CHAPTER 37: BEAST CORES: THE IMPENDING HUNTING TRIP

Eric never liked asking questions, but he still had a lot of unanswered questions that had been begging for release.

The most recent one was how the system worked for everybody else in this world. Stanley had sent him an invite for a duel using his system, and Eric was able to reply to it even though the Mana Reaver System clearly stated that his system was totally different from the others. Was his system able to change its rules to communicate with them now?

He didn’t have a rank like the others; he had a very creepy way of leveling up. He was even resistant to S-ranked mages inspecting his system.

From the look of things, the system served as a way to communicate with others in this world as well as view one’s stats and level up. But that was all the information he had. Surely that’s not all there is to it.

[The system has successfully formed a clone similar to the new world’s system immediately you transmigrated.]

[The clone is beneficial in not raising attention to you in the case of compulsory inspection from a powerful and suppressing order, like the academy’s.]

[For the clone, your Mana Bank gauge has been erased, because you are not meant to be a mage.]

[Your skills has also been deleted from the screen. Killer Dash and Mild Invisibility are not an ideal skill for a training swordsman. In other words, you are free from suspicion against the academy’s "Beast Core Infused Inspection System".]

’Beast core infused—what?’

[It’s the system used by the system for the compulsory inspection of every student’s system. It’s the only system that you can deny its inspection, so I had to create a clone system with limited information and reduced stats to throw the inspection off track.]

"Um, should I say thanks?"

[You’re welcome.]

’But why is it powered with...a beast core? I’ve never heard of that.’

Just then, Eric heard the sound of some materials being poured on the table of the room, followed by a squealing cry. It was Gary. He was gushing over a pile of...

"Are those... shiny stones?" Eric blurted.

"C’mon, Eric. Stop the jokes. They are beast cores, and you know what? They are all mine. Geez, look at that!"

Opal rolled her eyes as she sat heavily on her bed. "Stop gushing, Gary. Those are all low-tier cores. They don’t hold much value whether you sell them or use them to forge a weapon," she said.

"Some of them do," retorted Gary as he scooped a few of them up. "From the past hunting trips, I got three from White Centipedes, five from the Mud Stingrays, and eight from Mega Beetles. They might be basic tiers, but they should be above the E-rank. Since they all come from beasts with attacking prowess, I can use them to fortify my precious sword."

"And pay the blacksmith with what, Gary?"

"I’ll pay with more beast cores after the next hunting trip in the next two days."

"A silly business if you ask me."

Eric watched the two as if they were now suddenly speaking in alien tongues. He couldn’t find Silver in the room, else he would have asked him to explain the jargon to him. Silver never judged him whenever he appeared lost at things that were supposed to be common knowledge, and he was always ready to explain them for further understanding.

He was uncomfortable about asking Gary about it because he knew he’d scream and claim everyone in the world knew about "beast cores" or something.

There was only one source of information to turn to, and that was the system. He had to be careful not to talk aloud when communicating with it , because Gary had laughed him to scorn when he caught him doing that. Who speaks to his system anyway? Why talk to something that never replies?

Again, how could he explain that his system actually spoke to him and he could reply back by just thinking?

’Care to tell me about these beast cores?’

[No. They are simply carved out from beasts after they’ve been killed.]

’Really? Beasts don’t have cores like that back at the colony. They are basically wild animals with flesh and all. Nothing else.’

[Well, this is not the Colony. And this is not the same world as the Colony’s. Your former world achieved advanced technology with the help of scientists. This world will get there also, but with the help of beast cores.]

[Almost everything that works automatically or manually in any form of energy is powered by beast cores. Don’t ask me how that’s possible because I’m lacking in information about that too. But just know that you need the cores to build yourself a formidable weapon and get stronger.]

’And why should I build a weapon?’

[You heard Gary talk about beast hunting, right? It’s in two days and it’s part of your schedule as a student of Azuren Heart academy.]

’And what if I refuse to go?’

[Well, I’m not the Archon of the academy. Speak to him about it.]

The door swung open and Silver slid in with a flourish, a glittering sword in his hands. He unsheathed it and flashed it in the face of everyone, making sure it caught the light before reflecting it where he wished.

"I finally got this baby upgraded, thanks to the three C-ranked Intermediate tier cores I got from my dad, and a few basic-tier cores as well," Silver danced fluidly. "With this, I’m set for the next hunting trip."

Eric looked away, knowing there was no way he’d go on the hunting trip without a weapon of his own. Silver was a noble and came to the academy with good gears sponsored by his family. Gary had been gifted an old sword as well, and he was even going to upgrade it with his beast cores. Opal looked relaxed as well. She’s a genius fighter anyway.

’I guess I’m supposed to go stab some monsters with my wooden sword, then splinter it, and be punished for breaking my training gear. To hell with the hunting.’

[Sulking won’t help.]

The screen changed to display a long list of initials and numbers in front of each. Eric saw the name, Bart Riddle at the top of the list with the number one in front of the name. After that, he skipped the rest of the names to check the last name on the list.

Written, bolder than the rest was Eric Abyss with the number, 201 shining and changing colors in front of it.

He scoffed, really not fazed that his name was at the bottom of the list. He’d only just arrived, after all. He knew there must be some benefits to being at a better position, but he wasn’t willing to draw attention to himself.

Out of curiosity, he checked the rank of his roommates and saw Silver on the 21st rank. Gary was 35th, and Opal was 5th—her name even preceded by a star. Eric wondered what the star was for.

[Opal has never lost a duel. Every other person on the list has, at least, lost one.]

’Now I see where she got all that cockiness from.’

He slumped against his bed, and the dull pain from overworking his muscles during the day flared up. He sighed, knowing that he was going to experience the same training the next day.

’I didn’t sign up for this.’