With a thunderous "Boom!" Su Zhan's flame-wreathed fist erupted through the shadows, blazing with heat and fury as it slammed directly toward the black-clad boss and his subordinate. The sudden attack caught everyone in the room off guard, but Su Zhan knew that when facing enemies who could wield mind control or telekinesis, the only chance for victory was to strike first and show no hesitation. If he allowed them even a moment to react, the situation could spiral out of control.
The black boss, seasoned and ruthless, reacted instantly. He drew his pistol and fired at Su Zhan, while his subordinate, equally quick-thinking, summoned a shimmering psionic shield-a psychic defense reminiscent of Susan Storm's force fields-to block the incoming flames. Bullets whizzed through the air, but Su Zhan, his body enhanced by Extremis, barely flinched. He sidestepped with supernatural ease, the bullets glancing harmlessly away. In the next instant, Su Zhan's blazing fist crashed into the psionic barrier, sending a shockwave through the room.
With a sharp, crystalline crack, the barrier shattered. Su Zhan's momentum didn't falter; his fist smashed into the subordinate's face, launching the man across the room and into the wall with a thunderous crash. Without missing a beat, Su Zhan spun and grabbed the boss's wrist, the flames licking hungrily at his skin, sizzling and burning with a sinister hiss.
The boss screamed in agony, his eyes wild with pain and desperation. Even as he tried to muster his mind control ability, Su Zhan felt the psychic pressure pressing against his own consciousness-a powerful attempt to seize control of his mind. But Su Zhan was ready. He activated his Devour ability, drawing the boss's power out of him with a force that was both irresistible and terrifying.
"What's happening? How can this be?" the boss gasped, his voice trembling with disbelief as he felt his strength draining away. He struggled, trying to fight back with every ounce of will, but it was useless. Within moments, his eyes went dull, and the flames around Su Zhan's hand surged higher. In seconds, the boss's body was reduced to charred ash, collapsing in a heap as Su Zhan released his grip.
Without turning, Su Zhan addressed the subordinate, who was now crawling desperately for the door. "If you try to run, your fate will be just like his," Su Zhan said coldly, his voice echoing with a chilling finality. The man froze, terror rooting him to the spot.
Turning slowly, Su Zhan's eyes glinted with a dark, inhuman light. "Come here. Don't resist."
The subordinate, trembling, obeyed. Su Zhan reached out and activated his Devour ability once more. This time, the process was even smoother-the man, paralyzed by fear, offered no resistance. Su Zhan felt the psionic power flowing into him, the sensation both exhilarating and exhausting. He flexed his hand, testing the new ability, and the subordinate's body lifted off the ground, suspended by invisible force. Su Zhan frowned slightly, sensing the strain-clearly, even with the power, mastery would require training and practice.
He released the telekinetic grip, and the man collapsed to the floor, unconscious.
With the villains dispatched and their powers absorbed, Su Zhan turned to face Nick, Kira, and Cassie, who were huddled together in shock and awe.
"Are you going to kill us?" Cassie asked, her voice trembling.
Su Zhan shrugged, his expression softening. "That depends on how cooperative you are."
"What do you want us to do?" Nick stammered; fear etched across his face. The sight of a man who could so easily destroy powerful psionics and absorb their abilities was overwhelming.
Su Zhan's tone was almost reassuring. "Relax. You should be glad you met me now, rather than the last time I came here. I'm not here to kill you. First, hand over the serum."
The three exchanged anxious glances. At last, Cassie nodded. "Give it to him. I don't think he'll go back on his word."
Kira hesitated, then retrieved the box from its hiding place. With a flick of Su Zhan's finger, the box floated to him, guided by his new telekinetic power. He opened it, confirming with a glance and a touch of his tracking ability that the serum was genuine. Satisfied, he willed it into his system space, making it vanish before their eyes-a feat that left Nick, Kira, and Cassie speechless.
"Little prophet," Su Zhan said, turning to Cassie, "I told you before that if I had the chance to return, I'd help you save your mother."
Cassie's eyes widened with hope. "Really? Will you help me?"
Su Zhan nodded. "You know where the organization's base is. Lead me there, and I'll rescue your mother. Of course, I'll be honest-I intend to absorb the abilities of the other superpowered individuals there, including your mother. I also need them to help me study and improve the gene serum. But if you cooperate, I promise no one will be harmed unnecessarily. When it's over, I can erase your memories, and you'll be free to live a normal life."
The three exchanged glances, then nodded in agreement. For them, the chance at a normal life was more than they could have hoped for. Besides, with Su Zhan's overwhelming power, resistance was not an option.
Su Zhan smiled, his eyes glinting with ambition and satisfaction. With new powers at his command and the serum in his grasp, he was ready to take the next step on his path to supremacy-one that would reshape the world, and perhaps himself, forever.