System Change

Jace sat in the briefing room, incredibly annoyed. He’d been promised battle and slaughter, but what he received were lessons about planetary battles and the system. Sure, it was all interesting and would eventually lead to his slaughtering of the beasts that had overrun the planet, but for now, this new Lieutenant Hobbs was slowly working his way up Jace’s ‘to kill’ list.

When Jace was unceremoniously booted through the teleporter, he expected to be thrown into battle as soon as he arrived. Instead, he was picked up by Hobbs and forced to undergo planetary education. This included invasions, system tutorials, planetary battles, and other.

For the most part, Jace zoned out during most of the explanations. He was a sword; he didn’t need all this information. All they had to do was point him in a direction and tell him to kill. Did that make him a dog? He didn’t care. Once he slaughtered enough, he would be able to freely move around and slaughter even more.

Now… slaughter may not be the right word to explain it. While his class was Agent of Slaughter, he didn’t actually need slaughter. He was more concerned about satiating his battlelust. Slaughter just happened to be the most convenient way for him to do so. But he didn’t’ have to kill.

He would be more than happy with some good fights. Nobody had to die. Well… they didn’t have to die, but they most likely would. It’d been boring since his good friend disappeared from Earth. At least when Derek was around, he would always have someone to have a good fight with.

Sure, the man called him crazy, and acted like he didn’t like fighting to the brink of death. But deep inside, Jace knew that Derek Hunt enjoyed it. Why would he have chosen such a class if he didn’t like to fight and feel pain?

Of course, Jace had hunted the others on Earth’s leaderboard, but Derek was the only one who stood his ground and had a fight without any interference every time Jace showed up. He was truly a friend. That group of people who had caused his friend to disappear was lucky Jace didn’t take his frustrations out on them. His friend seemed to be on good terms with that Silvi girl, so Jace chose to spare them.

That bastard in the top spot of the leaderboard, however, was nothing but a bloody coward. He seemed to know every time Jace went to seek him out, and would disappear. The others either weren’t strong enough and would set ambushes or would try to escape before he arrived. That’s why when he was offered this ‘opportunity’ off planet, he took it.

Still, Jace had heard through that bastard Kelvin that Derek was alive, out in the universe somewhere. Jace just knew his friend was out living life and fighting to his heart’s content. He knew Derek was growing stronger and stronger, so Jace would have to do the same. That’s why he chose to listen to Hobbs when he finally began his explanation of planetary battles.

“Now that you know about all of that, including the tutorial, it’s time to talk about the different planetary battles and sieges,” Lieutenant Hobbs said.

Of course, if the lieutenant knew that Jace hadn’t been listening much up to this point, he would probably blow a gasket. According to the lieutenant, he was doing it for Jace’s own sake, as it was his first time on a real mission. Considering that there were no others in the briefing room, he was the only new person here. Which made sense, as this was not a low-level planetary battle.

Jace perked his ears up in anticipation for the first time in the lesson. If Hobbs was finally talking about planetary battles, then his own battles were drawing near. Once the man finished this less, Jace would be free to satiate his battlelust.

“There are a handful of outcomes that a planet may face at the end of the introductory phase of the system, also known as the tutorial,” Hobbs explained. “The two most common outcomes are either the local intelligent species on the planet grow powerful enough through the tutorial boosts to claim and protect their planet, or other, appropriate leveled system users, who you know as invaders, take charge of the planet and make it part of their territory.

“Of the two of them, the first outcome is the most usual, as the system does not allow invaders with vast level and power differences onto a newly initiated planet. The most common reason the second outcome happens is when a planet with no intelligent species is there to take control. There is also the possibility that the intelligent species on the planet are pacifists and refuse to fight. Though most organizations see the invasions as a way to temper their young, the actual reason is to avoid fallen planets,” Hobbs continued.

Jace killed his fair share of invaders. He was very thankful to them. If not for them, the majority of people on Earth wouldn’t have been able to even scratch his itch in the slightest. He honestly didn’t care about the reason they were there. Most of this information was lost on him, and he knew it. Still, he listened.

“This leads us to two other planetary outcomes. First, a planet is full of life, but none of it is intelligent enough to properly use the system. When the beasts take over the planet, we call it a planetary siege. We usually monitor these planets and designate them as training planets for our youths. Occasionally, a beast will evolve into an intelligent being and begin to take control of the planet. Those beasts provide special Titles and other bonuses,” Hobbs explained.

