The aftermath of the car accident still hung heavy in the air, the acrid scent of smoke and scorched metal drifting along the edge of town. Claire stood beside Su Zhan, her heart pounding as she watched the firefighters struggle to contain the blaze. The flames danced and roared, licking at the twisted wreckage, their heat palpable even from a distance.
Su Zhan's gaze was steady, his expression unreadable. He glanced at Claire, who was biting her lip, her hands clenched tightly at her sides. She looked at him, searching for reassurance, but also for something more—a sign that she was not alone in her strangeness.
"You're not afraid of fire, are you?" Claire asked quietly, her voice trembling as she remembered the rumors about his abilities.
Su Zhan shook his head, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Watch closely," he said, his tone gentle yet confident.
He raised his left hand, fingers splayed toward the inferno. At first, nothing happened. Then, slowly, the flames began to shift, as if drawn by an invisible force. They moved with a will of their own, gathering from every corner of the wreckage, swirling together in the open space at the heart of the scene. The firefighters and bystanders gasped in astonishment, some fumbling for their phones to record the spectacle.
"What's happening?" Someone whispered, awe and fear mingling in their voice.
"It's a miracle," another murmured. "The fire… it's moving on its own."
"Is this the work of God?" a firefighter asked, stepping back in shock as the flames coalesced into a towering column, spinning faster and faster until they formed a tornado of fire. The heat was intense, yet the flames never spread beyond the open space. Then, with a sudden whoosh, the fire vanished—gone as if it had never existed.
For a moment, silence reigned. The crowd stared, mouths agape, unable to process what they had just witnessed. Then, slowly, applause and cheers broke out, people shouting words of praise and gratitude.
"You're amazing!" someone called out, their voice ringing with genuine admiration.
Claire tugged at Su Zhan's sleeve, her eyes shining with excitement. "Did you hear that? They think you're a hero. Some even called it the glory of God."
Su Zhan smiled, shaking his head with a touch of humility. "I am not God," he replied softly, his voice carrying a quiet strength.
As the crowd dispersed, still buzzing with excitement, Su Zhan and Claire slipped away, blending into the shadows as quietly as they had arrived. Claire's heart was still racing, but now it was with hope rather than fear.
"Thank you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "You really are a hero."
Su Zhan shrugged, a gentle warmth in his eyes. "Sometimes, being a hero just means doing what you can."
A soft chime sounded in Su Zhan's mind. "Claire Bennett, friendship increased by ten percent," the system announced. He acknowledged it with a silent nod. Sixty percent, he thought. Claire might be the first person to unlock the fighting field with him.
They walked together into town, the evening air cool and calming after the chaos of the fire. As they reached the outskirts, Su Zhan paused. "I need to find somewhere to stay for the night. Would you mind waiting for me behind the hotel?"
Claire blinked, surprised. "Why?"
He smiled, his tone light and teasing. "People in town know you. If they see you entering a hotel with me, they might get the wrong idea. Just wait outside, and I'll let you in through the window."
Claire laughed, her earlier tension easing. "Alright. I'll wait for you."
Another chime sounded in Su Zhan's mind. "Claire Bennett, friendship increased by five percent." He shook his head in amusement. Even small gestures could build trust.
The hotel was modest, only three stories tall, but clean and welcoming. Su Zhan requested a room on the third floor, then went to the window and looked down. Claire was waiting below, glancing around nervously. There was nothing for her to climb, but before she could worry further, Su Zhan leapt from the window, landing lightly beside her. He bent down, gently wrapped his arm around her waist, and with a single powerful jump, carried her up to the window and into the room.
Inside, Claire looked around curiously, her nerves returning. She had never been alone in a hotel room with a man before, and the unfamiliar intimacy made her cheeks flush. The room was small but tidy, the bed neatly made, the air tinged with the faint scent of fresh linen.
Su Zhan closed the window and turned to her, his expression kind. "You don't have to be nervous. Just relax."
Claire nodded, taking a deep breath. She sat on the edge of the bed, her hands twisting in her lap. "I really want to be normal again," she admitted, her voice trembling. "I want to go back to how things were with my mom, dad, and brother. Sometimes I'm so afraid they'll find out and treat me like a monster."
"Trust me—they won't," Su Zhan said gently, sitting beside her. "You're still you, Claire. You're not a monster."
She looked at him, her eyes wide and vulnerable. "Can we try again?"
He nodded. "Of course. Just relax."
Su Zhan reached out, his hand hovering above her shoulder. He focused, drawing on the power within him, reaching for the core of Claire's ability. This time, he could feel the resistance more clearly—a fierce, living force that refused to be taken. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he concentrated, the effort greater than he had anticipated.
Suddenly, the system chimed in his mind. "Side mission: Devour Claire Bennett's ability."
A surge of determination filled Su Zhan. He pushed harder, feeling the two energies—his and Claire's—struggling against each other. The room seemed to grow warmer, the air thick with tension. Claire bit her lip, her brow furrowed in pain and confusion. She could feel something inside her shifting, pulling away.
"It hurts," she whispered, her voice strained.
"Hold on, just a little longer," Su Zhan murmured, his own voice tight with concentration. "It's almost out."
With a final, desperate effort, he willed the power to yield. Claire gasped, her body tensing as if something vital was being torn away. Then, all at once, the resistance broke. A rush of energy flooded into Su Zhan, and he knew he had succeeded. He had absorbed Claire's ability.
He slumped back, breathless, the strain of the effort leaving him momentarily dizzy. Claire sat beside him, trembling, her face pale but relieved. She touched her arm, then her cheek, as if expecting to feel something different.
"Did it work?" she asked, her voice barely audible.
Su Zhan nodded, offering her a reassuring smile. "It's done. You're normal again."
Tears welled in Claire's eyes, a mix of relief and sadness. For so long, her power had defined her, isolated her. Now, she was free—but she was also changed.
Before they could say more, the door burst open. A middle-aged man, glasses askew, rushed in, his eyes wide with shock as he took in the scene before him. He froze, speechless, the silence heavy with unspoken questions.
Su Zhan stood, shielding Claire instinctively. "It's alright," he said quietly. "She's safe."
The man stared at them, confusion and worry etched on his face. Claire met his gaze, her own expression calm and resolute. For the first time in a long while, she felt truly herself.
As the tension in the room eased, Su Zhan realized that sometimes, being a hero was not about power or spectacle. Sometimes, it was about giving someone the chance to choose their own path, to reclaim their life.
And in that quiet moment, he knew he had done the right thing.