Chapter 82: Chapter 82: Aren’t You Really Afraid of Exploding and Dying?

"Yeah, Sierra!" Jayce nodded along. "I think Dad’s right, too! You just said it yourself—there will definitely be more Aberrant Beasts like this in the future. If you become more powerful, you’ll be able to kill them with ease. When that time comes, we won’t have to worry about Candice not getting her chance to become strong, will we?"

Sierra Sullivan looked at Kevin Everett and then Candice Tate, her gaze finally settling on Jayce.

"Well, by that logic, you’re the one who should be using this Crystal Core. Your Superpower is already stronger than mine. If you use this Crystal Core, you’ll only become even stronger. It would be much more useful for you to absorb it than me!"

"But—"

Before Jayce could finish, a figure suddenly burst out of one of the rooms.

"Since none of you want it, just give it to me!"

Sierra Sullivan looked toward the speaker and was surprised to see it was Charlotte Morgan.

Ever since the last scene she had caused, Sierra hadn’t seen Charlotte Morgan or her family of four on any of her subsequent visits. They must have been hiding in their room the entire time.

She had no idea what possessed her to suddenly burst out like this today.

Logically, given the Everett Family’s circumstances, and with Kevin Everett and Jayce around, everyone in the household should have been living relatively well.

One only had to look at Yvonne Shelby to know that.

While she wasn’t as prim and proper as she had been before the apocalypse, she was still neat and clean.

But who knew what was going on with Charlotte Morgan. She stayed home all day, with no shortage of food, drink, or water, yet she had somehow managed to become incredibly slovenly.

Her hair was a mess, with long and short strands all over the place.

It didn’t look like it had been cut properly—it looked more like it had been chewed off.

Compared to the last time they met, Charlotte Morgan had gained some weight.

As Sierra Sullivan stared at Charlotte Morgan, Charlotte had already rushed up to her, her eyes fixed hungrily on the Crystal Core in Erin Sullivan’s hand.

"Since you’re all just pushing it around, give the Crystal Core to me! I want to awaken a Superpower, too!"

At that moment, Tim Everett also hurried out of the room. He looked more haggard than before, and his expression was terrifyingly grim.

"Charlotte Morgan, what is this insanity! Get back in the room!"

"No!"

Charlotte Morgan shouted her refusal, raising her hands to grab and violently tear at her own hair.

"I said it! I want to become a Superpower User, too! Why can everyone else do it? Why not me?!"

"Give me this Crystal Core!"

"Give it to me now!"

Charlotte Morgan shrieked hysterically, but she didn’t dare reach out for it.

Sierra Sullivan frowned instinctively, backing away a little while holding Candice Tate.

Charlotte Morgan’s emotional state was clearly off.

It wasn’t that Sierra was afraid of Charlotte Morgan, but she worried that if Charlotte suddenly lashed out, she might hurt Candice Tate.

Once she was a safe distance away, Sierra said, "If you want to awaken a Superpower, any Crystal Core will do. You can’t have this one."

"No!" Charlotte Morgan shook her head forcefully. "The higher the Crystal Core’s level, the greater the chance of awakening a Superpower! The potential power ceiling is higher, too! I have to use this one!"

As she spoke, Charlotte Morgan suddenly looked at Kevin Everett and dropped to her knees before him.

"Dad! We’re family! I’m your daughter-in-law! You can’t just favor your third son and ignore us! If I could awaken a Water or Wood Element Ability, it would be a good thing for the base, and for you too, Dad! Don’t you agree?"

Tim Everett, who moments ago had been trying to stop Charlotte Morgan from having a meltdown, suddenly fell silent upon hearing her words.

Clearly, he agreed with what Charlotte Morgan was saying.

Tim Everett hesitated for a moment before forcing a smile. "Dad, Charlotte’s not wrong. It would be a great thing for our family to have another Superpower User!"

Kevin Everett simply stared grimly at Charlotte Morgan without saying a word.

The living room fell silent, and the atmosphere grew oppressive.

Kevin Everett had his reservations and didn’t speak immediately, but Jayce had no such qualms.

Jayce stared intently at Charlotte Morgan. "Where did you hear all that just now?"

"Jayce!" Tim Everett glared at him, displeased. "She’s your sister-in-law, after all! It’s one thing not to even address her as such, but to speak to her in that tone? Do you have any respect for her, or for me, your older brother?!"

"Are you an idiot?" Jayce shot back. "You, of all people, should know exactly what kind of person your wife is and how her brain works! Don’t you find it strange that she suddenly spouted all of that? Had you ever thought about those things before? Did someone tell *you*?"

Tim Everett was taken aback. "What... what do you mean?"

"She just said that different levels of Crystal Cores lead to different awakened Superpowers and different power ceilings. Did you tell her that?"

"How could I have told her that?!" Tim Everett denied it instantly. "I didn’t even know any of that myself! How was I supposed to tell her?"

"Then where did she find out?"

"How should I know!"

But Tim Everett wasn’t a complete fool.

After all, he was the son of Kevin Everett and Yvonne Shelby. Though he had some personality flaws, there was nothing wrong with his intelligence.

With Jayce spelling it out for him so clearly, he finally realized something was amiss.

’How could a simple-minded woman like Charlotte Morgan possibly know things that even he didn’t?’

’She definitely couldn’t have come up with that on her own.’

’Unless... someone told her!’

’But who?’

Seeing the look on Tim’s face, Jayce couldn’t be bothered to say any more to him.

"Charlotte Morgan, tell me, where did you hear all that?" Jayce asked, then turned his gaze to Tim. "Has she been outside? When? And where did she go?"

"Out..." Tim tried his best to remember. "She went out once, two days ago. She went to the underground garage—there’s a trading market there. She said she wanted to go look around, trade for a few things..."

Jayce understood. She must have overheard that information there.

Charlotte Morgan’s eyes darted about as she, too, realized the gravity of the situation.

"You want to know? Fine, I’ll tell you! But you have to give me this Crystal Core!"

Her eyes were filled with greed, and she subconsciously swallowed as she spoke.

Jayce let out a soft laugh. "Give it to you? I’m afraid you might get it, but you won’t live to use it."

"What do you mean?"

"What do you think I mean? Awakening a Superpower is incredibly dangerous—you should know that. The risk is already high with an ordinary Crystal Core. If you use this one, aren’t you afraid you’ll just explode and die?"

The moment Jayce finished speaking, Charlotte Morgan shuddered.

Of course she was afraid!

How could she not be!

"Are you lying to me?"

"Why don’t you try it then?" Jayce lifted his chin in a challenge. "You don’t have to say anything else. Just take the Crystal Core right now and awaken your Superpower. I’m actually curious to see if you’ll succeed."