“For those planets, we do not have full scale war and annihilation. We are there to maintain the planet and keep the training grounds viable. Some beasts on these types of planets are even allowed to grow without restriction to allow for elites to temper and test themselves.

“However, some planets are too valuable to be left to beasts, such as the planet we are currently on, Planet A-73. As you know from earlier, planets are ranked based on their size and quality. Your planet, C-186, is a mid-sized planet supporting both intelligent life and beasts, along with a decent proportion of valuable materials. Its value is average to most organizations, and not many would be willing to offend others to claim it. Thus, no young elites were sent as invaders, and it was easy enough for your people to take control of it at the end of the tutorial,” Hobbs informed.

Jace nodded along to everything, even though he was only half paying attention. His thoughts were more centered on what kind of beasts he would be fighting in the coming days.

“Planet A-73 is one of the biggest planets in the system’s domain. It also happens to have a vast amount of resources. It is relatively new to the system, as there aren’t many planets of such value. The strength of the beasts on the planet was unexpected, and ending up obliterating all the local intelligent life, and caused our tutorial teams to retreat. It was only integrated a couple of years before your own planet. Now, it is open to all by the system, and we are conducting training while also taking control of it. We cannot allow such a resource heave planet to be sieged by beasts,” Hobbs explained.

“Then can we go? This is boring,” Jace complained.

“Almost. We are finished with the explanations, now for the rules.”

“What rules?”

“Under no circumstances will you attack any person from our sector. Basically, if it is intelligent and not an evolved beast from this planet, you will not attack it,” Hobbs warned.

“What if they attack me first?” Jace asked.

“They won’t,” Hobbs said. “They have the same rule they must follow as you do. You will be wearing this bracelet, and your actions and whereabouts will be tracked at all times. Same with the other combatants.” Hobbs reached out and grabbed Jace by the wrist before strapping a bracelet not unlike the one he already wore on his left him. The bracelet made a clicking sound, then lit up.

“Only a lieutenant or higher ranked officer can remove this from you,” Hobbs said.

“What if I see someone who is not wearing one of these bracelets?” Jace asked.

“It is slim, but there is a chance that a few natives survived the beasts until now. Always err on the side of caution. You will be rewarded if you lead any natives back to the base.”

Unlikely. Jace thought, but outwardly, he nodded. “Okay. Can we get going now?”

“You’re going to be just as troublesome as the commander said you would be, aren’t you?” Lieutenant Hobbs let out a sigh. “Other than our people, you don’t have to hold back. You are free to go wherever you want. Any high valuable material collected while you are out must be turned in upon arrival at the base. You will be searched. There will also be rewards based on any material you bring back.”

So, if I find anything usable, it’s best if I use it right away instead of bringing it back. Got it. Jace inwardly thought before he looked pointedly at the lieutenant.

“Fine, fine. Follow me.” Hobbs moved over to the door to the briefing room, then walked out with Jace following along. “The bracelet is also a communications device. If you run into any trouble, inject your mana into it to activate it. A screen will come up. If there is immediate danger, push the emergency button at the bottom right of the screen. You can figure the rest out on your own.”

“Got it,” Jace answered while shifting back and forth. He needed battle, and he needed it now.

The lieutenant tapped his own bracelet and moved some things back and forth before Jace felt his own new bracelet release a pulse into his arm.

“I’ve sent your device a map of the area. You can see the full map of the planet from the scans we took before arriving. The clear parts are fully explored areas, and the gray parts are unexplored. If you’re looking for a fight, the unexplored areas are where to look,” the man explained.

Jace fiddled with the new bracelet until he found the way to the map. It was just like the old video games he played as a kid. There was a fog over unexplored areas, though he could still see the terrain, and anything else that had been visible from the scan.

With that, Lieutenant Hobbs gestured around them. “You’re free to do as you wish. You can head to the barracks and look for a team, or to the shops for some extra gear or potions. Or, you can just go solo. You’re free. Don’t get yourself killed… or do… I’d probably get a raise if you do.” Hobbs smiled and turned back to walk away.

Jace watched the man’s back for a moment as he left, then he looked at his map once again. It seemed like the area to the east had yet to be cleared out yet, so he would be the one to do it. He looked over at the temporary buildings that were the barracks, then at the temporary town center that had a system hub and multiple soldiers peddling their wares. He rolled his eyes and turned to the east. There was a battle to be had.

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