Starting As Ancestors in the Boys
Chapter 1: Zero Hour · Awakening
In the Queens night, Lu Chen stood behind the convenience store register, wiping down the old coffee machine. His uniform was a T-shirt issued by Vought Company to partner merchants; the collar was frayed, but he kept it very clean.
"Hey, Chinese kid."
A middle-aged man in a leather jacket, reeking of alcohol, slammed two cans of beer onto the counter. Without waiting in line, he cut directly in front of a Black teenager wearing headphones.
The Black teenager looked up, glanced at the drunkard, then at Lu Chen, and without a word, took a step back.
Lu Chen glanced at the red light of the security camera, then at the drunkard's bloodshot eyes. He didn't argue, simply extending his index finger to point at the black hemisphere with the blinking red dot in the corner of the ceiling.
The drunkard followed his finger, looked up, muttered a curse, grabbed the beer, slapped a few coins onto the counter, and stumbled through the glass door, disappearing into the night.
Lu Chen placed the coins into a small dish separately. His expression didn't change throughout the process; he had experienced this too many times. From the initial panic, it now felt like he was just shooing away an annoying fly.
His shift ended at 11:30 PM.
He walked through the back alley of the convenience store, stepping over weeds growing through cracks in the sidewalk, and finally turned into an old apartment building. Two-thirds of the voice-activated lights in the stairwell were broken. He lived on the fourth floor, and there was no elevator. As he inserted his key into the lock, the sound of television static drifted from the crack in the door of 402 next door, along with a strong smell of curry—the elderly Indian landlady was staying up late to watch a late-night show.
Lu Chen opened the door, entered, habitually locked it, and fastened the chain. The entire room was fifteen square meters. It contained a single bed, a peeling desk, and a plastic chair picked up from the side of the road. In the corner stood a second-hand suitcase with a broken zipper, tied shut with a rope.
Lu Chen placed his backpack on the chair and took out a paper bag.
Inside the paper bag was near-expiry bread he'd brought back from the convenience store—original price $3.50, $1.20 after the employee discount. There was also a squashed box of cupcakes that expired today; the manager was going to throw them away, but Lu Chen said, "I'll take them," and didn't have to pay.
He placed the cupcakes on the table, dug a candle out of a drawer, and stuck it into the center of the cupcake's collapsed cream. Then he took his phone out of his pocket and checked the time.
23:58. Two minutes left.
Lu Chen sat on the edge of the bed, his back straight, hands on his knees. He didn't turn on the lights; only the red glow from the neon sign on the opposite building shone in.
23:59. Lu Chen lit the candle. Eighteen years ago, an undocumented Chinese woman gave birth to him in an abandoned garage in Queens, then stuffed him into a cardboard box next to a dumpster and vanished.
00:00. Just as he was about to blow out the candle to celebrate his moment of adulthood, a sharp pain suddenly shot through his head. Countless images flooded his brain—memories of another World, the plot of The Boys, the truth about Compound V, and... himself.
He remembered who he was. He remembered how he had come here. He seemed to have broken through the mystery of the womb and awakened the wisdom of his past life.
Lu Chen gripped the edge of the bed tightly. Sweat instantly soaked his T-shirt, dripping from his chin onto the floor. Memories of his past and present lives surged in his mind, merging, and finally settling into calm. The pain stopped abruptly.
In its place was a dead silence. Lu Chen slowly raised his head. Right in the center of his vision, a red interface appeared.
There was no sound, no animation, only a minimalist interface and text projected directly onto his retina:
[Worlds Traversal System]
[Energy Reserve: 0.1% (Absorbs energy from the body to recharge; when fully charged, can traverse Worlds)]
[Current World: The Boys]
[Host Ability: Copy (System Upgraded Version)]
[Rules: Directly touch the target to Copy one of their superpowers. Copy progress is displayed in real-time; the target cannot be changed until progress is complete. Each person can only be copied once; once selected, it is irreversible. The more powerful the ability, the longer the contact required. When Copy completion reaches 100%, the ability is fully solidified.]
