2025-01-11 20:57:56Adam’s heart beat faster as the system's warning echoed in his mind. The danger was real. He couldn’t afford to be caught, not after what he’d discovered, and certainly not before he could fully understand the power of the Primordial Beast System.
With newfound agility, he bolted down the dimly lit corridor, his footsteps echoing off the rusted walls of the abandoned quadrant. His body moved with an ease he had never experienced before, each stride longer, each breath deeper.
He glanced over his shoulder, already hearing the faint hum of engines. The Arc Guards were closing in.
Adam has been exploring the abandoned quadrant since he was twelve, he had no friends in school, another effect of being an outcast. He spent most of his time exploring the quadrant, endlessly satisfying his curiosity.
He knows the quadrant map off the top of his head. He spent many years venturing into the restricted area to avoid Bryan and other bullies who targeted him simply because he was an outcast-class human. The escape route he had in mind was complex, a tangled maze of forgotten paths and collapsed corridors.
With a sudden turn, he veered left into a cramped passage barely wide enough for his frame.
He blended into the shadows. His mind raced, calculating every turn, every step. He needed to reach a populated sector, somewhere the guards wouldn’t be able to distinguish him from the normal people going about their business.
The sound of boots on metal grew louder. A flash of light swept through the corridor behind him as a search drone hovered past, its mechanical eye scanning the area. Arc guards dropped from the transporter at different locations spread across the quadrant.
Adam pressed himself against the wall, holding his breath to avoid detection by the drone. Even the slightest movement could be detected.
The drone paused, its lens flickering as if sensing something, then it moved on.
Adam exhaled softly and continued, his pace quick but silent. The route led him through a decrepit storage facility filled with broken machinery and crates covered in thick layers of dust. He could hear the guards’ voices now, barking orders.
“Secure the perimeter! Search everywhere!” one shouted.
“Check the storage area!” a female voice commanded through a speaker.
Adam crouched behind a stack of crates, his mind racing. He couldn’t outrun them forever, not with their advanced tracking equipment. He needed a distraction.
His eyes scanned the room, landing on a rusted control panel.
With a soft glow from his eyes, unknown to Adam, the system activated the computer.
The control panel lit up, sparks flying as a nearby power cell came on. Within seconds, a small explosion erupted, shaking the facility. Smoke and fire engulfed one side of the room, and alarms blared throughout the quadrant.
"Intruder spotted!" a guard yelled, his voice cutting through the chaos.
Adam seized the moment, slipping through a side door while the guards were distracted by the fire. He sprinted down another corridor, his legs carrying him faster than he thought possible.
But the guards were relentless trained soldiers. The sound of their heavy boots and the whir of drones drew closer. Adam’s escape route was nearing its end, a dead end loomed ahead.
“No!” he muttered, panic rising. He realized that he had made a wrong turn, but it wasn’t all bad.
He noticed a ventilation shaft just above him.
With a leap that defied logic, Adam grabbed the edge of the shaft and pulled himself up. His slightly enhanced strength made the manoeuvre effortless. Crawling through the narrow duct, he moved as quickly as he could, the metal creaking under his weight.
The sounds of pursuit grew fainter, but Adam knew he wasn’t safe yet.
As he navigated the twisting ventilation system, his lack of stamina started to catch up with him, his body started to feel heavier and his legs and arms were already tingling from fatigue.
"Not now," Adam hissed. He couldn’t stop, not when getting captured meant imprisonment, or worse.
Finally, the duct led to an open area overlooking a maintenance bay. He peered through, ensuring the coast was clear, then dropped down. The bay was quiet, filled with old tools and scraps of metal.
He spotted a service tunnel that led toward the populated sectors of Arc Inferna. Relief flooded him. If he could reach the crowd, he might blend in and lose his pursuers.
But as he took his first step toward the tunnel, a figure emerged from the shadows, a soldier in silver armor holding a plasma rifle aimed directly at Adam.
“Don’t move,” the soldier ordered, his voice cold and mechanical through his helmet.
Adam froze, his mind racing. He was unarmed, outmatched. The soldier stepped closer, his finger hovering over the trigger. “Surrender now, and you might live smuggler.” He barked at Adam.
