Bloodstar System: Infinite Evolution Through Beast Slaughter

Chapter 52: Heavenly Aegis Body Art, Peak Rank Three!

Word of Joren’s exploits had clearly reached the cafeteria.

The moment the head cook saw him, he looked ready to empty the entire reserve of premium Voidbeast meat onto the table.

The late night meal Alar had promised did not disappoint.

Everyone ate well, drank well, and left in high spirits.

After seeing off Alar and Jazz, both slightly drunk and still boasting at full volume, Joren returned to his quarters alone.

Card scanned.

Door open.

Soft lights came on throughout the room, illuminating a large bed with perfectly arranged sheets.

It looked dangerously inviting.

Joren went straight into the bathroom.

[Undying Body] could repair almost any physical damage, but mental exhaustion was another matter.

Steam filled the room.

Warm currents rolled through the oversized whirlpool tub, working into the knotted muscles across his back.

Joren closed his eyes and sank beneath the surface until only his nose and mouth remained above water.

The tension that had held his mind taut all day finally began to loosen.

It had been a very long day.

Half an hour later, he stepped out in a loose white robe, water still dripping from the ends of his hair.

He took an ice cold cola from the refrigerator.

Hiss.

The tab snapped open, releasing a rush of bubbles.

Joren tilted the can back and drank deeply. The cold ran down his throat and sent a sharp shiver through him.

Perfect.

He dropped onto the expensive bed, which gave beneath him just enough to support every part of his body.

Then he raised his left wrist and activated the tactical watch.

A screen unfolded in the air.

The number beside his account balance was still there, glowing beautifully.

[203230]

"Before this, I did not even have a method that could take me beyond Rank One."

"And now..."

The corner of his mouth lifted.

His fingers swept across the display and opened the Combat Art Manual section.

Hundreds of entries appeared at once.

Cultivation in this world advanced one step at a time. Every realm needed the right foundation for the next.

Joren scanned the list.

[Swiftwind Current: High grade Rank Three method. Focuses on movement and defense. Once mastered, the body becomes light as a swallow and protective force flows in dense strands. Price: 15000 Military Merit.]

[Blazing Inferno: High grade Rank Three fire method. Produces explosive force with a burning effect. Price: 18000 Military Merit.]

[Truefreeze Art: Top grade Rank Three method...]

He scrolled straight to the most expensive section.

Now that he had money, there was no reason to settle.

Before long, one name caught his eye.

[Heavenly Aegis Body Art]

[Grade: Rank Three]

[Introduction: Supreme hardness and overwhelming force. Peerless in direct confrontation.]

[Property One: Absolute Defense. The density of its protective force is three times greater than that of methods at the same rank. Once activated, the user can withstand direct bombardment from heavy caliber weapons.]

[Property Two: Force Manifestation. Protective force may be condensed around a weapon, increasing both attack range and damage up to fifty meters.]

[Price: 30000 Military Merit.]

Thirty thousand.

Most members of Antares Command could work for ten years and still fail to earn that much.

"This one."

Even the name sounded hard to break.

Combined with [Undying Body] and [Primal Might], it was practically designed to turn him into a human tank.

If he faced the Titan Ape again, Joren was confident he could stand still and let it swing until its hands went numb.

[Payment successful.]

[You have purchased the complete Heavenly Aegis Body Art. Begin transmission?]

"Begin."

Buzz.

A blue beam projected from the tactical watch and wove itself into a small holographic figure in front of him.

The figure sat with its legs crossed.

Red light spread through the meridians inside its body, demonstrating the circulation path of Vital Force.

This was the highest level of direct instruction available.

At the same time, a deep voice began explaining every stage of the method.

Joren closed his eyes and focused his Mental Force.

About ten minutes later, the projection faded.

When he opened his eyes again, an immense and complex stream of knowledge had settled into his mind.

[Ding!]

[Detected Host studying Heavenly Aegis Body Art. Method recorded.]

Joren summoned the system panel.

A new line had appeared at the bottom of the Combat Arts section.

[Combat Art: Heavenly Aegis Body Art, 0/10000, Not Initiated]

"Ten thousand?"

Joren clicked his tongue.

Bringing the Rank Two [Helios Furnace Scriptur] to Mortal Perfection had only required two thousand.

This top grade Rank Three method demanded ten thousand just to complete.

The higher his realm climbed, the larger the system’s appetite became.

Still...

His gaze settled on the shining number beside his Bloodstars.

[34160]

Any problem that could be solved with currency was not a real problem.

"System. Add points."

Joren drew a deep breath and sat upright with his legs crossed.

His gaze sharpened.

"Max out Heavenly Aegis Body Art."

[Ding! Consumed 10000 Bloodstars.]

[Heavenly Aegis Body Art raised to Mortal Perfection.]

Boom!

The river of Vital Force surging through his body changed.

It compressed.

Condensed.

Then transformed into a faint golden current.

Protective force.

It moved through his limbs with the weight of liquid metal. Wherever it passed, his meridians widened and his bones became clearer, harder, almost crystalline.

Even his organs were covered by a thin golden membrane.

Joren’s eyes snapped open.

Two beams of golden light shot from his pupils, cutting bright paths through the dim room.

"So this is Rank Three."

He raised one hand.

A thought passed through his mind.

Buzz.

A pale golden barrier appeared over his skin, only half an inch thick.

It looked fragile.

Joren could feel the explosive power packed inside it.

He picked up an empty can from the table.

His fingers never touched the metal.

The protective force trembled once.

Bang!

The aluminum can disintegrated into powder.

Nothing remained.

And that had only been passive defense.

If he attacked with it...

[Ding!]

[Congratulations. Host’s Combat Art has broken through.]

[Current realm updated: peak Rank Three.]

Power flooded every part of him.

The leap from peak Rank Two to peak Rank Three was not simply an increase in quantity.

His Vital Force had undergone a complete transformation.

Only now had he truly stepped across the threshold of the powerful.

If he met those three beast kings again, he could at least stand before them and trade a few blows.

He might not win.

But he could escape.

And this time, a roar alone would not shake his Vital Force out of control.

[Ding!]

[Detected Host has advanced to Rank Three.]

[Host may now consume Bloodstars to evolve existing blue Talents into purple Talents.]