Lu Chen stared at the text for ten full seconds. Amidst the fusion of his two lives' memories, he saw memories of his infancy in this life. He had been injected with Compound V, not just once. After being abandoned, he was taken by a nearby hospital and kept with many other babies. The Doctors dripped Compound V into his body via IV bags. With the memories of his past life, he finally remembered.
It was a hospital funded by the Samaritan's Embrace, a place that was a charity on the surface but controlled by Vought Company behind the scenes. It was used to inject newborns with Compound V to maintain the lie that Superhumans were chosen ones. But after he was injected, he didn't awaken any superpowers, not even basic physical enhancement, nor did he have any side effects. Vought Company discovered he was an anomaly and injected him with different versions of Compound V, but it was like throwing a stone into the ocean; there was no reaction at all.
Eventually, he was dumped into an orphanage under Vought Company. For the first few years, people often came to check on his body, but slowly, it seemed he was forgotten. He grew up in that orphanage until he was 16, and after getting a scholarship with decent grades, he moved to his current apartment, where he was saving money for college.
Now it seems, could it be that the system absorbed all the Compound V in me?
"System, was this your doing? Also, regarding my ability, what does 'Copy Upgraded Version' mean?"
[Because energy was zeroed out after traversing Worlds, it needed to absorb energy from the body to maintain basic operations. The ability you were supposed to awaken was Copy, which could only temporarily Copy partial abilities and was only effective on abilities caused by Compound V.]
[The upgraded version allows for permanent copying, saving of abilities, and fusion/upgrading of identical types of abilities. Furthermore, the Copy effect is effective on everyone.]
"It really was you. What's the point of college now? Homelander is about to rule the World and set up concentration camps; I'd better think about how to protect myself first."
He sat down, picked up a sticky note, and began to write. If everyone could only choose one ability, he needed to plan carefully.
First is Homelander, tentatively for flight, as it's the fastest flight speed in the series. Then Soldier Boy's Super Physique, immortality, and chest cannon—need to choose between the chest cannon and the physique. A-Train's speed, Kimiko's healing ability. For Heat Vision, I can try to contact Butcher or the baby from the plot who can fire lasers; if combined, it shouldn't be worse than Homelander's. Stormfront's immortality or lightning, Cate's mind control from Gen V, Translucent's skin, and I also need Super Senses...
Lu Chen put down the pen and stuck these sticky notes on the wall in order of priority, like a hit list.
"But for now, the most important thing is to find a few low-level ones to test it out. The system says the more powerful the ability, the longer the contact required. As for these people, I'm just an ordinary civilian, and a Chinese one at that, so I don't have a chance for now."
"So, step one: contact some low-level Superhumans and get my physique up first. I don't want to get run over by A-Train while walking down the street one day."
Lu Chen walked back to the bed, lay down, and closed his eyes. He was recalling the plot and information about this life, trying to find the public schedules and personality weaknesses of every Vought hero. Just then—
BOOM!!! The wall shook violently.
Immediately after, a short scream came from 402 next door, followed by the dull thud of a heavy object falling. Lu Chen scrambled up and looked at the wall that separated him from 402.
From the other side of the wall came heavy, wheezing breathing. There was also the sound of something heavy being dragged and scraped. And the sound of some kind of liquid dripping onto the floor—drip, drip, drip.
Lu Chen pressed against the wall and listened for five seconds.
He walked to the side of the bed and dragged out a rusty toolbox from underneath. The box contained only a few tools, but sometimes, tools can become lethal weapons. He picked up a claw hammer.
Another slap came from next door, and the whole wall shuddered. Lu Chen slowly walked toward the door, already prepared.
Chapter 2: Fans and Prey
Lu Chen did not open the door.
He stood quietly behind the door, observing through the peephole as someone walked out of the door to 402.
