Primordial Beast System

EPISODE 23: Nytherite Weapons.

Adam pressed his back against the cold metal wall of the dormitory corridor, his breath still ragged from the night's escape. His uniform was scuffed, dirt clinging to his boots from the restricted sector he'd barely managed to flee. Even now, as he stood outside the entrance to his shared room, the echoes of Arc Aegis' patrol guards barking orders still rang in his ears.

He'd been on the run for hours, evading detection after being forced into the penalty survival mission. The system had thrust him into a brutal test on the harsh surface of the planet that was dominated by extremely dangerous beasts, a trial where the only outcome was survival or death. And yet, here he was, a survivor.

His fingers trembled as he placed them on the access panel of his dorm room. A soft beep signalled the door unlocking, and as he stepped inside, he exhaled a breath of relief.

The dormitory was silent, his arrogant Ascendant roommates were deep in their slumber.

Adam sighed in relief, dropping onto his bunk with a quiet thud.

His body still felt the lingering effects of the system’s penalty mission. His muscles ached, but he could feel the growth, the change within him. He swiped his hand forward, summoning the translucent blue system window before him.

Name: Adam Reed.

Race: Human.

Level: 5.

Beast Energy: 22 out of 100.

Genetic Purity Classification: Outcast, Progress: 15%.

Class: Locked. Unlocks at Level 25.

Stats:

Strength: 19.

Agility: 16.

Intelligence: 18.

Stamina: 25.

HP: 35 of 35.

Abilities:

Primordial Light. Rank: Unknown.

Skills:

Stealth level 1.

Silent step level 1.

Passive skills:

Inspection Eye, level 1.

His eyes flickered as he scanned the changes. His combat ability had improved significantly. His strength and agility had both increased, meaning he would be much faster and stronger in battle. The most intriguing thing, however, was the new skill he had obtained. Stealth.

Just thinking about the advantages he could gain for 30 seconds of invisibility. This would change his battle tactics and style entirely.

He was now faster. Faster than any normal human should be.

Adam clenched his fists. That’s exactly why I can’t stop.

He slowly closed his eyes, he knew one thing for certain, whatever came next, he would be ready.

The next morning, the recruits were ushered into the main lecture hall for their weekly history class. The room was massive, rows of seats stacked in a curved formation, allowing every student a clear view of the massive holographic screen at the front.

Commander Selene stood at the podium, her sharp gaze sweeping across the recruits.

“Today, we revisit a fundamental truth,” she began, her voice sleek and commanding.

A flicker flashed and the holographic screen lit up with the glowing image of Arc Aegis. A massive megastructure, floating in the vastness of the atmosphere, its seven colossal training bases scattered across its surface like large domes. There were over twenty turrets the size of a storey building lined across the Arc, each pointing in the direction of the planet’s surface.

“This,” Commander Selene continued, pointing to the projection, “is Arc Aegis. As cadets, you are in one of the seven bases spread across this floating fortress.” She added as she points at the seven gigantic domes on the projection.

Murmurs rippled through the class as the screen zoomed in, highlighting each base in a different color.

"Base 1, Titan’s Hold," she announced. "This is the heart of Arc Aegis' elite forces. Only Pures train here, and it is the command center of our military operations."

Because of the small number of Pures whose families choose to pay for the specialized training, the base training sections are smaller than the rest. It mainly serves as a station manned by specialized forces.

Adam tensed. That meant that there was a specialized training for not just pures, but the richest ones even among pures. “Talk about privilege.” He muttered under his breath.

"Base 2—The Iron Bastion," Selene continued. "This base is primarily composed of high-ranking Ascendants, this base specializes in mechanized combat and battlefield strategy. Many of the large Ascendant families get a recommendation of the Grand Marshal to get into that base." She added.

One by one, she listed the bases, each specializing in different forms of combat. Ranged warfare, assassination tactics, even aerial maneuvers. Then, she reached their own.

"Base 7—The General Division."

A wave of silence passed through the hall.

"Unlike the other bases, Base 7 has a mix of all classes—Pures, Ascendants, and Outcasts. It is seen as an experimental base, meant to test unconventional methods of training. Many believe it to be a joke."

Adam clenched his fists. So that was why their base was treated differently. They weren’t meant to be the best—they were meant to be an experiment.

"However," Selene continued, "that perception is about to change." She said as she waved to Commander Darius hidden among the students to take the stage.

Many of them had not even noticed him, he was wearing normal cadet uniform and had sat in a corner that many of the students had not even bothered to check out.

The screen shifted, and a new message appeared.

ANNOUNCEMENT: ARC AEGIS INTER-BASE TOURNAMENT.

The hall erupted in whispers.

Darius walked to the stage and let the murmurs continue for a moment before silencing them with a single glance.

"The tournament will test the strength of each base. Each will select ten cadets to compete in a series of trials. The winners will gain access to classified training and resources. And advance to the next level of the training program ahead of their peers"

Adam’s heart pounded.

"This means that only the best will be chosen to represent Base 7," Darius said. "And the selections have already been made. I have been monitoring each and every one of you since you arrived, as the rules of this base allowed, I was at liberty to select whoever I please as your combat instructor. Whether you are a pure or an outcast, it didn’t matter. My selections are final." He added.

With a single wave of his hand, a list appeared on the screen. Adam’s eyes widened as he saw his name.

Seraphina Kennedy.

Eve Reed.

Bryan Graves.

Alec Rho.

Marcus Vale.

Aria Kelsin.

Jaden Holt.

Alden Cross.

Silvia Moore.

Adam Reed.

A murmur of shock rippled through the crowd.

“Outcasts in the tournament?” someone scoffed.

“The commanders must have lost their minds.”

Adam ignored the voices, his focus on Darius, who continued, “Your performance in the last five weeks determined this selection as I earlier stated. If you disagree, prove yourself in training, because there will be no second chances."

“The Ten of you selected should wait behind, the rest of you are dismissed,” Darius said.

The chosen ten recruits were led into the forbidden area where only the teachers and high-ranking personnel were allowed, the armory.

Adam felt the weight of dozens of stares from the soldiers around them and the rest of the students. They entered a massive underground chamber where racks of glowing Nytherite weapons were stored.