Divine Beast Star
Northern High Academy,
Class B
"Ahh..."
Lu Shen clutched his head, feeling a sharp pain that blurred his vision. He shook his head, trying to push the discomfort away, but it wouldn't subside.
His eyes scanned the room. The students around him, looked around eighteen years old, They were all focused and listening to their teacher's lecture. But Lu Shen wasn't paying attention to them, he was barely staying awake.
Who am I?
Where am I?
His last memory was of working late into the night, forced by his black hearted boss to work overtime. Now, he found himself in a classroom, surrounded by strangers, and even more strange was that his body looking unnaturally young.
He looked down at his hands. They didn't show the wear and tear of years of hard labor anymore. Instead, they looked soft and youthful.
Turning toward the window, he caught his reflection and his heart tightened in his chest. He had become younger, far younger than he remembered.
How did I get here?
Who am I now?
The confusion in his mind made it hard to think. He wanted to scream, to run out of the room, but he had no idea where to go.
Then, out of nowhere, memories began to flood his mind, memories that weren't his own.
....
"So that's what happened..."
After digesting the new memories, Lu Shen realized the truth, he had been transported to a new world, a world called "Divine Beast Star". Though the world's name had changed, its history mirrored his old planet "Blue Star".
His previous owner died because his body was fragile from birth, and despite his best efforts, his health had never been strong. In the end, it was his body's weakness that had claimed his life. So, Lu Shen took over his body.
Fortunately, his name in this new world was the same: Lu Shen.
As for families, his parents had passed away two years ago, leaving him an orphan, just like in his past life. He couldn't help but feel unlucky, as if having a family was something that always slipped away from him.
Despite his attempts to stay strong, a deep sadness lingered in his heart. The most depressing thought, however, was the condition of this world
A hundred years ago, the sky had cracked open, and from that crack, terrible creatures had poured out. These beasts wreaked havoc on the world, killing and eating people as if humans were mere prey.
After a hundred years of dark times...
Those creatures had wiped out almost a third of the population. Vast, fertile lands turned into empty, desolate wastelands ruled by the beasts.
But amidst the devastation, there was hope. Some humans started awakening to mysterious powers, called bloodlines, which allowed them to fight back against the beasts.
These warriors were called "Bloodline Warriors" and they became humanity's last line of defense.
January 21st, 2081 AD marked the beginning of the New Era.
In this new era, people began to develop supernatural abilities and lived longer lives, driving the world forward in ways never seen before.
But Lu Shen had been reborn in this era, one hundred years later, on New Era Year 100, July 7th.
A flicker of light interrupted his thoughts as a holographic video appeared in front of him. It wasn't surprising, though. Divine Beast Star was far more advanced than Blue Star, and he remembered similar things from his current life's memories.
Teacher Tang's voice filled the room. "After the attack of the demonic beasts, many lives were lost. But it also led to the rise of the Bloodline Warriors. These warriors awakened different powers, fire, water, earth, air, and wood...."
Teacher Tang continued, explaining the discovery of spiritual energy, a mysterious energy in air after that beast invision that allowed warriors to grow stronger and ascend to new levels of power.
In the century since the beasts first emerged, humanity has learned to harness spiritual energy, driving rapid technological advancement. However, despite these achievements, humans control less than 10 percent of the planet. The demonic beasts remain a constant threat, but human safety is ensured by the powerful bloodline warriors.
After ten minutes..
Ring, ring!
The bell rang.
"Prepare for tomorrow's bloodline test." Teacher Tang announced, his expression turning serious, before leaving.
Lu Shen couldn't help but feel a twinge of anxiety after hearing that.
A bloodline test.
He didn't belong here. He wasn't some from a powerful family. He was just a regular person, weak one at that.
Lu Shen felt a storm brewing in his heart, but around him, the others were filled with excitement.
"I wonder which bloodline beast I'll awaken."
"I don't know about that, but Tangsu Ming is definitely going to awaken a rare bloodline"
"Of course he will. His family can buy all the spiritual herbs and demon meat as much they want they want. Even a pig would awaken a rare bloodline with that kind of help."
Lu Shen's lips twitched a few times as he listened to his classmates, some filled with excitement, others with envy and hatred in their eyes, whispering to each other.
It wasn't just a rumor. Wealth and resources meant power in "Divine Beast Star". The more you had, the stronger you could become. It was just like his old world, money could buy anything.
Lu Shen clenched his fists, trying to ignore the bitter taste in his mouth. He wasn't from a rich family. He wasn't anything special. Just another person struggling to survive.
In the Divine Beast Star, after the appearance of demonic monsters, the animals and plants began to mutate. Animals became beasts, while some plants transformed into spiritual herbs. These herbs had the power to strengthen ordinary people's bodies.
Lu Shen recalled this information, realizing that if someone had a strong body before awakening, they were more likely to obtain a better bloodline.
"Shut up! You're going to get us all in trouble" a fat student whispered, glancing nervously at Tangsu Ming.
"'Don't provoke him" a fat student warned, fear in his voice.
