Chapter 23: Only a Hundred-Odd Superpower Users Among 20,000 People

The moment she finished speaking, Autumn Lynch clapped a hand over her mouth, a look of regret flashing across her face.

"Jayce, my cousin, she—"

Before Autumn Lynch could finish, Jayce sneered, "You must’ve drunk all the green tea, because you absolutely reek of it."

Autumn Lynch’s face instantly flushed red, then turned deathly pale in the blink of an eye. "What do you mean by that? I don’t understand..."

"Whether you understand or not has nothing to do with me." Jayce rolled his eyes. "It doesn’t matter if Sierra likes me or hates me, my feelings for her will never change. Even if Sierra is only with me because I’m useful, I’d just be glad I’m useful, not heartbroken over it. Don’t even think about using this to drive a wedge between us. Understand? If you understand, then get lost!"

After hearing this, all the color truly drained from Autumn Lynch’s face.

’What gives Sierra the right?’

’I thought that in the apocalypse, with my Superpower and Sierra having none, I could finally crush her under my heel.’

’But I never expected Jayce to also have a Water Ability, and be so good to Sierra on top of it!’

’What’s so great about Sierra, anyway?’

Seeing Autumn Lynch’s face, ashen as paper, Hugo Cheney’s heart ached. He immediately pulled her behind him protectively. "Jayce, what are you saying! If you dare talk to Autumn like that again, don’t blame me for what happens next!"

"Bring it on!" Jayce raised an eyebrow. "Both of you, at once! If I so much as frown, I’ll call you boss!"

"..."

Hugo Cheney’s face turned livid with rage, but he couldn’t say a single word.

’What could he say?’

He had seen with his own eyes just how powerful Jayce’s Superpower was on the way here.

He didn’t even have a Superpower yet, but even if he did, he’d be no match for Jayce.

Hugo Cheney took a deep breath. "This isn’t over!"

With that, he pulled Autumn Lynch away.

Although Autumn Lynch was resentful, she knew she had no way of dealing with Sierra right now, so she could only leave, bitter and unwilling.

Jayce didn’t spare them a second glance. He pulled Sierra back into the house and slammed the door shut.

Before Sierra had a chance to speak, she heard Jayce say earnestly, "Sierra, don’t worry. I’ll definitely find a chance to kill Autumn Lynch!"

Hearing Jayce’s words, Sierra felt as if her heart was being filled with something warm.

Sierra hugged Jayce. "I’m not in a hurry. Killing her is just a matter of time!"

’Autumn Lynch must die!’

’Even with Hugo Cheney backing her, it won’t matter!’

But Sierra didn’t want killing Autumn Lynch to bring any trouble into their lives.

They had all the time in the world to plan it slowly.

Having made up her mind, Sierra belatedly realized that Jayce’s body was a little stiff.

"Jayce, what’s wrong?" Sierra looked up at him, confused. "Are you not feeling well?"

Jayce looked at Sierra with a complicated expression, but when he saw her clear, bright eyes, he felt a sense of relief.

’Sierra is still young!’

’She wasn’t thinking too much about it!’

’She has no idea how nervous and excited her sudden hug made him.’

Jayce averted his gaze and coughed lightly. "It’s nothing! I’m perfectly fine!"

’My body is in great shape, how could I possibly not be feeling well!’

They had known each other for so many years. Although their relationship had been awkward in the past, they still understood each other to a certain extent.

Just by looking at Jayce’s reaction, Sierra knew he was just being stubborn.

But seeing that he didn’t seem to be in any real discomfort, she didn’t press the issue.

"Did you tell your dad you were coming here? And how are we supposed to hand over the supplies?"

Hearing Sierra ask about serious matters, Jayce relaxed considerably, and his whole demeanor became more natural.

"I told my dad before I came, so he knows. As for the supplies, you don’t need to worry. Once the Aberrant Beasts in the complex are cleared out, someone will come door-to-door to take inventory."

Sierra’s eyes were full of curiosity. "Are the people who deal with Aberrant Beasts all Superpower Users? How many Superpower Users do you know of, roughly?"

"Ordinary people can’t handle Aberrant Beasts, but well-equipped personnel can. The number of Superpower Users isn’t large. From what I know, there are only about a hundred or so."

Jayce paused, then added, "Around twenty thousand people have come to this residential complex this time."

’Twenty thousand people?’

Hearing this number, Sierra’s brow twitched violently.

’Only a little over a hundred Superpower Users out of twenty thousand people... that ratio is terrifying!’

That wasn’t the only thing that shocked Sierra.

While this residential complex wasn’t small, it was a high-end one where the green space far exceeded the building footprint.

Based on what Sierra knew, the complex was already fully occupied.

’With twenty thousand people suddenly arriving, where were they all going to live?’

Sierra didn’t even dare to imagine how many survivors would eventually be crammed into a single apartment.

Just thinking about it made her skin crawl.

Just by looking at Sierra’s expression, Jayce guessed what she was thinking.

"Don’t worry! This is your home. If you don’t want anyone else here, no one can force their way in! I’m just a guest myself!"

Sierra, who had been feeling a bit heavy-hearted, immediately broke into a smile after hearing this. "Don’t worry, you can stay as long as you like!"

"Then I’ll thank you in advance, Sierra!"

...

「Two days later.」

Sierra could now use her Superpower at will.

She wasn’t sure if it was because her rebirth had made her spiritual power stronger than an average person’s, but Sierra found using her Superpower came naturally, and it was much stronger than a typical newly awakened one.

Even with her Superpower, Sierra didn’t give up on her physical training.

She didn’t just train by herself; Jayce trained with her.

Jayce had learned martial arts.

Now, he acted as Sierra’s sparring partner, trying to raise her combat effectiveness in the shortest time possible.

The two barely even had time to chat. Most of their waking hours were spent drenched in sweat.

When they were too exhausted to continue training, they would eat something, wash up, and sleep to recover their energy.

The two of them stayed behind closed doors, paying little attention to the situation outside.

It wasn’t until the morning of the third day that someone knocked on their front door again.

Sierra and Jayce went to the entrance together. Frowning, Jayce asked, "Who is it?"

"We’re official census takers, here to survey the housing situation."

Hearing this, Jayce opened the door immediately.

Two women stood outside. They were dressed neatly, had healthy complexions, and at a glance, you could tell they weren’t worried about their next meal.

The two women didn’t seem to recognize Jayce. After glancing at Jayce and Sierra, one of them craned her neck to look inside. "Is it just the two of you living in this apartment? According to current base regulations, two people can only keep the smallest room. The base will arrange for others to move in! You should hurry up and pack your things!"