Chapter 82
Chapter 82
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: Initiation Rites
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“Wow...”
“What kinda booze are they pounding like that?”
By now, the squad members had gathered around, murmuring in awe and cheers.
Empty bottles already occupied the entire neighboring table.
And yet, Ivan and I were still competitively slamming down vodka shots.
“How’s all that fitting in that body?”
“His gut’s gonna burst.”
The squad nailed it.
I’d miscalculated.
Up until we started the bet, I’d been confident I’d win.
No matter how much I drank, I wouldn’t get drunk—that much I knew.
*My stomach feels like it’s gonna explode.*
But I couldn’t do anything about being stuffed.
My stomach was at capacity.
I needed to dash to the bathroom and empty my bladder right now, but no way was ducking out mid-bet gonna fly in this atmosphere.
Ivan, meanwhile, was clearly getting buzzed, but with his massive frame, he still had plenty of room to spare.
In the end, I threw in the towel.
“That it?”
“Haha, my stomach’s too full. Can’t do more.”
Ivan nodded, his face flushed red.
“Close one. Hit the john at least.”
“Gotta finish the match first.”
I shook my clenched fist.
I’d given up this round, but no way was I handing over the next.
Maybe they figured this bet had a clearer winner, because fewer squad members seemed interested.
“Newbie put up a fight.”
“We’ll still treat ya like the baby even if you lose this one!”
The neighboring big sis set up the next round.
Bottles floated over our heads before settling onto the empty table.
*Telekinesis for sure. So her name’s...*
Telekinesis was one hell of a power.
For a Central Superhuman Unit member, its potency was easy to imagine.
I laid my left arm on the bare table first.
“Southpaw?”
“Don’t hide it. Does it matter?”
“Nah.”
Ivan matched me with his left.
His arm was definitely longer.
Nearly twice as long.
Even unsealed, mine would be about the same length.
Despite the huge length gap, our hands clasped without any prop under them, leaving Ivan’s stance awkward.
He didn’t let on, though—probably chalking it up to handicap.
“Hmm? Pretty cocky.”
“...Yeah, planning to win. That a problem?”
Maybe my face was too serious.
The big sis next to us chimed in with amused intrigue.
“Ivan’s got the best muscles in the unit, y’know?”
“Charlotte.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’m not the one betting.”
Charlotte it was.
I etched the familiar name in my mind and focused on the match.
Ivan gripped my hand and slowly applied pressure.
I matched it and pulled.
After a few test tugs, he spoke up, sensing I wasn’t a pushover.
“You’ve got some strength.”
“You too.”
The pressure on my hand built steadily.
As I held firm, Ivan got serious and squared his stance.
“Hngh!”
His arm muscles ballooned nearly double in an instant.
His hand, already bigger, now practically swallowed mine.
*Damn, he’s strong.*
If it weren’t my left arm, I’d have folded ages ago.
Thud!
The table couldn’t take the strain and collapsed.
But our positions hadn’t budged from the start.
“Ooh! Newbie’s holding out!”
“Uwahaha! Check out the veins popping on the baby’s forehead.”
This wasn’t a game anymore.
Ivan was going all out.
His raw power and endurance would’ve given even Roze a run for her money.
But my left arm boasted freakish strength beyond even hers.
“...Wh-whoa! He’s tipping!”
“No way, Ivan’s actually losing?”
Once I ramped up, his arm inched toward me.
He gritted his teeth hard, but defeat sealed soon after.
“He really won?”
“When’s the last time a newbie pulled that off?”
“Dunno?”
I knew all about this initiation rite.
When a newbie joins, the previous runt challenges them and picks the game.
The events change every time, and newbies almost always lose.
Nothing serious came of it, though.
Just a simple rite of passage.
A bit of bonding and fun, kept lighthearted.
“Tie game.”
“Kinda anticlimactic?”
A few squad members chatted loud enough to hear.
But Charlotte stepped in to set them straight.
“Anticlimactic my ass. Quit bullying the newbie and go play elsewhere.”
“Yeesh, yeesh, Madam.”
“Don’t call me Madam!”
“Hey, hey, let’s bail. Oi, newbie! Watch out for this auntie! Her nickname’s Newbie Killer... Ack!”
The giggling squad member yelped and bolted.
With them gone, Charlotte approached our table where Ivan and I sat.
“Good work, newbie. Or should I say maknae now?”
“Yes. Nice to meet you, sunbae.”
“Call me Charlotte.”
“Got it, Charlotte.”
Wavy hair, heavy makeup.
Her smiling eyes and seductive gaze were captivating.
Unlike the girls I’d known, she radiated a ripe, mature allure.
When I didn’t bite, Charlotte leaned in closer and hooked her arm through mine.
Soft, ample curves pressed against my forearm.
*Now I get the Newbie Killer nickname.*
She made no secret of her interest.
Didn’t care that Ivan was right there.
*...Hold up. Newbie Killer means Ivan was the newbie before me?*
Ivan’s stare suddenly felt heavy.
