Rain intercepted a skeleton advancing toward Siobhan. Sensing its energy, he quickly assessed it as beginning D-rank. Within 30 moves, he dispatched it efficiently. This kill marked his 28th of the day, including 1 late, 5 middle, and 22 low D-rank monsters. After eliminating the two skeletons, Rain joined Siobhan to support her, aware that the frequency of monster attacks was increasing. She was only a low D-rank genetic warrior, so her risk was higher than anyone else on their team. Rain observed her fighting two low-rank blood beasts; she looked exhausted, but he held back from intervening. He knew she needed the merit from these kills to earn enough for the Fire Blood Bud, essential for her advancement.
He took another energy recovery pill, feeling his strength gradually returning. Glancing up, he saw the black-purple sun dipping toward the horizon, casting long shadows as the faint silhouette of the moon appeared overhead. Time moved at the same pace in the Dead Battlefield as it did in the outside world, meaning he'd been locked in combat for over eight hours straight.
Rain thought about the Spring Rain Sword Art—an E-rank technique. In the Star Immortal World, it was a top-tier technique that could even help break into the Strength Realm, but that realm was only a half-step into D-rank. If he could evolve this art into a D-rank technique, even at a low level, it would allow him to kill more monsters more efficiently.
From the start of the battle, his killing speed against monsters of his realm and below had steadily increased as he learned to exploit their weaknesses. All these monsters were like carbon copies, with similar vulnerabilities. But he needed to speed up, to accumulate more kills, earn more merit, and acquire the resources to quickly breakthrough the realm. This opportunity might not come again; he had no idea how long the Dead Battlefield would remain here. According to records, the shortest duration it had ever stayed in one location was just a week, while the longest was fifteen years.
Among the resources listed, his ultimate goal was the Icefire Purifying Medicine, a rare substance that could push a C-rank genetic warrior from beginner to peak C-rank instantly. However, it required an immense 10,000 merit points—an amount that could take years to collect. Realizing this, he focused on more attainable resources: the Fire Blood Bud, Bronze Blood, and Poison Fruit. The Fire Blood Bud would help clear some genetic waste in his body, costing 10 merit points each; the Bronze Blood would strengthen his physique for 30 merit; and the Poison Fruit could help him comprehend poison mystery for a minute, priced at 1,000 merit.
He counted his merit from today's kills: late D-rank monsters earned him 10 merit each, middle D-rank 25, and low D-rank 22, totaling 57 merit points. *For today,* he thought, *I'll buy two Fire Blood Buds and a Bronze Blood.*
The fatigue weighed on him, but his determination remained unbroken.
Rain began scanning the battlefield for lone monsters nearby, careful not to stray too far from Siobhan. As he did, he noticed scores of people entering through the walls of the Dead Battlefield domain. In the morning, all D-rank genetic warriors from the city had entered, while most of the army's D-rank warriors had stayed outside. Sky had mentioned that after eight hours, the army would take their place, allowing them to leave to rest and prepare for the next entry into the domain. Seeing the army approaching he thought today i cannot kill any more monster, Rain shouted, "Everyone, quickly finish off your monsters! It's time to leave the domain." Though no one replied, their actions were answer enough as they sped up, trying to kill their remaining opponents.
Suddenly, Rain heard Siobhan cry out in pain. She was struggling to finish off the two blood beasts quickly in her exhausted state, and her fatigue had left an opening in her defense. One of the blood beasts had sunk its teeth into her thigh. Rain rushed over to engage the other blood beast, giving Siobhan the moment she needed to dislodge the beast from her leg.
Instead of killing the blood beast himself, Rain inflicted serious injuries, giving Siobhan a chance to finish it. He noticed her face twisted in pain, and she was limping, her thigh bloody and missing a chunk of muscle. Her genetic energy was sealing the wound to stop the bleeding as she struggled to defend herself.
"Siobhan, go finish off the other one," he said, positioning himself between her and the blood beast."I'll weaken this one, and you can finish it off afterward," Rain said, as the blood beast lunged, jaws open. Rain didn't defend conventionally but surged forward, bashing his shield into the creature's mouth. The blood beast recoiled in pain, exposing its neck. Rain slashed carefully, injuring it just enough for Siobhan to deal the final blow.
