Shadow Being System

The massive shelter sprawled before them, rivaling the military academy they'd left behind in size. Like the ancient towns of Earth's past, it stretched across the landscape – though unlike those settlements, there were no towering skyscrapers piercing the sky. The tallest structure was the three-story military building at its center, its utilitarian design a stark contrast to the surrounding architecture.

William adjusted the bow slung across his shoulder, his fingers unconsciously brushing against the fletching of the arrows in his quiver. His eyes constantly scanned the crowds, searching for any sign of movement that seemed out of place, anyone wearing a hoodie or covering their face, even anyone eyeing them for too long. The heretics had tried to kill him at the military academy before where the security was tight; he wouldn't put it past them to send an assassin even here, on another planet, where the security wasn't that much and his death could be easily blamed on the beasts.

The ground beneath their feet was hard-packed and sun-baked, its orange-red surface cracked like ancient pottery. Not a single blade of grass broke through the parched earth or whatever the planet was called– the relentless two suns shining brightly above the sky had scorched away any chance of life taking root. The air shimmered with heat waves, carrying the mingled scents of dust and distant cooking fires.

Around them, the streets pulsed with life. Families moved through the crowds, parents keeping watchful eyes on their children as they navigated between the countless market stalls. The aroma of sizzling meat wafted through the air, mixing with the fresh scent of fruits and vegetables displayed in wooden crates. Gavin's dual daggers caught the sunlight as he shifted his weight, watching the scene with interest.

Liam hefted his giant sword to a more comfortable position on his back, his eyes wide with wonder. "This looks even better than some places on Earth!" He exclaimed, taking in the bustling scene. "I wonder why more people don't move to the shelters more?"

Beside him, Eleanor's whip coiled at her hip as she shook her head. "Freedom," she said, her voice carrying a hint of bitterness. "Look around you. Most of these people aren't hunters or military personnel. They're likely low tiers with weak abilities who couldn't afford Earth anymore. They were forced to come here, unable to live anymore on Earth." She gestured at the crowds. "I bet most have never stepped outside the shelter. This is their entire world."

The implications hung heavy in the air. Power meant choices – high tiers could choose their shelters, maintain residences on Earth, travel freely between the two. But for the others, life meant picking one place and staying put. Sofia stood quietly among them, notably without any visible weapons, her expression thoughtful as she observed the marketplace.

"The shelters themselves are interesting," Eleanor continued, her voice taking on an educational tone. "They're all created and funded by either companies or the military. This one's government-owned, which means everyone pays credit tax for protection and residency." She paused as a group of merchants passed by, their hover-carts laden with goods. "Even beast hunters have to pay tax for the beasts they hunted if they want to return to Earth."

The conversation shifted to the ownership structure of other shelters, particularly those controlled by the B10 – the most powerful original families known to exist, and the ten leaders of the world. Their shelters were notably more luxurious, designed to mirror Earth's grand cities. The tier system played a crucial role too: Tier 1 being the highest, Tier 5 the lowest. Higher tiers meant better protection and more opportunities, but at a steeper cost.

"This is a Tier 4 shelter," Eleanor explained as they walked. The higher tiers could defend against more powerful beasts, which justified their higher tax rates. William noticed she spoke with the confidence of someone who had known of these systems extensively, but well, she indeed had studied it as a princess whose father will be deeply involved in this things.

Still staying at where they landed, they found themselves standing in a circle drawn on the ground – one that the locals seemed intentionally to avoid. The way people skirted around it spoke volumes about local customs they didn't yet understand.

"Come on, we better move," Gavin said, his daggers glinting as he gestured toward the crowd.

Sofia looked around, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings. "Well, where should we go first?"

"Let's head to the hunters hall," Gavin replied, consulting a map that had been given to them by the academy in his hands. "It's where they keep information for hunters. You can trade crystal cores for credits there, or just trade in general."

Their journey through the shelter led them to an enormous hangar-like structure. Unlike most buildings, it had no formal entrance – people flowed freely in and out of the open space. Counter after counter lined the walls, staffed by workers of various specialties. Just as Gavin had described, there were blacksmiths working at their forges, shops selling specialized equipment like beast bait, and a prominent quest board.

The quest board drew numerous hunters, some looking to form groups for specific tasks. Civilians seeking protection for inter-shelter travel also posted their requests there. Eleanor's attention was drawn to several groups of students, easily identifiable in their military uniforms. While they carried beast weapons, none of the students wore beast armor – a clear sign they were first-years like themselves.

"What are they doing?" William asked, watching several students approach the quest board.

"Looks like they're asking for help," Eleanor replied. "The wealthy ones usually hire Travelers to hunt with them and show them the a few things."

Gavin's brow furrowed. "How is that fair?"

Eleanor's laugh held no humor. "Since when have they cared about fair? Those with money or military connections get direct military support."

Liam turned to Eleanor with a mischievous grin. "Hey, aren't you basically a princess of the great nation of Spain? We could hire a hunter too!"

William quickly shook his head, his hand unconsciously tightening on his bow. "That would be cheating – we wouldn't learn anything that way." He kept his deeper concerns to himself: the risk of hiring an unknown hunter when he knew assassins might be looking for him was too great, what if the hunter they hired was the assassin from the heretics, he wasn't going to take any risk.

"Well, there's no point worrying about it," Gavin said, adjusting his daggers. "All we can do is focus on us and do the best we can."

"Says the useless one," Liam jabbed with a grin.

"Look who's talking!" Gavin shot back. "At least I have a brain, but I'm not quite sure about you, not with that hair," mocking Liam's red hair.

"Come off it you two," William said.

The group approached one of the stalls, where an old man with a digital monocle over one eye presided over an impressive array of beast-hunting equipment. His weathered face crinkled into a knowing smile as they approached.

"How can I help you, young soldiers?" He chuckled. "I guess it's that time again when they send you all out to do your first hunt."

Eleanor stepped forward. "We need a map of the hunting areas."

"Sure thing. That'll be 2000 credits."

"2000?" Gavin's eyebrows shot up. "Are you trying to rip us off?"
Experience more on empire

The old man's laugh deepened. "Well, that'll be 2500 now, thanks to the young lad's rudeness."

Without hesitation, Eleanor produced a gold-colored money card – strikingly different from the standard-issue cards the others carried. In a world where their usual communication devices were useless on other planets, these cards were essential. The princess's card, however, spoke of wealth beyond their imagination.

"Beep"

"Thank you for your business," the old man said, his monocle glinting.

"Of course you're a rich princess," Liam muttered, eyeing the gold card.

They gathered around the digital paper map, studying its color-coded regions. Green areas seemed safest, shifting to orange and finally red zones where beast populations were densest. But something else caught William's attention – at the top of the map was the name of their current planet. His eyes widened as he read it, and suddenly the foreign world around them took on new meaning.

"They were on Mars!!"

Author's Note:

Happy new month, everyone! And a special shoutout to those celebrating the Chinese New Year—may this year bring you prosperity, strength, and success!

A huge THANK YOU to rogie75 for the power stones and golden ticket—your support means a lot! And to all my readers, whether you comment, vote, or simply enjoy the story, I truly appreciate every one of you. Your support keeps me motivated to write more!

If you're enjoying this story, be sure to check out my other book, Demon Being System—a thrilling mix of action, fantasy, and adventure that you won't want to miss!

Let's make this month an amazing one! See you in the next chapter!