Killer and Justice III

"It's not dead yet, That thing has a lot of health." I said, my voice a mixture of shock and disbelief.

"In video game terms, yes. That whale will likely require the combined efforts of multiple Unveiled to defeat it," IM replied, his voice calm and analytical.

"Then how do we do it?" I asked, desperation creeping into my voice.

IM looked at me, his eyes filled with a strange light. "You have great power, Xian Ying," he said. "Use it. Imagine something wilder than a railgun."

Something wilder... I looked at the whale, my mind racing.

"I want to... I want to be able to kill anything I point at or look at," I said, my voice firm with resolve. "Whenever I say 'You're going to die,' the thing I'm pointing at or looking at will die instantly."

IM smirked. "Death manipulation, Is that what you desire?"

I looked at him, a shiver running down my spine. "Is that... possible?"

"Try it," IM urged, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

I nodded, my heart pounding in my chest. I raised my hand, pointing it directly at the wounded whale. With every ounce of willpower I could muster, I spoke the words that would seal its fate.

"You're going to die."

The whale hung motionless in the air, its massive form a dark silhouette against the moonlit sky.

A hush fell over us, the tension palpable.

"What happened-" I began to ask, but my words were cut short.

BOOM!

The whale exploded, a blinding flash of light followed by a deafening roar. The shockwave rippled through the air, shattering windows and sending debris flying.

"Ahhhh!" a terrified scream echoed through the night.

"Look what you did, Xian," IM said, his voice a low rumble.

"Oh no..." I stared in horror at the scene unfolding before me.

"Don't worry, They won't know it was you."

"What just happened?" I asked, my voice trembling.

"When a whale dies, the gases trapped inside its body build up, eventually causing it to explode."

A wave of nausea washed over me as I realized the full extent of the destruction I had caused.

I stared at the empty sky, where the whale had once hovered. "Did it... drop any items?" I asked, half-joking.

IM scoffed. "Do you think this is a video game? Of course not." He paused, his gaze sharpening. "And it seems your Blue Blood is depleted. You need to rest."

Huh? I don't even feel tired...

Thud!

My legs gave out from under me, and I collapsed onto the rooftop floor.

***

Xian's body crumpled to the ground, his eyes closed and his breathing shallow.

IM shook his head. "Silly boy," he muttered, scooping Xian up in his arms. "Alright, let's get you to the nurse's office."

He descended the stairs, cradling Xian's limp form. As he reached the ground floor, he saw students and teachers gathered in the hallway, their faces pale with shock and confusion. The windows of several classrooms had been shattered by the explosion, shards of glass littering the floor.

IM ignored the commotion, his focus solely on getting Xian to safety. He pushed through the crowd, his eyes scanning the hallway for the nurse's office.

"IM! What happened to Xian?!" Monic, a classmate of Xian's, rushed towards them, her face pale with worry.

"Oh, he was just... caught in a small explosion earlier," IM lied smoothly, his voice calm and reassuring.

"Oh no! Is he hurt badly?" Monic asked, her eyes filled with concern.

"No, he's fine," IM replied. "He just needs to rest. Can you show me to the nurse's office?"

Monic nodded, her brow furrowed in worry. "This way," she said, leading IM through the chaotic hallway.

"This explosion was so sudden," Monic muttered as they walked. "I have no idea what happened."

"Neither do I," IM was a big liar.

As they made their way through the halls, they saw that the students were a mix of terrified and amused. Some huddled together, their faces pale with fear, while others laughed nervously, trying to make light of the situation. The shattered glass crunched underfoot, a constant reminder of the mysterious explosion.

"It was like a bomb went off!" one student exclaimed, his voice shaking.

"Maybe it was a gas leak," another suggested, trying to rationalize the unexplainable.

"Or maybe it was aliens!" a third student chimed in, his eyes wide with excitement.

IM remained silent, a small smile playing on his lips as he listened to the students' wild speculations. He knew the truth, but he wasn't about to share it with anyone.

They reached the nurse's office, and Monic knocked gently on the door. A moment later, the school nurse, a kind-looking woman with short gray hair, opened the door.

"Oh my goodness, what happened?" she asked, her eyes widening as she took in Xian's unconscious form.

"He was caught in an explosion," IM explained, his voice calm and steady. "He needs to rest."

The nurse quickly ushered them inside, helping IM lay Xian down on a cot. She checked his pulse and breathing, then turned to IM with a reassuring smile.

"He's just exhausted," she said. "Let him sleep it off, and he should be fine."

IM nodded gratefully. "Thank you," he said.

Monic lingered at the door, her eyes filled with concern. "Is there anything I can do?" she asked.

IM shook his head. "No, thank you. Just let him rest."

Monic nodded reluctantly, then turned and left the room. IM sat down beside Xian, his gaze fixed on the young man's peaceful face. He knew that Xian had a long and difficult journey ahead of him, but he was confident that his new friend would rise to the challenge.

That was impressive power, But it seems to drain his Blue Blood quite drastically... IM thought to himself, watching over Xian's sleeping form.

He sighed, a hint of worry clouding his usually stoic features. He'll need to learn to control his abilities carefully, or he risks burning out before he even reaches his full potential.

"But Imagination Manifestation, huh..." IM mused, a thoughtful expression on his face. "That's far more powerful than I expected, even considering the potential I sensed when I first merged with you at birth, Xian."

< Chapter 086 > Fin.