Outpost Base, Nightwalkers' Command Center.
As the automatic doors opened, Ling Feng, who was reviewing a report, looked up and saw his deputy, Lin Yang, a middle-aged man well into his forties, entering with a wry smile.
Ling Feng gently adjusted his glasses and inquired, "Let me guess, that young lad has caused trouble, hasn't he?"
Lin Yang couldn't help but admire his superior's wisdom and replied, "Not exactly trouble, but something that really takes us by surprise."
"Oh," Ling Feng became intrigued, "Can you tell me what he did to make even you, Mr. Lin, surprised? Let me guess, did he go looking for his former squad leader to settle some scores?"
"More accurately, he killed his former squad leader."
Ling Feng raised an eyebrow, taking an interest, "I see. So, he's not just seeking a Nightwalker's identity among the Upper Citizens, but he's setting the stage for revenge."
Lin Yang activated a control interface on the wall, turning it into a temporary projection screen. On the screen, there were images from the bar, and Ling Feng saw the two key figures: Tian Yang and Qin Wu.
After watching the whole scenario, he displayed a rare smile, "Although it's not flawless, it's meticulous enough. So, he wanted to become a Nightwalker and an Upper Citizen to prepare for his revenge."
Lin Yang scratched his head, "He's quite careful in his planning, but his ambition is too limited. He's already an Ascendant, and he's fixated on getting back at a former squad leader. Even if he succeeds, in my eyes, he's still a fool. Because next, he's going to face even bigger, fiercer storms."
"However, he's an Ascendant now, and he was initially manipulated by Qin Wu. If he'd taken the proper procedure, how would others perceive him? If he was manipulated, it might even shake the position of Ascendants in the Fortress. Over the years, there have been many voices questioning whether we should continue investing so much in Ascendants."
Lin Feng grunted, "Those fools who sit in their offices won't understand that higher-level dark subhumans can only be suppressed by Ascendants."
Lin Yang's eyes widened in surprise as he realized that this young Chief of Staff intended to use this incident as a warning, a message to certain individuals. The young lad probably hadn't realized that his actions would become a tool in the upper-level's power games.
Tian Yang, however, was clueless. All he knew was that after leaving the bar, his hands were shaking uncontrollably. The social hierarchy in the Fortress had been ingrained for so long that, at least for people like him, it was unshakable.
But just a moment ago, he had killed an Upper Citizen.
The script had unfolded exactly as he had planned, and now he felt a strange thrill from breaking the rules and boundaries. Simultaneously, he deeply sensed the superiority of the Ascendants.
In the bar, many Upper Citizen officers had been present, and none of them dared to challenge him. This was completely unimaginable in the past.
When he gazed at those many proud Upper Citizens, they all bowed their heads in his presence.
This made him feel a strange sense of dominating the world beneath his feet.
Now, his nerves continued to release signals of tension and excitement, and he couldn't even remember when he had returned to his collector team's dormitory. It took him about 5 minutes to regain his composure. Then, he remembered that his rank information had changed just before he left the bar. When this thought crossed his mind, some information became clear.
Revenge Ascendant Rank
Rank I: Assassin
Rank Abilities: Weakness Sensing, Instantaneous Elimination
Ascendancy Progress: 25%
Next Rank: Eraser
...
Tian Yang quickly grasped the key information.
His Ascendancy progress had suddenly increased by 11 percentage points!
How could this be?
As far as Tian Yang knew, Ascendants needed to increase the concentration of their Star Origin to advance in ranks. As he had recently become an Ascendant, he now knew this process in more detail. The concentration of Star Origin was synonymous with Ascendancy progress.
The primary means of increasing Star Origin concentration was through combat. During battles, Star Origin would be mobilized and consumed, and through cellular regeneration, it would gradually accumulate. The other method was by absorbing the energy from the Star Pillars. However, the Star Pillars were essential resources, and even for every Fortress city, the importance of Ascendants could not lead to the reckless supply of Star Pillars.
From the information provided, it was clear that the concentration of Star Origin should gradually increase and wouldn't experience such a dramatic 11% leap, as Tian Yang had just experienced.
The only explanation was that this sudden increase was related to revenge.
And considering his Ascendant rank, this possibility seemed even more likely. If that was the case, different Ascendant ranks should have their own means of significantly boosting Star Origin concentration.
There were too many secrets surrounding the Ascendants, and even in this era of abundant information, some secrets were never made public. At least, Tian Yang, who had been a Lower Citizen until yesterday, had no access to such information.
Suddenly, the door to his dorm was pushed open, and a strong smell of cheap alcohol flooded in. The aroma of alcohol mixed with the scent of sweat, creating a rather unpleasant atmosphere.
"Why aren't you dead yet!" East Yan's voice rang out. He and another colleague were each holding a bottle, clearly returning from the "Holiday Time" bar, open only to soldiers.
Tian Yang raised his hand casually and asked, "Surprised, are you?"
The two soldiers exchanged glances, and East Yan raised his foot to shut the door.
"Does the captain know you're back?"
The other soldier had a nervous look.
Tian Yang calmly replied, "For something like this, you can go ask him in person."
The other soldier felt embarrassed, and his face showed displeasure.
East Yan was trying to force a smile and said, "Tian Yang, we're all very happy you're back. You know, we had no choice but to leave you behind. You're not going to report us, are you?"
Tian Yang replied with a smile, "What do you think?"
East Yan's smile disappeared immediately, and he said in an unfriendly tone, "Tian Yang, you should know when to let things go. Since you didn't die, can we just let this matter slide?"
"Because I didn't die, it can be disregarded?"
Tian Yang shook his head and corrected, "Precisely, this matter should be known upstairs."
His actions in the bar where he killed Qin Wu had probably already spread, and the higher-ups must be aware of it. However, the Nightwalkers would likely handle the matter, which was why he wanted to join them as soon as he returned. He needed someone to back him up.
East Yan and his colleague's expressions changed, although they were not the masterminds behind this incident, according to the Fortress's rules, they were accomplices.
They might lose their military status or even face imprisonment, which could effectively end their lives.
Realizing this, their eyes showed hostility.
They exchanged glances, then both nodded and walked toward the young man sitting on the bed.
"Newbie, you asked for this."
"I don't mind going to jail, and having an extra crime on my record won't bother me," the other one said.
Tian Yang, of course, knew what they were planning. He warned them, "I advise you to step back now. Trust me, it's for your own good."
"Oh, is it?"
Unfortunately, they paid no heed to Tian Yang's warning.
Just as a violent confrontation seemed imminent, the dormitory door suddenly swung open, and there was a cry from outside.
"What are you trying to do!"