The Strongest Body Customization System

The wind howled through the broken streets of the ruined city, pushing dust across the cracked stone. Now, the only noise coming from the soft scraping of the shovel against the earth.

Barseagle stood behind Ian, his clothes billowing slightly as he surveyed the area, his sharp eyes scanning for any movement. He looked down at the vampire kid's lifeless body, his expression unreadable.

Ian, his skeletal claws scraping the ground as he helped dig, flexed his powerful muscles with each scoop. The earth around the small body slowly gave way, creating a deep hole.

Kate, wiping a few strands of her messy hair from her face, sighed. "I bet the werewolves ran out of supplies. Maybe they couldn't handle our territory anymore. You know, all the vampires' food is better than anything a werewolf could catch."

"Could be," Liz muttered, glancing at her with a half-smile. "Or maybe they just got scared. Have you seen how much muscle Ian has? Even the wolves wouldn't want to fight him."

Daniel, standing off to the side, smirked and cracked his knuckles. "I'm sure they just realized how dangerous we are. No one can handle a Team 7 cleanup."

Barseagle cleared his throat and nodded once. "Mission's done. The werewolves aren't coming back. Let's head back to report to the army. Get your gear together."

As Ian stood up, he paused for a moment, his massive frame casting a shadow over the others. He gave a short grunt before turning and dusting off his exoskeleton armor. It made a creaking noise, like an ancient door about to fall off its hinges.

"I'll carry the body," Ian said, his voice deep but surprisingly gentle. He hoisted the kid's body with ease, cradling it in one arm. The team turned to walk, but Kate looked back at the hole.

"Hold on," she said with a frown. "Did we even say anything nice about the kid? I mean, all he did was... die for the vampire race. Shouldn't we say something respectful?"

Barseagle glanced over his shoulder, shaking his head. "We don't know this kid. But he did his job. No need for speeches."

Kate shrugged. "Alright, fine. But someone should've at least said, 'Rest in peace, buddy.'"

Ian, still holding the body, looked down at the kid's face. "Rest in peace, buddy."

The team froze. Ian had never been the sentimental type. A few moments passed. Then, as if to break the awkward silence, Ian added, "You think he'd be mad if I ate the leftovers from his pack?"

Everyone stared at him. Barseagle rubbed his temples, already regretting the day.

Liz spoke up, her voice deadpan. "Are you really asking that after burying him?"

Ian gave a shrug. "I'm just wondering if we're supposed to leave food behind or take it with us. He won't need it anymore, right?"

Kate gave him a look that could've frozen fire. "You're hopeless."

Ian grinned.

...

Just like that, the ruined city faded behind them as the team marched back toward the army's stronghold. Each of them was lost in their thoughts.

Daniel, walking a little behind the group, suddenly broke the silence. "I don't get it," he muttered, tapping his chin with one hand. His eyes were narrowed as if he could see something the others couldn't. "Why would the werewolves try to start a war again? I mean, they were pushed back once, right?"

Kate rolled her eyes, not even looking back. "You're not about to start one of your conspiracy theories again, are you?"

But Daniel wasn't listening. "Think about it. They sent their best warriors deep into the border. Why not stay close to their territory?" His voice was almost a whisper. "What if they have something bigger planned? Maybe they're looking for something here, something we don't know about."

Ian, who was up ahead, grunted in agreement, though it was hard to tell if he was actually listening.

Barseagle, always the practical one, glanced over at Ian. "Hey, Ian," he called, his voice clear and loud. "How about a sparring match? Test those new armor of yours?"

Ian, still holding the body, looked over at his captain. "You want to fight me, Captain?" He raised an eyebrow, his bone claws flicking in and out like sharp blades, giving off a soft, eerie clicking sound. His exoskeleton armor creaked as he adjusted his stance.

Barseagle smirked. "Why not? You've been getting bigger lately. I'm curious if you can handle a real fight." His eyes gleamed.

Ian considered this for a moment, then slowly lowered the body to the ground. "Sure. Let's see if I can't break you, Captain."

The team cleared some space, moving out of the way. Barseagle stretched his arms, cracking his knuckles as his muscles tensed. Ian stood still, letting his exoskeleton armor shift and adjust over his growing frame. With a single, swift movement, Barseagle lunged at Ian.

Barseagle's speed was almost impossible to follow, and his strikes were powerful. Ian barely managed to block the first hit with his claws, the sound of bone against bone ringing through the air. Ian's increased muscle mass helped him keep his balance, but the hits were relentless. His exoskeleton groaned under the pressure as Barseagle's blows landed again and again.

Despite Ian's impressive strength and defenses, Barseagle was just too much. The fight was quick. Ian was already on the defensive, his large body, which was designed for agility, struggling to keep up with Barseagle's speed and power. Sweat dripped from Ian's face, and for a moment, it seemed like the match was over before it even began.

'Damn it!' Ian cursed.

But then Ian's eyes flicked to the sky; the system gave him a suggestion mid-fight. His body shifted, and before anyone could react, he raised his arm. A sharp, red tail—his kagune—sprouted from his back, growing in size, thick with muscle, and deadly sharp. It lashed out like a whip, catching Barseagle off guard as it swiped across his chest.

Barseagle stumbled back, his eyes wide for just a second, but Ian wasn't done. With another flick, the kagune grew larger, forcing Barseagle to jump back, narrowly avoiding the strike. The surprise in Barseagle's eyes slowly turned into admiration, but he quickly regained his posture, smiling like a proud father.

"You've got some tricks up your sleeve," Barseagle said, wiping a trickle of blood from his lip where the tail had grazed him. "Didn't see that one coming. How the fuck can you have weird body parts one after another? First, the bone claws and exoskeleton armor. And now, a damned tail..."

Ian, breathing heavily, grinned. "Yeah, well… It seems I have a special physique."

Kate raised an eyebrow. "Wait, you're telling me awakened that tail in the middle of a fight?"

Ian nodded casually. "Pretty much. But I don't have control over this. I don't really have a clue what's happening to my body."

Liz snickered. "Ian, I swear, you make everything sound like you're playing a game."

Daniel, still deep in thought, suddenly added, "Damn..."

Barseagle shook his head, wiping sweat from his brow. "Such a powerful physique. Well, the stronger you are, the better it was for the team."

Ian shrugged, glancing at the group. "Yeah, but if I'm going to keep fighting, I might as well have some fun with it."

The team groaned, shaking their heads at Ian's typical nonchalance.

And so, the fight ended—not with a victor, but with the realization that Ian might be more dangerous than any of them had imagined.