"He's from a very powerful clan. I heard he nearly killed someone just because he didn't like that student."
"Yeah, I also heard his big brother got into one of the top universities. With those connections, Tangsu Ming will definitely get in too. We shouldn't risk causing trouble for ourselves."
Lu Shen sat quietly at his desk, taking deep breaths to calm himself. He couldn't do anything in his current situation, feeling hopeless in his circumstances. He didn't belong here. He didn't have the strength or the connections that others had.
As someone who had spent his lonely life reading manga, novels, and watching anime, Lu Shen had imagined he would be the main character after his rebirth. But now, he realized he wasn't even close to being a side character.
If you don't have strength, you're just a slave to those who do?
Lu Shen sighed, filled with disappointment.
Without a powerful background or physical strength, he realized his life in this world would be far from peaceful.
Damn it, other people get powerful systems, come from strong backgrounds, or have some other cheat when they're transported to another world. But me? I've got nothing except this weak thin skinned body.
oh system god help me....
Lu shen felt to curse few time in his heart.
.....
Lu Shen gathered his things and left the academy. his current life made his solder feel heavy as he walked toward the slums. The world seemed so big, and yet he felt so small.
How could someone like him survive here?
As Lu Shen thought about his current living situation, his heart ached. In his past life, though he wasn't wealthy, he had a proper home. But in this life, his house was in the slums.
The place he called home, if it could even be called that, his house was located in a part of the stronghold that barely held together.
The stronghold itself had been built after the demon invasions, a refuge for survivors. Yet, those who lived in the slums had little hope for a bright future.
The Azure Cloud Stronghold, where he lived.
After some walk...
When he arrived home, he ate a small meal of bread and eggs, then headed to his part-time job at a local shop.
The Shop
"Lu Shen, you're here again?" The middle age shop owner greeted him with a smile.
"Yeah, old man. I've got to work, don't I?" Lu Shen replied with a smile.
From his current life's memories, he knew that he might not have lived long enough to even meet the current version of himself without the shop owner's help.
He had been looking for part-time work, but only this shop owner had shown him kindness. Others had looked down on him, dismissing him because of his weak, sickly body.
"Yeah, why are you asking, old man?" Lu Shen added.
"Stingy brat, I thought you'd be busy preparing for tomorrow."
"Old man, you know my situation. With this weak and unfit body, I don't even know what my bloodline will be."
The shop owner sighed and glanced at Lu Shen. "Don't worry. You'll be fine. You never know what you might awaken tomorrow."
Lu Shen didn't believe him. His chances of awakening something great were slim. He wasn't special, and nothing in his life had ever been easy.
Shop owner wasn't optimistic about Lu Shen's chances either in his heart, but he knew that a bloodline's strength didn't always depend solely on one's physical condition,luck and hidden potential also played significant roles.
Thinking about bloodline, the shop owner remember something. He went to the back of his shop and returned with a small package containing something.
Lu Shen looked at the meat, and the name 'Demon Wolf Meat' appeared in his mind. It was rare and expensive, something most people could never afford.
Lu Shen felt conflicted about accepting such valuable meat, knowing it was worth more than he made in a month. Even so, he gritted his teeth.
"Old man, this is way too expensive. How can I accept it?"
The shopkeeper's expression turned serious, though there was a hint of surprise in his eyes. If it were anyone else in Lu Shen's place, they would have accepted without a second thought.
good kid?
The shopkeeper praised Lu Shen in his heart but kept a stern expression on his face, doing the opposite on the outside.
"Take it or throw it away. It's your choice"
Before Lu Shen could open his mouth to reject again, the shop owner silenced him with deadly gaze.
Reluctantly, Lu Shen accepted the meat, feeling the pressure from the old man's intense gaze. However, he couldn't bring himself to accept more from the shopkeeper.
As he thought carefully, a doubt appeared in his mind.
"But... how do you have demon meat? Isn't it only sold by bloodline warriors?"
"I got it from a friend. Just take it" the shopkeeper explained plainly in response to Lu Shen's question.
Lu Shen lips twitch violently.
Is demon wolf meat just found on the roadside?
Do you think I'm a fool?
That's what he wanted to shout to the old man's face.
He knew the shopkeeper was lying. After all, he only ran a cake shop—how could he possibly have demon wolf meat? But despite this, Lu Shen kept his thoughts to himself. A warmth filled his heart as he realized not everyone in this world was indifferent to him.
And he knew well enough that the shopkeeper wouldn't offer any further explanation.
Thanking the old man, Lu Shen headed to his usual work in the shop.
The shop owner watched him go and he couldn't help but feeling pity.
"This boy doesn't talk much, but he's well behaved. What a shame... If only he'd been born into a better family, he could've had a better future"
"What a pity..."
....
Far away in space, a mysterious object drifted silently in violent dark space, that object was radiating a powerful aura that its parts were not damaged. It seemed to be waiting for something or someone.
A voice, cold and ominous, echoed from the object.
"Finally... I've found you."
The object surged forward, moving at an impossible speed. Soon It made its way toward the blue planet.
....