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 the size of his palm.

From its appearance, this mechanical bat looked like a toy. Its overall style was smooth and rounded, with no sharp edges. Only the mouth featured hollowed-out, needle-like fangs. The deliberately unbalanced proportions of its body gave it a cute, endearing quality, and its shell was coated with a very plastic-like finish.

"This is Kivat, the transformation artifact for the bio-armor Knight System, KIVA. It's a bio-mechanical life form."

Wei Xiuming continued, "When using it, pierce the fang syringes into your wrist artery. The cultivated toxins will circulate through your blood, spreading throughout your body in twenty seconds, metallizing your cells to grant you immense strength and durability, with punching power and resistance around six to eight tons. It will also generate special organs within your body to synthesize an antidote specifically developed for vampires. Injecting it into the target through an attack will achieve a one-hit kill—of course, there aren't many vampires that can withstand your ton-level normal attacks."

After the introduction, Wei Xiuming handed the transformation artifact to Blade Brooks, who was standing nearby. "Listen, after transforming, you must attach it to your waist. Your brain cannot handle the strain of the transformed state for extended periods. Its bio-computer can help share some of the load and control the toxin concentration in your blood based on your body's condition."

Looking at the artifact in his hands, Blade, as if he had never changed his attire, asked, "Why me?"

"Because you are a half-vampire, and only someone with a vampire's physique can survive the toxins before your cells fully metallize; because you are a half-vampire, you can provide vampire bodily structures as raw material to synthesize the antidote." After restoring another item, Wei Xiuming's emotions were clearly elevated, his tone somewhat exaggerated as he said, "Because you've always considered yourself human, you won't betray us after gaining power; because of your human heart, filled with the deepest hatred for vampires, you will endure the pain of transformation to fight against them."

Blade asked doubtfully, "Human? I've never considered that. All I feel is disgust for the vampire part of myself. The power that gives me this transcendent physique is also the killer of my mother."

Snapping his fingers, Wei Xiuming said, "But that precisely shows you are human at heart. Humans don't ponder whether they are human; instead, they detest the non-human parts of themselves."

"Hey, Doctor, there are many who have defected to the vampires, willingly becoming their lackeys. What about them?"

This operation was the KIVA system's first battle. A team was observing from the sidelines, analyzing and compiling various data on the bio-armor. The operatives guarding the door and windows not only prevented interference from bystanders but also provided fire support when necessary.

Whistler, who could almost be called Blade's adoptive father, had also come along. This old vampire hunter had decades of entanglement with vampires, was experienced in combat, fearless, and his advice on weaponry and tactical command was highly valuable. It was he who had just spoken up to Wei Xiuming.

Wei Xiuming replied with great seriousness, "After defecting to vampires and getting branded with the mark of a vampire servant, they have willingly given up their human identity. You can call beings that only possess a human appearance but not a human heart the Ha-gui tribe."

Then, Wei Xiuming turned to look at Blade. "Go, validate your heart through slaughter. Test whether my Knight System is truly effective..."

Willis Dolph was an ordinary university student. Diligent and studious, he had always fit the image of a stiff, nerdy character from movies—awkward, socially inept, and tongue-tied around women. If not for his decent looks, he probably wouldn't even have managed to get a girlfriend.

However, due to his personality and his hobby of frequenting the library, his girlfriend broke up with him. Thus, Willis resolved to change himself—starting with his social life.

On a Saturday night, following his friend's advice, Willis changed into clothes that were different from his usual style, ditched his glasses for contact lenses, styled his hair to look "handsome," and headed towards the streets bustling with nightclubs.

Willis wouldn't normally frequent such places, considering them a waste of time and money. But under his friend's urging, he took this brave first step.

As expected, even though he was still the slightly rigid bookworm inside, Willis, with his changed appearance, was immediately welcomed. Without him even needing to speak, very attractive girls approached him.

There was a blonde woman who was so hot she hit every aesthetic note for Willis. Within a few sentences, Willis was completely smitten, losing all sense of direction. After being plied with drinks that cost several times their production value, even his basic rationality and logic flew out the window.

Then, the girl took Willis's hand and led him away from the noisy bar, saying she wanted to show him a better PUB.

How could Willis refuse? He let the girl lead him by the hand as they sped through the streets. Occasionally, they would stop for actions that, if written down, might be censored. Their demeanor suggested they weren't a couple who had met less than an hour ago, but rather lovers in the throes of passion.

The location of this better PUB was very hidden. Its main entrance was in the back kitchen of a restaurant. Most people wouldn't think this place would be the entrance to a nightclub.

The restaurant staff recognized the blonde girl and didn't stop them. Behind the last door, a tall, dark-skinned man in a suit became an obstacle.

The blonde girl raised the hand she was holding with Willis and said excitedly, "He's my boyfriend."

The tall, dark-skinned man didn't answer the blonde girl. Instead, he silently opened the door for the pair. After they entered, he closed and locked it again, then revealed a strange smile and muttered to himself, "Bringing food again. I wonder if tonight will result in one more of our kind or an increased cleanup task."

As the man locked the door and turned around, he found another dark-skinned man standing not far away, watching him. This man, regardless of whether the weather was hot or not, wore a black leather coat. His inner clothing made the coat bulge, clearly indicating he was dressed very warmly.

And in the dimly lit back kitchen, he was still wearing sunglasses, making it unclear if he could see.

This attire suddenly reminded the doorman of a legend: a vampire who specialized in hunting vampires. He didn't fear sunlight and was brutal in his methods, earning him the title of Daywalker. In the legend, the Daywalker's attire was exactly the same as the man before him.