Beautiful and deadly.

Hannah Walsh was beginning to suspect that something was going on with Jack Sullivan.

Even during training exercises, preparing supplies for the safe houses wasn't usually part of her duties as the team's logistics assistant.

Her instincts told her that this had something to do with that troublesome little hamster, Liam Bennett.

Unfortunately, Jack's explanation was practically flawless. He claimed that the exercise would help her improve her professional skills, leaving her with no reasonable excuse to refuse.

By the time Liam arrived with the takeaway food, Jack and Hannah were already busy working, both sweating from the effort.

Apart from the reinforced doors and windows, the apartment's interior remained largely unchanged from when Liam and Jack had lived there together.

The only noticeable difference was the lingering smell of cigarette smoke left behind by Yang Kai, the man who had once pretended to be Liam's romantic rival.

Liam put the food on the table and called the two over to eat.

The air conditioning was running at such a low temperature that anyone who got sweaty beneath the cold air would soon be covered in goosebumps.

Yet Jack was burning hot, with sweat pouring down his face and neck.

Liam immediately handed him an ice cold soft drink.

"Brother Jack, are you alright? You're sweating like crazy. Your whole body feels so hot."

Jack took the drink and swallowed half of it in one go before shaking his head.

"I don't know what's wrong with me. I've felt unusually hot all day. I've been sweating since noon, even with the air conditioning on, and it's getting worse."

Liam frowned.

"Are you sure you aren't suffering from heat exhaustion? Do you feel strange in any other way?"

With the apocalypse approaching, getting sick now would be the last thing they needed.

Jack shook his head.

"No. I just feel like I'm burning up."

Hannah glanced at him with a mischievous smile.

"Must be all that pent up frustration after two years of being a lonely martyr. Now that you're back together, the flames of passion are finally burning. Must be exhausting!"

"......"

It took Liam a moment to understand what she meant, and his cheeks turned slightly red.

He could be shameless when teasing Jack in private, but in front of other people, he couldn't always maintain that confidence.

No wonder she was Jack's assistant. Hannah certainly knew how to run her mouth!

Jack shot her an icy look.

"If you can't keep your mouth shut, I'll sew it closed for you."

Hannah, who was undeniably attractive, simply pouted without the slightest fear.

When she noticed Liam wiping the sweat from Jack's forehead again, she clicked her tongue.

"Working overtime is bad enough without having to watch you two display your affection every five minutes."

Liam wasn't the type to flirt openly in front of strangers, but he wasn't about to let Hannah have all the fun.

He looked at her curiously.

"Hannah, do you have someone waiting for you at home? The last time we worked late, nobody came to pick you up, even though it was already so late."

He genuinely wondered what sort of man could handle a woman as fiery as her.

"Shut up!"

Hannah flicked her slender fingers at him.

"This queen is perfectly happy on her own. I don't need a man!"

She practically spat the words through clenched teeth.

Liam was about to agree that being single was wonderful when Jack opened his mouth and ruined the moment.

"Hannah's love life begins with her looks and ends with her personality. Her ex is still recovering in the hospital's physiotherapy department after she worked his back into the ground."

"Jack Sullivan! Stop spreading lies and twisting the truth!"

Hannah finally lost her composure.

Her delicate fingers curled into what looked like the legendary Nine Yin Skeleton Claw as she lunged towards him.

Liam immediately worried about his boyfriend's handsome face.

Fortunately, Jack caught her wrist with ease.

"Fight all you want, but don't hit me in the face. A man's face is important, you know. You might be single, but I'm not. If I get dumped again, I'll blame you."

"With that mouth of yours, you deserve to get dumped!"

Unable to tolerate his smug expression any longer, Hannah raised her other hand.

Liam quickly passed her a cup of iced tea.

"Sister Hannah, calm down. Don't get angry. Being single is wonderful. Exceptional women are meant to stand on their own!"

He genuinely admired her fierceness.

He could never wear Jack out the way she seemed capable of wearing everyone else out. If anything, he suspected he would be the one ending up in hospital.

"Fine! Let's call it even."

