Biocores: The Legendary Weapon Designer-Chapter 62: The citadel

Doctor Lux was momentarily stunned by Grimmes’ remark, but she couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly. Considering his special identity, she asked, "Do you want me to erase the information from the record?"

"There’s no need," Grimmes replied without hesitation. "This isn’t a shelter. We’re raising conquerors. If he can’t survive the stigma of being an anomaly, is he even one?"

With that, he issued his next order. "Move him to the next section."

Nioh was unhooked from the probes and ushered into another room—a cubic training chamber with reinforced walls, a high ceiling, and polished combat tiles. At the center of the space stood Grimmes, arms crossed, his presence exuding authority.

Nioh approached him and stopped, waiting. There was a brief, suffocating silence, during which he felt completely exposed, as if every secret he had was being laid bare under the man’s piercing gaze.

Finally, Grimmes spoke. "I am Grimmes. I have decided that I will be your mentor during your stay here."

Nioh’s eyes narrowed. "Why the sudden change in attitude?"

"Your test results were conclusive enough to warrant my attention." Grimmes paused. "Although I oversee the entry point you used, you have the right to refuse my mentorship."

"What does your mentorship entail?"

"Nothing specific. My job is simply to ensure that, as a new seed, you grow into a conqueror."

Nioh hesitated for a moment before responding. "I am Nioh."

"Good."

Before he could react, Grimmes vanished. In the next instant, an unbearable force crushed him—his skull slammed into the floor with terrifying speed. His vision blurred, pain erupting across his body as he struggled to process what had just happened.

"Whenever you see someone in a blue uniform, it means they hold the title of Conqueror," Grimmes said coolly, his voice unwavering. "I may be lenient, but others will kill you for your ignorance."

He pressed his foot against Nioh’s back, the sheer weight of it feeling like a mountain collapsing onto him. Nioh coughed up blood, his limbs trembling under the unbearable force.

"You are a seed—the bottom of the food chain. You will toil, you will fight, and you will bleed for everything you earn. This place follows only one law."

Grimmes leaned down, his voice dropping to a near whisper.

"Dominate. Conquer. Reign."

He finally lifted his foot, letting Nioh gasp for air. "Until you can hold your own, you bow."

Nioh wiped the blood from his lips, his eyes burning with something deeper than defiance.

Grimmes smirked. "I don’t know how you got your token, but each one is your lifeline. You will start with a set amount of Conqueror Points based on your entry test results. How you survive depends entirely on your abilities."

He tossed Nioh a small metallic object. "Drip some blood on it."

Still aching, Nioh sat up and spat a wad of blood onto the token. The moment his blood touched the surface, the device expanded, unfolding mechanically before embedding itself onto his wrist like a sleek, silver bracelet. A crimson insignia pulsed at its center.

A virtual screen flickered to life, displaying his stats.

Name: Nioh

Age: 16

Rank: Seed

Rating: Anomaly (S-Tier)

Conqueror Points: 100

"The tag ’Anomaly’ means you are an irregularity—a deviation from the system’s design," Grimmes said, his tone unreadable. "Only two anomalies have passed through our ranks before. One became the leader of the most feared terrorist organization in human history. The other has been locked in this place... forever."

He let the words sink in before continuing. "This information isn’t private. Everyone will know, and you should be ready to deal with the consequences that come with it."

His gaze darkened. "The Citadel is not a school, nor an academy. It is an alliance forged to raise the future rulers of humanity. You are the architect of your own journey." He turned and began walking. "Welcome to the Citadel."

Nioh followed him through the towering gates.

"The Citadel is the only place on Earth that belongs to no nation, no government," Grimmes explained. "It is a coalition dedicated to forging conquerors. A floating city, the size of a metropolis, suspended above the world."

Nioh tilted his head back, his breath catching in his throat. High above, clouds rolled against a protective barrier, bending and dispersing as if the city itself defied nature. The entire structure was designed like a massive pyramid, its countless levels stretching toward the heavens in an endless climb.

"Everyone here is either a conqueror or will soon swear allegiance to the Citadel’s mission," Grimmes continued. "That mission is simple—to become the strongest military force in the world."

As they walked deeper into the city, Grimmes gestured toward the immense structures rising around them. "There are three fundamental pillars of the Citadel: knowledge, resources, and access. Everything here runs on Conqueror Points, which can only be earned through Cradle Zone expeditions or high-value exchanges."

He pointed to several massive halls scattered across different tiers of the pyramid-like city.

"The Knowledge Hall—where information is power. Any knowledge worth having, you’ll find there."

"The Exchange Hall—where resources are bought, traded, and fought over."

"The Combat Hall—the arena for duels, where strength determines worth."

"The Achievement Hall—the mission center, where your reputation is forged."

"And finally, the War Hall—the gateway to expeditions that will push you beyond your limits."

Grimmes stopped and looked at Nioh. His expression was unreadable, but there was an unmistakable weight behind his words.

"This is the Hall of Fame," Grimmes said as he led Nioh inside.

The vast hall was packed with both new Seeds and fully recognized Conquerors. Their entrance caused an immediate stir, abruptly interrupting an ongoing swearing ceremony. Heads turned, whispers spread like wildfire, but no one dared to raise their voice in protest.

Grimmes, unfazed, strode forward with Nioh following closely behind. Eyes tracked their every move, hushed murmurs trailing in their wake.

At the front of the hall, rows of seats had been prepared. A handful of Conquerors were already seated, their presence commanding, while behind each of them stood a group of new Seeds—future conquerors in waiting.

Grimmes dropped into his seat without ceremony. Nioh, understanding the unspoken rule, remained standing behind him like an entourage.

A voice cut through the murmurs.

"Grimmes, you dare accept another anomaly into the Citadel?"

The speaker was a Conqueror seated beside them, his gaze sharp and filled with disdain.

Grimmes didn’t even look at him. Instead, he leaned back lazily and replied, "If you address me again, I don’t mind drinking my next whiskey from your skull."

A brief silence followed—tense, expectant. Then, the other Conqueror let out a low chuckle before turning his attention to Nioh.

"You poor thing," he mused, eyes narrowing. "You have no idea what kind of calamity you’ve been dragged into."

He studied Nioh’s beaten appearance, clearly expecting a reaction. But Nioh simply stared back, expression unreadable.

The Conqueror’s smirk faltered.