I stood, smoothly disentangling from Charlotte.
“Haha, that wrap today?”
“You’re free till the captain calls. Wanna hit some fun spots with your big sis? Bet you’re bored.”
“Nah, more like...”
I paused, then continued.
“Gotta hit the bathroom first. Been holding it—gonna burst.”
“...What?”
Charlotte’s eyes went wide, then she burst out laughing.
Even the stoic Ivan cracked a smirk.
And so the initiation wrapped up.
My first impression probably scored decent.
Maybe.
*
Beep!
ID check opened the door.
R3D3 and I stepped inside.
*Pretty spacious.*
The view opened wide.
The living room alone was about 80 pyeong, walls papered in virtual panels that mimicked windows overlooking scenery despite being sealed off.
The furniture was sleek and modern.
Could swap it if I wanted, but no need—it was perfect.
Way better than academy dorms.
*Temporary member’s not a real slot, so this must be a spare for full-timers.*
Beyond the huge living room, three bedrooms each with private baths.
Overkill for one person.
“Sort the luggage, please.”
-Yes, Master!
I left unpacking to R3D3 and tapped the panel on the table.
A homekeeper AI popped up.
I tested features, then commanded virtual scenery off.
The sunlit vista on the walls shifted to starry space.
*Whoa, massive...*
I gazed at the curving hull far out the “window.”
My ride was Valhalla, the Central Superhuman Unit’s flagship.
Valhalla spanned 1,500 meters in battle length—a behemoth needing 30,000 skilled crew to run at full tilt.
Add boarding troops, and peacetime complement hit 100,000.
The ship was a city unto itself.
*To think I’m seeing this with my own eyes!*
No wonder I wrote SF novels.
My space obsession and craving for epic starships rivaled anyone’s.
And here I was living the dream—what words could capture it?
Chest swelling, swept in wordless emotion, I stared out blankly for a while.
-Master. Luggage sorted. Beep!
“...Ah, thanks.”
-Atmosphere’s glum. Play some music?
“Nah, I’m good.”
Central Superhuman Unit members stayed combat-ready for strikes.
Like a five-minute alert squad—lucky first day, no heat on me.
*Gotta catch up on backlog first.*
Three days from academy to quarters: zero progress on my stuff.
Not just MC data input—personal training and studies untouched.
“Disable contamination sensors.”
Planning to apply the stockpiled Mammoth factors first.
*Common foe, but only spotting it now...*
Mammoths were chargers with thick hides and tanky builds to punch through fire nets.
Their skin especially shrugged off energy attacks near-immunity, neutering most mainstay weapons.
Mass drivers worked best, but ammo logistics sucked.
Post-countermeasures, they’d build shell factories on-site, supply dedicated anti-Mammoth tanks with HEAT or AP rounds.
All thanks to their “reverse-reactive exoskeleton”—designed to screw humanity over.
Hence why I eyed its energy resistance.
*Physical traits I can snag from other aliens.*
Trait name: Reverse-Reactive Exoskeleton.
Combined with my two energy barriers, defense would spike for sure.
Issue: energy attackers were rare among aliens.
Might not see much use.
But then it hit me—I’d only thought of aliens.
*...Right, my foes aren’t just aliens.*
Way more efficient against humans as intended.
Human arsenals long shifted to efficient, cheap energy weapons.
Infantry standards: beam guns or energy guns.
No bullets needed—just swap fist-sized energy packs for hundreds of bursts.
Anyway, my pick: Reverse-Reactive Exoskeleton.
Not full Mammoth potency, of course.
My thinner skin risked mutation if overdone.
Still, nailed basic resistance into my hide.
*Not bad.*
First application in ages, so I played safe.
Recall left arm overload from full splice—refined the factor mass to max purity.
No left-arm freakouts mid-process.
Extra refinement minimized contamination too.
*Ability’s definitely stronger.*
[Edit] upgrade.
State was dire then—had to [Edit] for normalcy.
Tweaked included ability boost.
Process now added compression/refinement to access/analyze/extract/apply, easing body load.
“Fire a beam at me?”
-Beep! Confirming attack on Master. Reconfirming order.
“Do it for real.”
-Reconfirmed. Firing high-output hydro beam—
“Whoa, no. Hold up—that ain’t it, buddy.”
I stopped it mid-transformation into a massive cannon.
Asked for one shot, and it’s going lethal?
“...You’ll kill someone like that.”
-Just visual effect. Beep!
“Cut the crap—do it.”
Pfft—beam hit my shoulder.
Sting of pain, but it bounced off without piercing, slamming the ceiling.
Boom! Crash!
Ceiling fixtures tumbled down.
Debris ricocheted, trashing furniture and the whole living room.
Staring at the instant wreckage, I blurted.
“...Shit, we fucked up.”
-Beep! Just following former Master’s orders.
R3D3 preempted with excuses.
I shot it a glare, dumbfounded.
First day in the Central Superhuman Unit, and already eventful as hell.