The man was very tall, at least 1.9 meters. He walked slowly, panting heavily, and stepped in blood, leaving a trail of bloody footprints. Lu Chen's pupils contracted.
He recognized that face—Vought Company's former rising star, "Shockwave".
His ability was to clap his hands to release a directional sonic Impact. It was quite powerful, capable of flipping a pickup truck. Vought had originally intended to package him as a "neighborhood hero"—born in the neighborhood, protecting the neighborhood, and endorsing neighborhood products: energy drinks, cornflakes, cheap sneakers. Everything had been going smoothly, until that reality show.
Vought had arranged for Shockwave to appear on an episode of "Super New Generation," letting him go on the show to demonstrate his abilities, gain fans, and pave the way for his future. On the show, Shockwave clapped his hands three times. The first two times, he shattered the prop wall, and on the third, he collapsed directly to the ground and passed out.
It was live. No editing.
According to subsequent tabloid reports, Shockwave's sonic superpower was far too strong compared to his physical constitution. If converted into levels, his sonic ability was LV3, but his physical strength was only LV1—only marginally stronger than an ordinary human. Every time he released an Impact, the recoil would tear his own internal organs. He had been pushing through, using painkillers and adrenaline to mask his injuries for the sake of his future stardom, until that show, where his right eardrum completely ruptured, his intracranial pressure became unbalanced, and his body finally gave out.
Four hours after the show aired, Shockwave's endorsement contracts were frozen. The next day, Vought's legal department sued him for "concealing health conditions, causing damage to the company's brand image," seeking astronomical liquidated damages. On the third day, his apartment was repossessed, his bank accounts were seized, and his position as a neighborhood hero was revoked. A week later, his posters in Queens were torn down, and the drinks in convenience stores were pulled from the shelves. In just one week, he went from a rising star to the chopping block.
Did Shockwave kill the old landlady? Why? Hallucinations after drug use? Random venting of anger as revenge against society? Or did the old lady recognize him and say something she shouldn't have?
But none of that mattered now. What mattered was that he was walking toward his door right now, and the footsteps had stopped. Shockwave was standing outside the door, no more than twenty centimeters away from him.
Lu Chen had already seen him raise his hands—the signature move for releasing an Impact. There was no other choice. Lu Chen gripped the doorknob, tucked the claw hammer behind his back, took a deep breath, and then—
Click.
The lock clicked open. Lu Chen pulled the door open a crack, rubbing his eyes. He yawned, his voice sleepy: "...What the hell is that noise? Is there another party downstairs?"
He pushed the door open, pretending to have just been woken up, and stumbled, lurching half a step forward.
Then he pretended to "see" Shockwave.
Lu Chen's eyes widened suddenly, like someone half-asleep who had suddenly seen something impossible. He raised his right hand, pointing his index finger at Shockwave's face, his fingertips trembling slightly.
"Wait... fuck... you're Shockwave!"
Lu Chen's voice rose sharply. He opened the door fully, stepped across the threshold, and then reached out with both hands, grabbing Shockwave's left hand like an emotional fan.
[Copyable target detected: Former Vought-registered Superhuman "Shockwave"]
[Available abilities:]
[1. Super Physique LV1 (Basic enhancement: slight increase in muscle density, bone strength, and internal organ resilience)]
[2. Sonic Impact LV3 (Clap hands to release a directional high-frequency Shockwave, effective range of 15 meters, can flip vehicles)]
"Copy Super Physique." Lu Chen did not hesitate.
The LV3 Sonic Impact might be strong, but copying it would take time. He hadn't tested his own ability yet and didn't know how long LV3 would take—it could be five minutes, it could be half an hour. He was holding Shockwave's hand, but that hand could be pulled back at any moment, and then a Shockwave could be clapped out to blast him into the wall. Survive first, get the ability as quickly as possible. He selected Copy in his mind, and the progress bar began to rise.
