Lin Xinghai opened his eyes, but his back was still covered in a cold sweat.
According to his original plan, to avoid attracting too much attention, he was going to wait a few days after his breakthrough before telling Roger the news.
That way, when coupled with his fabricated Special Physique, it would seem more reasonable.
But he never expected that breaking through to become one of the Optimized would cause such a huge commotion.
During the breakthrough, he hadnât been completely oblivious to the outside world. He could hear everyoneâs conversations.
Fortunately, he had a good corps leader.
âIâll have to be more careful next time,â Lin Xinghai reflected.
At the same time, he opened the car door and stepped out, saying apologetically, "Sorry to have troubled you all."
"Haha, donât mention it! As long as you broke through successfully, thatâs all that matters. So, how does it feel to be one of the Optimized?" Fang Tianhe laughed.
Only then did Lin Xinghai turn his attention back to himself.
Breaking through to become one of the Optimized didnât bring about a significant physical enhancement; his three Attributes had only increased by one point each.
However, becoming one of the Optimized did indeed provide a massive boost to his combat power.
The reason for this was entirely due to a huge enhancement of his physical senses.
This sensory enhancement wasnât just about things like sight and hearing; it also included a new, strange perception of danger.
For example, if someone were pointing a gun at him from the shadows, Lin Xinghai would immediately feel a sense of danger, even without knowing where they were hidden.
This Perception Ability was all-encompassing. Especially in combat, if an opponent used a deadly finishing move, he could sense it in advance and react a step faster.
Lin Xinghai estimated that the Zombiesâ ability to instinctively dodge when fired upon was also due to this kind of Perception.
Perception Power had many other uses, such as sensing an enemyâs approximate strength, allowing one to seek advantages and avoid harm.
"Itâs a strange feeling, as if the whole world is different now," Lin Xinghai said after carefully sensing his new abilities.
At this point, the other Mercenaries saw that Lin Xinghai had successfully broken through and crowded around him.
"Xiaohai, did you awaken a Superpower?" Xu Haishui asked.
Hearing this, the others pricked up their ears. This was the most critical question.
As for Fang Tianhe, Shen Han, and Roger, their faces also held a look of anticipation.
Only they knew that Lin Xinghai possessed a Special Physique, which meant he was almost guaranteed to awaken a Superpower. Moreover, the Superpowerâs grade wouldnât be low.
Hearing the question, Lin Xinghai snapped back to reality. He quickly opened his system panel and took a look.
Host: Lin Xinghai
Physique: 25 points
Power: 21 points
Speed: 30 points
Blood Qi Power: 3 points
Genetic Optimization Level: 30%+
Superpower: Speed (Within ten seconds, Speed increases by 100%) (Energy Value: 10/10)
Basic Level Shooting Skill: Proficiency 70%+
"Yeah! I awakened a Superpower," Lin Xinghai nodded.
"What type of Superpower?" This time it was Roger who asked.
"A Superpower that increases Speed," Lin Xinghai said.
However, he noticed that as soon as he answered, Rogerâs brows furrowed instantly.
"Whatâs wrong? Is there a problem?" Lin Xinghai asked.
"Itâs not a problem, exactly. Itâs just that Superpowers that increase Speed, Power, or Defense Power are all considered Basic Superpowers..." Roger trailed off, since the matter of Lin Xinghaiâs Special Physique was still a secret.
Hearing this, Lin Xinghaiâs brow furrowed as well.
âEven though I know I donât have any Special Physique, I have something even more badassâa system!â
During his awakening, he had even chosen to consume the maximum of 100 points of Blood Qi Power.
âThe system feels like a bit of a scam sometimes, but itâs always been reliable! How could I spend so much just to get a Basic Superpower?â
"By how much can your Superpower increase your Speed?" A clear, cold voice suddenly asked. It was Shen Han, who was always the calmest one present.
"It can increase my Speed by 100%," Lin Xinghai replied without thinking.
