The Strongest Body Customization System

Ian was surrounded by his teammates. Following that, three curious gazes on him. Liz, Kate, and Daniel crowded around, eyes wide, waiting for answers.

"I, uh, awakened it," Ian said, scratching the back of his neck. He shifted his weight awkwardly. "I don't really know how or why. It just happened." His voice was unsure, but he tried to sound confident, hoping they would believe him.

Kate raised an eyebrow. "Awakened it? What does that even mean?"

Before Ian could answer, Liz stepped forward. "Show us then. Let's see how strong it really is."

Ian nodded, his fingers twitching at his sides. Slowly, he raised his arms, letting the sleek, metallic armor shimmer in the light. The edges were smooth, the plating nearly flawless. It almost looked like something out of a sci-fi movie.

"Alright," Daniel said, smirking. "Let's see if it's as tough as you say."

Liz, Kate, and Daniel took turns stepping up, trying to punch, kick, and shove him. Each hit barely made a dent. Ian barely flinched, his armor taking the blows without a sound. Liz hit him hard in the chest, her fist bouncing off with a dull thud. Kate aimed a kick at his side, but it only skimmed the surface of the armor. Daniel swung his fist at Ian's back, but it hit with a soft clang, leaving nothing but a faint vibration.

They stepped back, mouths open in surprise. "No way…" Daniel muttered.

Ian stood there, his face betraying none of the surprise he felt inside. His exoskeleton armor didn't even seem to budge. He could almost feel their disbelief. But inside, he was still trying to appear calm.

...

Ian stood near the remains of the four werewolves, the smell of blood thick in the air. His stomach growled a low, hungry sound that echoed in the quiet. He looked over at Bareagle and the rest of his companions. Their faces were tired, but there was a glint of understanding in their eyes.

"You think it's a good idea?" Ian asked, glancing at the bodies. "I mean, I've done it before. It might help me."

Bareagle scratched his chin, then looked at the others. "You've eaten worse," he said with a shrug. "It's not like we haven't seen you eat raw meat before. You know what you're doing."

Liz and Kate nodded, and even Daniel gave a thumbs-up. They had all seen Ian eat enemies for the past few days— monsters, animals, even strange creatures. It didn't bother them anymore.

"Yeah, it'll make you stronger," Daniel said. "And if it gets you through the next fight, I'm all for it."

Ian smiled a little, his eyes scanning the four still bodies. He knelt down beside them, wiping his hands on his pants. Bareagle watched, shaking his head.

"Don't make a mess," Bareagle said, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Without another word, Ian began tearing into the raw meat, his teeth sinking into the flesh of the true werewolf. The others watched him quietly. There was nothing new about this to them — Ian had done this more than once. But the sound of him chewing loudly was enough to make them wince a little.

Suddenly, a small beep rang from Ian's wrist. His eyes glanced down at the notification.

"Biomass acquired: 3,000+ units. 60% from True Werewolf."

Ian blinked, then grinned. "Well, that was... pretty good."

Bareagle let out a low laugh. "You've really got a talent for this, don't you?"

"I guess I'm just that hungry," Ian said with a smirk, wiping some blood off his chin.

Liz raised an eyebrow. "You're not going to eat all of it, are you?"

Ian looked up, pausing. "I think I might. Might as well get all the strength I can, right?"

Kate made a face. "I'll never get used to watching you do that."

Daniel laughed. "Next time, try seasoning it. Might be a bit more... tasty."

Ian looked at him, a devilish grin spreading across his face. "Seasoning? I'll season it with more werewolf if you want."

Everyone froze, staring at him. Then, they all burst into laughter. Even Bareagle, who usually stayed serious, chuckled.

Ian shrugged. "Guess I'll leave the seasoning for later."

Suddenly, Bareagle stopped chuckling and crossed his arms, his eyes scanning Ian. He tilted his head slightly, observing Ian's exoskeleton armor gleaming in the dim light.

"You know," Bareagle began, his voice smooth, "with those claws and that armor, you're almost on my level now." He gestured to Ian, his tone almost impressed. "You're not far from being as strong as a veteran true vampire."

Ian paused, running a hand over his exoskeleton armor. The smooth metal felt like a second skin now. He hadn't expected Bareagle to compare him to a veteran true vampire — but it was clear the captain wasn't joking. The armor had made him faster, tougher, and stronger. Still, hearing it from Bareagle made him feel... strange.

He shrugged, trying to brush it off. "Yeah, but I just became a true vampire recently... I'm too far from being equal to a veteran line you captain," he said, glancing at his bone claws. "These are just... tools."

Bareagle grinned, a sharp, knowing smile. "Tools or not, you've got power. And power... is what you need to rise up." His eyes sparkled with excitement. "I think you should build your own team. Create your own squad. I'll talk to the upper echelon, Ian. Imagine it: you leading a whole squad, no limits."

Ian blinked, surprised by Bareagle's words. A team? That sounded like way more than he wanted right now. His mind started to run, thinking of all the responsibilities that would come with such power. He shook his head slowly, rubbing his temples.

"Look," Ian started, "I'm not looking for any kind of responsibility. Not right now. I just wanna focus on getting stronger, doing what I need to do, and... maybe later." He waved a hand as if pushing the idea away. "Not now. Maybe someday."

Bareagle raised an eyebrow. "Someday? You're already strong enough to lead. Why wait?"

Ian scratched the back of his head, looking uncomfortable. "I mean... I don't want a bunch of people looking up to me. I'd rather just... do my own thing for now."

Kate, who had been quietly listening, stepped forward. "Yeah, Ian, if you start your own team, you'll probably end up with a bunch of people trying to tell you what to do."

Daniel added with a grin, "And you'll be the one who has to clean up all the messes they make."

Ian sighed in relief. "Exactly. I'm good with just... not doing all that stuff right now. Maybe in the future. Like, way in the future."

Bareagle chuckled, shaking his head. "Alright, alright. You're just not ready to lead yet. I get it. But just remember—when the time comes... I'm here."

Ian gave a small smile, nodding. "Thanks, but I'm good for now. No need to rush into things."

Bareagle shrugged. "Suit yourself. But you might change your mind after a few more fights."

Ian raised an eyebrow, grinning. "Well, if the army's just me and my bone claws... I think we're good."

Everyone laughed, the tension breaking. Bareagle rolled his eyes, smiling. "Alright, brat. You win this round."