Power Up

Born had just spoken when a rifle was pressed against his forehead.

"Kid, I'm your father!"

Hughie sneered, raising his hand, which glimmered with a metallic sheen, and punched Born in the stomach.

Born doubled over, his stomach convulsing, retching repeatedly.

With a disdainful smile, Hughie struck again, knocking Born to the ground.

At that moment, Mia shouted angrily and fired a shot at Hughie with her automatic crossbow.

Clang!

The bolt hit Hughie and bounced off, even sparking a bit.

Seeing this, Mia swung a fire axe at Hughie.

But just then, a cabinet in the room flew up and slammed into Mia.

Already exhausted, Mia collapsed to the ground.

Hughie stepped forward, grabbed Mia's head, and smashed it into the floor.

Crackle!

Electric currents surged, and Hughie, without turning around, grabbed the electricity in his hand.

"Kid, you have powers too?"

"Then you can't stay alive. You must be killed!"

Two men emerged beside Hughie, pointing their guns at Born, cruel smiles on their faces.

Hughie dragged Lane and Mia, one in each hand.

"Fantastic, two beauties—one fiery, the other looks like she just graduated college. My favorite!"

Hughie laughed maniacally.

Born struggled to his feet, speaking coldly, "Let them go."

"Oh, you want to fight?" Hughie sneered.

At his words, everyone around laughed.

The maid corps were utterly exhausted from a day of relentless fighting, too tired to even lift their arms.

Even Born's own powers were depleted. His eyes were bloodshot, unable to summon electricity.

Born's gaze turned icy.

Two guns were pointed at his head, yet he showed no fear, stepping forward slowly.

At the same time, he communicated with the system in his mind.

"Upgrade power level!"

[Points -200, Power Level 11]

No New Skills Acquired

"Continue!"

On the surface, Born remained calm, slowly approaching Hughie.

Hughie waved dismissively, not considering Born a threat at all.

In the apocalypse, the sudden loss of control and the emergence of powers could make people lose their way, becoming arrogant and self-centered.

Hughie was in such a state.

"Kid, what are you planning to do?"

"I'll give you a chance: fight me one-on-one. If you win, I'll let you all go. If you lose, I'll take your women in front of you, again and again!"

With that, Hughie suddenly surged forward like a cannonball towards Born.

As a former black-market fighter and member of the transport team, even without using his powers, Hughie easily overpowered the exhausted Born.

Punch after punch, Born coughed up blood.

"Coward, taking advantage of the weak. What kind of people are you?"

Suddenly, a girl sprang up, grabbing a crossbow bolt and stabbing it into the neck of a man beside her.

But the next moment, a metal rod flew up and struck the girl, sending her flying.

In an instant, blood flowed.

This girl was Mia's roommate, someone she had always cared for like family.

Mia erupted.

"I'll kill you all!"

She charged forward, but after just a couple of steps, she fell to the ground.

A man emerged with a sinister smile.

He had awakened telekinesis, controlling the furniture earlier and the crossbow bolt now.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

A bedside table flew over, smashing into Mia until it shattered.

Mia spat blood violently, collapsing to the ground with weak breaths.

Born was also lying on the ground, covered in wounds.

Hughie had awakened a metal power, which, like a beast transformation, greatly enhanced his physical abilities and defense.

"Kid, see that? What can you do? You're just trash!"

Hughie grabbed Born's head.

But at that moment, Born smiled, blood streaming down his face, a grin forming at the corners of his mouth.

"Look at this! This kid still wants to fight back?"

Hughie dragged Born, showing him off to everyone arrogantly.

At that moment, a system prompt echoed in Born's mind.

[Ability Level 21, Requires 400 Points to Reach Next Level]

[Ability Level 22, Congratulations Host, New Skill Learned: Thunderbolt]

[Thunderbolt: Significantly increases lightning strike speed, targets increased to three]

The next moment!

The sound of electricity crackled.

Almost as soon as everyone heard the sound, a paralyzing sensation filled their bodies.

With the significant increase in his ability level, Born's previous weakness gradually disappeared.

Though his body was injured, his abilities were linked to his mental state.

He struck out in fury.

In an instant, the room was filled with the glow of electricity.

A bolt of lightning shot from Born's hand, splitting into three in mid-air, directly targeting Hughie and two others.

"Mia, Laura, avenge us!"

[Congratulations Host, Mia Ability Level 18, New Skill Learned: Tiger Claw]

[Congratulations Host, Laura Ability Level 16, New Skill Learned: Gale]

Mia planted her hands on the ground, sprouting sharp claws.

Laura created a small tornado out of thin air, sweeping two people into it.

Hughie's body shimmered with a metallic glow as he raised his rifle, but the lightning struck again, knocking the rifle to the ground.

"Damn it, attack! Attack! They have three people with powers now."

But it was too late.

When Born and the others' abilities increased, it was already too late for the attackers.

The situation reversed instantly.

The automatic crossbow fired, turning everyone except Hughie into pincushions.

Seeing the tide turn, Hughie dropped to his knees, raising his hands high above his head.

"Spare me, please, I beg you!"

"It was all that guy with glasses' fault. He brought me here. If I'd known it would turn out like this, I never would have messed with you."

Hughie began to plead and admit his mistakes, completely different from his previous arrogant demeanor.

He wore a sycophantic smile, burying his head deeply in the ground.

"Mia," Born said calmly.

With bloodshot eyes, Mia walked over to Hughie, dragging him outside.

Piercing screams echoed from outside, one after another.

Soon, Mia returned, blood still dripping from her hands.