The silence on Platform Alpha finally fractured, shattering into a cacophony of hushed whispers, choked exclamations, and the frantic tapping of fingers on Nexus Interfaces as recruits double-checked the unbelievable rankings.
Daniel Vance, the quiet unknown, the presumed 'salted fish', was not only alive but had apparently spent Phase One curb-stomping high-level monsters like they owed him money.
And SSS-Grade Talent? It was like finding out the quiet kid in class was secretly a demigod who moonlighted as a professional wrestler.
Daniel sighed inwardly. So much for blending in. He could feel hundreds of eyes boring into him, a mixture of raw disbelief, burgeoning awe, naked envy, and a significant undercurrent of fear.
He felt like a freshly discovered gold deposit suddenly surrounded by prospectors with varying degrees of sanity.
A few brave (or foolish) souls started to edge closer. A burly recruit whose Talent was likely some form of minor strength enhancement shuffled his feet nervously.
"Uh, Vance? That score... how'd you...?" He trailed off, intimidated by Daniel's calm, unreadable expression.
"Just kept moving," Daniel replied noncommittally, his voice level. It wasn't exactly a lie.
Another recruit, a young woman with wide, calculating eyes, stepped forward more confidently.
"An SSS-Talent," she stated, her voice carrying slightly.
"Incredible! Vanguard Command must be thrilled. Any hints about its nature? Offensive? Defensive? Utility?"
She was fishing, obviously hoping for intel.
Daniel just offered a polite, empty smile.
"Still figuring it out myself. The Verge is full of surprises." He wasn't about to start explaining [Soul Assimilation] to the general public.
That would be like handing out invitations to his own dissection.
He needed to disengage. His gaze fell upon the small, stirring lump in his pouch.
Right, priorities. "Excuse me," he said, cutting off further questions. "Urgent familiar-related business."
He turned and walked purposefully away from the gawking crowd, heading towards the less populated perimeter of the platform.
The murmurs followed him, but no one dared impede his path now. He found a relatively secluded alcove between two large, featureless supply crates.
"Okay, Nyx," he murmured, carefully retrieving the small shadow wolf pup.
She blinked her luminous blue eyes sleepily, then let out a soft yip and immediately tried to gnaw on his glove. "Right. Food."
He consulted his Nexus Interface. Standard rations wouldn't do for a creature with latent Soulfire and B-grade potential.
A quick search of the platform's available resources via the Academy network (access likely granted by his Rank 1 status) highlighted 'Basic Elemental Critter Chow, Shadow/Umbral Affinity Variant' available at the Exchange Post.
Looked like kibble mixed with solidified gloom. Appetizing.
With Nyx tucked securely back in her pouch (occasionally emitting muffled complaints and chewing noises), Daniel navigated towards the Exchange Post.
It was a larger structure near the center of the platform, already buzzing with activity as survivors bartered basic supplies or stared longingly at the displayed gear.
His arrival caused another ripple of silence and stares, but he ignored it, stepping directly to the automated service counter.
His Rank 1 status flashed on the terminal screen, granting him immediate priority access.
He quickly located the 'Critter Chow' (5 Commendation Points per bag, surprisingly cheap) and added a few bags to his virtual cart.
Then, his eyes scanned the real prizes.
His 1000 Vanguard Commendation Points burned a hole in his metaphorical pocket.
The exchange listed everything from advanced med-kits and high-grade consumables to weapons, armor, and even skill training modules (though the latter were astronomically expensive).
His E-grade knife and reinforced-but-still-basic bow felt utterly inadequate now. His Strength was nearing 100; he needed weapons that could handle that kind of force without snapping like twigs.
He browsed the weapons section. A C-grade 'Plasma Edged Combat Knife' (+120 Attack, Minor Energy Damage)? Tempting. A D-grade 'Compound Hunting Bow' (+90 Attack, Increased Draw Speed)? Better than his current bow, but felt underwhelming.
Then he saw it. Listed under 'Specialized Melee, Requires Hunter Class Attunement or High Dexterity':
[Twin Fang Utility Daggers (Set) - C-Grade]
Stats (per dagger): Attack +100, Agility +5. Inflicts Bleed on critical hits. Serrated edge for utility cutting/sawing.
