Chapter 26: Chapter 24: Mutated Plant Superpower

To be pushed this far by a young girl was a complete loss of face for Seth. ’If this keeps up, I might actually suffer an unexpected defeat.’ He was a dignified gang leader; how could he possibly be beaten by some girl?

"Are you two dead? Can’t you see this damn woman is trying to kill me? Get a move on!"

Blondie and Muscle Man had originally thought their boss just wanted to toy with the girl himself for a bit of fun. But as the battle became increasingly one-sided, they heard their boss’s shout and hastily drew the pistols from their waists, aiming them at the focused Flora Bloom.

Flora Bloom was completely unaware of Blondie and Muscle Man’s actions. Instead, each swing of her axe grew faster and more powerful as she attempted to kill Seth in a short amount of time.

She had a bad feeling that if she didn’t end this quickly, something terrible would happen.

But just as her axe was about to strike Seth again, a chill ran down her spine. She sensed something behind her that could threaten her life.

At her thought, a deep blue liquid rapidly formed a protective barrier behind her.

BANG! BANG! Two gunshots rang out.

Flora Bloom glanced behind her in surprise. Blondie and Muscle Man were shooting at her with their pistols.

The strange, deep blue wall of water was like a translucent mirror, shimmering with a fluorescent light as the liquid swirled. When the bullets hit it, it was as if they had struck cotton, making no sound. The projectiles, like drowning fish, became embedded in the deep blue liquid, failing to harm Flora Bloom on the other side.

"No wonder a little girl like you dares to challenge me alone. Turns out you have something to rely on." Seth gave Flora Bloom a cold smile, looking at her as if she were already his prize.

The two men were about to fire again when they suddenly felt a sharp pain in their wrists. Two gusts of wind had appeared from nowhere, one striking Blondie’s wrist and the other, Muscle Man’s.

Visible Wind Blades, as sharp as razors, sliced open their wrists. The pain caused them to drop their guns and fall to the ground, desperately clutching their wounds.

The Wind Blades didn’t stop. They changed direction and continued to ravage the two men’s bodies.

Amidst Blondie and Muscle Man’s horrific screams, the Wind Blades carved a multitude of large gashes into their bodies. The wounds weren’t deep, but they were numerous. Blood flowed ceaselessly, but they wouldn’t die immediately, left to writhe on the floor, howling in agony.

This was sheer torture.

The person who had unleashed the Wind Blades was, of course, Oscar Owen, who had been standing by and had finally made his move.

Seth never imagined Oscar Owen would act at this moment, let alone that he would turn against him.

The corner of Flora Bloom’s mouth lifted into a smirk. ’Looks like I guessed right.’

In her previous life, Oscar Owen possessed a Wind Ability and had broken through to a High-level very early on. She had guessed he must be one of the first people to naturally awaken his superpower when the apocalypse began.

’For him to endure being around a character like Seth, he must have had an ace up his sleeve.’

The facts proved her gamble had paid off. She had bet that if she could tie down Seth, then if Oscar Owen had already awakened, dealing with these two small-fry minions would be a piece of cake for him.

Then, the two of them joining forces against Seth would be much easier.

Just then, Seth’s expression changed. He snarled viciously, "Oscar Owen, you dare betray me! If I die, who’s going to help you save your mother!"

Hearing Seth’s words, Flora Bloom finally understood. ’No wonder Oscar Owen was willing to endure working for the man who killed his father. He was being blackmailed.’

Oscar Owen’s eyes were bloodshot as he glared at Seth, his fists clenched. After two Wind Blades slit the major arteries of Blondie and Muscle Man, he stared directly at Seth.

"The moment you killed my father, you should have been prepared to die. After you’re dead, I’ll rescue my mother myself! Today is the day you die."

Flora Bloom’s assault had never ceased, but although Seth was gradually tiring and already injured, he could still dodge her fatal attacks.

What Flora Bloom found strangest was that even though Blondie and Muscle Man were dead, and Belle Bloom and Scott were both completely powerless and had long since hidden under a table, trembling in fear, Seth was still dodging her attacks with a sinister smile. It was as if he wasn’t afraid of her and Oscar Owen teaming up at all.

Sensing danger, she quickly retreated to Oscar Owen’s side and said, "Fall back. Something’s not right with Seth."

Oscar Owen had naturally sensed the abnormality as well. The two stood back-to-back, guarding against an unknown danger.

But it was too late.

From beneath their feet, four vines as thick as horse reins suddenly shot out of nowhere. The vines were covered in fine barbs and had already wrapped around their ankles, snaking up their bodies.

In just an instant, they were completely bound and unable to move.

"Don’t think you’re the only ones who have awakened a superpower."

Seth approached Flora Bloom with a wicked grin. He touched the wound on his cheek, staining his fingers with his own blood.

