Chapter Thirty-Nine: Boiling

“Body repair at 43%, neural system restructuring in progress.” In his hazy state, Xie Liu seemed to hear such a voice. “Ah, the repairs have already begun?” he thought, feeling sensation gradually return to his fingertips. He knew it meant his nervous system was coming back online. “That battle... it was truly tragic.” Xie Liu tried to open his eyes, but failed; his limbs were numb, and he felt like a corpse drifting through the void of space.

“How long have I been like this?” he wondered. Then, voices drifted from outside: “Chairman, what brings you here?”

“I came to check in. It’s been three days already; still not recovered?” Vladimir’s voice rang out. Xie Liu’s heart stirred. “Three days?”

“Everyone else has recovered. He wasn’t the most severely injured, and he’s a physical mutant. Why is he taking the longest?” Vladimir’s words brimmed with suspicion, and Xie Liu heard the staff’s reply: “Chairman, it appears his abilities have evolved after this battle. We’re not sure if the evolution is complete, but we can confirm his bodily functions have improved by twenty to fifty percent across the board.”

“Really?” Vladimir was surprised, taking the report and examining it. “A physical mutant, indeed impressive. His neural response speed probably surpasses Flashblade’s now. He’s not yet as strong as Titan, but having nine times the limit of an ordinary human is remarkable.” Vladimir stepped forward and patted the medical pod. “You can probably hear me, though you can’t answer right now. You troublemaker, what a mess you’ve caused.”

“I know, if you could move, you’d give me the finger. But listen carefully: what you all did this time has shaken the entire military.” Vladimir sighed. “You lot—so reckless. Do you even know who you were up against? Is this the bravado of youth? Such stubborn heads?”

Xie Liu wanted to roll his eyes. “Do you think we wanted this fight?” He couldn’t speak, only mutter inwardly. Vladimir seemed to sense his thoughts, continuing, “Regardless of intent, you’re now on the military’s radar. Understand this: the person you took down single-handedly wiped out half the Azure Dragon squad.”

“Well, what an honor,” Xie Liu scoffed internally. Vladimir rolled his eyes. “Honor, my foot! Your abilities are being exaggerated now. Wait until someone comes to put you in your place.”

“Seriously, are you reading my mind?” Xie Liu continued his inner grumbling. This time, Vladimir didn’t respond to his unspoken retort. “Your body’s begun its second strengthening. It’ll be brief this time—by afternoon you should be out. Use this time to think about how you’ll face the reporters. By the way, you’re famous now.” Vladimir gave a peculiar smile and turned to leave.

“Famous? What does that mean?” Xie Liu was confounded, but it wasn’t his concern for now. As a wave of drowsiness swept over him, he drifted back into sleep.

…

Gong Hou sat across from Ye Ling, the two staring at each other, eyes wide. Ye Ling’s small hand gently reached out, grasping the left card among the two in Gong Hou’s hand. Gong Hou’s eyes lit up.

“Hm… When do you think Xie Liu will be out?” Seeing Gong Hou’s expression, Ye Ling decided to snatch the card on the right instead. “Damn it, you fat liar!” Ye Ling cursed, seeing she’d drawn the joker, quickly hiding the card behind her back and reshuffling it before laying them out again.

“I heard from Vladimir—that old fox—that Xie Liu’s abilities have improved and needs a bit more time, but he should be nearly ready.” Gong Hou picked cards while observing Ye Ling’s expression, noting her impassive poker face. He gave up trying to read her, took a chance, and drew a card—another joker. His face darkened, and he mimicked Ye Ling, shuffling the cards wildly behind his back.

“How many rounds have you played? Isn’t this game done yet?” Lin Yang asked feebly. “Why don’t you two just split the bill for lunch?”

“No way. I’m not losing to this guy,” Ye Ling declared, glaring at the fat man shuffling cards. She carefully chose a card from his hand, drew it, and her face fell instantly before she reshuffled her hand behind her back and presented the cards again.

At that moment, the door swung open. Caught off guard, everyone watched as Xie Liu, dressed in black, entered, picked the card in Ye Ling’s hand that wasn’t the joker, and handed it to Gong Hou.

“You’re sabotaging me!” Ye Ling exploded, reaching to smack Xie Liu’s head. Gong Hou, satisfied, tossed his cards aside. “Ye Ling, you’re buying lunch.” Ye Ling gritted her teeth in fury but obediently went to pay at the counter.

“Has the battle report been submitted?” Xie Liu sat across from Lin Yang, who was engrossed in the digital document before him. “I’ve reported the main situation. The city authorities are taking our battle summary very seriously.”

“What do those data-loving types say?” Xie Liu flexed his still-stiff arms. Lin Yang reviewed the figures. “Besides us, the Azure Dragon squad also engaged the enemy. Elsewhere in the world, there’ve been plenty of skirmishes. This time the Special Forces Alliance exposed their true strength.”

