Bloodstar System: Infinite Evolution Through Beast Slaughter

Chapter 33: Beast Tide Incoming!

The building plaza had become a sea of steel.

Countless troop carriers and armored vehicles were rapidly forming ranks. Members of Antares Command in black combat suits surged out from every building like a black tide, all gathering toward the plaza.

Footsteps landed in perfect unison.

That sharp killing air.

This was Antares Command.

The sharpest blade of the Aurelian Dominion.

Joren had just rushed out of the building when he saw three familiar figures already prepared beside a heavy off road vehicle.

Kaia wore the standard battle armor of Antares Command. It fit close to her body, outlining curves that could stop the eye, yet no one here dared to stare.

A long blade rested on her back. Her hair was tied into a high ponytail, and her face was cold as frost.

Jazz held an enormous tower shield in one hand, every muscle in his body drawn tight, like a violent bear ready to tear something apart.

Even Alar, who usually looked careless and unserious, had put away his grin. He quietly wiped the longbow in his hands.

"Kaia!"

Joren ran over quickly.

Kaia glanced back at him and spoke at a rapid pace.

"This Beast Tide is large. According to intelligence from The Frontier, at least ten Rank Four lord class Voidbeasts are leading it, with dozens of Rank Three Voidbeasts and too many Rank One and Rank Two cannon fodder to count."

"There may even be higher level Voidbeasts hidden in the dark."

"We are going to reinforce the northern defense line. That is the hardest hit area."

"But you cannot go this time."

After saying that, she pulled open the vehicle door and was about to get in.

Joren had just tried to follow when a large hand pressed down on his shoulder.

Jazz.

The big man shook his head, his voice low.

"You cannot go."

Joren paused.

"I am a member of Antares Command."

Kaia turned around.

Her eyes fixed on Joren, and her tone left no room for argument.

"You have not passed the assessment."

"A battlefield of that level is not something you can touch yet. Even if you are a Psionic Master, even if your Talent is excellent, going there now is just dying."

Alar stepped closer too, rarely serious as he patted Joren on the shoulder.

"Take the days while we are gone and train properly. Build your foundation."

Kaia said nothing more.

Boom!

The engine roared.

The heavy off road vehicle charged out like a steel beast, throwing up dust as it merged into the rolling convoy and raced north toward the smoke of war.

Joren stood where he was, watching the convoy disappear.

For a moment, he was blank.

They left him behind?

The corner of Joren’s mouth slowly curved into something strange.

"Dying?"

"No..."

"That is a giant gift pack of experience."

How many Bloodstars would that be?

Just thinking of all those walking points being harvested by others made Joren feel as if his heart was bleeding.

Stay in the rear and cultivate?

What kind of joke was that?

How could it be faster than killing monsters to level up?

Joren glanced around.

The logistics staff were all busy moving crates. No one was paying attention to him.

He lowered the brim of his cap and turned toward another exit of the parking lot.

Several spare single rider motorcycles were parked there.

As long as he slipped out, with his Mental Force detection, he could avoid the main force entirely and cut into the battlefield from the flank.

Strike once, move on.

Develop quietly.

Kill monsters in secret.

Perfect.

The more he thought about it, the more excited he became, and his pace picked up without him noticing.

Then a voice suddenly sounded behind him.

"Kid, where do you think you are going?"

Joren slowly turned around.

In the shadow of a pillar stood a middle aged man in an old camouflage vest, reeking of alcohol, a liquor barrel still hanging from his hand.

Beneath his messy hair, those cloudy eyes watched him with a smile that did not quite reach the face.

"What?"

Corren tipped his head back and drank a mouthful of strong liquor. The burning liquid ran down through his stubble.

He wiped his mouth, then grinned, showing white teeth.

"Kaia has barely left, and you already want to desert?"

"Desert?"

Joren narrowed his eyes.

"I just think that compared with playing some house game of an assessment here, the beasts at The Frontier are more exciting."

As he spoke, he casually adjusted his cuffs.

Corren raised the liquor barrel and poured the last of it into his mouth, then threw the empty barrel onto the ground.

"House game?"

He took one step forward.

A powerful aura burst from that seemingly ruined body in an instant.

Joren did not move.

"Are you done?"

Joren glanced at the time on his watch and frowned slightly.

Corren’s single arm shook.

"Today, I will teach you a lesson for Kaia."

"This lesson is called reverence!"

Clang!

A bright blade light exploded in the dim air without warning.

The blade itself was black, but the edge was dazzling white.

No fancy opening stance.

His whole body shot forward like an arrow from the string, crossing more than ten meters in an instant with a piercing tear through the air.

Unbelievably fast.

This was Corren.

The man who had once slaughtered Voidbeasts on the battlefield until they fled at the sound of his name.

He had retreated to the second line because of wounds. He drank every day.

But a lion was still a lion, even asleep.

"Raaah!"

Corren roared.

Using the broad back of his blade, he smashed toward Joren’s back.

He wanted to teach Joren a lesson, not kill him.

But this strike was driven by anger. Even a Rank Two Warrior hit by it would have tendons torn and bones broken, then lie in bed for ten days to half a month.

He wanted to break a few of this kid’s bones.

Let him understand that there was always someone stronger.

Let him learn that the battlefield was not a playground, and a bit of Talent was not enough to run wild.

Yet Joren, who had his back to him, moved as if he had eyes behind his head.

His foot shifted.

His figure slid half a step to the left like a ghost.

Only half a step.

Perfect to the hair.

The heavy back of the blade brushed past the edge of Joren’s clothes and smashed into empty air, bursting out with a sound that made the teeth ache.

"Mm?"

Corren’s pupil shrank.

He had not used his full strength just now, but that strike was absolutely not something a rookie who had only awakened a few days ago should be able to dodge.

The instinct of a veteran told Corren what that had been.

Extreme danger perception.

And...

Physical reaction speed carved into the body.

"Interesting. No wonder you dare act this wild. Your legs are quick."

"But running alone is useless."

Boom!

Corren’s aura rose again.

Peak Rank Two.

The muscles on his only arm swelled at once, veins coiling like dragons. His camouflage vest looked ready to burst.

"Take another slash from me!"

Blade light split in an instant.

One slash became three shadows.

All of Joren’s retreat routes were sealed.

This move was called Severed Current.

One of Corren’s famous techniques.

He was still using the back of the blade, but both speed and power had doubled compared with the previous strike.

Even another Rank Two Awakened Warrior would have to avoid its edge.

This was suppression through raw strength.

Corren believed that once this slash landed, the kid would drop to the ground like a dead dog and beg.

Yet Joren did not retreat.

Instead, he slowly turned around.

That infuriatingly calm look remained on his face.

"Peak Rank Two..."

Perfect.

He had just raised [Solar Crucible Method] to Greater Mortal and maxed out [Antares Bladecraft].

He had been worrying that he had no one to test them on.

Since this old man was so eager, he could serve as the trial blade.

"Just what I needed!"