For the first time in Adam’s life, his instincts took over. Within a second, he had pulled a piece of handkerchief from his pocket and tied it around his nose, covering the lower parts of his face to hide his identity. It would be game over for him if he his identity was exposed.
Instantaneously, he dove to the side just as the rifle fired, a bolt of plasma scorching the floor where he had stood.
Without thinking too much, Adam grabbed a metal rod from a nearby workbench and swung it at the soldier.
The rod connected with the soldier’s helmet, staggering him. Adam didn’t stop. He jabbed the rod into the soldier’s midsection. Although blocked by the armor he was wearing, the blunt force was enough to make him drop the rifle and fall to his knee.
Adam picked up the plasma rifle, its weight unfamiliar but manageable. Turning, he sprinted into the service tunnel, his heart beating fast and adrenaline flooding his system.
Behind him, the soldier groaned, reaching for his communicator.
“Commander Thena, the target is armed and heading for Sector 9.” The soldier shouted.
The tunnel seemed endless, its walls vibrating with the hum of the arc’s engines. Adam’s mind raced with possibilities. He couldn’t rely on luck alone.
The tunnel ended at a maintenance hatch. Adam forced it open, emerging into a bustling market square filled with merchants and civilians.
He dropped the plasma gun and removed his face covering, slipping through the crowd and blending in.
Above, search drones zipped through the air, their scanners sweeping the area. Adam kept his head low, weaving through the crowd toward the residential sector.
He had to be home before the night curfew went into effect.
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Primordial Beast System EPISODE 5: Military Enlistment
When Adam arrived home, Eve had already made dinner, she had arranged the food on the small dining table they had by the side of the bed, but had not been able to eat without her brother.When she learned that Arc guards were patrolling the abandoned quadrant with drones and a transporter, she became worried. She saw him fleeing from the gang of bullies that had been tormenting him every day.When she looked at him, she noticed that, as usual, his uniform was dirty, but there were no bruises on his body, which relieved her of her worries. Although she was safe from harsh treatment and bullying in school, due to her immense potential even as an outcast, she didn’t know what she would do if her twin brother were to get seriously injured.Adam went straight into the shower. After he cleaned up, he dressed and sat by the small dining table.Eve could not take her eyes off him. Everything about him had changed. His gaze, the air around him, and even his body posture. Adam usually had a slu
Primordial Beast System EPISODE 6: Evaluation.
The recruits were soon divided into groups and assigned quarters. Adam and Eve were separated, each placed in different dormitories based on gender. Adam found himself in a small, stark room shared with three other recruits, all Ascendant-class. Their disdain for him was evident, but Adam paid them no mind. He was used to the hostility. The first day of preparation involved physical assessments. The recruits were marched to an open field as soon as they finish taking their bags to their rooms after inspection of their luggage contents. On the field, there were obstacle courses which had been set up. Adam observed the Ascendants breeze through the challenges with practiced ease, while the Outcasts struggled to keep up. His turn came, and he moved with surprising agility, a result of the system’s subtle enhancements. Though he didn’t outperform the Ascendants, he completed the course with a quiet determination that earned a few curious glances. The physical fitness tests continued t
Primordial Beast System EPISODE 7: Survival Simulation
About a day ago, during the combat evaluation, Marcus, one of the Ascendants from Adam’s class had lost a fight against Adam, an Outcast.Later that night during dinner, Bryan and his lackeys had gone out of their way to make Marcus the laughing stock of their class. Bryan had bragged of how he used to beat Adam to the brink of death, how any ascendant in their class could beat a miserable outcast like Adam.Marcus was greatly humiliated, and Bryan used this opportunity to convince him that the only way to regain his dignity as an Ascendant was to get rid of Adam during the simulation test.Once commander Darius asked the students to team up, he figured that if he joined the same team as Adam, he could attack him during the exercise and report it as an accident.Marcus’s cold gaze locked onto Adam as he approached their group, his lips curling into a smirk. Eve’s expression darkened when she saw him, but she held her tongue. The golden-haired boy with green eyes, Alec, shifted uncomfo
Primordial Beast System EPISODE 8: Survival Simulation 2
Adam now had enough motivation, and his hesitation vanished and a serious expression appeared on his face.The mantis let out a loud shriek and charged again. It targeted Eve and swung hard.Alec used his shield to block the attack. The sound of the mantis' arm hitting the shield gave out a large bang, setting off sparks and sending Alec crashing backwards.While keeping Marcus at bay, Adam had analyzed the mantis. Its exoskeleton was tougher than the weapons they were using and it was relatively fast, especially when it is attacking.With the aid of the system, Adam had identified the mantis’ weakness.“Draw its attention Alec, I want to try something.” He shouted.Eve drew her bow, aiming at the eye of the mantis, she shot an arrow.Before the arrow could pierce its eyes, the two large arms moved with incredible speed, catching the arrow mid-air.Adam had observed that the mantis's strength lies in its tough outer shell and how incredibly fast it can attack with its large front grap
Primordial Beast System EPISODE 9: Arc Aegis.
