[Ding! Did the host check in with Mutant Lauren?]
"Yes!"
[Ding! Sign-in successful. Congratulations to the host for obtaining the super ability 'Condensed Molecules.' Experience +100.]
Liam Hayes couldn't help but frown slightly as the system notification echoed in his mind. His brow furrowed with faint disappointment as he processed the wording carefully. Condensed molecules… not full molecular manipulation. That distinction mattered far more than it sounded at first glance.
The gap between the two wasn't just noticeable—it was massive. Condensing molecules was a narrow application, while true molecular manipulation bordered on omnipotence.
With condensed molecules, the applications were relatively straightforward. Just like Lauren, he could compress water molecules in the air to form defensive shields or shape them into razor-sharp blades. It was practical, even versatile in combat, but it still felt limited compared to what he had expected.
In the original storyline, that same ability had even been used to seal a portal Clarice accidentally opened, which meant it had some utility beyond offense and defense. Still, no matter how he looked at it, it didn't compare to the overwhelming power of the Strucker twins.
A thought suddenly crossed his mind, and his eyes lit up almost instantly. If he could sign in with Andrew as well, maybe he could obtain the ability closer to true molecular destruction.
The Strucker twins were only terrifying when working together, but when they did, their power reached a completely different level. They could dismantle molecular structures in an instant, reducing everything around them to nothing. At the same time, they could reverse the process and reconstruct matter just as easily.
A villa, for example, could be disassembled down to its molecular foundation in a blink, collapsing into ruin without warning. And just as easily, that same villa could be rebuilt from nothing, molecule by molecule, as if reality itself had been rewritten.
That was the standard of a true Level 4 Mutant.
Individually, the twins were far less impressive. On their own, each of them barely qualified as mid-tier mutants, nowhere near the destructive synergy they achieved together. The contrast only made Liam more aware of how incomplete his current ability really was.
After running through the possibilities in his head, he didn't rush into anything. There was no need to act impulsively when the path forward was already forming clearly in his mind.
Then, without warning—
Boom!!
The Coke bottle sitting on the table suddenly exploded with a sharp, cracking sound. The liquid inside burst outward violently, spraying into the air in every direction.
It was obvious what had happened. Andrew had lost control.
Yet what followed was far more surprising.
Instead of splashing onto the table or the floor, every drop of soda froze midair, suspended as if gravity had suddenly stopped working. The droplets hovered in place, shimmering under the light, completely defying expectation.
A moment later, the floating liquid began to move again. Slowly, almost delicately, all the scattered cola gathered together, merging back into a single stream before pouring neatly into a nearby cup.
"This… you did that?" Lauren blinked in disbelief, her gaze snapping toward Liam. Her expression was filled with astonishment, as if she had just witnessed something impossible.
Andrew, on the other hand, stood off to the side looking completely dazed. His face was blank, his mind clearly struggling to catch up. He couldn't even control his own ability properly yet, let alone understand what had just happened.
"Being able to manipulate molecules is an incredible ability," Liam said calmly, his tone relaxed as if what he'd done was nothing special. "It's not just about controlling water flow. You can take it much further than that."
As he spoke, he casually lifted the cola inside the glass again. Without any visible effort, the liquid began to crystallize. In seconds, it transformed into perfectly formed ice cubes, chilling the drink instantly.
An ice-cold glass of cola now sat on the table as if it had always been that way.
"Weiss… do you have the same ability as us?" Lauren asked, still staring at him in disbelief. Her voice carried a mixture of excitement and confusion.
She had always thought that only she and her brother shared this power. Seeing Liam replicate—and even surpass—it so effortlessly completely overturned her expectations.
"That's right," Liam replied with a faint smile, giving a simple nod.
"Then… can you teach us how to use it?" Lauren stepped forward slightly, her eyes shining with anticipation. There was no hesitation in her request, only eagerness.
Liam paused for a brief moment before nodding again. "Sure. No problem."
In truth, he had already developed several ways to apply the ability, even if they were still somewhat theoretical. Sharing those ideas could help refine them further, especially through discussion.
Lauren's face lit up immediately when she heard his answer. Her excitement was impossible to hide.
"Alright," Liam continued, shifting into a more explanatory tone. "Let's start with the basics of molecular control. Everything in the world is made up of molecular structures. That means, in theory, we can recreate anything."
He spoke steadily, organizing his thoughts as he went.
"If you can perfectly manipulate molecules, there's almost no limit to what you can do. For example, the carbohydrates the human body needs have a specific molecular formula—C₂₄H₄₂O₂₁. If you understand that structure, you can recreate those nutrients directly."
Lauren's eyes widened slightly as she listened, clearly absorbing every word.
"If you take it further," Liam continued, "and you can construct all the elements required by the human body, then theoretically, you could create an entire body from scratch."
He paused briefly before adding, "Even just creating blood or proteins would be enough to make you an incredible doctor. You could treat injuries or illnesses at a level normal medicine could never reach."
The more he spoke, the more expansive the implications became. The ability wasn't just about combat—it touched on creation, healing, even the fundamental nature of life itself.
Lauren felt like an entirely new world had opened up in front of her. Everything she thought she understood about her power suddenly seemed shallow and incomplete.
Before this, she had only considered simple applications like condensing water molecules. She had never imagined that molecular manipulation could reach such a level.
Her admiration for Liam grew rapidly.
Andrew, meanwhile, looked completely lost. His brows were furrowed, and his expression made it clear he hadn't understood most of what was said. As someone who struggled academically, the scientific explanation had gone straight over his head.
In reality, even Liam himself wasn't entirely confident in everything he had just explained. His understanding of molecular structures—especially the human body—was far from complete. If someone pressed him for deeper details, he'd probably hit a wall pretty quickly.
Still, for now, it was enough.
Seeing that he had successfully impressed them, Liam decided it was a good time to wrap things up. He slipped away before the conversation could get too technical.
The moment he stepped outside, however, he ran straight into Thunderbird.
Thunderbird was moving quickly, his expression tense. As soon as he saw Liam, he didn't waste a second.
"Wes, something's wrong. One of our strongholds has been discovered by the Sentry Secret Service."
Liam's expression immediately sharpened as he heard the news. His relaxed demeanor vanished, replaced by a focused seriousness.
"Slow down," he said calmly, though his tone carried a clear edge. "Tell me exactly what happened."
It finally made sense to him now. The Sentry Secret Service hadn't been idle these past few days—they had been searching.
After the humiliation they suffered at the Garland Detention Facility, there was no way they would simply let things go. Dr. Campbell's hatred for mutants made that even more certain.
"They attacked one of our surface-level bases," Thunderbird began, explaining the situation in detail. "The ones leading the assault were mutants enhanced by Dr. Campbell."
Liam listened carefully, his gaze growing colder.
"It's those two," Thunderbird continued. "The demolition duo. One of them has telekinesis, the other controls gravity."
With Dr. Campbell's modifications, their abilities had evolved into something far more destructive. They could now unleash shockwave-like attacks capable of leveling entire structures.
"The base was completely destroyed," Thunderbird said grimly. "Evangeline and several others barely escaped. Right now, they're still being pursued by the Sentry Secret Service."
....
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