The next day arrived with the familiar sound of the military compound’s morning bell. Ethan opened his eyes to the dim light filtering through the barracks’ small window.

The cramped room he shared with three other soldiers barely had enough space for their narrow beds and storage lockers. Private quarters were a luxury reserved for talented soldiers, another reminder of the division between those with abilities and those without.

The morning air carried a chill that the thin military-issued blankets barely kept at bay. Ethan rose quietly, careful not to disturb his roommates who had drawn the night watch shift.

Their soft breathing and occasional shifting provided a mundane soundtrack to his morning routine. The worn floorboards creaked beneath his feet as he made his way to his locker, retrieving his toiletries.

The communal bathroom was already occupied when he arrived, several other soldiers performing their morning ablutions. Steam from the showers fogged the mirrors, though the water itself was lukewarm at best.

Hot water, like many other comforts, was rationed based on rank and talent. Ethan quickly washed his face and brushed his teeth, his movements on automatic mode as his mind wandered to the day ahead of him.

With ten minutes remaining before breakfast service began, Ethan made his way to the canteen. He wasn’t surprised to find a substantial line had already formed.

Dozens of soldiers, most wearing the same worn expression as himself, waited for the doors to open.

Their uniforms marked them as fellow “expendables” – scouts, wall patrol, and maintenance crews.

The talented soldiers, with their enhanced salaries and privileges, could afford to dine in District Two’s restaurants or have meals delivered to their quarters.

The line shuffled forward as the canteen doors opened, releasing the smell of plain porridge and eggs.

Ethan observed his fellow soldiers with new eyes, his status window occasionally flickering to life as he scanned the crowd. Most showed no talent indicators at all, confirming their status as fellow talentless recruits. The few that did display talents were F-Grade, just enough to earn them slightly better positions but not enough to escape District Three entirely.

After consuming his portion of the bland breakfast, Ethan made his way to the city walls for his reassignment.

Captain Morrison stood atop the wall’s observation platform, issuing orders to a group of soldiers who listened with varying degrees of attention.

Ethan waited patiently, using the time to observe the captain more carefully than he had yesterday. Morrison’s movements betrayed his E-Grade Enhancement talent – subtle but present, his gestures carrying more force than strictly necessary. A holdover from years of unconsciously channelling his ability, Ethan supposed.

When the other soldiers dispersed, Ethan approached. “Captain, I’m here for reassignment,” he reported, maintaining the proper military bearing his predecessor’s memories supplied.

Morrison glanced at him, recognition flickering across his face. “You’ll remain with Squad Seven,” he stated matter-of-factly. “Four more members will be joining you.”

Ethan nodded, carefully hiding his satisfaction. This was exactly what he’d hoped for. A safer position like wall guard duty would limit his opportunities to encounter and devour new beasts.

Each new talent and transformation he could acquire represented another step away from being cannon fodder, another tool for survival and advancement.

The four new squad members arrived shortly after, their postures and expressions revealing their talentless status before any formal introduction.

Like most military recruits, they’d been given a single iron core to achieve Low-Iron rank before being drafted, the minimal enhancement necessary for basic survival in their dangerous role.

Their names and faces blurred together in Ethan’s mind – Zhang, Liu, Wang, and Chen – all of them young, all of them carrying the resigned look of those who understood their role as expendable assets.

Morrison outlined their mission with efficiency.

Once again, they would be responsible for clearing the 500-meter radius around the city walls. Any anomalies or monster sightings were to be reported immediately. Standard procedure forbade engagement with anything above Low-Iron rank, though Ethan knew from his predecessor’s memories how often necessity overrode such regulations.

The captain’s briefing focused heavily on threat assessment and escape routes, his tone suggesting he’d given this speech countless times before.

“Remember,” he emphasized, “your primary role is reconnaissance. If you encounter anything unusual, report back immediately. Don’t try to be heroes.”

The 500-meter zone was known to host primarily Low-Iron rank beasts, with occasional Mid-Iron specimens seeking easier prey near human settlements.

Each one represented potential new talent to devour, new abilities to add to his growing arsenal. The challenge would be finding opportunities to hunt without revealing his abilities to his squadmates.

The morning sun climbed higher as Morrison concluded the briefing, its light reflecting off the city’s defensive barriers.

Beyond the walls, the forest waited, teeming with beasts and opportunities. Ethan checked his standard-issue spear, its iron-reinforced tip barely adequate for Low-Iron rank threats. But unlike yesterday, he now had his secret weapon – the ability to transform into a Shadowfang Wolf and the enhanced speed talent he’d already acquired, he also had the agility of a mid-iron rank warrior.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep