The Slaughter System

At the training grounds of Anning City Third Martial Arts High School, Song Chen folded up his registration form, tucked it into his pocket, and let out a long breath.

After waiting three months, he could finally leave the city.

If he stayed any longer, the Slaughter System in his head would rot away right alongside him in this Base City.

Three months ago, Song Chen had awakened the standard perk of a transmigrator: a Slaughter System.

The system was incredibly powerful. It could exchange Killing Value for all kinds of amazing rewards, and even a single one could change his fate. But there was one catch: he had to kill a First Rank life-form to earn Killing Value.

Killing chickens was useless. Killing ducks was useless. He had to kill the mutated beasts outside the city, the ones that had devoured Psionic Particles and undergone mutations.

But Song Chen's Vitality Value was only 0.6. He wasn't even a Martial Artist, so the Base City wouldn't let him leave.

It had taken three whole months for him to finally get this chance.

The Martial Arts College Entrance Exam was only a month away, and the practical exam was a major part of it. So the school had organized an off-campus combat training session for its students.

Song Chen had signed up without hesitation.

A clear voice came from behind him.

"Song Chen, your Vitality Value is only 0.6. You haven't even reached the threshold to become a Martial Artist, and you signed up for combat training?"

"This isn't a game. There are mutated beasts everywhere outside the city. People really do die out there."

Lin Qingxue held out Song Chen's score sheet from the school's last test. The glaring "0.6" on it felt like a silent mockery.

Song Chen picked up his jacket from the ground, brushed off the dust, and said without a care, "I know."

"You know?"

Lin Qingxue stepped forward and blocked his way.

"Do you know how many mutated beasts there are outside the city?"

"There are First Rank and Second Rank beasts, and even Third Rank ones. Do you know how many people died during the last training session?"

Song Chen looked at her. Lin Qingxue was one of the most famous beauties in their class, tall and elegant, with striking features.

Now her delicate face was full of worry, and her eyes were even reddening.

Unfortunately, Song Chen wasn't the kind of man who would change his mind just because a beautiful girl said a few words.

"Qingxue, move aside."

"You..."

Lin Qingxue was so choked up by his words that she couldn't speak.

"Well, if it isn't the combat champion of our class?"

A mocking voice came from the side.

Zhao Wei sauntered over with two lackeys.

"I heard you signed up for off-campus training?"

He came up to Song Chen and looked him over, deliberately stressing the word "training." "Your Vitality Value is 0.6, and you're not even a Martial Artist. Are you going to deliver takeout to the mutated beasts?"

The two lackeys behind him immediately burst into laughter.

Lin Qingxue frowned. "Zhao Wei, that's enough."

"Oh, Qingxue has spoken. I'd better show some respect."

Zhao Wei said the words, but didn't move. Instead, he stepped closer and lowered his voice as he spoke to Song Chen. "Song Chen, do you think this is still some make-believe game in class?"

"Those mutated beasts outside the city won't go easy on you just because you're good at martial arts. Your Vitality Value is what it is. What good will it do you to polish your techniques to perfection?"

"Oh, right. Make sure you come back alive. I'm still waiting to spar with you again someday."

His words were dripping with sarcasm, but Song Chen understood what he meant.

Though his Vitality Value was low, Song Chen's combat ability was exceptionally strong. He had earned it through countless days and nights of hard training.

During the practical exam three months ago, Song Chen had knocked Zhao Wei flat in just a few moves in front of the whole class, even though Zhao Wei's Vitality Value was far higher. Zhao had been utterly humiliated.

Ever since then, Zhao Wei had hated him to the bone.

"Are you done?"

Song Chen finally spoke, his tone calm.

Zhao Wei froze.

"If you're done, get out of my way."

Song Chen shoved him aside and walked off without looking back.

"You!"

Zhao Wei gritted his teeth and watched Song Chen's retreating figure, a sinister look flashing in his eyes.

Then he suddenly came to his senses and remembered that he couldn't beat Song Chen in the first place.

"Fine, I'll be waiting."

"I'd like to see how a useless 0.6 gets back alive."

