On the street...
A handsome man stood dazed, looking at the flowing crowd with a bewildered expression, appearing somewhat at a loss.
Suddenly.
A synthesized mechanical voice echoed in his mind.
[*Ding!*, The Destiny System is logging in...]
[Main world data loading...]
[Host's identity information being recorded...]
[Recording complete! Please confirm if you want to activate the Destiny System?]
'What's going on!? Wasn't I searching the post-war site? How did I end up in this strange place?'
Feeling a headache, Shiroya rubbed his forehead. He was a mercenary, and his last memory was of an RPG missile exploding.
'Could it be that I've somehow transmigrated?'
Shiroya, worthy of being a top mercenary in his previous life, quickly adjusted his mindset and responded to the system's prompt, "Affirmative..."
'Since I'm here, the first thing I need to do is find a way to survive in this unfamiliar world.'
"Confirm activation."
[The Destiny System is activating...]
[Scanning host information...]
After a few tries, Shiroya figured out how to the navigate the Destiny System. Looking at the holographic screen visible only to him, he fell into deep thought.
< Status >
-Host: Shiroya
-Destiny Points: 0
[Strength: 10.6] [Speed: 10.8]
[Constitution: 10.1] [Spirit: 10.2]
< Talents: None >
< Skills: None >
-Inventory: {Beginner's Gift Pack (yet to be opened)}
"Just a bit more than twice the attributes of an ordinary person? Well, it's barely acceptable I suppose," Shiroya smiled self-deprecatingly.
Guided by the system, Shiroya was able to find that the average attributes for ordinary people in these four categories was 5.
"System, please open the Beginner's Gift Pack."
Without hesitation, Shiroya immediately opened his Inventory and focused his mind on the gift pack.
He had learned from the System that this is the perilous world of 'Black Bullet', a world filled with powerful creatures called Gastrea and mutated humans.
Having just twice the attributes of an ordinary person was far from enough. He must find a way to become stronger.
[*Ding!*, Gift pack opened!]
[Congratulations to the host for obtaining:
1. Active Potion X5 (Stimulates cell activity, rapidly healing the body. Essential for healing!).
2. A legal identity and residence arranged by the system (including language proficiency, etc.).
3. < Talent: Weapon Mastery (you are proficient with any weapon, becoming skilled upon first use) >
4. 100 million startup funds.
5. 100 Destiny Points.]
'Not bad!'
The Talent, potion, and legal identity are all very practical, saving him a lot of trouble. As for the 100 million in funds, he didn't pay much attention to that, as he wasn't lacking when it came to money in his previous life.
As for these 100 Destiny Points however, he must plan their use carefully.
Destiny Points can be used to enhance one's attributes directly, exchange for powerful items and skills in the System Store, or even be used for Gacha draws, betting on the chance of a hundredfold or thousandfold return.
It seems that the key to becoming stronger lies in these so-called Destiny Points. The way to obtain Destiny Points is quite unique; it requires him to complete tasks issued by the system.
Tasks are divided into three levels of difficulty: Red, Orange, and White, from highest to lowest. Only one task of a specific color can be accepted at a time, and it will refresh only after the task is completed.
Shiroya hesitated for a moment but ultimately chose the Red task for his first mission.
This is a broken world after all, a world teeming with powerful Gastrea in the Outer Area and strong Initiators and Promoters within the human settlement. He must become stronger quickly to survive better.
[*Ding!*, You have accepted a Red task
-Task description: In this world, strength is the only pass and is the foundation of one's standing.
But before that, you need a trustworthy partner. Please find your Initiator partner as soon as possible and join any civilian security company within seven days.
-Task reward: 500 Destiny Points.
-Failure penalty: -100 Destiny Points.]
Looking at the task description, Shiroya couldn't help but frown.
This task seems simple at first glance, but is actually full of hidden challenges.
A trustworthy partner?
He had just arrived in this world and had to gain the trust of a 'Cursed Child' within seven days. This was no small feat.
It is known that due to ordinary people's hatred and suppression of 'Cursed Children', these girls have become more vigilant, and therefore generally choose not to reveal their identities in front of ordinary people.
"Should I apply for one from the relevant authorities?"
That would be even harder, as those departments usually treat these girls as tools.
The harsh training and tough living conditions would only increase these girls' hatred towards humans, making it difficult to form a contract within just seven days.
No wonder it's a Red task, having such high difficulty from the start. He hadn't forgotten the penalty of '-100 Destiny Points' for task failure.
Though currently far from it, he didn't want to know what would happen if his Destiny Points dropped to a negative number. He only knew that the countdown had already started, and he had to act immediately to survive.
While planning, he was suddenly interrupted by an ethereal singing voice.
Looking around, he found himself unknowingly walking to the outskirts of the city.
Ahead was an overpass, and the singing came from there. The voice seemed to have a mysterious power, driving him to step onto the overpass.
He finally saw the owner of the voice...
A girl with waist-length silver hair, dressed in tattered clothes, with bandages over her eyes, holding a begging sign with her thin hands, and a small broken bowl at her feet.
It's hard to imagine...
This beautiful voice came from a blind beggar girl. She hadn't been crushed by the painful and difficult life; on the contrary, her singing was full of hope for a better future.
What a good girl.
At this moment... two drunk men, arm in arm, walked towards the blind girl. One of them casually opened a can and threw the pull tab into the bowl, making a jingling sound.
"Thank you," The girl smiled, thinking someone had kindly given her money.
One of the two drunken men turned his head and saw the dirty little girl in front of him, instantly becoming angry.
"Such bad luck! It's a little blind girl. Begging at such a young age, what a rotten fate!"
The man cursed and kicked the girl's begging bowl away.
The girl's expression was somewhat flustered. She didn't know how she had offended this 'big shot' and quickly lowered her head, silently enduring the abuse.
But the man was relentless, raising his large hand high, ready to strike the girl's face.
His companion saw this and laughed. Beating up a little beggar was nothing to them. They knew that this little girl wouldn't dare to speak out, or else she would face even worse consequences later.
The girl seemed to sense her fate, lowering her head sadly like a little punching bag, not dodging or avoiding.
"Enough."
A calm voice sounded.
The man's hand stopped in mid-air, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't bring it down to strike the little girl.
A tall figure had somehow already stood beside him, his right hand gripping the man's arm like an iron clamp...
...
{T/N: Not an incredible beginning, I know, but this is the first 'Black Bullet' fanfiction I've ever come across, so I'm going to tolerate it with hopes that it's actually a decent read. Fingers crossed...}