As Siobhan dispatched the wounded beast, Rain called, "Here," stepping aside as a skeleton advanced from behind her. He blocked its path, ready to defend.Just then, a man in an army uniform arrived beside Rain and said, "You two can head outside the domain for some rest. I'll take over from here."
Rain stepped back to join Siobhan and noticed other army personnel assisting Damian, Sky, and Lily, helping them finish off their monsters so they could disengage. Within moments, all three joined them.
Sky nodded, "Let's go." The group began walking toward the edge of the domain to exit.
As they walked, Rain asked, "Siobhan, how much merit do you have?"
Siobhan checked her BIT and, after a moment, replied, "16 merit. How about you?"
"57," Rain replied. They walked outside the domain into the darkness, the radiation clouds overhead blocking the moon's light, and the ground blanketed in radiation snow. To their left, a glow appeared from the fortress that had been under construction in the morning, now fully built and illuminated.
They headed toward the fortress, and Rain asked, "Damian, Lily, Leader Sky, how much merit did you gain?"
Damian answered, "226."
Lily added, "124 merit."
Sky replied, "474."
Lily said, "Today, I'm going to use my merit to buy the medicine I need to break through to peak D-rank."
"Congratulations," Sky said. "Today wasn't too dangerous, but who knows how the Dead Battlefield domain will behave tomorrow."
Damian nodded. "The domain produces five types of D-rank monsters: Black Skeletons, Blood Beasts, Bone Birds, Death Scythes, and Flesh Abominations. Today, only Black Skeletons and Blood Beasts attacked."
Sky noticed Siobhan's somber expression and asked gently, "Siobhan, is your thigh injury giving you trouble? Do you need help? We can carry you to the fortress if needed."
Siobhan shook her head. "No, it's nothing."
Rain, guess her reason for disappointment, said, "Siobhan also wanted to break through to middle D-rank today."
Sky turned to her, surprised. "Why didn't you mention this, Siobhan? I'll lend you 200 merit."
Siobhan shook her head. "Teacher Sky, there's no need. I can gather the merit in the coming days."
Sky replied firmly, "I'm not giving it to you; I'm lending it. After breaking through to middle D-rank, you can pay it back. Reaching middle D-rank will increase your safety, which means I'll worry about you less. I've already transferred the merit."
Siobhan hesitated. "100 merit will be enough to buy a Fire Blood Bud, so 200 isn't necessary."
Sky explained, "You'll also need medicine to strengthen your physique. Meeting just the genetic energy refinement and reserve requirements won't be enough; your physical capacity also needs to reach the threshold. Accept it."
Siobhan nodded gratefully. "Thank you."
Rain noticed many people beside them, exiting the domain and heading toward the fortress. As they approached the fortress gate, a crowd had gathered, and a commotion stirred within, with some people walking away, choosing not to enter.
Lily asked, "What's going on?"
Damian replied, "Let me find out," and approached a man leaving the crowd. After a brief exchange, Damian returned. "There are six fortresses built around the domain, and not everyone can stay in one. Residences are divided among them. This is Fortress No. 3, and I'm assigned here."
Hearing this, everyone checked their BITs to confirm their own assignments. Rain's BIT showed Fortress No. 3, and he couldn't help but smile, relieved he wouldn't have to trek to another one.
Sky chimed in, "Looks like I'm assigned to this fortress too."
Siobhan, Lily, and Rain replied in unison, "Me too."
Rain added, "I'm assigned to room No. 306."
As they pushed through the crowd and entered the fortress, Damian said, "305."
Lily followed, "304," and Siobhan added, "303."
Sky finished with, "302."
"Looks like our team is assigned close to each other," Sky noted, and they began walking toward their rooms. Rain, exhausted, barely paid attention to the fortress interior; all he wanted was to collapse into bed.
When they reached the corridor, Sky said, "I'll send a message later, after we get some rest, in case anyone wants to have dinner together."
Rain nodded, entering his room. Inside, he found the layout similar to his dorm, just a bit wider. Heading straight to the bathroom to clean up, he then checked the drawer for extra clothes. Finding some white T-shirts and pants, he changed out of his combat uniform and, feeling the relief of fresh clothes, collapsed onto the bed, instantly drifting into sleep.