selene and the others, but that was not this time. Right now, Raiden had one mission: survive. And then, one by one, he would make them all regret underestimating him.

With the thought of it seared in his mind, Raiden walked out into the night, prepared to confront the outside world, the first part of his plan to take back the honor they had stripped from him and make it once again his own.

Raiden stepped out of the Elthorn compound, letting the cool breeze wash over his face as the sun dipped low, casting a warm orange glow. Despite the frailty of his new body, his expression was set in calm determination. *I might be weaker now, but this isn't my real life,* he thought, clenching his fists with resolve. *Proving I'm more than their punching bag is lesson one in this world.*

Ahead lay the E-rank dungeon Lady Morgana had mentioned, just outside the city. Designed for those with little power, it was considered a beginner’s challenge. Though his combat instincts were sharp, this world and body were new, with unfamiliar power limits. Yet, Flocki's strategic mind was still his greatest weapon, and he knew it could turn the tide in any fight.

As he approached the dungeon entrance, a merchant watched him with an amused look. “Heading into the dungeon alone, are you?” the merchant asked, noting Raiden’s unassuming appearance.

Raiden gave a curt nod. “I’m not like most.”

The merchant chuckled, casting a skeptical glance at Raiden's basic gear. “Well, good luck. You’re going to need it.”

Without another word, Raiden walked on, eyes fixed on the dungeon’s dark mouth. *Even with a weapon that feels unfamiliar, it’ll have to do.*

Inside, darkness wrapped around him, filled with the scent of wet stone and the distant sounds of creatures lurking in the shadows. It was eerily familiar, reminiscent of battles from his past life. Back then, he’d had an army at his side. Now, he was alone. But if he’d learned anything, it was that he could fight on his own.

A low growl echoed through the dungeon. Two lizardlike creatures, venom dripping from their fangs, slinked toward him, their eyes gleaming. Raiden's lips curved into a grim smile. *At least I don’t have to wait long.*

One creature lunged. Raiden sidestepped, driving his sword through its neck in a swift, practiced motion. The second hesitated before charging, but Raiden pivoted, slicing its midsection with deadly precision. As the creature fell, Raiden exhaled, his breathing steady. *Once, I was the strongest. But even now, skill counts for something.*

The deeper he ventured, the tougher his opponents grew. Finally, he reached the dungeon’s heart, where a towering ogre stood, its leathery skin and massive club casting an imposing figure. Raiden took a moment to assess the creature, knowing this was no ordinary foe.

The ensuing fight was brutal and unrelenting, with Raiden deftly dodging the ogre’s heavy swings, seeking weak points with each strike. After a series of swift, precise blows, he brought the creature down, its massive body collapsing in a heap. Exhausted, Raiden sank to his knees, the fatigue settling in.

After gathering the materials he needed, he returned to the market. The merchant’s eyebrows shot up as he saw Raiden approach. “Back so soon? And still in one piece?”

Raiden dropped the loot on the counter. “As agreed.”

The merchant inspected the items and handed him a small pouch of coins. Raiden felt a rare flicker of satisfaction. True, it was a small victory, but it was his.

As he arrived back at the Elthorn estate, however, that satisfaction was short-lived. Standing in the entryway, arms crossed, was Lady Morgana. She regarded him with a cold smile. “I trust the dungeon wasn’t too difficult?”

Raiden clenched his jaw, handing over the coin pouch reluctantly.

She smirked. “Remember, Raiden, everything you earn belongs to the household. Think of it as rent for the shelter and food we provide.”

Holding back his anger, Raiden walked away, seething. *They think I’m weak. I can play along for now. But one day, they’ll regret underestimating me.*

He strode toward the stables, shoveling away the muck as his thoughts churned. *This isn’t the end. I’ll surpass them all.* And as he looked to the horizon, he vowed silently: *My time will come, sooner than they think.*