The Strongest Body Customization System

Ian started by tidying up the small space. He picked up his gear, sorting it into neat piles. Weapons, potions, a few personal belongings—everything had its place now. He folded his clothes with quick, efficient movements, the process almost automatic. He was used to organizing things by now, having done it so many times on the road.

Once everything was in order, he sat down on his bed, the stillness of the room settling over him. The day's adventure was over, and the little victory felt good. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the remaining points card, running his finger over the numbers. 1,550 points. He'd probably save them for something more important later. Maybe an upgrade or something cool down the line.

But for now, it was just him, in his room, enjoying the quiet.

Later that evening, the rest of Team 7 returned to the camp. They gathered in the living room of the house, each of them talking about what they'd bought with their points.

Daniel slouched in his chair, holding up a new sword he'd picked out. "I got something that'll make sure the next werewolf won't be walking away."

Ian leaned back, a smirk on his face. "I bet you're already planning how to break it, huh?"

Daniel shot him a mock glare. "I'm not that reckless."

Captain Barseagle rolled his eyes. "Says the guy who once broke a sword just by looking at it wrong."

The group erupted into laughter, including Ian, who chuckled at Daniel's expense.

Kate leaned in, winking at Ian. "What'd you get, big guy? Something fancy?"

Ian held up the Sound Shield. "This. No idea what it does, but it sounds like something cool to have."

Liz raised an eyebrow. "You're really going to carry around a 'Sound Shield'?"

"I mean, it sounds like it'll protect me from annoying noises. That counts as a win in my book."

Kate laughed, shaking her head. "You're going to regret it when you have to listen to it whirring nonstop."

"Better than listening to you complain about bugs!" Ian shot back with a grin.

...

Ian sat cross-legged on his bed, staring at the wooden floor in deep thought. The camp was quiet, everyone else either resting or out training. He wasn't exactly tired, but his mind was restless. He had been thinking a lot about the recent mission and his future strength. He needed to make some changes, but it had to be smart.

"System," he muttered under his breath, his voice soft in the stillness of his room, "what's the best way to improve my body without drawing attention?"

His system's voice buzzed in his head, calm and clear. "You have a lot of biomass. Maximize the internal enhancements first, don't be a blind fool just focusing on external body. Strengthen bone structure, muscle fibers, and your nervous system. These are the most efficient upgrades without changing your appearance."

Ian rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Internal enhancements, huh? It made sense. The stronger his bones and muscles were on the inside, the more power he could hold without it being obvious to anyone around him. That would mean less attention, and, hopefully, fewer questions from the team.

"So, what's the best way to do this?" Ian asked, leaning back against the wall. "Should I start with my bones or my muscles?"

The system responded quickly. "Start with the skeletal system. Higher density will give you more durability. Then, enhance the muscle fibers to increase strength. Finish with your nervous system. This will improve your reaction times and mental sharpness. These upgrades are subtle but effective. However, these will consume all your biomass."

Ian nodded to himself. "Alright. Sounds simple enough."

He closed his eyes, focusing as he began following the system's instructions. He could feel it happening, like a slow, controlled wave of energy spreading through his body. It wasn't painful, but there was a strange pressure as the changes took place deep inside. He took a deep breath, feeling the new power settling into his bones, muscles, and nerves.

After a while, Ian opened his eyes and stretched, feeling more solid and sharper than before. He stood up, testing his balance. Everything felt stronger, like he could handle a lot more now. He flexed his hands and smiled.

'Status!'

Name: Ian

Race: Lesser Vampire

Height 4.75 meters

-Body Structure-

Internal:

Increased Bone Density (+2) Iron Grade Muscle Fibers (+1), Improved Nervous System (+1)

External:

Skeletal Claws (retractable), Body Size (+3 meters) Increased Muscle Mass. Exoskeleton Armor. Kagune Tail.

Biomass: 0

"Not bad," Ian murmured, quietly satisfied with the change.

The next morning, Ian returned to the main house where the rest of Team 7 gathered. As usual, the place was buzzing with chatter and the smell of food. But today was different. Barseagle, the captain, stood at the front, his arms crossed, looking more serious than usual.

"Listen up," Barseagle began, his voice firm. "There's been some major news coming from the Blood Realm."

Ian leaned against the wall, listening. The Blood Realm is the place where vampires like him came from. A place of politics, power struggles, and all sorts of mess. If Barseagle was mentioning it, something big must've happened.

"The Blood Realm has been changing. There are rumors of a new power rising," Barseagle continued. "The old ways are being challenged, and it's getting dangerous. We need to be prepared for what's coming."

The room grew quiet. Even Kate, who usually had something to say, was waiting for more.

"Any specifics?" Daniel asked, his voice curious.

Barseagle's eyes flickered. "Not yet. But there's a lot of unrest, and we may get called to help with the situation soon. Prepare yourselves. We might need to come back to the blood realm earlier than expected."

The mood changed. Team 7 wasn't used to hearing about anything like this. They had just been recently deployed out of Blood Realm, did their first small mission in the border. Now, it's time for the political wars from the Blood Realm.

Kate broke the silence, her mind already working. "I've got two ideas," she said, her eyes sharp. "First, the new power could be a new faction trying to take control. The Blood Realm's always been about who's got the strongest clan or the most influence."

Everyone nodded, agreeing with her. The Blood Realm wasn't just a place—it was a battleground of bullshit rivalries, and any new faction trying to rise would shake things up.

"The second guess," Kate continued, pausing for effect, "is that it's a rebellion. Maybe the lower vampires have had enough. We've always been treated as second-class, and now someone might be pushing back."

Liz leaned forward, her brow furrowing. "Makes sense. Either way, it sounds like trouble."

Barseagle gave a nod. "Exactly. That's why we're being kept on alert. I'll keep you updated when I know more."

Ian, still adjusting to his internal changes, smiled faintly. This was exactly the kind of thing he had been training for. The thought of getting involved in something bigger was exciting, and even with his quiet confidence, he couldn't help but wonder where this would lead.

"Looks like we'll have a busy few weeks ahead," Ian muttered, grinning.

Kate snorted, elbowing Daniel. "Yeah, we're all just going to be super busy with all the chaos."

Barseagle gave a tired sigh. "I've been busy for 500 years. Chaos is my middle name."

The room burst into laughter. Even Barseagle cracked a smile, his serious expression breaking for a second.

"Alright, alright," Barseagle said, still chuckling. "Let's see if you can handle the real chaos when it comes. We'll need all the strength we can get."