[0%... 1%... 2%, estimated time: half a minute]
"You're Shockwave, right? Shockwave-man? God, I can't believe it, you actually live in this building? Or did you come here for something? Was that noise from earlier you? You must be protecting the neighborhood, right? I knew that with a superhero around, this crappy neighborhood would be safe."
"You know me?"
"Of course! That 'Thunder Impact' energy drink you endorsed—I rely on it for my night shifts. 12-ounce can, black and green color scheme, with your clapping pose printed on the can. I have to say, that design is fucking cool. And the 'Crispy Grains' cornflakes, honey barbecue flavor—that stuff is my absolute favorite."
Shockwave's brow furrowed. It was as if some forgotten memories were rebooting.
"Those things... were pulled from the shelves." His voice dropped, tinged with self-mockery.
"That's why I stocked up on several cases." Lu Chengrinned, showing his teeth. "Smart people know to stock up. That drink really works, it's way better than Red Bull. You have good taste in endorsements, really."
"I really didn't expect to meet you here," Lu Chen said, chattering away with a bit of nervousness like a true fan. "Everyone who lives in this building is broke—I mean, I'm broke too, but I always thought superheroes lived in high-rise apartments in Manhattan, or some mansion Vought arranged for them."
"I'm not a superhero anymore." Shockwave interrupted him, his tone filled only with a hollow numbness.
Lu Chen froze, his smile stiffening on his face. He let go with one hand and scratched the back of his head, his expression shifting from excitement to a clumsy, cautious concern.
"...I saw that show. I mean, everyone saw it. But that's not your fault, right? It's Vought's problem; they squeezed you too hard. You were injured, they should have let you rest instead of forcing you on TV."
"Shut up."
Shockwave looked at the hand Lu Chen was holding. It had been too long since anyone had said these things to him. People on the street either didn't recognize him or ignored him. Having lost Vought Company's exposure, he was becoming more and more like an ordinary passerby.
"What's your name?" Shockwave asked.
"Lu Chen. 'Lu' as in land, 'Chen' as in silence."
"Asian?"
"Chinese-American, to be precise. I was born here."
Shockwave grunted.
"Listen, this building isn't safe tonight. There's... there's a robbery. The old lady in 402 is hurt, and I've already called for backup. You stay inside, lock the door, and no matter what you hear, don't come out. Understand?"
"Understand!" Lu Chen nodded. "Just like in the movies. Don't worry, I won't be one of those stupid background characters who causes you trouble. Seriously, with you here, I feel much better. Shockwave-man. You've always been the hero of our neighborhood."
Shockwave put on the standard smile he had practiced in front of the mirror over and over for his future and his approval ratings, then pulled his hand back.
Lu Chen's fingers grasped at the air for a moment, then dropped naturally to his side.
[Copy progress: 89%... 93%]
"Get inside." Shockwave said.
"Okay, okay. You stay safe too!" Lu Chen took a step back, retreated inside the threshold, and closed the door. The silly grin was still hanging on his face, and he kept staring at Shockwave's face through the peephole, observing every subtle change in his expression.
Shockwave lingered at the door for a while. Then he turned and walked toward the stairs.
Lu Chen let out a sigh of relief. It was a good thing he worked a part-time job at a convenience store and remembered the products Shockwave had endorsed. "I should move out as soon as possible. I can use the college tuition I've saved up. This crappy place is just too unsafe."
Outside the door, however, Shockwave slowly turned his head. He noticed a trail of intermittent, dark red bloody footprints leading from the open door of 402 to the doorway of 401.
"You saw it!"
Chapter 3: The First Copy
Lu Chen's back had just pressed against the wall, and he hadn't had time to calm his emotions before—
Then—
Boom!!!
A sonic wave hit the door panel from directly in front of the hallway like an invisible battering ram.
The two-inch-thick plywood shattered into four pieces instantly, the door frame burst from the wall, and the aftershock of the Impact lifted Lu Chen from the wall, slamming him heavily against the edge of the bookshelf.
A metallic, sweet taste surged in his throat.