Song Chen left the training grounds and headed home along the streets of the Base City.

Night had fallen, but the streets were still brightly lit.

Signs for all kinds of martial arts schools, gene enhancement shops, and ability awakening centers flashed so brightly they dazzled the eye.

People in Combat Suits hurried past him from time to time, Martial Artist Badges pinned to their chests.

Song Chen looked up at the sky.

Countless tiny points of light drifted slowly overhead. They were Psionic Particles.

Fifty years ago, a meteorite had crashed into the depths of the Pacific Ocean, releasing endless Psionic Particles.

Thus began the Martial Arts Era.

The most basic requirement for becoming a First Rank Martial Artist was a Vitality Value of at least 1.0.

Song Chen's 0.6 was far too low.

It took an hour to walk from the training grounds to his home.

For the first half hour, the roads were clean asphalt, and the streetlights stood in neat rows.

A few gene medicine shops lined the streets. Various vials sat in their glass windows, and the price tag on even the smallest one ended with four zeros.

During the second half hour, the road grew pitted and uneven, and a third of the streetlights were broken.

Unfamiliar weeds sprouted from the cracks in the pavement.

The buildings on either side grew shorter and more dilapidated, and their walls were plastered with all kinds of advertisements.

"Buying mutated beast Life Cores at top prices. Honest dealing, fair to all."

"First Rank Blood Vitality Potion, originally 88,888, now only 8,888. First come, first served."

"Martial arts school now enrolling! We guarantee you'll pass the Martial Arts College Entrance Exam, or your money back."

Song Chen walked through the advertisements, then turned into an alley and stopped in front of a six-story building at its end.

The stairwell light had broken ages ago and no one had bothered to fix it. He climbed to the fifth floor, took out his key, and unlocked the door.

The moment the door opened, Song Chen sensed something was off.

The lights were off, but a figure sat beside the dining table.

The kitchen exhaust fan hummed, and the sizzling sound of stir-frying drifted out along with a familiar aroma: his mother's braised pork.

Song Chen stood in the doorway, one hand still on the doorknob.

"Come in. Close the door."

His father, Song Zhengye, spoke from the darkness.

Song Chen closed the door and reached over to switch on the light.

The light illuminated the cramped living room.

The dining table, sofa, and TV stand were squeezed together in a space of barely fifteen square meters.

Photos of him as a child hung on the wall, along with a picture of his parents when they were young.

Back then, they had worn regulation Combat Suits, full of confidence, Martial Artist Badges pinned to their chests.

Those badges had long since been put away somewhere.

His father, Song Zhengye, sat beside the dining table. A bottle of Erguotou and an enamel cup sat in front of him, and the cup was already half empty.

His mother, Li Xiuying, poked her head out of the kitchen, spatula still in hand.

She glanced at Song Chen without saying a word, then ducked back into the kitchen to keep cooking.

Song Chen hung his jacket on the hook by the door, walked over to the table, and sat down. "Dad."

Song Zhengye grunted, lifted the enamel cup, and took a sip without looking at him.

Something was wrong. Very wrong. This was nothing like usual.

Song Chen was just about to ask what was going on when his mother came out carrying two plates.

One was braised pork, the other shredded potatoes stir-fried with potatoes—both of his favorites.

She set the dishes on the table, served the rice, then sat across from him.

Three people, one table, three bowls of rice.

No one picked up their chopsticks or said a word.

After a long while, Li Xiuying broke the silence.

She lowered her voice as if she were revealing a secret. "Your homeroom teacher called. He said you signed up for off-campus combat training."

Song Chen's chopsticks paused.

"When did that happen?"

"Just now."

Li Xiuying looked at Song Chen, her eyes already reddening. "Your homeroom teacher called specifically to warn us. He said the training is dangerous and that people have died during it in previous years."

"Chen, tell Mom honestly. What are you thinking?"

Song Chen remained silent.

Li Xiuying's voice trembled slightly. "Your Vitality Value is only 0.6. You're not even a Martial Artist. Even a First Rank mutated beast outside the city could slap you to death. You're just..."

She couldn't bring herself to say the word "dead."