Chapter 3

I instinctively raised my hand, and a brilliant, almost translucent light erupted from my palm, as if it could cut through space itself. It was blindingly bright, like the sun.

In that instant, the high-level zombie that had charged at me froze in midair. It couldn't move, its rotten body bound by countless transparent threads. I hadn't even realized what was happening when the threads suddenly tightened and tore the zombie apart into dozens of pieces.

I was stunned. I looked at my hand and saw transparent light still flickering across my fingertips, warm and burning. It felt unfamiliar, like something inside me had just awakened and was trying to break free. "W-What is this…"

I suddenly heard a faint cough coming from behind me. I turned and found Queenie lying on the ground, her abdomen covered in blood. She was staring right at me, her eyes wide in disbelief as she said hoarsely, "T-That's your ability…"

I rushed over and dropped to my knees beside her. I tried my best to stem the bleeding, but blood kept pouring out. The translucent lights still flickered across my hand, and I was drenched in sweat from panic. "Please don't talk anymore, Queenie. I'll bring you to—"

"Wait," Queenie gasped as she grabbed my wrist, her grip surprisingly strong. "What ability did you use just now?"

I looked down at my hands, shaking my head helplessly. "I-I have no idea… I-I didn't want you dying on me, so…"

Queenie fixed her eyes on me for a few seconds before letting out a sudden chuckle. She ended up coughing blood from the laugh, but her eyes flared with unbelievable excitement. "I-It's actually Spatial Severance. It actually exists. I-I always assumed it was nothing more than a legend…"

She tightened her grip on my wrist. "There are fewer than 20 people in the entire apocalyptic world with space-type abilities! Spatial Severance is the only Mythic-rank path in the entire spatial branch! Its raw power beats every elemental ability out there!"

I was stunned after finding out that it was a Mythic-rank ability.

"Whitney's A-rank doesn't hold a candle to you," Queenie said before letting go of my wrist, looking deathly pale. "Oh, snap out of it already and come help me to my feet! I've got this bleeding under control, so go check for other casualties."

I came back to my senses and quickly helped her up. She took out a hemostatic shot from her belt and jabbed it into her abdomen without so much as a flinch.

The people from the settlement came running over with their weapons. The moment they saw the zombie remains scattered everywhere, they stopped dead. Then, a young man rushed over and asked, "W-Who did this, Queenie?"

Queenie glanced at me and said nothing. I tried to speak up, but I couldn't think of anything to say.

That young man looked at me after following Queenie's gaze, his expression changing from confusion to shock and then to respect and awe.

I looked at my palm, and though the light had faded, the warmth remained. I felt as though the whole world had suddenly shifted before me.

Queenie was helped into the room once her bleeding had stopped.

I followed her and stood awkwardly beside the bed, not knowing what to do.

She pointed to the stool beside her and said, "Have a seat."

I sat down but then stood up again. "I'll go get you some water."

"I told you to sit down," Queenie ordered in a tone that brooked no argument.

I had no choice but to sit down again.

She leaned back against the head of the bed, her face remaining deadly pale. She stared at me for quite a while before asking, "Do you have any idea what Spatial Severance actually means?"

I shook my head.

She explained carefully, "It means once you reach your potential, there are only a handful of people in the entire post-apocalyptic world who could ever stop you. It means Whitney's cheap mind games don't amount to anything against you."

I was completely caught off guard, finding it hard to believe that I was an ability user.

Queenie continued, "You've truly been through a lot during those three years…"

I stood frozen, staring at her pale face. It had been three years, and during that period, nobody had ever said anything like that to me.

I turned and walked outside. The sky was already beginning to brighten.

Queenie remained silent for quite a while before she turned to her subordinate and said, "Go look into it and find out what actually went down at Northvale Base three years ago."