The morning sun crept over Las Vegas, casting golden light through the curtains of the hotel suite. Su Zhan sat at the table, a cup of coffee in hand, feeling the subtle changes in his body. After the chaos of the previous days, he finally felt whole again—his powers had returned, and with them, a new sense of possibility. He could feel the strength of Jessica's superhuman power, the clarity of Eden's hypnotic voice, and, most intriguingly, the faint echo of a new ability: replication.
He had noticed it last night, almost by accident. When he had been with Jessica, her strength had flowed into him, not through devouring, but through something else. The copying ability he had acquired was finally showing its true value. It was not permanent, but it allowed him to temporarily mimic the powers of those around him. The effect was subtle, and at first he had not realized what was happening. But now, as he focused, he could feel the copied abilities settling into place, one by one.
Eden entered the room, her hair slightly tousled from sleep. She wore a simple silk robe, her expression relaxed. She poured herself a cup of coffee and sat across from him, studying his face.
"You look different today," she remarked, her tone half teasing, half curious. "Did something good happen?"
Su Zhan smiled, setting his cup down. "You could say that. I just feel… stronger. More complete."
Eden arched an eyebrow. "You mean your powers are back?"
He nodded. "Not just back. Improved. I can copy abilities now, at least for a while. It's not the same as devouring, but it's useful."
Eden's eyes widened in surprise. "So you can use my power, or Jessica's, whenever you want?"
"For a limited time, yes," Su Zhan explained. "It's like borrowing a tool from a friend. I can use it, but eventually, I have to give it back. Still, it opens up a lot of possibilities."
She leaned forward, intrigued. "Can you copy any ability? Or are there limits?"
"There are limits," Su Zhan admitted. "I can only copy abilities from people nearby, and only one at a time. The effect fades after a while, and I can't stack them. But it's still a powerful option."
Eden considered this, a thoughtful look on her face. "That's… actually pretty amazing. You could adapt to any situation, as long as you have the right person with you."
Su Zhan nodded. "That's the idea. And with you, Jessica, and the Haitian around, I have a pretty versatile team."
Jessica entered the suite then, dressed in a sharp business outfit that Su Zhan had conjured for her. She looked every bit the executive, but there was a playful glint in her eye as she joined them.
"Talking about me behind my back?" she teased, taking a seat beside Eden.
"Just praising your strength," Su Zhan replied with a grin. "I was telling Eden about my new copying ability."
Jessica flexed her arm, smirking. "Glad to be of service. Just don't get too used to it. I like being the strongest in the room."
Eden laughed, and the tension from the previous night seemed to melt away. The three of them shared breakfast, discussing their plans for the day.
As they finished eating, the Haitian arrived, his expression as calm and unreadable as ever. He handed Su Zhan a folder—an invitation from Linderman. The message was clear: Linderman wanted to see Su Zhan again to discuss their partnership and offer new opportunities.
Su Zhan glanced at Jessica and Eden. "Ready for another round with Linderman?"
Jessica rolled her eyes. "As long as he doesn't try anything stupid."
Eden smiled, her confidence restored. "Let's see what he has in mind."
They made their way to Linderman's office, a lavish space filled with art and luxury. Linderman greeted them warmly, but Su Zhan could sense the undercurrent of calculation in his eyes.
"I trust you're settling in well," Linderman said, his tone smooth. "I have a proposal for you, Su Zhan. There's a man in the city with a unique ability—he can create illusions so real, they're indistinguishable from reality. I'd like you to meet him, and if possible, bring him into our fold."
Su Zhan nodded, understanding the unspoken message. Linderman wanted the illusionist's power under his control, and he was counting on Su Zhan to make it happen.
"I'll handle it," Su Zhan replied. "But I want something in return."
Linderman smiled. "Of course. Name your price."
Su Zhan thought for a moment, then said, "Information. I want to know everything you know about people with abilities in this city. No secrets."
Linderman hesitated, then nodded. "Agreed."
After the meeting, Su Zhan and his team set out to find the illusionist. With the Haitian's tracking skills and Eden's persuasive voice, it did not take long. They found him in a small theater, performing for an audience that had no idea his magic was real.
Su Zhan watched the performance, studying the illusionist's every move. When the show ended, he approached the man backstage, introducing himself with a friendly smile.
"I hear you have a talent for making people see what isn't there," Su Zhan said, his tone light.
The illusionist looked wary but intrigued. "It's just a trick. Nothing special."
Su Zhan shook his head. "No, it's more than that. And I'd like to see what you can really do."
With a nod from Su Zhan, the Haitian stepped forward, blocking the illusionist's power. The man's eyes widened in shock as his illusions vanished, leaving him exposed.
"Don't worry," Su Zhan said gently. "I'm not here to hurt you. I just want to understand your gift."
He reached out, activating his copying ability. For a moment, the world shimmered, and Su Zhan felt the illusionist's power settle into him. He closed his eyes, focusing, and suddenly the room transformed. The walls melted away, replaced by a lush forest. Birds sang, sunlight filtered through the trees, and the scent of wildflowers filled the air.
Eden gasped in delight, turning in a circle to take in the scene. "This is incredible!"
Jessica grinned, flexing her hands. "Not bad. But can you make it last?"
Su Zhan smiled, holding the illusion steady. "For a while, at least. But eventually, it will fade."
He released the power, and the room returned to normal. The illusionist stared at him in awe, realizing that Su Zhan had copied his ability perfectly.
"You really are something else," the man whispered.
Su Zhan nodded, satisfied. "Thank you for sharing your gift. You're safe with us."
As they left the theater, Su Zhan felt a sense of accomplishment. His new copying ability was more powerful than he had imagined, and with his team by his side, he was ready for whatever challenges lay ahead.
The night air was cool as they walked back to the hotel, laughter and conversation filling the space between them. For the first time in a long while, Su Zhan felt truly at home—a king among friends, with the world at his feet.