The results were in. The list of students who qualified to board the shuttle to Arc Aegis was posted on the massive digital display in the main hall of the preparation base. Those who do not qualify must undergo an additional one year of training on Arc Inferna’s military base before they will be sent to Arc Aegis. This extends their mandatory military enlistment to 3 years.Among the hundreds of names posted were two that defied all expectations: Adam Reed and Eve Reed, the Outcast twins.The announcement caused quite a stir. Adam had placed in the top 30, his name shining brightly alongside the top Ascendants.Eve followed closely in the top 50, a remarkable achievement that cemented her position as an anomaly among the Outcasts. Murmurs rippled through the crowd, ranging from disbelief to grudging admiration.“An Outcast in the top 30? That has to be a mistake.” One of the boys whispered.“No mistake,” another replied. “I saw him during the simulation. He’s...different.”“I get tha
Primordial Beast System EPISODE 10: The Will to Rise
Later that day, all of the students arriving from the rest of the Arcs were put through the same process. Divided into groups and assigned dormitory rooms.In the evening, the cafeteria at Arc Aegis buzzed with the chatter of recruits enjoying a brief respite from their grueling schedules. Adam sat alone near a corner table, quietly eating his rations. The room, though vast, felt stifling as groups of Ascendants dominated the space with their loud conversations and infectious laughter.Across the room, a small figure shuffled through the crowd, a timid Outcast recruit named Liam from Arc Erudinia, the Arc with the Largest number of scholars. The boy's worn uniform and nervous demeanor set him apart immediately. Liam clutched his tray tightly, trying to find an empty seat when a foot shot out in front of him.The tray clattered to the ground, food scattering everywhere. The Ascendant responsible, a tall boy named Jaxon, grinned maliciously as his lackeys laughed."Careful there, Outcas
Primordial Beast System EPISODE 11: Awakening.
The next morning, the students gathered in Section 14 of the base which was divided into 25 colossal sections, each with a specific purpose.Section 14 was a colossal chamber with walls covered in intricate engravings that glowed faintly, pulsating with energy from the Nytherite-powered coolers. Inside, the air was cold and the atmosphere was buzzing with anticipation and nervous chatter.Rows of seats surrounded a central platform where seven large sets of 10 transparent awakening pods were arranged.The students from the various Arcs were gathered in different sections of the chamber in accordance with their class, with Pures in the front, the Ascendants in the middle, and the Outcasts at the back.Adam stood among the recruits, his heart beating loudly in his chest from excitement. The moment had arrived, the defining step in his journey.Around him, the Ascendants exuded confidence, looking forward to their awakening, while the Outcasts whispered in hushed tones, their fear and ho
Primordial Beast System EPISODE 12: Awakening 2.
