Biological Armor

Weeks later, another night arrived.

Inside a building near a nightclub that catered to vampires, Wei Xiuming, still dressed in a white lab coat and gas mask, opened a violin case and took out a mechanical bat about the size of his palm.

At first glance, the mechanical bat looked just like a toy. Its smooth design had no sharp edges, and only the two fangs in its mouth were hollow injection needles. Its deliberately unbalanced proportions gave it a cute look, while its plastic casing made it seem all the more toy-like.

"This is Kivat, the transformation device for the KIVA biological armor Knight System—a living mechanical organism."

Wei Xiuming explained, "When you use it, you'll drive the fang injectors into the artery in your wrist. The toxins cultivated inside will circulate through your bloodstream and spread throughout your body within twenty seconds, turning your cells metallic and granting you tremendous strength and resistance to impact. Both your punching power and impact resistance will be around six to eight tons. It can also produce special organs inside your body to synthesize a drug developed specifically to target vampires. By injecting it into a target with an attack, you can kill them in one blow—though, of course, there aren't many vampires who can withstand your ordinary, ton-force attacks."

After finishing his explanation, Wei Xiuming handed the transformation device to Blade Brooks, who was standing beside him. "Remember, after transforming, you must fasten it around your waist. Your brain won't be able to handle that transformed state for long. Its biological computer can take some of the strain off you and regulate the toxin concentration in your blood based on your physical condition."

Looking at the device in his hand, Blade, who seemed never to have changed his look, asked, "Why me?"

"Because you're a vampire hybrid. Only someone with a vampire's constitution has a chance of surviving the toxins long enough for their cells to turn metallic. And because you're a vampire hybrid, your body has the structure needed to synthesize the drug." Having restored another piece of technology, Wei Xiuming was clearly in high spirits. His voice grew a little theatrical as he continued, "Because deep down, you've always thought of yourself as human, you won't betray us after gaining power. And because of your human heart, and the deep hatred you feel for vampires, you'll endure the pain of transforming and strike back at them."

Blade said doubtfully, "Human? I've never thought about that. I've only hated the vampire part of myself. The power that gave me this extraordinary constitution belongs to the same kind of monster that killed my mother."

Wei Xiuming snapped his fingers. "But that proves you're human deep down. Only humans would worry about whether they're human. They're the ones who reject the inhuman parts of themselves."

"Hey, Doctor, plenty of people have sided with vampires to become one themselves, willingly turning into their lackeys. What do you call them?"

This was the KIVA system's first mission. A team from Unit One was observing from the sidelines, analyzing and compiling all kinds of data on the biological armor. The operatives stationed by the door and windows were there to keep out unwanted visitors, and provide fire support if needed.

Whistler, Blade's foster father in all but name, had come along too. The old vampire hunter had been entangled in the fight against vampires for decades. He had extensive combat experience and feared no death, so his advice on weapons, equipment, and tactics was well worth heeding. He was the one who had just challenged Wei Xiuming.

In a very serious tone, Wei Xiuming said, "Once they've sided with vampires and gotten the mark of a vampire servant tattooed on their bodies, they've willingly abandoned their human identity. You can call anyone who has a human appearance but no human heart a member of the Ha-gui tribe."

Wei Xiuming turned to Blade. "Go. Use the slaughter to prove what's in your heart, and test whether my Knight System works as well as I say it does..."

Willis Dorf was an ordinary college student. Hardworking and studious, he was the kind of stiff, bookish nerd you saw in movies: dull, unsociable, and tongue-tied around women. If he hadn't been decent-looking, he probably wouldn't have managed to get a girlfriend at all.

But his personality and his habit of spending all his free time in the library had driven his girlfriend to break up with him. So Willis resolved to change himself, starting with his social life.

One Saturday night, Willis took the advice of a bad influence, put on clothes unlike his usual style, traded his glasses for contact lenses, got what he thought was a "cool" haircut, and headed for a street full of nightclubs.

Willis would never normally have come to a place like this. He thought it was a waste of time and money, but his friend had egged him on, and he'd taken that brave first step anyway.

Sure enough, even though he was still the same somewhat stuffy bookworm underneath, Willis was instantly popular after changing his look. He didn't even have to speak before a beautiful woman came up to flirt with him.

She was a hot blonde, exactly the kind of woman Willis found irresistible. After just a few words from her, he was completely smitten. Then she plied him with drinks that cost several times their wholesale price, and before long he'd forgotten even the basics of reason and logic.

Then the girl took Willis by the hand and led him out of the noisy bar, saying she wanted to show him an even better pub.

How could Willis refuse? He ran hand in hand with her through the streets, stopping now and then to do things that might not make it past the censors if written down. They looked nothing like a couple who had just met less than an hour ago; they seemed like lovers still in the throes of passion.

The location of this supposedly better pub was well hidden. Its front entrance was in the kitchen of a restaurant, a place no ordinary person would ever guess was the entrance to a nightclub.

The restaurant staff recognized the blonde and didn't stop them. But behind the last door stood a tall Black man in a suit, blocking their way.

The blonde held up the hand she had clasped with Willis's and said excitedly, "He's my boyfriend."

The tall Black man didn't answer her. He silently opened the door for them, then closed and locked it again after they went inside. Only then did he reveal a strange smile and mutter to himself, "Another one brought his own food. I wonder if we'll have another of us by the end of the night, or just more cleanup work."

But after the man locked the door and turned around, he spotted another Black man standing some distance away, watching him. No matter how hot the weather was, this man wore a black leather coat. His clothes underneath stretched it taut, making it obvious that he was dressed far too heavily.

Even in the dimly lit kitchen, he wore sunglasses. It was hard to tell whether he could see anything at all.

The doorman's eyes widened. The man's appearance reminded him of a legend about a vampire who hunted other vampires. He feared no sunlight and used brutal methods, earning himself the title of Daywalker—and in the legend, the Daywalker dressed exactly like the man standing before him.