As the boy actively engages with the symbiotic beast, Blood Exchange begins.
Soon, both A Luo and the Armor-Plated Capybara he was holding began to have a dazed expression (although capybaras are naturally dazed), like someone who intended to take a 15-minute nap but ended up sleeping for several hours and then suddenly woke up.
This state lasted for about a minute, without any earth-shattering special effects or an aura extending outwards, and the Blood Exchange ended just like that.
After all, both the capybara and A Luo are just Low Tier creatures that can be seen everywhere by the roadside. What expectations can one have for Low Tier Blood Exchange Soul Returner?
The boy, carrying a capybara, staggered to [ Soaring Clouds 3773 ]'s side, his eyes still somewhat vacant.
He casually placed the symbiote he was holding next to Vine Dog Bruce, then stood up and looked at the Soul Returner:
"Big brother, you have to keep going! As for me, I'll just..."
A Luo made a weak attempt to cheer himself up, then turned and went to the Soul Returner's dilapidated tent, intending to sleep there.
Not a buddy...
[ Soaring Clouds 3773 ]'s lips twitched involuntarily a few times.
It really works like a charm, and it's quite authoritative in the field of treating insomnia.
He thought to himself:
Besides slowing down and guiding human Aberration, Blood Exchange have many additional effects.
One of the reasons is that people who have just had a blood transfusion will experience a significant change in personality.
As for the specific direction of change, it is related to the living habits of the corresponding symbiotic animals.
What kind of personality traits can you expect from a capybara that is emotionally stable?
[ Soaring Clouds 3773 ] looked down at his feet. This little monster, which seemed to be a fusion of an armadillo and a Kapibal, was slowly bringing its square nose toward Vine Dog rolling around to the side.
The Soul Returner raised an eyebrow, thinking that this mutated beast must have smelled the plant-like scent on the Vine Dog and, as a herbivore, wanted to try it out.
That won't do.
The "no" that the Soul Returner was referring to certainly didn't mean that Kapibal wanted to taste the Vine Dog.
After all, the Vine Dog reacts very quickly; if it really wanted to dodge, this clumsy capybara wouldn't be able to catch it.
The "no" he was thinking of was directed at A Luo had just crawled into the tent a few steps away.
Perhaps because such symbiotic beasts are relatively rare, or perhaps because his pilot is relatively young, A Luo seems to be particularly influenced by capybaras, to the point that it can even affect his decision-making.
Just two minutes ago, this young man was enthusiastically wanting to join the army with the Soul Returner, but now he suddenly wants to go to sleep. This kind of influence is not insignificant.
Although A Luo is currently in low spirits and only wants to take a nap, the Soul Returner knows that his judgment has only been temporarily impaired by external hormones.
If Aro really misses the selection for auxiliary soldiers, A Luo will probably feel sad and regretful for a while.
Knowing this would happen, why did he voluntarily undergo Blood Exchange before the selection process?
The reason for this is something even the Soul Returner know.
This wasn't the first time he'd seen A Luo undergo Blood Exchange; he just hadn't paid close attention to his symbiote before.
Given A Luo's current frailty, there's absolutely no way he could have passed the auxiliary soldier selection without first borrowing some strength from the capybara.
With a sigh inwardly, [ Soaring Clouds 3773 ] quickly walked to the tent and grabbed A Luo from the tattered ground.
The boy's henchman was fast asleep and showed no signs of waking up even when he was grabbed by the collar.
Then the Soul Returner carried the thin boy, along with a Vine Dog and a Kapibal, toward the nearest city gate—the symbiotic beast had to be brought along, otherwise it might end up in someone else's pot in the blink of an eye.
Looking at the city gate obscured by dust, the Soul Returner began to make plans in his mind:
It will take some time to get there, and it will also take some time to queue. We'll wake A Luo up then, and he should be in top condition by then.
If you can't even pass the auxiliary soldier selection like this, then it means that this job isn't for just anyone...
The outer city's working-class district is a large enclave of losers.
This place is home to "talented people" from all over the empire; there are many madmen, but almost no fools.
Therefore, most people actually saw the dangers hidden behind this recruitment order for auxiliary soldiers, which seemed to offer relatively good benefits.
But chaos and opportunity always go hand in hand. They saw the hidden dangers and naturally understood that their chance to turn things around might lie within them.
This awareness, when put into practice, manifested in the enormous registration line in front of [ Soaring Clouds 3773 ].
Looking at the long queue that turned several corners ahead, the Soul Returner guessed that there were at least five hundred people queuing in front of him.
And there were at least four other teams like that around them.
There are at least seven more recruitment sites like this.
And cities like the capital, where there are people to recruit, exist in this country...
Good heavens, how many people does the Minister of the Imperial Seal need to recruit?
[ Soaring Clouds 3773 ] felt a pang of doubt and, carrying the still-sleeping A Luo, continued to queue.
About two hours later, the boy's follower finally woke up and transformed back into the "loyal minister and general" who wanted to follow the Soul Returner.
Although the line hadn't reached the end yet, it was already very close to the finish line—at least the impatient recruiting officer could be seen sitting comfortably just a few dozen steps away.
A Luo was deeply moved to learn that his boss had not abandoned him. After all, he always lost control of his body and thoughts after each blood transfusion, as if he were possessed by the capybara.
Generally, he would feel better after sleeping for a while, and the eldest brother actually understood what he meant, and even while waiting in line, he did not choose to abandon him.
I just had a blood transfusion not long ago, and after a good nap, I'm in the best condition right now!
Ignoring the surprised or disdainful looks from the crowd, A Luo began to stretch his limbs in place, preparing for the upcoming inspection.
After a while, it was finally [ Soaring Clouds 3773 ], A Luo, and eight other people's turn to be assessed.
They were led to a spot closer to the city gate, where a stern-faced conscription officer sat before them.
Between them and the conscription officer, each of them had two stone locks of different sizes placed in front of them. The larger one looked to weigh at least a hundred pounds, while the smaller one must have weighed at least fifty or sixty pounds.
Listen up, all of you!
The conscription officer looked at the ten men in front of him and shouted in a low voice:
"Choose one of the two stone weights. Lift it up or hug it, and hold it until the hourglass in my hand runs out. That will pass the test and you can become a support soldier."