The battle concluded five minutes later with the Crimson Scorpion squad being victorious.
The nomads were no match at all for their prowess. Luther turned to Naz and asked, 'Captain, will we take prisoners?'
Naz firmly shook his head. 'We're at war! We won't take any prisoners. Besides, we're in a desert; we have to economize our supplies.
We can't afford to take prisoners.'
Luther nodded but inwardly he felt curious. What was the plot of this virtual world? What was the reason for the war between the Scorpion battalion and the rebels?
Was it based on real events which had happened before?
'You did good, kid. Keep it up,' the vice-captain lifted his gloved hands and gave Luther a thumbs-up even as his wings retracted into his body.
'Yeah. Not bad for a newbie. His power is rather weird though,' replied the pixie haired lady, evaluating Luther.
Of all the members of the squad, she was the shortest; Naz and the vice-captain were tied at first place, the brunette was at second and Luther was the third in terms of height.
The brunette frowned and touched her abdomen.
When she retracted her palm, her fingertips were stained with dark green blood. 'I'm wounded,' she reported calmly.
Naz sighed. 'Is it serious?'
The brunette shook her head. 'I'll heal in a couple of hours. We must conserve our healing pills for graver injuries.'
'If I can heighten my cell activity to heal rapidly, can't I do the same for her?'
After some thought, Luther realized the idea was feasible.
Already, battle had proved that his power could be used on other people and not only his body. Thus, in the same way he could hurt, he could heal too!
Luther stepped forward. 'My power can heal. Let me give it a try.'
Everyone in his squad turned to look at him in shock.
'Are you sure?' Naz asked seriously.
His voice couldn't help but betray excitement. People with healing powers were very rare in the desert, even rarer than the healing pills allotted to squads!
If their squad had a healer, didn't it mean they had a second life?
'There's no harm in trying. Come over here and do your thing,' the brunette said, looking at Luther with interest.
Luther nodded and moved closer.
The green skinned brunette asked, 'Do you want me to remove my combat suit?'
Luther shook his head. 'Not necessary.'
The battle had been very helpful in making him understand his abilities. For starters, he could freely cause changes to his surroundings within ten meters of him in all directions.
Also, as long as he gave a little focus, he could ignore combat suits and attack the body.
That was how he was able to make the rebels feel so weak despite wearing gray combat suits.
Brows furrowed, Luther quickly sensed the brunette's life frequency.
'Now that I think about it, I've become adept in sensing life frequency. The most it takes for me to sense it now is a second!'
Luther was glad he was improving but still kept his face solemn.
After sensing the frequency, adjusting her cell activity was a piece of cake. The brunette looked down in shock as the large gash in her abdomen healed with speed visible to the naked eye.
Her cherry red lips parted in shock.
Luther though had his mind somewhere else. 'Wait a minute… if I'm able to control cell activity like this, then there's more I can do apart from weakening or lowering cell activity!
What would happen if I lowered the activity of cells in major organs? That way, could I cause a heart attack?
In that case, can I make it permanent too? Scary!'
It took only five seconds for the gash to fully close up, shocking the rest of the squad. Additionally, Luther had made it painless after he lowered her pain receptors.
He didn't realize the looks of awe the members of his squad were giving to him though as he contemplated on other ways he could use his ability.
The pain receptors alone were a game changer.
In a battle, if he casually punched an opponent but increased the enemy's pain reception to the maximum, wouldn't the person probably die from pain?
Indeed, battle was the best method to discover ways to use his ability.
Naz broke him out of his reverie though with his loud laughter. 'Hahaha! My squad finally has a healer!'
The way he looked at Luther even changed.
Luther gulped when he realized how fervently his squad members were looking at him. 'I know everyone likes healers but isn't this too much?'
'Hehe kid, I'm Fubar. I'm sure we'll get along smoothly,' the vice-captain beamed and introduced himself, showing long white canines.
'And I am Yoselin. I'll take good care of you, little brother,' the green skinned brunette crooned and leaned forward, accentuating her massive assets.
Luther's face turned a serious shade of red.
As if that was not enough, the pixie haired lady was now beside him, clutching his arm and looking at him with red puppy eyes.
'I'm Qana! I'll be in your care from now on, little brother,' she said coyly.
Naz harrumphed and stomped his foot, creating a mini crater. 'Everybody scram! Leave Luther alone!'
Yoselin rolled her eyes and retorted. 'Captain, that's not fair! He's our squad member too. You can't keep him away from us.'
She gave Luther a wink.
With his ability to heal, everyone in the squad had now warmed up to him, trying to befriend him.
Even after they left stony gorge to set up camp, they treated him kindly.
Naturally, Luther felt happy.
His mind still buzzing with ideas, he soon found a way to manage the squad's water supply. All he had to do was just lower everyone's thirst!
Nightfall quickly passed and the three suns rose again.
As the squad was yet to receive a new mission, they maintained camp. Luther walked over to the captain Naz, and said politely,
'Captain, I want to learn hand to hand combat!'