Eve nodded, her calm exterior unbroken, but Adam saw the faint smile tugging at her lips. She had done it, she has broken through the limitations imposed on them.As Eve joins the group on the other segment of the chamber, Adam notices Marcus glaring at her, his jealousy barely concealed. Adam knew immediately that they would face more challenges, but for now, they are taking a significant step forward.Adam’s name came after a few others. He stepped forward, his strides steady, his gaze fixed ahead. He felt the weight of countless eyes, some filled with disdain, others with curiosity.He proceeded inside the awakening pod and sat as instructed. The robotic arm inside the pod injected him with the vial of the awakening serum on his arm. The serum flowed into his veins like liquid fire. His vision blurred, and his body felt as though it were being pulled apart and rebuilt simultaneously.His pod began vibrating and shaking rigorously, pulsing white light before becoming engulfed in a b
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EPISODE 20: Reality Check 2.
After class, recruits splilled into the corridors, talking amongst themselves. Adam walked beside Eve and Alec, his thoughts still tangled in the weight of the lesson.Then, a voice called from behind.“Reed!”Adam stopped. He knew that voice.Turning, he found himself face-to-face with Alden Vaelis, one of the highest-ranked Pures in their regiment.Tall, with short silver hair and piercing blue eyes, Alden carried himself with effortless arrogance. He wasn’t just any Pure, he was a prodigy. An S-ranked cadet, rumored to be one of the strongest in their generation. Everyone knew him.He gave a speech on behalf of the cadets that was broadcasted over the seven Arcs. Of course, Adam knew him.“But how did he know me?” Adam wondered.Alden looked at Adam as if he were an anomaly, something that shouldn’t exist.“I’ve been hearing some interesting things about you,” he said, folding his arms.Adam didn’t blink. “Oh yeah? Like what?”Alden’s lips curled into a smirk. “That an Outcast thin
EPISODE 19: Reality Check
Adam thought about the question for a moment before shaking his head.With a big smile on his face, he reached his hand patted Eve on the head.“You don’t need to worry about making the decision right now. You have a whole year to prepare for the possibility, why rush it now?”Eve had calmed down even more, what Adam just did was what others call family tradition, a love language or unique way of expressing love. Since they were children, way before Eve was announced to have double awakening potential, she was the silly cry-baby among the two of them.Outcasts, even as children, do not have the sympathy of society. As orphans, their guardianship in the hand of the Kennedy family extends only to their essential survival needs. An apartment, food, that was all.Growing on their own, Adam and Eve were alone even as children. Whenever Eve was bullied or get scared, Adam would pat her head gently and calm her down.She smiled back at him.“You are right. I should focus on building my stren
EPISODE 18: Test of Pottential 2.
Adam felt the weight of her words, remaining silent to thing about it properly.Astra lifted a hand, and suddenly, the thin strands around her fingers extended like whips. They lashed forward, stopping just before touching Adam’s skin."These are my strings," she explained. "I can weave them into anything I can imagine, cutting, binding, reinforcing, even reinforcing my armor. They are an extension of my will."Then, with a flick of her wrist, the strings lashed toward Adam. Instinctively, he summoned his Primordial Light, and a golden barrier flared to life around him. The strings struck the light, it didn't penetrate at first, but suddenly, the barriers broke."Good," Astra said, nodding. "You are fast with your reaction time, now, let’s see if you can shape it."Adam clenched his fists, focusing on his energy. The light around him pulsed and changed, forming a sturdy structure around him. It was like a glowing exoskeleton, an armor of pure energy.Astra’s eyes gleamed with approval
EPISODE 17: The Test of Potential
After arriving at their respective dormitories, Adam and Eve were informed of the plan that Astra had for them the next morning. Adam was a little unsure of the idea of meeting a Pure in her personal training room, he was afraid that she may harbour ill intent towards them.But there was nothing he could do about that, they were military cadets now and she was a class instructor, her commands and orders were absolute.After he had eaten his dinner, Adam sat in the dormitory, staring at the holographic interface of his system visible only to himself.Ever since his awakening, the Primordial Beast System had been an enigma, offering him power but withholding its secrets. Today, however, a new notification appeared in front of him during the combat practice, a mission reward that was unknown.He opened the windows he had dismissed earlier to see what message they have.Congratulations! You have unlocked the passive skill: Inspection Eye.Ability type: Passive.This ability allows the use
EPISODE 16: Team Battle
A special reward? Adam wondered. The system had never used such terminology before. It always stated what the rewards of the missions it gave him were, so what exactly counts as a special reward.But Adam had no time to figure out what the special reward was.As soon as Darius gave the order, the team battle erupted instantly.Jaxon’s group moved aggressively towards Adam’s group, charging forward with overwhelming force. Adam barely had time to react before Jaxon was on him, swinging a heavy metal baton straight for his ribs.Adam instinctively raised his Primordial Light sword. It shimmered brightly as it met Jaxon’s attack. For a moment, it held firm, but the sheer force of the strike caused cracks to form along the glowing blade.Weapon Integrity: 70%. The system interface displayed in a translucent window that only Adam could see.Adam gritted his teeth in shock, countering with a quick slash aimed at Jaxon’s shoulder. Jaxon saw the attack and twisted out of the way, his speed un
EPISODE 15: Combat Training begins.
