Zoe Pierce could see how Chase Shaw was controlling his spiritual power.

His spirit sea was churning wildly. His dense, white spiritual power first completely suppressed the two Xenobeasts. When they began to retaliate, he reached out to grab them while simultaneously intensifying the spiritual pressure he was already applying.

The weight was enough to crush the Xenobeasts, but he precisely confined it to the area immediately surrounding them.

It was like an invisible hand, freely adjusting the spiritual pressure, allowing him to command the Gravity of the entire space at will.

After a few exchanges, the Xenobeasts’ bones seemed on the verge of snapping as they twitched on the ground, on the brink of death.

But they continued to shriek and roar, their sharp, piercing cries making one want to instinctively cover their ears.

The spiritual power throughout the incubation room descended into chaos.

Zoe’s face paled slightly.

Chase wanted to capture them alive, but they seemed determined to die rather than submit, unleashing wave after wave of frenzied spiritual power in an attempt to disrupt him.

They couldn’t understand why their trump card, which had always succeeded, had absolutely no effect on Chase.

Only Zoe could see that it wasn’t ineffective; Chase was simply enduring it. The veins on his neck bulged, yet his sharp eyes remained fixed on the struggling Xenobeasts.

His spirit sea was just as turbulent as it had been when they first met.

The spiritual power of the two Xenobeasts began to spread, rushing straight toward Erin Xavier and Zoe.

Zoe didn’t have time to think. She broke free from Erin, grabbed his wrist, and her Omega spiritual power instantly formed a protective layer around his spirit sea.

Erin was about to yell at Zoe, asking what she thought she was doing, when he saw her grab his arm, her expression tense.

A familiar spiritual power enveloped him like a protective shield. He opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, the frenzied wave of spiritual power struck.

His expression changed. He finally understood the source of his bad feeling. The Xenobeasts’ spiritual power was bizarre, far surpassing that of an S-Class Xenobeast.

But based on its physical form, you’d never guess it was S-Class.

It wasn’t savage enough, and its methods of attack were too simplistic.

When the wave of spiritual power washed over them, Erin was surprised to find he was completely unaffected.

The reason was clear. It was Zoe.

’She’s protecting me.’

For the first time in all his years, an Omega had stood before him, protecting him.

An indescribable feeling welled up inside him, his expression turning complex.

But his attention quickly shifted back to Chase. If even they, on the edge of the storm, were affected, he couldn’t imagine what it was like for Chase at its center.

The two Xenobeasts were in their death throes. Chase wielded a sharp, black, custom-made dagger, already stained with the blood of one of them. With his next strike, droplets of blood were flung from the blade onto the ground.

He had given up on capturing them alive. Without a special tranquilizer, it was impossible to control the fiercely struggling creatures.

Chase’s breathing grew heavy. His head throbbed as if pierced by a thousand needles.

It was a sensation he knew all too well, one he had endured a thousand times over.

No longer hesitating, Chase subdued one of the Xenobeasts again and plunged his dagger in without a second thought.

He drove the Blood Blade viciously into the beast, just below its heart. The Xenobeast let out one final, piercing shriek, its legs twitched, and then it went still.

The other Xenobeast, as if understanding its comrade’s fate, let out a mournful howl. It launched one last, desperate spiritual attack at Chase. Seeing it had no effect, the creature let out a cry of despair and finally, under the crushing weight of Chase’s spiritual power, gave up all resistance.

A series of sharp CRACKS echoed from its spine. No longer protected by its own spiritual power, every bone in its body was crushed.

Chase stood where he was, his tall body bolt upright.

He stood alone in silence.

Zoe immediately let go of Erin’s hand and sprinted toward Chase.

She had just reached Chase when he suddenly raised the hand holding the dagger, pointing it directly at her.

"Chase!" Anyone who had seen how decisively Chase acted amidst that frenzied spiritual power, as if completely unaffected, couldn’t help but be in awe.

They might marvel at his strength, but Zoe saw his struggle. His messy hair was soaked with sweat that trickled down his neck, and the muscles in his arms remained taut.

He wasn’t numb to it; with absolute willpower, he had suppressed the spiritual power that was strong enough to destroy his spirit sea.

"You need soothing." The dagger was pointed right at her, but Zoe just frowned and said in a low voice.

Erin also reacted, moving with lightning speed to restrain Chase. But an instant later, less than half a meter away from him, he froze. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

He cursed under his breath. Chase had deployed his spiritual pressure in a radius around himself; anyone who approached would feel an immense, crushing weight.

The speed he prided himself on was useless within half a meter of Chase.

He could tell that if he dared to get any closer, Chase’s blade would slash at him without hesitation.

In the past, Miles Sherman had always been the one to control Chase.

But Miles wasn’t here now, and his spiritual power was diametrically opposed to Chase’s. Neither could suppress the other.

Chase took a few heavy breaths, his gray eyes struggling to focus as he stared hazily at the young woman before him.

’This person... she looks familiar.’

’I can’t quite remember.’

’I think she’s the Omega on our team.’

’She has a comforting scent.’

’What is she saying? Soothing.’

Ah...

’Soothing.’

Chase’s expression suddenly changed, and he lowered the hand holding the dagger.

Zoe and Erin both breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that Chase had regained his senses and finally recognized them.

But the next moment, in a scene that seemed to repeat itself, Chase’s large hand shot out and pulled Zoe into his arms.

Only this time, the one watching wasn’t Nathan Lockwood, but Erin.

Not only that, but when he noticed Erin’s intent to approach, Chase’s expression grew wary and he quickly retreated several steps.

He kept backing away until he was out of Erin’s sight, slumping down in a corner. He extended his spiritual power in a three-meter radius, ready to attack anyone who approached.

He was like a fierce dragon, tightly clutching his precious gem.

No one could take it from him.

Only he could keep this jewel close, hidden in his embrace.

His strong arms wrapped tightly around her waist, and his damp hair brushed against Zoe’s neck. His usually deep voice was weak. "Head... hurts..."

Zoe could only feel his breath ghosting over her neck as he spoke.

The sensation made her throat go dry.

He was holding her too tightly, so she tried her best to keep her tone relaxed. "Chase, let go of me first. It won’t hurt after the soothing."

In this position, she couldn’t touch his skin at all.

The man let out a sharp, low growl. "Shut up."

Zoe: "..."

’You asshole.’