"What! That much?"
"It doubles his Speed? Isnât that increase a little too absurd?"
"If thatâs the case, can it still be considered a Basic Superpower?"
Everyone instantly broke into discussion.
"What about the duration? How long can it last?" Shen Han asked again, a hint of expectation now in her tone.
"Uh! The duration is a bit short. It only lasts for 10 seconds," Lin Xinghai said.
However, as soon as he said this, a wave of sharp gasps swept through the crowd.
Roger let out a breath of relief and started to speak with a smile. "Ten seconds is more than long enough. Other Basic Superpowers generally only last for three seconds. And the enhancement is only 30%. You got a great deal, so stop acting like you got the short end of the stick."
"Besides, Basic Superpowers have a characteristic that even some Rare Superpowers canât compare to: they enhance Attributes on a percentage basis."
"This means that the stronger you are, the more powerful the effect of your Basic Superpower will be."
"It wonât be like certain Superpowers with fixed damage, which gradually become useless as your own strength grows."
From Rogerâs perspective, although Lin Xinghai had awakened a Basic Superpower, the magnitude of the increase was so absurd that it didnât belong in the category of Basic Superpowers at all.
It wouldnât be an exaggeration to call it a Rare Superpower.
And a growth-type Rare Superpower at that.
After hearing these explanations, Lin Xinghai finally broke into a smile.
âAs long as itâs not a garbage Superpower, Iâm happy. Besides, with the system, I can use Blood Qi Power to upgrade it later.â
After that, Fang Tianhe also spoke up, asking Lin Xinghai to use his Superpower once. After all, hearing about it was one thing, but seeing it with their own eyes was another matter entirely.
Only by seeing it directly could he determine how useful Lin Xinghai would be in the future.
"Alright!" Lin Xinghai, of course, had no objections.
He focused for a moment and could clearly sense a special Energy existing within his body.
With a thought, this special Energy quickly surged through his limbs and into every part of his body.
In the next instant, Lin Xinghai felt as light as a swallow, especially his legs, which felt as if they contained limitless power.
WHOOSH!
He shot forward, moving so fast that a faint afterimage appeared.
Lin Xinghai charged into the distance, weaving between buildings and hordes of Zombies.
The Zombies lunged at him with all their might, but they couldnât even touch the corner of his clothes.
"His Speed is definitely at 60 points now." Fang Tianhe squinted, observing for a moment before quickly making his assessment.
When the other Mercenaries saw this, they sighed in amazement. In the entire Mercenary Corps, probably only Fang Tianhe and Shen Han were faster than Lin Xinghai when his Superpower was active.
It was hard to say how useful this Superpower would be in actual combat, but for escaping, it was absolutely First Class.
Otherwise, for a newly broken-through Optimized to dare weave through a horde of Zombies like Lin Xinghai was just asking for death.
Ten seconds passed quickly. Lin Xinghai timed his return perfectly and ran back.
He then sensed the special Energy inside him and found that it had decreased by about one-tenth. While he wasnât using the Superpower, it was slowly recovering.
He opened his system panel and took a look, noticing a change in the Superpower section.
Superpower: Speed (Within ten seconds, Speed increases by 100%) (Energy Value: 9/10+)
âCan this "+" sign help me recover my internal Energy?â Lin Xinghai wondered, tapping it casually.
"DING! Spend 100 points of Blood Qi Power to restore 1 point of Energy Value?"
Lin Xinghai was speechless.
âI canât afford it! I just canât afford it!â
--------
Authorâs Note: Regarding the protagonistâs Superpower, Iâve seen many readers complaining that itâs not strong enough. I admit the Superpowerâs initial design isnât powerful, but I canât change the earlier parts of the story. It will be adjusted later on.
The current setting for the Speed Superpower is: the fastest Superpower out there! (Thereâs also a hidden one.) If you want a spoiler, you can skip to Chapter 466, "Breaking the Limit, Superpower Metamorphosis."