The city's energy was palpable as Su Zhan made his way through the crowds of New York, Hiro Nakamura trailing behind him with an enthusiasm that bordered on embarrassing. Hiro's English was earnest but clumsy, and his voice carried over the heads of passersby as he called out, "Wait, wait! How do you know my name? Don't go!"
Su Zhan could feel the curious stares of people all around them. He quickened his pace, glancing back at Hiro, who was now jogging to keep up, his face flushed with effort and excitement. The Haitian followed silently, his presence as steady and unobtrusive as ever.
"Can you please be quiet and just follow me?" Su Zhan finally snapped, unable to take the attention any longer.
Hiro stopped mid-sentence, startled by the sharpness in Su Zhan's tone. He clamped his mouth shut, making an exaggerated zipper motion across his lips to show he understood. Su Zhan shook his head, half amused and half exasperated, and led them away from the crowds, weaving through the city until they reached a quiet, empty alley.
Once they were far from prying eyes, Hiro hesitated, glancing nervously at the Haitian before turning to Su Zhan. "Can I talk now?" he asked in halting English.
Su Zhan nodded, folding his arms and leaning against the wall. "Go ahead."
Hiro let out a breath, relief and anxiety mingling in his expression. "Who are you? How do you know my name? Do you know about my power? I came from Japan, I took the subway, I screamed, and then I was in New York. I—" His words tumbled out in a rush, his hands gesturing wildly as he tried to explain himself.
Su Zhan waited for him to finish, then spoke calmly. "I know who you are, and I know about your ability. I came here to find you."
Hiro's eyes widened in confusion and a hint of fear. "Why? Why are you looking for me?"
Su Zhan's expression grew serious. "Because I want your ability."
Without warning, Su Zhan reached out and grabbed Hiro by the shoulders, activating his devouring power. Hiro's eyes went wide with panic. "No, no! This is my ability; you can't take it away!" He struggled to break free, but Su Zhan's grip was ironclad.
Hiro squeezed his eyes shut, as if by sheer willpower he could keep his power inside. His face contorted with effort, but nothing happened. Su Zhan felt no resistance, no surge of energy, not even the faintest flicker of power. It was as if Hiro's ability simply did not exist.
Su Zhan frowned, confusion rising. This had never happened before. When he had absorbed Claire's healing, the resistance had been fierce, but at least he could feel it. With Hiro, there was simply nothing. He tried again, focusing harder, but still there was no response. It was as though he was grasping at air.
Hiro, sensing the change, opened his eyes and tried to use his own power. He clenched his fists, his face screwed up in concentration, but nothing happened. He tried again and again, but his ability would not activate. It was as if something was blocking him, or as if his power had simply vanished.
Su Zhan released his grip, stepping back in frustration. Hiro sagged with relief, then, realizing he was free, turned and bolted down the alley. He ran a few steps before glancing back, expecting to be chased. When he saw that Su Zhan and the Haitian were not following, he hesitated for a moment, then took off at a sprint, disappearing around the corner.
Su Zhan watched him go, his mind racing. He had never encountered a power he could not devour or even sense. He glanced at the Haitian, who stood silently nearby. Of course-Hiro's ability was being suppressed by the Haitian's presence. But even so, Su Zhan should have been able to feel something, some trace of the power. Instead, there was nothing.
He shook his head, letting out a long breath. "Let's find a place to stay," he said to the Haitian, who nodded and fell into step beside him.
They checked into a high-end hotel, and Su Zhan booked the presidential suite. He settled onto the plush sofa, a glass of red wine in hand, staring out at the city through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The view was spectacular, but his thoughts were elsewhere.
He opened a mental channel to the system. "System, why can't I devour Hiro Nakamura's ability? I can't even sense it. What's going on?"
The system's response was immediate, its tone matter-of-fact. "Abilities have levels. Some can be strengthened through practice, growing from weak to strong. Others are powerful from the beginning. Hiro Nakamura's ability is the latter, while your devouring ability is the former."
Su Zhan frowned, swirling the wine in his glass. "So you're saying my devouring power just isn't strong enough yet?"
"Yes. Your body was transformed when you crossed worlds, allowing you to balance and integrate various abilities. If your devouring power exceeds the strength of Hiro's ability, you can swallow it. But right now, you have not reached that level."
Su Zhan sighed, frustration gnawing at him. "So what am I supposed to do? Just give up on this ability?"
"Devour more," the system replied. "The more you devour, the stronger your ability becomes. You should have noticed the increase in speed and frequency already."
He nodded. That much was true. Each time he absorbed a new power, the process became a little easier, a little faster. But there was a limit. "If I keep devouring abilities one after another, won't my body reach its limit? What happens then?"
"Losing control is only the first sign," the system warned. "If you push further, your body will be unable to withstand the fusion of multiple abilities and will collapse."
"Collapse?" Su Zhan echoed, a chill running through him.
"In simple terms, you will explode."
He nearly dropped his glass. "That's… death, isn't it?"
"Yes. But only by pushing yourself to the edge can you quickly improve your devouring ability."
Su Zhan sat in silence, absorbing the implications. There was no shortcut to becoming a king. Strength had to be earned, step by step, risk by risk. If he hesitated now, afraid to seize the power before him, he would never reach his goal.
He looked out at the city lights, determination hardening within him. He would not let fear or failure stop him. If he could not devour Hiro's power today, he would become stronger, no matter the cost. The path to becoming king was not easy, but it was the only path he would walk.
Tomorrow, he would hunt for more abilities, push his limits, and return to Hiro Nakamura when the time was right. For now, he would rest, gather his strength, and prepare for the next challenge.
After all, a king does not turn away from what he cannot conquer. He finds a way to conquer it.