“Known A-class operatives: seventeen. Their physical abilities are twenty to thirty times the human limit, comparable to eighth-level combat superpowers. Known B-class operatives: fifty-nine. Their abilities are ten to twenty times the human limit, equivalent to seventh-level superpowers. Of course, you’re an anomaly, Xie Liu.” Lin Yang analyzed carefully, but Xie Liu seemed unconcerned, asking quietly, “What about the S-class?”

“That one…” Lin Yang paused. “Based on our battle data and Azure Dragon’s, this is his profile.” He handed the report to Xie Liu, who glanced at it, pupils contracting. “Sixty times?” Xie Liu was astonished. The so-called human limit wasn’t the average person, but the maximum attainable in natural conditions—usually only elite operatives reached it. Urban enhancement programs could bring ordinary people up to three to five times that, and mutants like Xie Liu could be pushed beyond five times. At such levels, they could dodge bullets, and conventional firearms barely harmed them.

But that S-class operative was at sixty times the limit. What did that mean? Not just strength increased sixty-fold—the entire body’s functions, including defense and neural response, were sixty times stronger. If Xie Liu and his peers still needed to dodge bullets, this man could simply stand there, unscathed.

“Surviving was a miracle,” Xie Liu swallowed. “This data surpasses most level-nine superpowers; only level-ten combat specialists could match him, and only those famed for their fighting prowess.” Xie Liu’s voice trembled. Only now did he realize how perilous their situation had been. If not for their teamwork and the enemy’s restraint, they’d all be corpses.

“What did it feel like when he struck you?” Lin Yang asked quietly. Xie Liu pondered. “Want to know? Just find a train at full speed and slam into it. That’s about the feeling.”

Lin Yang rolled his eyes. Ye Ling returned from paying. “Let’s go.” She ground her teeth, shooting a fierce look at the still-smug Gong Hou. The group left the café together.

“Are we going back?” Ye Ling gazed at the city’s futuristic skyline, reluctant to leave. She rather liked it; there was something flashy and cool about it. “Yes,” Xie Liu nodded, seeing the others had moved ahead.

“Ye Ling, come here.” Xie Liu called her aside, handing her a small slip of paper. “This is for you.”

“What is it?” Ye Ling asked curiously. Xie Liu shrugged. “I got it from Vladimir. It’s the contact info for the captain of the Silver Flash squad. Supposedly a great team, and currently only recruiting women. If you’re interested, reach out. We won’t stop you.”

Ye Ling stared at Xie Liu, as if trying to see through him. He frowned. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I feel like you’re scheming something,” she said after a moment. “Are you really being so kind? Most likely you’re tricking me.”

“Why would I trick you? What’s in it for me?” Xie Liu replied impatiently. Ye Ling smirked coldly. “I don’t know what you’d gain, but I can’t trust your words anymore.”

“What do you mean?” Xie Liu was taken aback. Ye Ling shook her head. “I don’t know why Lin Yang and the others still stay with you, but I believe, one day, you’ll bring disaster upon them.”

“During the Nine Lives Incident, you already showed your true colors. I should have realized then—you’re just a killer.” Ye Ling clenched the slip of paper. “You saved me, brought me into this extraordinary world—I’m grateful, I really am, and I’ve had hopes and expectations for you. But I was wrong.”

“In the battle at T City, do you know how many innocent people died from the collateral damage? Over a thousand casualties!” Ye Ling’s eyes blazed with anger. “Why did you fire the first shot? If not for that, the battle wouldn’t have erupted. All for your ridiculous mission, you dragged over a thousand people to their deaths!”

“You’re nothing but a killer…” Her tone grew colder. She turned to leave. “Don’t worry, I’ll leave this disgusting team, but not by your hand.” She tore the paper to pieces, scattering them in the air.

Watching her distant figure, Xie Liu awkwardly rubbed his nose, feeling a little embarrassed. He bent to pick up the shredded paper, shaking his head in regret. “What a shame. I got this opportunity for you because we’re classmates.” He tossed the pieces in the trash. “I only thought our abilities weren’t enough to protect you, and wanted you somewhere safer.” He watched as Ye Ling disappeared down the corridor and took a deep breath. “It seems I was courting rejection.” He laughed at himself.

“Come on!” Gong Hou shouted. “What are you dawdling for? Let’s go home!”

Home. Xie Liu raised his brows slightly. Yes, home—even if their dorm was a doghouse. “Wait for me!” he called, jogging to catch up. But as they stepped out of the hall, they all froze.

A crowd had gathered in the plaza, blocking the exit. As Xie Liu and his friends emerged, the plaza erupted in cheers.

“Well done!” People shouted, waving banners and flashing lights. “Heroes who held back the S-class operative!”

This… Even Xie Liu was stunned, dumbfounded by the scene before him. Their mouths twitched between laughter and tears.

“Damn, we’re famous!”