Debris clattered to the floor, and a staggering figure walked into the dust.
Shockwave stumbled to a steady stance.
He held his hands in front of his chest, palms facing each other, maintaining a posture ready to clap at any moment.
He stood in the doorway, stepping on wood fragments and the dust brought in from 401.
"You're fucking lying to me, aren't you!" Shockwave said.
His voice carried a rage born of humiliation.
"You saw those bloodstains a long time ago, didn't you."
Lu Chen did not answer.
His right hand had already reached to his lower back, where a claw hammer was tucked.
Before opening the door, he had tucked it behind his belt, hidden under the hem of his shirt.
Shockwave took a step forward.
"You saw the blood in 402.
You saw me.
Then you pretended to be a fan and shook my hand."
Lu Chen raised his hands, signaling he had no malice.
"Wait a second, don't get excited, I can explain."
"Explain what, speak! What the hell are you..."
Lu Chen locked his eyes on the hands separated by Shockwave's emotional agitation—the foreigner's signature gesture where they couldn't seem to express themselves without body language.
Like a wild dog lunging from the shadows, he drew the claw hammer from his lower back with his right hand, lowered his body, and before Shockwave's last syllable had even landed, he swung the hammer with all his might into Shockwave's head.
Bang.
The dull thud of metal striking skull.
Shockwave's head snapped violently to the left, a large chunk of it caving in, and White skull fragments mixed with black-red blood sprayed out, splattering onto the wall and onto Lu Chen's face.
Shockwave's body slammed into the doorframe, letting out a muffled grunt.
If an ordinary person took this hit, with good luck, they'd have a depressed skull fracture and a severe concussion; with bad luck, they'd die on the spot.
Shockwave was not an ordinary person.
He swayed, steadied himself, blood obscuring his right eye, but his left eye was wide open, a more frantic Fire burning in his pupils, ignited by pain.
"Fuck..."
Shockwave raised his left hand to touch the wound on his head, looking at his blood-and-bone-covered palm.
Lu Chen gripped the hammer, feeling his heartbeat accelerate, adrenaline surging wildly.
Just as he thought about delivering another hammer blow, he was struck by Shockwave's left fist.
Crack.
The sound of bone cracking was clearly audible.
Although it was a fist, Lu Chen felt as if his right shoulder had been struck by an iron hammer.
Sharp pain exploded along his nerves, his throat tasted sweet, and a mouthful of blood sprayed directly onto Shockwave's hoodie.
But the moment the sharp pain arrived, his hands extremely quickly locked onto Shockwave's right wrist.
On one hand, it was to delay his hand-clapping motion; on the other—
Skin contact.
The Copy that hadn't been completed last time, the progress bar jumped frantically:
[Re-establishing contact]
[Super Physique LV1]
[Copy progress: 94%... 96%... 98%...]
Shockwave wanted to pull his hand away.
He realized something was wrong.
Lu Chen's hands were locked onto his wrist bone like steel bars, exerting two hundred percent of his strength under the influence of adrenaline.
"Let go of me!" Shockwave roared.
He raised his left fist again, this time aiming for Lu Chen's abdomen.
Lu Chen didn't dodge.
He didn't dare to.
His hands were locked tightly onto Shockwave's wrist, and his whole body was as if hanging on the other's arm.
He could only watch that fist enlarge in his field of vision.
97%... 98%...
Shockwave's left fist struck Lu Chen's left ribs.
Lu Chen spat out another mouthful of blood, this time with foam in it.
His vision began to darken, and his eardrums were buzzing.
But he didn't let go.
99%...
Shockwave was furious.
He no longer used his fist.
He raised his knee, a ferocious knee strike aimed at Lu Chen's abdomen.
Just at this moment—
[Copy progress: 100%]
A scorching heat exploded from within Lu Chen.
His heart contracted violently and then beat with even greater force, the blood pumping speed doubling.
