NOVPUB
Chapter 154: Chapter 154: Ability Ranking Battle
Because of Qin Wenhao’s reckless actions, the entire base was abuzz for days. People everywhere were talking about Qin Wenhao, in contrast, another MAX Ability user at the base had been exceptionally low-key...
The sand spread out on the terrace was scorched hot by the sun, as Han Jiaojiao practiced her Ability under its rays. She slightly furrowed her brows, her hand opened gently, then snapped closed, causing four scurrying mutant rats to burst with a pop, like miniature plasma bags exploding.
Han Jiaojiao was practicing the speed of her Ability. Ever since the encounter with an alien species at a construction site, she had been particularly concerned about it. If her speed could have been swift like it was with the mutant rats, she and Tian Xinyue wouldn’t have had to flee in such a disheveled manner.
Han Jiaojiao had been looking for ways to break through this bottleneck. Breaking through tougher surfaces was inextricably linked to the strength of one’s Ability, but wasn’t there another way? She felt her initial thought pattern was wrong, which was extraction.
The Space-Time Beasts needed nutrients, so they absorbed and broke them down for digestion. But she wasn’t a Space-Time Beast; she didn’t need those nutrients. So why not be more direct, she thought?
This process was like finding a ball on the ground; first, you locate the ball, then grab it, and finally pick it up. When it comes to Abilities, it’s about sensing the water molecules inside the mutant rat, controlling these molecules with your Ability, and then extracting them.
Her approach had been fixed from the beginning. In fact, she didn’t need to extract anything at all. As long as the target died, there was no need to pick up the ball to achieve the same result.
Han Jiaojiao began various experiments. For example, pushing the blood from the mutant rat’s brain to other parts of its body; concentrating the blood supply to the heart portion; controlling just a part of the blood in the body to stop its flow; or simply causing the blood to explode inside the body... Each experiment was cruel, but also highly effective.
She came up with nearly a hundred ways to easily kill a target.
Her proudest discovery was that starting from the mouth was the fastest method. So, if she encountered an alien species again, she could perhaps try placing her hand over the creature’s fang-filled maw. Perhaps before it could bite off her hand, she could drain every bit of its tongue, brain pulp, and cerebral fluid.
Just thinking about it was rather thrilling.
Han Jiaojiao cheerfully carried the cage full of mutant rat corpses downstairs. Xiaogua, Xiaodou, and Cotton Candy were no longer satisfied with such small mutant animals, so they wouldn’t eat these mutant rat bodies. As for Pepper, she was still in a growth mode of pure water and photosynthesis.
Downstairs, Han Yi and Lu Changyuan were discussing matters, with a map spread out on the coffee table, marking circles and dots on it from time to time. Yan Xiao and Bai Kairui sat off to the side, listening but not very attentively, languid expressions on their faces as they crunched on sunflower seeds.
When they saw Han Jiaojiao coming downstairs, they greeted her. Standing on the stairs, Han Jiaojiao smiled and said, "Let me show you a little trick."
As she spoke, she lifted her arms up high, holding the iron cage aloft, while her other hand waved like a magic wand and she chanted, "Meeya Muya, Meeya Booya, stand up for me, all of you!"
The rats in the cage almost simultaneously stood up!
Bai Kairui was outright stunned, while Yan Xiao was so shocked she swallowed a seed whole without cracking it open. Both Han Yi and Lu Changyuan simply smiled and watched her in silence.
Han Jiaojiao wiggled her finger, continuing to cast her spell, "Meeya Muya, Meeya Booya, now at ease."
One of the short, stubby hind legs of the rats uniformly stepped out half pace.
Pleased with the performance, Han Jiaojiao nodded at the rats in the cage, praising them, "Well done." After speaking, she stole a glance at Han Yi’s reaction and saw a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth and his gaze softening. Han Jiaojiao’s cheeks colored slightly.
After clearing her throat, she stepped a bit closer toward Han Yi and pretended to be serious as she said, "Now let’s give Han Brother and Lu Brother a salute."
The little short claws of the mouse in the cage indeed twitched, then raised neatly in unison beside their heads, waving as if to salute.
Yan Xiao and Bai Kairui were initially shocked, but at the sight of the comical manner of these mice, they couldn’t help bursting into laughter.
Han Jiaojiao wanted to laugh too, but she held it back. Carrying the cage, she walked over to the two of them, who were laughing heartily, and said, "Come, let’s salute your Brother Yan and Brother Bai as well."
Although they knew Han Jiaojiao was up to mischief, Yan Xiao and Bai Kairui couldn’t help but look over.
As a result, the Mutant Rats in the cage rolled their eyes back and collapsed!
Han Jiaojiao clicked her tongue and sighed, "They say that even mice have dignity, so they bit their tongues and committed suicide."
"Jiaojiao!" Yan Xiao shouted angrily.
This time, it was Han Jiaojiao’s turn to laugh heartily.
Han Yi looked at her helplessly yet indulgently, "Mischievous."
Bai Kairui was still puzzled, "How did she do that? Can Jiaojiao control dead mice?"
"It’s because of the water," Lu Changyuan explained with an amused face, "Although the mice are dead, their bodies still contain water. Jiaojiao’s Ability can control the water content, so that’s how she created this effect. However, it’s indeed surprising, and the effect is not bad."
Han Jiaojiao laughed sheepishly and carried the cage out to dispose of the bodies.
Han Jiaojiao’s playful act had given them insight, opening up new perspectives on Ability usage techniques. Yan Xiao instantly came up with several fresh ideas on the spot, such as compressing high-temperature flames into a plane and then pushing it towards Alien Species, wondering if it would be more efficient than directly throwing Fireballs.
They chatted about Abilities for a while longer until Xiao Jian returned from an outing with several of his brothers. They now go on missions twice a week, each lasting about two days, led on rotation by Xiao Jian, Yan Xiao, and Bai Kairui. The purpose was to integrate with the newcomers and to understand everyone’s strengths and weaknesses comprehensively through their performance in missions.
Xiao Jian had first gone to the labor center to turn in the mission before returning. He brought back news from outside, and as soon as he entered the room, he said to Han Yi and Lu Changyuan, "Beicheng Base is planning to hold a Superpower ranking competition, and many people at the labor center are signing up."
"Superpower ranking competition?" Lu Changyuan mused over the name, glancing at Han Yi.
Han Jiaojiao looked blankly at Xiao Jian. Was this competition present in her past life? She couldn’t remember at all. But it was normal for her not to remember since she wasn’t a Superpower User in her previous life. Even if the Base did have this competition, she probably wouldn’t have paid much attention to it.
Xiao Jian said, "It was Qin Wenhao’s idea. It seems that Yunan Base selects talents through competitive rankings. Beicheng Base found the idea feasible, so they adopted his suggestion. There are two weeks for registration, and the rewards are said to be very generous."
Han Jiaojiao wasn’t very interested in the rewards; after all, they were lacking nothing at the moment. However, she was curious about the competition format and asked, "Won’t the competition be very dangerous? Isn’t the base currently short of Superpower Users? If everyone gets injured during the competition, wouldn’t that be counterproductive? And besides, Support Ability Users would be at a huge disadvantage if they signed up, right?"
Xiao Jian shook his head and explained, "To be precise, it should be called a Superpower Combat Strength Ranking Competition. The competition venue is an artificially set up simulated battlefield. There are cameras everywhere in the arena, real-time monitoring the competitors’ Abilities, endurance, agility, psychological quality, and other performances. The enemies are mechanisms controlled by computers, so there will be no danger to the competitors’ lives. In the end, the intelligent system will give a comprehensive combat strength score."
