Volume One, Chapter 10: The Emergence of the Supernatural Gifted

His fists were like burning iron hammers, each strike carrying immense destructive power.

Gao Yang quickly retreated, dodging the man’s attack while raising his hand to unleash a bolt of lightning.

"Crackle!"

The lightning struck the man’s shoulder, but he took the hit head-on, his footsteps never faltering as he continued to charge at Gao Yang.

"This guy has strong defense," Gao Yang thought to himself, his gaze turning colder and sharper.

Lin Xue stood to the side, watching the battle nervously, her hands clutching her backpack tightly; she was clearly at a loss.

"Lin Xue, get out of here!" Gao Yang suddenly shouted.

"But..." Lin Xue hesitated for a moment, but seeing the stern look in Gao Yang's eyes, she eventually gritted her teeth, turned, and ran toward the exit.

"Trying to run?" The man sneered, swinging the flame-wreathed blade in his hand fiercely, sending a scorching wave of fire slashing toward Lin Xue.

"Whoosh!"

Gao Yang stomped his foot, instantly blocking Lin Xue’s path. The baseball bat in his hand released a powerful surge of electricity, cleaving the flames in two.

"Your opponent is me," Gao Yang said coldly, his eyes filled with killing intent.

The man licked his lips, staring at Gao Yang with a fiery gaze. "Not bad, you’ve got some skills. However, I’d like to see how long you can last!"

With that, he swung his flame blade again, the scorching heat wave bearing down on Gao Yang.

Gao Yang did not shrink back. He gripped the baseball bat tightly, electricity crackling around his body as he charged head-on into the fire.

"Boom!"

Lightning and fire collided violently within the warehouse, the entire space seeming to tremble. The battle between Gao Yang and the man was like the struggle of two beasts, every blow fraught with power and destruction.

Lin Xue stood not far away, her eyes filled with worry and terror.

Gao Yang gritted his teeth, his inner energy surging continuously, but he knew this fight had to end quickly.

"Thunder Burst!"

He roared, gathering all the lightning from his body into the baseball bat before slamming it down on the man.

"Boom!"

With a deafening crash, the lightning exploded. The man’s figure was swallowed by the electrical discharge, and he was sent flying backward, slamming heavily into the wall.

"Cough... cough..." The man struggled to stand up, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth, his eyes filled with shock.

"You... how could you..."

Gao Yang walked slowly toward him, the lightning still dancing on his baseball bat. His gaze was icy, like that of a grim reaper.

"In the apocalypse, the weak have no right to threaten the strong," Gao Yang said in a low voice, and then swung his bat down with force.

The man’s screams were cut short.

Lin Xue covered her mouth, forcing herself not to make a sound.

Gao Yang turned around and looked at her. "Let’s go. We’ve gathered enough supplies. The danger here isn't over yet."

Lin Xue nodded and followed behind him.

Gao Yang led Lin Xue in a swift retreat from the warehouse. His footsteps were steady and quick, the baseball bat slung over his shoulder, still crackling with the remnants of lightning and exuding an intimidating aura.

Lin Xue followed closely behind him. Though her heart was heavy with exhaustion and fear, she knew that staying with Gao Yang was the only way to survive.

The two made their way through ruins and broken walls, finally stopping in an abandoned office building.

Gao Yang scanned the area, and after confirming there was no danger, he pushed open a locked door.

"Go in and get some rest," he said coldly.

Lin Xue nodded and dragged her weary body inside. She placed her backpack on the floor, sat down against the wall, and gasped for air.

Gao Yang did not rest. Instead, he locked the door securely and checked the room’s windows. After confirming there were no other entrances, he sat down and took a sip of water from his pack.

"Aren't you tired?" Lin Xue couldn't help but ask.

Gao Yang glanced at her and said indifferently, "I am. But tiredness won't kill you. Lack of vigilance will."

Lin Xue pursed her lips and said nothing more.

The room fell silent, save for the sound of their breathing and the occasional howl of zombies outside. Gao Yang closed his eyes, beginning to sense the energy within him.

After several high-intensity battles, his lightning ability seemed to have become more active. Every time he released the lightning, he could feel the energy surging within, but it was clear that he had not yet fully mastered it.

"My power is growing, but it’s still too slow," Gao Yang muttered to himself, his brow furrowing slightly.

Hearing him, Lin Xue asked curiously, "Are you talking about your ability? It’s already very strong..."

Gao Yang shook his head, his tone calm and decisive. "Not strong enough. In the apocalypse, it’s not enough just to be strong; you must be stronger than everyone else."

His words left Lin Xue in silence. She bowed her head, her hands gripping her clothes tightly, lost in thought.

Just then, Gao Yang stood up, walked to the center of the room, and set his baseball bat aside.

"Keep watch at the door," he ordered, his tone brook no refusal.

"What are you doing?" Lin Xue asked nervously.

Gao Yang closed his eyes and slowly exhaled. "I want to see if I can push my lightning further."

Lin Xue paused, then nodded. "Okay... I'll keep watch."

Gao Yang said nothing more. He let his hands hang naturally at his sides, palms facing up, and began to circulate his internal lightning energy.

Crackle—

Tiny electric arcs leaped from his fingertips, gradually converging between his palms. He kept his eyes shut, focusing all his concentration on the flow of energy within his body.

The lightning surged through him like a roaring river. Gao Yang tried to guide this power, forcing it to follow his will rather than simply erupting in explosive bursts as it had before.

"Focus, control, don't waste it..." he murmured, cold sweat beginning to bead on his forehead.

As time passed, the light of the lightning grew more brilliant. Gao Yang’s hands were encased in electricity, the powerful energy condensing between his palms, producing a low, humming sound.

However, the stronger the power became, the heavier his body felt.

"Still not enough!" Gao Yang gritted his teeth, forcibly continuing to guide the lightning, attempting to compress the power to its limit.

Boom!

A bolt of lightning suddenly burst from his palms, striking the floor in front of him with a thunderous roar.

Lin Xue jumped in alarm and quickly stood up. "Are you alright?"

Gao Yang slowly opened his eyes, a flicker of fatigue in them, but more importantly, a hint of joy.

"I'm fine," he said, the corners of his mouth curling upward.

He looked down at his hands, feeling the immense power contained within them. His lightning no longer merely erupted; it had become more refined, capable of being manipulated as he wished.

"It seems lightning can do much more," Gao Yang said softly, his eyes glinting with ambition.

Lin Xue breathed a sigh of relief, but then frowned. "But... won't this take a toll on your body?"

Gao Yang glanced at her, his tone flat. "The cost is necessary. Power is the currency of survival; without power, one has no right to talk about health."