Ares walked out of the laboratory, a huge grin plastered across his face. His thoughts were light despite the long day. For once, things were going right.
His identity as an SS-grade Bloodliner had been officially updated in the government database. It was something few would ever achieve.
One of the rarest and safest achievements in existence!
Just thinking about it made him feel like he was walking on air. But beneath his calm expression, there was a bubbling excitement.
He couldn't help but reflect on the female commander, Selene.
She had saved him not once, but twice now. First, during that battle with the strange cat Primordial fragment, and then again when things got tense with the ZMA Scientist.
Ares wasn't great at expressing his emotions, but deep down, he felt it. Her help had been unexpected but priceless.
She had saved his life twice in a row!
As the cool evening breeze swept through the camp, Ares took a deep breath. Now that he was safe, he could finally appreciate the normal things like the other youths.
The air smelled faintly metallic, like wet stone after a rain, mixed with the distant hum of machinery.
From the watchtowers scattered around the camp, soft beeping sounds echoed rhythmically—like some strange heartbeat, keeping the whole camp alive and in sync.
When Ares reached the long row of dorms, they stood like neat soldiers, perfectly aligned. Each building was small and simple. They were nothing fancy, just bungalow-style metal structures built for efficiency.
He stepped into the first dorm he saw, eager to find a room. Inside, it was cool and dim, with plain walls and a faint smell of fresh paint.
He walked down the hall, spotting dozens of doors without cards.
When he finally spotted one with a grey card still on it, he grabbed it without any hesitation and pushed the door open.
His new dorm was tagged No: 419CC.
The room was small, with a single bed, a metal desk, and a tiny wardrobe. Everything looked so clean and empty, like no one had ever lived there.
It was simple and efficient, just the way he had expected it to be.
Ares tossed his bag aside, grabbed a fresh towel, and headed to the bathroom. After a quick shower, he dried off, feeling refreshed, and dropped onto the bed with a contented sigh.
The day had been overwhelming, but now, with some quiet time, he could focus on more personal matters.
"System Interface." He called out softly.
[Primordial System]
Name: Ares Solovar
Stage: Awakened (Basic)
Exp: 0/100
Level: 1]
[Primordial Abilities.]
[Bloodline(s)]
[System Abilities.]
[Technique(s)]
Ares glanced at the screen and studied it carefully. After seeing that there was nothing much here, he clicked on the Bloodlines tab with his mind.
[Bloodline(s)
Primordial Predator (SSS)- The great nemesis of the Primordials. Father of the void.
Parallel World (SS)- King of two worlds.]
Although the details of his bloodlines appeared on the screen, something was off.
All he could see about his Bloodlines were the brief details which sounded to him more like advertisement, none of their abilities were showing.
Confused, Ares frowned.
"Why can't I see my Abilities?" he asked the System aloud.
The response came immediately, in that familiar robotic voice:
[Host's abilities are sealed until the formation of the Bloodline bead.]
Ares raised an eyebrow. 'Bloodline bead?'
The Bloodline bead was the core of any Bloodliner's power.
It forms inside them and supplies them with Bloodline Essence, which is needed to unleash techniques and abilities.
Simply put, without it, the Bloodline couldn't function.
Ares's irritation gave way to a surge of excitement. So that was it—just one more step, and his true potential would be unlocked.
It was close. So close, he could practically feel it. But for now, he had to wait. With that thought, he lay back on the bed, his mind buzzing with anticipation.
It didn't take long for sleep to pull him under.
_____
The next morning came with the sharp ring of the camp bell, jerking Ares awake.
He quickly dressed in the new all-black uniform laid out on the desk. It was simple but sharp—a military-style outfit designed for both comfort and combat.
The fabric clung to his frame just right, making him look more serious and capable. He checked himself in the mirror briefly before heading out.
Back in the Hall of Genesis, the air buzzed with tension. It was the same hall as yesterday—one that could swallow thousands and still have more than half the space free—but today, the sight of hundreds of youths in matching uniforms made the atmosphere feel heavier.
Everyone stood in neat rows, waiting. Some looked nervous, others excited. Ares kept a calm expression, though inside, he could feel the flicker of anticipation growing stronger.
The Vice Captain appeared at the front of the room, standing tall with her hands clasped behind her back. Her sharp eyes scanned the crowd like a hawk sizing up its prey.
"Today, you will begin the unsealing process," she announced in a clipped, no-nonsense tone.
"Each of you will receive a drop of Treated Primordial Essence. This drop will trigger the formation of your Bloodline bead, and with it, your Abilities will become accessible." She paused for a moment, letting her words sink in.
"The process will hurt. But that is the nature of unlocking power. Pain is the price you must pay."
A low murmur rippled through the crowd. Some of the youths shifted nervously, others whispered to each other. Ares stayed still, keeping his breathing steady.
Although he wasn't a crazy person that liked pain, if it brought him closer to unlocking his abilities, he wouldn't really mind.
At least, to some extent.
Overhead, drones buzzed through the air, delivering tiny plastic cups to each youth. The cups were smaller than a baby's fist, and inside each one was a single drop of swirling purple liquid.
"Drink it," the Vice Captain ordered.
Ares peered into his cup. The purple liquid inside swirled like a miniature storm trapped in a bottle. Without hesitation, he lifted the cup and drank it down in one gulp.
At first, there was nothing—just a faint warmth spreading through his chest. Then the pain hit. It started slow, like a small ember burning in his veins, but quickly spread, becoming a searing heat.
Ares gritted his teeth, clenching his fists. It hurt, but it was manageable. Pain was familiar to him. This was nothing.
But around him, the reaction was far more intense. Screams filled the hall as some of the youths collapsed to the floor, writhing in agony.
A few rolled on the ground, their faces twisted in pain, clutching their bodies as if they were being burned alive.
Ares frowned, confused. The pain he felt wasn't even that bad. Why were they reacting like this? Was their tolerance really that low?
Then, out of nowhere, the System's voice echoed in his mind:
[Ding! Alert: Primordial essence too diluted. Host is unable to form Bloodline bead.]
Ares's heart skipped a beat. "What?" he whispered under his breath.
The System repeated the message, as if to make sure he understood:
[The concentration of Primordial Essence is too low for host's Bloodline. Bead formation failed.]
For a moment, Ares just stood there, stunned. All around him, the other youths were screaming in agony, enduring what felt like medieval torture.
And yet, here he was, standing tall and unaffected, all because the liquid wasn't strong enough for him.
His fists clenched at his sides. This wasn't good. If he couldn't form the bead, his abilities would remain sealed. And without those abilities, his future in the camp—and his shot at the elite academies—was definitely slipping away.
"What the hell am I supposed to do now?" he muttered under his breath.