Richard's self-orchestrated slaughter didn't last long—just over a minute, in fact.
Though brief, viewers felt like they were watching an R-rated horror film. Television stations broadcasting the footage immediately applied blur effects, obscuring the agents' gruesome deaths. Even with this censoring, audiences could still discern the scene's horrific bloodshed.
Many viewers experienced nausea, feeling their stomachs churn uncomfortably. The once-bustling online comment sections fell eerily silent, with no new posts appearing.
Particularly notable were the netizens who had previously posted sarcastic remarks—they now frantically deleted their comments. Though it seemed unlikely Richard would hunt them down for their mockery, these users erased their digital footprints by unspoken consensus.
If before they'd watched with voyeuristic anticipation, hoping to see Richard punished by the mutant agents, they now recognized their profound miscalculation. Richard had destroyed multiple Sentinel robots and then calmly waited in the plaza for reinforcements—clear evidence of his absolute confidence.
To have believed the arriving agents could subdue him wasn't mere shortsightedness; it was complete ignorance.
Many mutants suffered discrimination and registration under the Mutant Restriction Act because they lacked power. Richard clearly wasn't among those with unusual appearances and minimal abilities.
Is this the strength of a top-tier mutant?
Are the Los Angeles branch personnel complete idiots?
Why would anyone provoke such a dangerous individual?
Richard would never have imagined that after witnessing his rampage, the very viewers who'd tuned in hoping for his defeat would immediately purge their comments and redirect blame to the branch agents.
After eliminating all fourteen mutant agents, Richard didn't immediately use Blinkstep to depart. Instead, he began harvesting their mutant powers.
Though some agents had died before revealing their abilities—like the first two operatives and the blonde female agent—their powers couldn't have been insignificant. Mutants recruited as Department operatives possessed at least respectable capabilities. Most boasted Beta-level powers to showcase, and even the weakest would have impressive Delta-level abilities. The Department wouldn't have recruited them otherwise.
After completing his power collection, Richard didn't linger to examine the system's information. He used Blinkstep to vanish from the plaza, disappearing from public view.
As he departed, the massive fire wall surrounding the square began dissipating. Within minutes, it had completely vanished. Nevertheless, the Los Angeles police and special forces remained cautious, waiting several more minutes before entering the plaza to collect the fallen agents' remains.
After executing more than twenty consecutive Blinkstep jumps, Richard finally arrived at Sabretooth's hideout.
In the living room, Sabretooth immediately approached him. "So your 'personal business' was killing every agent?"
"Any objections?" Richard countered.
Sabretooth frowned. "I acknowledge your power, but this response will only prompt the Department to send stronger agents after you."
Richard certainly understood that tonight's actions would trigger severe retaliation from the Department, but he remained unconcerned.
"Whether I eliminated all the Los Angeles Branch operatives or not, the Department was never going to let me walk free," he said calmly. "But let's change the subject. With your connections, you should be able to find contact information for Xavier's School. Contact them and ask them to take these children."
"I reached out to my contacts as soon as we returned," Sabretooth replied quickly. "They provided the school's number."
"Then what are you waiting for?" Richard asked, perplexed. "Don't tell me you're planning to adopt these kids yourself?"
"They've already dispatched a team," Sabretooth explained, his expression growing peculiar. "To be precise, they were en route before I even made contact."
Though Sabretooth spoke diplomatically, Richard immediately grasped the subtext.
"I see. They're coming for me." He nodded in understanding. "Now that the Los Angeles branch situation has concluded, it's time we part ways."
As Richard prepared to Blinkstep away, Clarice's voice interrupted:
"They're not coming to arrest you. They only want to bring you to the school to meet Professor X."
"No need," Richard replied firmly. "I have no interest in meeting them at present. I'm leaving now—perhaps we'll cross paths again someday." He smiled at Clarice. "By the way, your cooking is excellent. I enjoyed it tremendously."
With those parting words, he activated Blinkstep, vanishing instantly from their sight.
In the Los Angeles suburbs, Richard settled onto the sofa of an empty house marked with a "For Sale" sign. He called up the system's information panel.
[Gain new abilities: Super Strength, Blinkstep, Accelerated Healing, Energy Absorption, Momentum Shift, Pressure Burst, Illusion Creation, Hurricane Manipulation, Invisibility, Enhanced Senses, Mind Whip, Hypnotic Suggestion!]
[Same type abilities detected, ability fusion in progress!]
[Super Strength, Enhanced Durability, Accelerated Healing, Energy Absorption, and Enhanced Senses enhanced!]
[Hurricane Manipulation can be transformed into the skill 'Aeroga'. Do you wish to transform it?]
Without hesitation, Richard chose "Yes."
[Skill Aeroga acquired!]
[Aeroga Level 1 (0/100)]
[X-Gene Update]
[Alpha level: Plunder, Super Strength, Enhanced Durability, Accelerated Healing]
[Beta level: Blinkstep, Repulsion, Stone Body, Ion Shock Wave, Mental Shielding, Mind Charm, Momentum Shift, Pressure Burst, Illusion Creation, Invisibility, Enhanced Senses, Mind Whip, Hypnotic Suggestion]
[Delta level: Energy Absorption, Telekinesis, Beast Intuition, Bone Claws]
Reviewing the updated X-gene mutant power list, Richard smiled with satisfaction. Though he hadn't acquired any new Alpha-level powers, his haul remained impressive.
His Super Strength, Enhanced Durability, and Accelerated Healing had been enhanced yet again. The Delta-class Energy Absorption had also strengthened. Moreover, his newly acquired Enhanced Senses that was originally Delta-level, upgraded to Beta-level.
Beyond the upgraded Enhanced Senses, his other new abilities—Momentum Shift, Pressure Burst, Illusion Creation, Invisibility, Mind Whip, and Hypnotic Suggestion—all represented significant additions to his arsenal.
==============================================
Support me at [email protected]/goldengaruda and check out 50+ early chapter of this or more early access chapter of my other fanfic translation.
=============================================