The next day day arrived, the morning sun shone brightly over Arc Aegis, casting a golden glow over the expansive training grounds where recruits stood in formation, anticipation was heavy in the air.Today was another important day for their combat and ability training. It was their introduction to utilising their abilities in combat, two classes in one go just like Commander Astra had informed them the day before.When they arrived at the hall, a large projection screen was put on the wall with a breakdown of 20 groups, each with 5 members.Adam adjusted the collar of his standard-issue military uniform, glancing at the faces around him, looking for his group members. Class 7 stood in orderly rows, awaiting instruction.His sister, Eve, was nearby, her icy blue eyes scanning the field with a quiet determination. Beside her was Alec standing, a broad-shouldered Ascendant with golden hair carrying a massive shield strapped to his back.Just like Marcus, Alec had awoken a unique body s
EPISODE 14: Class Assignment
Class Seven assembled in a specialized training hall, its walls lined with holographic panels depicting combat scenarios. Commander Darius strode in, his presence commanding immediate silence. Behind him were two women, each of them was a silver-grade commander, with the same three silver stars on their shoulders.“Welcome to class seven,” he began, his tone both stern and encouraging.“You are here because of a randomized computer matching. You all have good potential to become strong. But potential means nothing without effort. Your training here in Aegis consists of three different fields. Combat, history and Ability. Each class is assigned three Commanders as their teachers. As many of you already know, my name is Darius Kane and for the next two years, I will be your class combat instructor. Your combat classes are held three times a week.” He said, stepping backwards.One of the women stepped forward to the podium. She was a young woman, her golden hair was an indicator of her c
EPISODE 13: The Journey Begins
Adam stood in the testing chamber, his eyes glowing faintly golden, his thoughts racing. The new sensation coursing through his body was like nothing he’d ever felt before. He could hear the quiet hum of vast energy pulsing just beneath his skin.The recruits were led to a sprawling simulated outdoor training field on the other section of the awakening chamber, right after the awakening session has completed.The atmosphere buzzing with a mix of excitement and tension. The field was a massive expanse of reinforced earth and artificial grass, ringed by towering holographic panels that displayed ongoing activities and records of legendary soldiers who have passed through the same process.Commander Darius stood before them, with his sharp gaze scanning the group.“Today, you will begin to familiarize yourselves with your newfound abilities. Over time, you will learn to control your awakened powers. This is critical. Untrained abilities are a liability, not an asset. You have the rest of
EPISODE 12: Awakening 2.
Eve nodded, her calm exterior unbroken, but Adam saw the faint smile tugging at her lips. She had done it, she has broken through the limitations imposed on them.As Eve joins the group on the other segment of the chamber, Adam notices Marcus glaring at her, his jealousy barely concealed. Adam knew immediately that they would face more challenges, but for now, they are taking a significant step forward.Adam’s name came after a few others. He stepped forward, his strides steady, his gaze fixed ahead. He felt the weight of countless eyes, some filled with disdain, others with curiosity.He proceeded inside the awakening pod and sat as instructed. The robotic arm inside the pod injected him with the vial of the awakening serum on his arm. The serum flowed into his veins like liquid fire. His vision blurred, and his body felt as though it were being pulled apart and rebuilt simultaneously.His pod began vibrating and shaking rigorously, pulsing white light before becoming engulfed in a b
