Chapter 50: Chapter 50: Others May Treasure Your Wood Element Ability, But I Don’t

"Hold on!" Jayce said quickly. "There’s one more thing."

Hearing Jayce say there was something else, Kevin Everett involuntarily tensed up. "What is it?"

"We were supposed to be back today, but the sandstorm suddenly got worse, so we took shelter in a shopping mall. There are a lot of survivors there. Dad, just send a rescue team and bring them back to the base! For the past two nights, Aberrant Beasts have been attacking them. They only have a few Superpower Users. If they get attacked again tonight, they definitely won’t be able to hold out."

Kevin Everett had thought something terrible had happened, but he never expected it was this.

"So that’s what this is about. But—"

"Absolutely not!"

Before Kevin Everett could finish, another voice cut him off.

Sierra Sullivan had also gotten out of the car and was standing beside Jayce. Hearing the dissenting voice, she immediately looked toward the sound.

A group of people was walking toward them.

Sierra Sullivan didn’t recognize anyone else in the group except for Hugo Cheney.

The middle-aged man beside Hugo Cheney bore a slight resemblance to him and was probably his father.

He must have been the one who just spoke.

As Sierra Sullivan stared, they drew near.

Harvey Cheney looked at Kevin Everett with disapproval. "Mr. Everett, Jayce is just a kid who doesn’t know any better. That’s fine. But how can you be just like him? We’re supposed to be saving survivors, but we have to prioritize. Don’t you agree?"

Jayce frowned at Harvey Cheney. "Prioritize? What are you talking about?"

’Saving people is urgent. Since when do we get to pick and choose based on priority?’

Harvey Cheney maintained his smiling facade. "Jayce, do you have any idea how many people with supplies are waiting for us to rescue them? The number of survivors in our base will only grow. Without supplies, how will we feed them all? Am I wrong? Therefore, we must first rescue those with supplies, and then we can go for the other survivors.

"As for those people you mentioned, they’re in a shopping mall, aren’t they? They have food, water, and shelter, plus Superpower Users. They’re living the good life. How could it be as dangerous as you claim? In my opinion, there’s no rush. Let them hold on a bit longer on their own. We should give the rescue opportunity to those who need it more."

It was the apocalypse, yet Harvey Cheney’s speech was still dripping with bureaucratic nonsense.

Just listening to him, Freya Sterling’s hands were already itching for a fight.

’What a piece of work!’

’How could someone like that become a leader of the base?’

’How did he have the gall to say all that?’

One corner of Jayce’s mouth lifted into a cold smirk. "I’m not asking *you* to do the rescuing. So why are you running your mouth so much?"

Hugo Cheney was instantly displeased. He rushed forward to stand in front of Harvey Cheney, glaring fiercely at Jayce.

"Jayce, how dare you talk to my dad like that! My dad and your dad are equals. What gives you the right to talk to him that way? Don’t think I’m afraid of you just because you’re a Superpower User! It’s not like you’re the only one!"

After saying his piece, Hugo Cheney felt much better.

Those were words Jayce himself had used in the past.

But now that the words were coming out of his own mouth, he realized just how good it felt to say them!

Jayce raised an eyebrow. "So you’ve awakened a Superpower! No wonder you’ve got the guts to bark at me."

"Who are you calling a dog?" Hugo Cheney’s face darkened.

"You, of course!" Jayce said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Are you deaf? I guess awakening a Superpower didn’t make you any smarter! Can’t even understand something so simple. Tsk, tsk, tsk..."

"Jayce, you’re pushing it! You’d better not blame me for what happens next!"

Hugo Cheney’s fists clenched as he stared daggers at Jayce.

He looked like he was about to lunge forward and tear Jayce apart.

Jayce wasn’t intimidated at all. He just gave him a curious look. "What Superpower did you awaken? What’s with the sudden backbone?"

Hugo Cheney seemed to have been waiting for Jayce to ask that very question, his expression immediately turning smug.

"I awakened the Wood Element Ability. I’m the only Wood Element Superpower User in the entire base right now!"

The more Hugo Cheney spoke, the smugger he became, lifting his chin high in the air.

"Do you know what the Wood Element Ability is? Bringing dead wood back to life, making plants instantly blossom and bear fruit. Ever heard of that?"

"With me, we’ll have an endless supply of grain, fruits, and vegetables! Get it?"

"How long has it been since you had fresh fruits and vegetables? What do you say? Should I grace you with a few leaves to taste?"

Jayce looked Hugo Cheney up and down. "So you awakened the Wood Element Ability! No wonder you suddenly grew a pair."

The corners of Hugo Cheney’s mouth curled up.

But before his smile could widen, he heard Jayce speak again.

"Other people might be impressed by your Wood Element Ability, but I couldn’t care less! Now get the hell out of my way!"

"Jayce, you’re asking for it!"

With that, Hugo Cheney charged at Jayce.

The two quickly fell into a scuffle.

But it only lasted a moment.

A moment later, Jayce sent Hugo Cheney to the ground with a single punch. He couldn’t even get back up.

Jayce rolled his wrist, looking down imperiously at Hugo Cheney.

"I don’t care what you’re trying to prove, and I don’t care how precious you think you are. If you ever dare to pull this crap again, you’ll end up even worse than this. Understand?"

Harvey Cheney watched the scene unfold, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.

When he found out Hugo Cheney had awakened the Wood Element Ability, Harvey Cheney had been beside himself with excitement.

Hugo Cheney and Jayce were about the same age.

Jayce’s Superpower was so formidable, while Hugo Cheney had no Superpower at all before this. It made Harvey Cheney feel like he couldn’t hold his head high in front of Kevin Everett.

After learning that Hugo Cheney had not only awakened the Wood Element Ability but was also the only one in the entire base to do so, Harvey Cheney had been absolutely thrilled.

He had only truly believed it after witnessing Hugo Cheney sprout some leafy green vegetables with his own eyes.

For the past two days, he’d had Hugo Cheney absorb numerous Crystal Cores, all so that his son could grow stronger quickly and finally put Jayce in his place.

A shame.

It was a good plan.

But plans can’t keep up with reality.

And yet, in their very first exchange, Jayce had knocked Hugo Cheney to the ground.

Harvey Cheney felt a mix of heartache for his son and deep embarrassment.

In the end, his love for his son won out, and Harvey Cheney quickly had someone help Hugo Cheney to his feet.

Harvey Cheney looked at Jayce with disapproval. "Jayce, you and Hugo Cheney practically grew up together. Squabbling and having disagreements is normal, but how could you be so rough with him over something so small! Mr. Everett, you really need to have a talk with your son!"

Kevin Everett nodded. "You’re right! Jayce—"

Hearing this, Harvey Cheney and Hugo Cheney instinctively looked toward Kevin Everett.

"—Jayce, well done!" Kevin Everett’s face was full of praise. "Next time you run into some barking dog like this, just hit him. Beat him ’til he’s searching for his teeth on the floor! If there’s any trouble, your dad’s got your back!"