Bloodstar System: Infinite Evolution Through Beast Slaughter

Chapter 29: Rules Are Made for Ordinary People

Buzz.

A combat recording uploaded to H’s computer.

It was footage automatically saved by Kaia’s tactical watch.

At the center of the image, a green giant wolf the size of a small hill was roaring hard enough to shake the air.

"Rank Three Voidbeast, Gale Fiend Wolf?"

H’s face changed.

He might have retired to desk work, but his eye was still sharp.

A Voidbeast of that level was absolutely a dominant predator in the wilderness around Norcrest.

The laughter nearby stopped at once.

In the projection, a lean figure was moving wildly around the Gale Fiend Wolf’s claws.

Then the young man in the footage stepped forward hard.

The boning knife in his hand stabbed into the wolf’s body and shattered under some kind of high frequency vibration.

H stood up sharply.

Inside the recording, dozens of small blade fragments did not scatter outward.

Instead, they seemed to come alive, curving through the air in strange arcs before drilling into the Gale Fiend Wolf through its throat and wounds.

Pfft. Pfft.

The miserable scream from the holographic projection made the eardrums of everyone in the hall ache.

H’s fingers trembled.

He pointed at the blood covered young man in the projection, and his voice changed pitch.

"Psionic Master..."

"He is a Psionic Master?!"

The hall exploded into noise.

H turned sharply and stared at Joren.

That gaze looked as if he had found some priceless treasure.

"Joren... Joren."

His tone became extremely polite in an instant, almost flattering.

"This old man was blind just now. I did not realize you were a Psionic Master."

He operated the light screen at full speed, his fingers moving so fast they nearly blurred.

"Entering data..."

"Identity confirmed: Joren."

"Combat record review: independently killed Rank Three Gale Fiend Wolf, confirmed."

"Talent assessment: Psionic Master."

"Entry level: official member of Antares Command."

With H’s final tap, the printer beneath the counter produced a black metal card.

A broken sword was engraved on it.

The emblem of Antares Command.

H held the card in both hands and presented it respectfully to Joren.

"From this moment on, you are a member of Norcrest Antares Command."

Joren took the card and turned it casually between his fingers.

Cold to the touch.

Heavy enough.

He raised a brow.

"Did you not just say you could not process it?"

H let out an awkward chuckle and wiped cold sweat from his forehead.

"Rules are dead. People are alive."

"Besides, rules are made for ordinary people."

He turned to Kaia, full of emotion.

"You really picked up a treasure for our Norcrest branch this time."

Kaia gave him a brief look.

"Come with me to the armory. You need your equipment."

Joren shrugged and followed.

H adjusted his glasses and watched him go, his eyes complicated.

"Young people these days... more monstrous every year."

After they passed through the oppressive alloy door, the temperature in the air dropped by several degrees.

This was the third underground floor of the Norcrest branch.

The dedicated armory of Antares Command.

Everything in sight carried a cold silver gray tone.

The enormous space was divided into countless honeycomb like compartments. Above them, several mechanical arms glided silently along tracks, grasping sealed metal cases with exact precision.

Kaia swiped open an access door and glanced back at Joren, who was looking around.

"Most of what is here, you are not qualified to use yet."

The two stopped in front of counter number 072.

Kaia’s long fingers moved quickly across the console.

With a series of soft clicks from interlocking mechanical gears, a long black metal case slowly rose and stopped before them.

Hiss.

The pressure valve released, and the lid opened on its own.

Inside lay two neatly folded sets of clothing and a rugged black watch.

"You already have the Black Gold blade, so I will not apply for another melee weapon for you."

Kaia pointed at the contents of the case.

"This is the standard kit for new recruits. It is also the foundation you will rely on in Antares Command."

She picked up the black casual outfit on the left.

It looked ordinary at first glance. On the left chest, a broken sword had been embroidered in dark red thread.

The emblem of Antares Command.

