Chapter 76
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Seizing the moment, Samuel grabbed a wooden stick lying nearby and struck the man hard. With a loud crack, the man was knocked off Brenda.
“Brenda, are you okay?”
“Yeah—wow, I almost got burned for the first time in my life.”
The three of them regrouped, trying to put as much distance as possible between themselves and the man. But to their shock, he was already getting up.
“How is he already—?”
Those blood-red eyes locked right onto Samuel.
Time seemed to slow. Samuel realized instantly: this crazed Esper was coming for him, and it was already too late to dodge.
‘If that’s the case…’
All he could do was try to minimize the damage.
Engulfed in flames, the man charged at them at frightening speed. Samuel shoved the two Espers aside and squeezed his eyes shut.
“Samuel Norah!”
“You idiot!”
His teammates’ voices rang with horror, but Samuel’s mind was filled with only one face—Adrien’s.
If he dies, what will she think when she hears the news?
Suddenly, an icy blast of water crashed down just above his head.
“Take this, Bailey Rosem’s water cannon!”
The fire behind Samuel sputtered out, doused by the powerful torrent. The man staggered under the onslaught, Bailey blasting him with all he had.
Behind Bailey, Peter peeked out, shouting.
“Samuel! Are you crazy? Why are you pushing the Esper? You should be hiding, not running out there!”
Samuel only grinned in response.
He’d thrown himself in harm’s way, ready to die—but it wasn’t that he wanted to die.
Relief washed through him, his body trembling as the adrenaline faded. He flexed his numb fingers and took in the scene.
Peter, exhausted from guiding Bailey, was sprawled on the floor, drenched in sweat. And then there was Michelle.
“Lieutenant Michelle?”
Michelle was still lying where she had fallen, not moving an inch.
Samuel hurried to her side, about to start contact guiding, but hesitated when he saw the severity of her burns.
Instead, he began to pour radiation guiding energy into her wounds—Espers could heal much faster than ordinary people, especially with focused guiding. This was the best first aid he could provide.
“That red-eyed bastard! What level is he, anyway?”
Bailey’s water attack faltered, and he glared at the man, breathing hard. Peter was completely spent.
Even Bailey’s power wasn’t enough. The man, soaked to the skin, was still trying to ignite flames in his hands.
Bringing so few people, thinking this was just another out-of-control Esper, had been a mistake.
Bailey rubbed at his eyes and barked out an order.
“Everyone out, now.”
“What? But—”
“I said out!”
Ricola and Brenda, hesitating, helped Peter downstairs. Samuel carefully lifted Michelle to carry her out as well.
Brenda beckoned for Samuel to hurry—but then her eyes fixed on something behind him, and she froze.
A chill ran down Samuel’s spine—a feeling he’d learned to trust in the mountain division, the sense that an enemy was right on top of you.
He turned. There they were: those blood-red eyes, staring straight at him.
‘Ah, the guiding…’
He’d been so focused on Michelle’s injuries, he hadn’t considered that the man would be able to sense him. With all the energy he’d poured out, it was no wonder.
He’d basically called the crazed Esper right to him.
Samuel began to back away slowly. The man slobbered and shuffled closer, flames rekindling in his wet hands.
“Samuel! Hurry!”
Suddenly, the man jerked upward, suspended awkwardly in the air—Brenda’s telekinesis at work.
Samuel seized the chance and bolted for the stairs. But just as he thought he was safe, a searing-hot hand clamped onto the back of his neck, and he lost his grip on Michelle.
“Ugh!”
Pain shot through him as the man’s hand scorched his skin. He could hear his friends shouting his name from below.
He turned—and saw the man, mouth open wide in a crazed grin, those red eyes blazing.
“Guide…”
There really was nothing left he could do.
Unless a miracle happened and she came running to save him…
Samuel closed his eyes, surrendering to whatever was about to come. The last thing he saw was fire streaming from the man’s body.
“Aaaggghh!”
But instead of death, it was the man’s own scream that filled the air—so loud it was almost deafening.
The man released Samuel and thrashed about in agony. Samuel collapsed to the floor and opened his eyes, unable to believe what he was seeing.
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