Then, he used his bloodstained hand to grab Flora Bloom’s chin, his laughter booming.

"HAHAHAHA, you’re all still too young. I, Seth, wouldn’t be in this position today if I didn’t have a few special tricks. Flora Bloom, is it? If you obediently submit to me now, I might consider sparing your life. As long as you serve me well from now on, I guarantee you’ll live a long, long time in this apocalypse."

"Pah! A toad lusting after a swan. Aren’t you afraid your tongue will rot off?" Flora Bloom’s stomach churned with nausea from the feel of Seth’s bloody fingers on her chin.

"You! Fine! Playing tough, are you? I’ll grant your wish. Let’s send you and your little lover boy to hell together."

Flora Bloom never expected this. ’Outmaneuvered by a single move. This Seth is actually a plant-based Awakener.’ Her Water Element and Oscar Owen’s Wind Element were both countered, rendering them ineffective.

Plants belong to the Wood element, and Water gives life to Wood. In the presence of Water Energy, plants thrive as if in their natural element, filled with boundless vitality. Not only was Flora Bloom’s Water Element completely suppressed, but it could also be absorbed by the plant element and used against her.

Oscar Owen initially tried to attack with his Wind Blades, but he suddenly found himself growing weak. He could feel the superpower in his body becoming unstable, being drained away by the barbs on the vines.

"Flora Bloom, be careful! These barbs can absorb superpower! I... my superpower is depleted."

Flora Bloom had noticed it too. She had originally enveloped her entire body with her Water Ability, so even though she was bound, the barbs hadn’t harmed her. But after just a short while, she found her superpower draining away rapidly. Soon, she couldn’t even control the Water Ability protecting her.

She didn’t fully register it until the barbs pierced her skin.

"You actually have a Mutated plant-type superpower. It’s a shame that someone with such a good superpower is just a disgusting toad. What a waste."

Seth, in a very good mood, violated Flora Bloom with his gaze and said, "So what if I’m a toad? I’m about to let you taste what it’s like to be with a toad, and see if it doesn’t make you feel like you’re dying and going to heaven."

Oscar Owen was already losing consciousness, slipping into a half-comatose state.

As for Flora Bloom, her body had been nourished by her space, and coupled with her own strong willpower, she held on for quite a while before she started to feel her strength leave her.

But even so, Flora Bloom felt something was off. ’Although I’m just a low-level, Initial-stage Superpower User, my superpower’s intensity is comparable to a High-level one from my past life. Even if Seth has a Mutated plant superpower, it should be impossible for him to drain my superpower in such a short time.’

Seeing that Oscar Owen was unconscious, Seth suddenly called over Scott. He smiled and said, "Scott, come here."

Scott’s legs were like jelly as he walked to Seth’s side, his head bowed, not daring to look up.

"M-Mr. Dash, what are your orders?"

Seth kicked Scott and pointed nonchalantly at Oscar Owen. "Go kill this man. Do that, and I’ll have your back in this apocalypse. Otherwise, there’s no need for you to exist anymore."

Scott hesitated for a moment before finally picking up the axe Flora Bloom had dropped and walking toward Oscar Owen. But in the end, as he raised the axe, he just couldn’t bring himself to do it.

’This is murder!’ He knew perfectly well that the apocalypse was here and no one could change that. But killing a person was different from killing a zombie. He couldn’t stop shaking; he just couldn’t cross that line.

Seeing Scott’s weakness, Seth finally lost his patience. He came over, grabbed Scott’s hand, and forced him to bring the axe down, carving a wound into Oscar Owen’s chest deep enough to reveal his ribs.

"AHH!"

Scott screamed and collapsed to the floor, shaking uncontrollably.

"Useless piece of trash," Seth said, kicking Scott aside like a ball.

Just as he was about to finish Oscar Owen off with the axe, Belle Bloom suddenly walked over.

"Mr. Dash, can you let me do it?"

Seth hadn’t expected a woman like Belle Bloom to be so ruthless as to dare kill someone—and not just anyone, but the male classmate who had protected her along the way. He shot her an amused glance and handed her the axe.

’This woman is a ruthless one.’

The fire axe wasn’t particularly heavy, and Belle Bloom lifted it with ease.

Seth had intended for her to finish off Oscar Owen, but the moment Belle Bloom raised the axe, her target was clearly Flora Bloom.

Even though he knew Belle Bloom’s little scheme, Seth didn’t stop her. ’Sisters killing each other, how interesting. This Flora Bloom certainly whets my appetite, but keeping such a feisty little thing around would be too dangerous.’

Flora Bloom had long known Belle Bloom was up to no good. She could read the hatred in that pair of venomous eyes. But as for where that hatred came from, only Belle Bloom herself knew.