Ryan noticed the tremor in Miles' hand and asked with a touch of concern,
"So? Did anything change?"
Miles exhaled deeply, his gaze sharp and focused. "I think it worked…"
He turned toward the snow crawler parked at the entrance, his mental energy surging.
Incredibly, the snow crawler began to rise, levitating in mid-air. Miles felt a sharp clarity in his mind. With a mere glance at a nearby villa, the crawler shot forward as if propelled by an unseen force.
Crash!
The three-ton vehicle slammed into the villa, demolishing two pillars as if it were no more than a toy.
"Holy…"
Ryan instinctively stepped back, eyes wide with shock as he stared at Miles. He muttered, "This… this isn't human…"
That wasn't just any object—it was a fully armored snow crawler. Three tons of solid steel had just been tossed aside like a feather with nothing but Miles' gaze.
"Miles… you're invincible."
Ryan gulped audibly, his words stumbling over themselves.
But Miles, his expression somber, shook his head. "Invincible? Hardly. Sure, I can move objects freely, but bullets…"
After a brief hesitation, he pulled a handgun from his spatial space and tossed it to Ryan.
"Shoot me."
The command was delivered with a calmness so casual it sounded absurd. Yet Miles' gaze subtly flicked toward a trash can behind Ryan.
If Ryan posed any genuine threat, Miles knew he could crush him instantly with a single mental command.
Unaware of this subtle preparation, Ryan balked. "You can't be serious. We can't risk your life like that! If it's about testing limits, there are safer ways!"
"Step back a little, and you'll be fine."
Miles smiled faintly, his tone unyielding. "Go ahead. Aim one meter to my left and pull the trigger."
Reluctantly, Ryan raised the gun, his hands unsteady.
Ryan wasn't inexperienced; he had spent over a decade in the military. If there were two things he knew better than anything, it was firearms and women.
But this was different. This was Miles.
What if he missed? What if Miles got hurt? How could he live with himself if things went wrong?
Miles offered a reassuring smile. "I trust you."
The words struck Ryan deeply.
A grown man, hardened by a harsh world, found his eyes unexpectedly misting. Ever since fate had forced him into this group, Ryan had grown to trust and respect Miles more with each passing day.
To be given this level of trust—it demanded his utmost loyalty.
Taking a deep breath, Ryan shifted his aim slightly to the side.
Bang!
The bullet tore through the air at lightning speed, invisible to the naked eye.
But Miles didn't flinch. Instead, he concentrated his mental energy.
In that instant, time seemed to grind to a halt.
Everything froze: the sound of the wind, the subtle rustle of leaves, even the bullet itself slowed to a crawl.
Miles could see it. Clear as day, the bullet crept forward, as if held back by an unseen force.
With a shift of his gaze, he directed its trajectory.
Ping!
The bullet veered off course, striking the wall of the courtyard with a dull thud.
Miles wiped his forehead, exhaling in relief.
Even he had feared for a moment that his ability might fail. Had he hesitated, the outcome could have been disastrous.
"You can even control bullets…"
Miles muttered, half in awe and half in disbelief.
For the first time, he began to grasp the true potential of his psychic abilities.
Alexande had been right—psychic powers were among the most advanced abilities, capable of scaling infinitely with refinement.
Now, anything within Miles' line of sight slowed to a crawl. Even the wind itself seemed to move at half its usual pace.
It felt like watching a bullet train suddenly forced to slow to a mere twenty miles an hour.
Turning his gaze to the wrecked snow crawler, Miles commanded it to rise. Effortlessly, it floated back into position, as if untouched.
Ryan stood frozen in shock. After what seemed an eternity, he erupted into laughter.
"This power is incredible! We're unstoppable now. No zombie or enemy stands a chance against us!"
Miles, however, remained calm, shaking his head with a faint smile. "Don't get ahead of yourself. Who knows how many ability users are lurking in Chicago? Alexande had that list, and there's bound to be others—some probably stronger than me."
Being an ability user didn't make him invincible. Miles knew that all too well.
The world was vast, and countless individuals could have awakened abilities just as extraordinary, if not more so.
It was foolish to think he was the only one who had become powerful.
"Boss!"
Miles' thoughts were interrupted by the crackle of his communicator.
"What is it?"
Isaac's voice came through, tense. "We've hit a snag!"
"Is it another ability user?"
Miles felt a surge of tension and excitement. Could this be his chance to test his strength against another ability user?
"No. It's a super zombie—an exceptionally powerful one," Isaac said with a weary sigh. "We found it in the factory housing district nearby."
Miles grinned. "That's great news. I've been looking for more of them. Where are you? I'll come find you."
Since upgrading his ability, Miles had grown far more confident. As long as he avoided other ability users, he felt untouchable.
"Don't bother," Isaac replied with a bitter laugh. "This one's out of our league. The factory housing area is under the control of a gang called the Thirteen Fiends. They've enslaved the survivors there and have been raiding the surrounding areas. I tried to negotiate, but they immediately attacked us. They nearly took the snow crawler."
Miles was taken aback. "Even you couldn't handle them?"
He had seen Isaac in action, dismantling elite bodyguards with ease. For someone to best him, they must be formidable indeed.
Isaac hesitated. "Their leader is… one of my former students. A truly gifted martial artist…"
Ah, so that's how it was.
Miles chuckled. "I see. Beaten by your own disciple, eh?"
"Meet me in a safe location," Miles said after a moment. "Ryan and I will be there soon."
"You shouldn't come, Boss."
Isaac's tone grew more serious. "These aren't amateurs. There are thirteen of them, all skilled fighters. I barely escaped after being overwhelmed."
"I'll be fine."
Miles wanted to reassure Isaac, and maybe even show off his newfound power a little. A small demonstration might also help solidify Isaac's loyalty.
But Isaac cut him off with a sigh. "Boss, with all due respect… your shooting skills are terrible. If they take your gun, we might never make it back alive."