"This is your daily uniform. The plain clothes we wear on ordinary missions. Vega Forge wove it from the silk of a Rank Three Voidbeast called the Shadow Spider, mixed with polymer ballistic material."

Kaia explained.

Joren reached out and touched it.

Cool.

Almost weightless.

If this thing was sold outside, it could probably be exchanged for an apartment in the city center.

"What about this one?"

Joren’s gaze moved to the set on the right.

It was a black combat suit with a strong sci fi design. Hard lines, lightweight composite armor over the joints, and clear mechanical exoskeleton ports on the back and legs.

Just looking at it made the blood run hot.

A trace of pride entered Kaia’s voice.

"Black Armor Type Two individual combat suit. One of Vega Forge’s mass production masterpieces."

"It has three times the physical defense of the daily uniform and can withstand a direct bite from a Rank Two Voidbeast."

"More importantly, it is modular."

Kaia pointed at several metal slots on the back and waist of the suit.

"See these ports?"

"Right now, it is only a blank frame."

"But once you have enough military merit, you can exchange for all kinds of functional modules from Vega Forge and mount them on it."

Joren’s interest rose.

"For example?"

"For example, the [Kinetic Assist Module]. It can instantly boost your explosive power by thirty percent, letting you jump higher and run faster."

Kaia listed them off with ease.

"Or the [Chameleon Camouflage Module]. It can adjust the surface color according to the environment and block infrared thermal imaging."

"There is also the [Life Support Emergency Module]. Once it detects cardiac arrest or severe blood loss, it automatically injects adrenaline and hemostatic gel, dragging you back from death by force."

"[Anti Toxin Module] and plenty more. If you can imagine it, Vega Forge has probably built something worse."

"Besides that, its defense can also be upgraded, though that requires military merit."

Joren’s eyes brightened as he listened.

It was only a low spec version right now, but the growth potential was huge.

"Of course, every one of those modules is painfully expensive."

Kaia poured cold water on him at just the right time.

"The most basic kinetic module costs five hundred military merit. Converted into money, that is roughly five million."

The corner of Joren’s mouth twitched.

Holy shit.

"All right, try the clothes later."

Kaia picked up the last item in the case, the rugged black watch, and threw it to Joren.

"Put this on."

Joren caught the watch.

Click.

The moment it locked around his wrist, the dial lit up by itself.

A pale blue light screen projected into the air.

[Identity verification passed]

[Antares Command Private: Joren]

[Serial number: J 1047]

[Current status: Healthy]

"This is a tactical terminal. We usually call it a dog tag."

Kaia spoke with a half joking tone.

"It has many functions. The most basic are communication and positioning. In the wilderness, where there is no normal signal, this is your only tool for contacting teammates."

"Second, it has a built in vital sign monitoring system."

"If you die, the watch will immediately send your death coordinates and the last recording back to headquarters."

Joren played with the watch, sliding his finger across the virtual screen.

The interface was simple.

Only [Missions], [Map], [Communications], and [Store].

"Most importantly, it is proof of your military merit."

Kaia pointed at Joren’s wrist.

"From now on, whenever you kill Voidbeasts on the battlefield or complete a mission, this watch records the entire process automatically."

"Its built in chip can accurately determine a target’s level through psionic fluctuations and biological signatures."

"You do not have to cut off ears or dig out cores to prove your record. Everything is automated."

"H approved you just now because he pulled the recording from my watch."

Joren understood at once.

That function was incredibly convenient.

No need to dig through mountains of corpses for proof.

Kill and leave.

It suited his current style perfectly.

"Anything else you do not understand?"

Kaia leaned against the counter with her arms crossed.

Joren shook his head. He packed the combat suit back into the case and lifted it with one hand.

"Clear enough."

"Let us go. The important part is next."

The moment Joren heard that, he knew what Kaia meant.

The method to break through to Awakened Warrior.

[Solar Crucible Method].