Hollow hilt compartment for storing small items (e.g., poison capsules, lockpicks). Lightweight and perfectly balanced for dual-wielding or single-use.
Cost: 450 Commendation Points.
Perfect. Dual daggers synergized well with his incredible Agility, offered solid attack power, a bleed effect, and utility features.
Plus, they just looked cool. Way cooler than Pocket Sand. He added the set to his cart. That left him with 545 points.
He considered armor. His E-grade vest had saved him multiple times, but against Level 3+ threats, it felt like tissue paper.
He spotted a B-grade 'Reinforced Stealth Weave Vest' (+200 Defense, Minor Noise Reduction, +5 Adaptability) for 800 points. Too expensive right now.
He needed to save some points for emergencies or other unique finds.
He settled on purchasing some high-quality Fletching materials and specialized arrowheads (Armor-Piercing and Serrated variants, 20 points total) to potentially upgrade his arrows later, maybe using Assimilation.
He also bought a basic 'Field Maintenance Kit' (15 points) for gear upkeep.
Total spent: 450 (Daggers) + 5 (Chow) + 20 (Arrow parts) + 15 (Kit) = 490 Points. Remaining: 510.
A decent reserve. He confirmed the transaction. The physical items materialized in a recessed dispenser beside the terminal.
He quickly stowed the Critter Chow, arrow parts, and kit in his meager pack (which felt much roomier now, thanks to abstract inventory magic), and strapped the sheaths containing the sleek, dark metal Twin Fang daggers to his thighs.
They felt light, lethal, and right.
Next stop: Repair Station. His fatigues looked like they'd lost a fight with an angry shredder.
The station was automated, a simple booth with manipulator arms. He fed his uniform in, selected 'Standard Repair & Reinforcement' (cost deducted automatically from Academy stipend, apparently, basic upkeep was covered).
While the machine whirred, Daniel focused.
He had one Assimilation Charge regenerated (1/15). Should he enhance the new C-grade daggers? Or his trusty E-grade Deflector Vest? The daggers already felt potent, and defense was crucial. Vest it was.
He took off the vest, holding it in his hands, focusing his intent, pushing the concept of resilience, of enhanced protection.
A faint shimmer enveloped the vest, denser than before. It pulsed, then faded.
[Soul Assimilation successful on E-Grade Initiate's Deflector Vest.]
[Item Enhanced: Initiate's Deflector Vest upgraded to D-Grade.]
[New Stats: Defense +150. Minor improvement to impact energy dispersion.]
[Assimilation Charge Consumed (0/15 Remaining).]
D-grade! A significant jump from +50 Defense to +150. Combined with his passive [Stone Resilience] (+15% physical resistance) and [Steadfast Guard] (+25 Defense), his physical survivability had taken another leap.
The machine finished, presenting his repaired and slightly less ragged fatigues. He put them back on, feeling considerably more prepared.
He found another quiet spot, away from the main thoroughfares, settling down against a bulkhead.
Nyx happily munched on her gloomy kibble nearby. Daniel finally allowed himself a moment to process everything.
Rank 1. SSS-Talent revealed (sort of). Recognition rewards secured. Gear partially upgraded.
Familiar acquired. He was leagues ahead of where he'd expected to be. But the attention was a double-edged sword.
Others now knew he was powerful, potentially holding valuable secrets or abilities. He was a target.
Instructor Rostova's warning about teamwork wasn't entirely wrong, but finding trustworthy allies who wouldn't try to exploit or dissect him seemed like a tall order.
The Mentorship Offer lingered in his mind. Access to a high-ranking Vanguard could be invaluable, knowledge, resources, protection.
But it also meant scrutiny, oversight, potentially revealing more about [Soul Assimilation] than he was comfortable with.
He decided to table it for now. Survive Phase Two first, then worry about Academy politics.
His Assimilation Charges were regenerating slowly. He needed 15 hours to fully recharge.
The 24-hour preparation window felt both long and short. He needed to rest, let his body fully adapt to the recent attribute gains, allow Nyx to settle, and plan his next upgrades carefully.
Maybe a visit to the training simulators tomorrow, once he had a few more charges available.
He closed his eyes, focusing on his breathing, pushing away the lingering adrenaline and the weight of expectation.
For now, rest was paramount. The Verge demanded peak condition, and Phase Two promised to be even more unforgiving than the first. He needed to be ready