"You still have hidden tricks up your sleeve?"
Lone Wolf's eyes sharpened with interest.But a moment later, something clicked in his mind.His expression froze—then twisted in shock.
"Talent Awakening…!"
Chen Fan smiled faintly."So you're not completely brain-dead."
"When I was a Level-1 Esper, my innate ability wasn't worth mentioning. But now that I've advanced to Level 2… I've awakened a new Talent."
As he spoke, a deep, thunderous rumble echoed from his chest.Across the sky, clouds churned like boiling ink, swallowing the heavens in darkness.
A crushing pressure descended, sweeping over the land like the breath of a deity.Even space itself seemed to shudder beneath the weight of it.
CRACK!
A blinding bolt of lightning tore open the sky.Silver arcs danced across Chen Fan's skin—Then his entire body ignited in radiant brilliance.
His eyes turned violet.Lightning flickered within them, and each spark in his gaze summoned an answering boom from the heavens.
"You…" Lone Wolf's voice shook. "What kind of Talent is this? How can it be so terrifying?!"
Chen Fan raised his head slowly.
"Thor War Armor."
The roar of his voice drowned even the thunder.
A beam of lightning—thick as a man's arm—descended from the heavens and struck him.The raw force engulfed him completely, wrapping him in a storm of pure destructive power.
"Condense!"
From within the beam, Chen Fan's agonized roar pierced the clouds.More lightning speared downward, one strike after another.
Lone Wolf saw the impossible—The lightning didn't burn Chen Fan.It clung to him.Merged with him.
And then…Piece by piece…A solid, armor-like construct of pure lightning formed on Chen Fan's chest.
The energy rolling off him warped the air itself.
"That… that's a War-Soldier!" Lone Wolf gasped, eyes wide."It can't be… it really can't be!"
War-Soldiers—legendary weapons or armor formed from one's own energy.Creatures of pure power.A skill normally reserved for top-tier Espers whose energy had reached frightening levels.
Even as a Level-3 Esper, Lone Wolf had never awakened a War-Soldier.His energy wasn't even close to the required threshold.
But Chen Fan…A newly advanced Level-2…
Had done it.
"Take Liu Wei and move back," Chen Fan said coldly from within the lightning beam. "Don't even think about running. You know exactly what will happen if you try."
His voice was emotionless.Absolute.
The beam faded, and Chen Fan emerged—A human-shaped thunder god clad in crackling war-armor.
The pressure alone made the earth tremble.
"Y-Yes!"Liu Wei's teammate nearly collapsed.He stumbled to Liu Wei, dragging the trembling man backward.
Not daring to flee.Not daring to breathe too loudly.
"I underestimated you…" Lone Wolf said with a bitter smile. "If I had used my full power from the beginning, maybe… maybe you wouldn't have completed that War-Soldier."
But there was no turning back.Only one path remained.
Fight.
"Icebound Heaven!"
A roar blasted into the air.
Freezing cold erupted from Lone Wolf's body, spreading across the ground in a wave so fast it was visible.Frost raced outward, freezing the earth in thick, crystalline layers.
His innate ice ability—activated at full force.
But the moment the cold approached Chen Fan—Zzztt—!!
The frost shattered into mist.The thunder armor dissolved it on contact.
Lone Wolf's face twisted.Not in rage.But in despair.
A Level-3 ultimate move…completely ineffective.
Unless he reached Level 4…or his frost could ignore Chen Fan's lightning entirely—he had no way to hurt him.
"Thunder Limit!"
Chen Fan raised a hand.A beam of violet lightning erupted from his fingertip—thick as a spear.
The attack warped space as it shot forward.
Chen Fan's face paled—this was a heavy strike.
"AHHH—!!"
The lightning tore into Lone Wolf's chest.His frost shattered instantly.Lightning flooded into his body, exploding outward from within.
He convulsed—Eyes wide—Unable to make a sound beyond a strangled gasp.
So… this is the power of thunder…
That was his final thought before consciousness fled.
Chen Fan's War Armor flickered—Then dissolved completely.
The technique devoured energy at an impossible rate.Without the sky's lightning to sustain it, he could barely hold it for moments.
Weakness washed over him like a crashing wave.
But he had done it.
He had defeated Lone Wolf—alive.
Chen Fan exhaled and forced himself to stand straight.He still had two criminals to bring back.
"Bind yourselves. You're coming back to headquarters for interrogation."His voice was cold.Final.
Liu Wei was gravely injured.His partner was terrified into obedience.Neither dared resist.
Moments later, the Alliance aircraft descended with a shrill roar.
A striking silhouette stepped out—Reflected in Chen Fan's dimming vision.
Then darkness swallowed him.
When Chen Fan awoke again, three days had passed.
He opened his eyes to find himself in a beautifully decorated room.Pink walls.A sweet scent.Plush toys piled neatly beside the bed.
"Where… am I?"
He rubbed his aching head and sat up.
The door swung open.
Zhao Ying stepped inside with a calmness that felt… dangerous.
"Chen Fan," she said slowly, staring at him like a storm about to break."You slept very comfortably, didn't you~~?"
Chen Fan stiffened.
"Well… the battle consumed a lot of energy—"
"You slept in my bed."She cut him off, her voice frosty."For three days. And guess where I slept?"
"…uh…"
"The floor!"She exploded."For three whole days!"
Chen Fan shrank back slightly.
"Get up! The Supreme Commander of headquarters is waiting to personally congratulate you."
Her voice was sharp.Jealous.And… sour.
Like someone had dumped a bucket of vinegar over her.
As they walked through the Alliance's central district, Chen Fan asked:
"How is Lone Wolf? And Liu Wei? Did they investigate his residence?"
"Lone Wolf is locked up. Liu Wei has been suspended and will likely face prison," Zhao Ying huffed. "Unbelievable. One mutated bastard caused so much chaos."
She glared at Chen Fan."And you— you're now a Two-Star Detective. Your merit points are already nearing the threshold for Three-Star. All because of the rewards from this mission."
Chen Fan's eyes widened.
"You're serious?!"
Zhao Ying rolled her eyes.
"Do I look like I'm joking?"