Hannah was still struggling to free her trapped wrist when Jack instinctively pushed her away.

He thought he had controlled his strength, but Hannah suddenly let out a sharp cry.

"Ah!"

The floral tea in her other hand spilled as she toppled backwards off her chair, her face twisted in pain.

"Hannah!"

"Sister Hannah!"

Both Jack and Liam were startled. They immediately rushed over to help her up.

However, Hannah glared at Jack the moment she regained her balance.

"Jack Sullivan, have you lost your mind? You electrocuted me!"

"What? I... I didn't!"

Jack stared at her in confusion.

They had always joked and fought like this. Although Hannah could be rather wild, he had never deliberately hurt her, much less used an electric device on her.

"......"

Hannah struggled awkwardly to her feet and brushed herself off.

"It felt as though you'd hit me with a stun gun!"

She glanced suspiciously at Jack's hands.

There was nothing in them.

But something was definitely wrong.

"Wait, Jack isn't holding anything..."

Liam instinctively reached for Jack's hand to check.

The instant his fingers touched Jack's skin, a sharp electric shock shot through him.

"Yowch!"

He snatched his hand away, reacting exactly as Hannah had.

He stumbled backwards two steps, nearly losing his balance, and clutched his wrist.

For a brief moment, his head buzzed strangely, leaving his expression twisted with discomfort.

"Liam!"

Still confused, Jack instinctively reached out to steady him.

Fortunately, Hannah pulled Liam away before he could touch Jack again.

"Jack, don't move! Something's wrong with you. It feels like electricity is coming straight out of your body!"

As she spoke, Hannah examined the floor around his feet, searching for anything he might have stepped on.

There was nothing.

"......"

Jack was still sweating profusely. His expression grew serious as he stared at his own hand.

"I can feel it too. It's as if an electric current is running through my entire body."

He looked at the two people he had accidentally shocked.

"Are you both alright?"

"I'm fine."

Hannah shook her head. She had pulled away quickly enough, and although her hand still felt slightly numb, the discomfort was already fading.

"I'm fine too..."

Liam gradually recovered from the initial shock.

Then a thought suddenly struck him, and his eyes lit up.

Ignoring Hannah's bewildered presence, he swallowed nervously and approached Jack.

"Brother Jack, listen to me carefully. You might be awakening a superpower."

The circumstances surrounding a superpower awakening varied from person to person. However, a sudden, unexplained high fever was one of the most common signs.

"What... what do you mean by awakening a superpower?"

Hannah looked completely lost.

She had heard every word Liam said, but somehow, none of it made sense when put together.

Liam shook his head and gestured for her to wait. He would explain everything later.

"Superpower awakening..."

Jack recalled the strange news reports he had seen earlier, along with Liam's stories about his dreams of the apocalypse and the possibility of humans developing extraordinary abilities.

The pieces were finally beginning to fit together.

He looked at Liam.

"What should I do now?"

Sweat was pouring down his body. He felt as though he were being cooked alive from the inside.

"First, don't panic. Try to stay calm."

Liam recalled the sensations he had experienced during his own awakening in his previous life, along with what he had heard from other people who possessed abilities.

After gathering his thoughts, he explained as clearly as he could.

"Try to follow the energy flowing through your body. Don't fight it or try to suppress it. Let the power merge with you naturally. The process could take anywhere from a few hours to several days."

He glanced at Jack's hands before continuing.

"We can't safely get close to you right now, so you'll need to stay alone in a room until the awakening is complete."

"But I'm so hot..."

Jack's voice was strained.

"I feel as though I'm about to burst into flames."

As he spoke, his skin began turning red.

The electricity that had previously been felt rather than seen now became visible. Tiny sparks danced across his fingertips, spreading over his skin like living threads of light.

"Lightning..."

Liam stared at the sight, his eyes widening.

He had initially thought Jack was awakening a lightning based superpower.

But before he could say anything else, flames suddenly burst from Jack's fingertips.

White electricity coiled around the fire, crackling and twisting together in a mesmerising yet terrifying display.

It was both beautiful and deadly.