Chapter 111: Florida Man Runs Over Hundreds, Claims Jack the Ripper Was Chasing Him
Felix stared in disbelief.
"How the hell did that guy get that cloak?"
Felix was baffled by the sight before him. His mind raced, wondering if Sean and Xavior had fought, and the former came out on top.
His thoughts were cut short as Sean suddenly pulled a cane out of nowhere and raised it to the sky. A black, plasma-like energy ball formed above him, crackling with ominous power.
With a sinister laugh, Sean proclaimed, "I should have done this earlier! I can steal everyone's magic talent and increase my lifespan! I can become immortal! I'm destined to be GOD! ALL YOUR MAGIC AND MANA ARE MINE!"
As Sean's declaration echoed, the black energy ball extended energy tentacles, spreading out in all directions. A dozen tentacles shot toward the crowd in front of Felix. Panic erupted as knights shouted in terror, some raising their shields in a futile attempt to defend themselves. The tentacles passed through their bodies.
"Huh?"
One of the soldiers glanced at his chest and arms, expecting wounds, but found nothing. Confusion spread among the knights.
They were harmless.
Felix, however, saw the truth. His expression darkened as he noticed the tentacles snatching white energy balls from the knights and absorbing them into the energy mass. He instinctively stepped back, retrieving a KAR 98k and loading mana-piercing rounds.
In the next moment, the knights who had been touched by the tentacles collapsed, their bodies shriveling into dust.
Seeing the horrifying scene, the surviving knights screamed in fright, some falling to the ground in shock, while others turned around and fled in desperation.
As the obstacles got out of the way, Felix got a clear view of Sean. Although Felix had no personal vendetta against him, Sean's actions posed a dire threat to Jane. Felix couldn't let him live.
*BANG*
The gunshot rang out as Felix fired. The mana-piercing bullet struck, punching through the center of Sean's chest and sending him sprawling backward. Sean collapsed, staring up at the sky.
But the black energy ball remained active, its tentacles thrashing wildly as if it had gone berserk.
<Felix, run!> Jessica's urgent voice echoed in Felix's mind.
Without hesitation, Felix jumped onto the ATV, made a sharp U-turn, and sped back into the city.
The energy ball seemed to take on a life of its own, floating forward and picking up speed as it pursued him. Its tentacles lashed out, striking everything in their path—houses, stalls, streets, and trees—all of which crumbled into dust.
Felix pushed the ATV's barrier output to its maximum. He glanced back to see the energy ball, now a massive half-mile in diameter, slowly gaining distance on him.
Realizing he couldn't outrun it, Felix came up with a desperate plan. He loaded a round into the KAR 98k and fired at the energy mass while driving.
*BANG*
The mana-piercing bullet tore through the mass. But instead of destroying it, the energy ball grew slightly larger.
Seeing the futility of his efforts, Felix stowed the rifle and steered left, heading west. After making the turn, he glanced back, wondering if the energy ball was still chasing him.
*RUMBLE*
The mass of energy kept flying straight, obliterating everything in its path.
Felix exhaled a sigh of relief, slowing the ATV to a stop. He checked the system map and consulted with Jessica.
"Is that SOB still alive?" Felix asked, referring to Sean Smith. Given what he'd seen with Elizabeth, Felix couldn't help but wonder if Sean had somehow survived.
<Sean Smith is alive,> Jessica confirmed. <Also, it's not over yet! Keep driving!>
Felix glanced back and saw the massive black plasma energy slowly turning around. A giant eyeball materialized at its center, staring directly at him.
"SHIT!" he cursed and whipped his head back to the road.
He floored the ATV, pushing it to its maximum speed, recklessly plowing through obstacles in his path.
The giant mass pursued him, gliding above the city's rooftops with its eye fixed on him. Its tentacles spread wide, brushing against the ground and buildings, leaving trails of dust in their deadly wake.
.
.
Tanaka reluctantly searched the stadium, but Felix was nowhere to be found. Martin, hovering above the stadium, scanned the spectator stands with equal frustration. There was no trace of fire mana in the area.
While the two transmigrators searched for their fugitive, a loud commotion erupted at the south gate, about a mile away. Tanaka, patrolling backstage, was oblivious, but Martin, from his vantage point, clearly saw a massive black energy ball in the distance.
Sensing the anomaly, Martin pulled out a walkie-talkie—the device he and Tanaka used to communicate in Big Zoot City.
"Tanaka, get out of the stadium and head south. I think Xavior found Felix, or he's up to something absurd."
Martin recognized the spell; it was Xavior's preferred black magic, a devastating technique he reserved for dangerous foes. Xavior had often warned Martin about its use, given its wide area of effect and unpredictable nature.
The spell was self-conscious. It would always relentlessly pursued any target the caster designated, and it would never stop until the target was destroyed.
Fearing for the worse, Martin flew to the chaotic area, hoping to rescue as many civilians as possible.
.
.
Meanwhile, Sean Smith coughed blood. Although trembling and shivering in pain, he fetched potions from his system inventory and poured the liquid into the wound in his chest.
The wound slowly mended, and the pain subsided. However, Sean continued laying on the road, smiling. He stared at his system screen, which he had never had before.
Maniacally, his smug smile widened. His eyes dilated, elated of his achievement.
"Ah, I should have done this so much earlier. I should have known this secret. I should have started targeting them instead of those dirty women."
Sean Smith got back on his feet. He gazed at the sky and opened his arms, exerting dominance. Then, he laughed.
"WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT MY GIFT CAN STEAL OTHER TRANSMIGRATOR'S ABILITIES! AM I THE CHOSEN ONE, JACK?!"
Invisible to others but Sean, a floating system window showed a portrait of a middle-aged mustache gentleman in a black suit, tall hat, and a round pocket eyeglass. With his eyes closed, the system AI, Jack, replied.
<You are indeed blessed, sir. As a reminder, you need a dissect a fate crystal from a transmigrator's body to steal their abilities just like how you got this system.>