The Beta Dominates Alphas

Chapter 120: Differentiation

Ren was working out on the floor of his room. He was doing an intense type of push-up, lifting his entire body off the ground using just his fingertips, like a supercharged Russian push-up. To make it even more challenging, he added weights to his back. His arms showed strong muscles, and his shoulders looked amazing. Sweat dripped from his brow, creating a tiny pool below him.

Next to him, his opticomputer showed a holographic screen. Oddly, it wasn’t playing his usual workout music or any tactical training videos. Instead, it was showing a recipe on how to make a dessert.

"You’re not the same anymore," the voice sneered. "Gone soft, have you? Forgotten all the reasons you were angry in the first place?"

Close to Ren’s hand lay a unique-looking dagger. The handle, as pale as bone, seemed to crack just a tiny bit, releasing a sound that was eerily like mocking laughter.

Ren didn’t say anything, just continued with his workout, his arm muscles tightening and loosening with each push.

"So, what? You’ve forgotten everyone who wronged you? Now all you dream about is cozy nights under the stars?" the voice mocked.

"Do you sleep peacefully? Remember, those you lost are still watching."

Even though the voice tried to provoke him, Ren kept his cool. He remained focused on his exercise, showing off his incredible strength and balance. "You just wouldn’t get it."

Now the dagger sounded even angrier. "What do you mean I wouldn’t get it? I’m ancient, way older than you. Have you started caring about that techie friend of yours? Always glued to screens. And what about me? It feels like forever since you last let me taste blood. I crave it. I need it!"

Ren, pushing himself up and down, replied, "You know, in the past, it wasn’t about revenge for me. I was just lost, not wanting to go on." Drops of sweat fell from him, echoing his emotions. "Things have changed. I truly want to set things right, to take action."

He left it at that, not going into details. The dagger’s attitude shifted a bit, becoming softer, "Who’d have thought?"

The dagger knew. It had been with Ren for ages, feeding off his blood and emotions. It had seen all his struggles and understood him, probably better than anyone else.

The dagger could tell that Ren had evolved. He seemed more thoughtful, busier. His goals were clearer, and his determination was stronger than ever. Every day, he’d be training with Kestrel, spending afternoons analyzing data, and in the evenings, he’d secretly meet with some big shots at the Tower. He was always on the move, always with a purpose.

But this new lifestyle meant fewer opportunities for the dagger to feed.

"What about me? I’m starving here. I need my fill," the dagger insisted.

Ren stopped for a second, catching his breath, "We’ll be visiting the Eyehole soon."

The dagger sounded intrigued, "With that Kraken? I’ve always been curious about her blood."

"If you so much as scratch her, I’ll break you," Ren responded, his voice calm but with an underlying threat. The dagger, knowing Ren too well, felt a hint of fear. When Ren spoke in that tone, it was truly spine-chilling.

The dagger seemed to shrink back, sensing the tension in the room. Only the sounds of Ren’s focused breathing and the cheerful voice of the food vlogger from the video could be heard, "Let the sugar melt until it turns a lovely golden hue. It’s the kind of sweetness that’ll touch your soul."

After a brief moment, the ever-needy dagger spoke up again, its tone dripping with mockery. "You, of all people, catching feelings? Given your plans, you might not see another sunrise. Yet here you are, acting as if you’ve got forever."

Ren remained silent.

"You’re fooling yourself. You believe that as long as you hide your feelings, never revealing them to her, you’ll be alright." freёwebnovel.com

Again, Ren said nothing.

"You’re always there, right by her side. Training with her, facing danger together, watching her thrive. But what happens when you’re gone? There’ll be plenty of other alphas lining up to take your place."

Ren’s silence continued.

Chuckling, the dagger teased, "Honestly, I can’t wait for that day. The day you’re gone, and I can feast on all your blood. Plus, it’ll be entertaining to see who Kraken chooses next. Hehe."

Growing irritated, Ren used one hand to support himself and, with the other, removed his glove. He then firmly gripped the pale blade. The sharp edge bit into his finger, releasing a small drop of blood. The dagger eagerly consumed it, and its incessant babbling ceased.

The room’s ambiance was once more dominated by the bubbly voice of the food vlogger on the virtual screen.

...

Suddenly, noises from the street below interrupted the tranquility. Ren, with his sharp hearing, could discern every sound, no matter how faint.

The rumbling of a car engine, the disorderly march of military boots, and the fearful cry of a young girl.

Swiftly moving to the balcony, Ren assessed the situation below. Slipping on his shoes and grabbing his dagger, he leapt gracefully from the building.

A military truck was stationed at the street’s corner, its doors swung open. A group of alphas, identified by their Public Security Department uniforms, surrounded it. One of them was aggressively trying to push a young girl, evidently the coal delivery girl, into the truck.

"I’m not a beta! I don’t belong in the Tower!" she cried out. Her face was marked with streaks of coal, a stark contrast to her tears.

"You’ve been hiding your differentiation. Illegally swapping out your blood sample during the last check? That’s a crime. If you weren’t a beta, you’d be locked up by now. Stop resisting and get in the truck," the leading alpha commanded.

"I can’t go! My grandfather’s at home, sick and alone. I can’t leave him," she protested, her tear-streaked face smudging the coal further.

The alpha, visibly repulsed, tried another tactic. "Once you’re in the Tower, you’ll live comfortably. You’ll wear elegant dresses, and who knows, you might even end up with someone of high status. Why care about an old, sick grandfather?"

The other alphas just chuckled at the scene, finding amusement in the young girl’s plight. "You’re the one who grabbed her; you deal with it. She’s as dirty as coal. No wonder nobody else wants to touch her."

The young girl, her skin smeared with coal, cried out, "I don’t want to go. I just want to be with my grandpa." As the alpha tightened his grip on her, she showed her sharp teeth, biting down hard on his hand. He yelped in pain, releasing her for just a split second. That was all she needed. She darted away, trying to escape.

But she was just a little kid, a one-day-old beta at best. There was no way that she could fight against so many alphas.

Reacting quickly, the alpha reached out, yanking her back by her hair. In a swift motion, he raised his hand and struck the child, sending her sprawling on the ground.