Intense itching came from the bone fracture in his right shoulder, muscle density reorganized under the skin, and the microscopic structure of his bones was forcibly reinforced.
LV1 Super Physique.
Acquired.
Shockwave's knee strike hit Lu Chen's abdomen, but this time, Lu Chen's abdominal muscles were like a taut rubber pad, dispersing, absorbing, and digesting the Impact.
He was still in pain, but that pain was no longer lethal.
It was a dull pain that could be endured and converted into rage.
Shockwave sensed the change.
He felt the grip on his wrist surge, changing from the desperate struggle of a "drowning person" into the "animal trap" of a hunter.
He saw Lu Chen lift his head; there was no more panic on that face, only a cold, chilling focus that made his spine tingle.
"You—"
Shockwave didn't finish his sentence.
Lu Chen moved.
He let go with one hand, his left hand clamping down on Shockwave's right wrist, not letting him pull away, not letting him clap to release the sonic wave.
His right hand, in the half-second Shockwave was stunned, picked up the hammer from the floor.
Shockwave's left fist struck again.
Lu Chen didn't block.
He held the hammer, meeting that fist, and smashed it down precisely.
Crack.
The sound of the metal hammerhead colliding with finger bones was like a broken branch magnified ten times.
Shockwave's index and middle fingers bent backward at a completely anatomically impossible angle, the skin tore, and White bone shards pierced through flesh, exposed.
The ring finger and little finger also hung limply, like a broken-string puppet.
Shockwave let out a shriek that didn't sound human.
His body instinctively leaned back, trying to create distance.
But Lu Chen didn't give him the chance.
His left hand tightly clamped onto Shockwave's right wrist, forcibly holding his body.
His right hand raised the hammer, the head still covered in Shockwave's blood and flesh.
The first hammer strike hit the top of Shockwave's head.
Bang.
Shockwave's scream came to an abrupt end, turning into a gurgling moan.
His knees buckled.
The second hammer strike hit the same spot.
Bang.
The sound of a skull caving in.
Shockwave's body, like a bag of sand, tilted forward softly, his forehead resting on Lu Chen's shoulder.
The third hammer strike.
Bang.
Blood and something more viscous splattered onto Lu Chen's neck and collarbone, warm and foul-smelling.
The fourth hammer strike.
Bang.
Shockwave stopped moving completely.
His body slid off Lu Chen's shoulder and collapsed to the floor.
The hoodie was soaked through with blood, seeping into a dark bloodstain on the concrete floor.
Lu Chen stood there, holding the hammer in his right hand.
His shoulders were heaving, his body trembling—a reaction to the adrenaline wearing off.
Dull pain came from his left ribs and right shoulder, but that pain was now suppressed by something more powerful: the savage vitality brought by LV1 Super Physique.
He looked down at Shockwave's corpse.
Lu Chen didn't vomit.
He didn't tremble.
He didn't look away.
Outside the window, under the night sky of Queens, came the sound of vehicles braking sharply and police sirens wailing—at least three cars.
Lu Chen slowly stood up, switched the hammer to his left hand, walked to the window, and looked out through a gap in the curtains.
Three black SUVs were parked downstairs.
They had come too "fast."
Chapter 4: Hush Money
Lu Chen stood by the window. Three Police cars were downstairs, lights flashing, having arrived late. Perhaps a neighbor had finally called the Police.
He looked down at the hammer in his hand. The head of the hammer was coated in Shockwave's brains and blood, already becoming sticky. His clothes were soaked in blood, and although the bone in his right shoulder had been stabilized by his LV1 Super Physique, it still hurt with every movement.
Run?
Go down the fire escape and slip into the night of Queens. With his current stamina, he could barely manage it. But it was unnecessary. If things went as expected, Vought Company would intervene soon. Even if they didn't, with Copy, he could leave when the time came. For now, he still needed to maintain a legal identity; without one, he couldn't even sign a lease in this country, let alone get close to Vought Tower.
Stay. For now, this was still a society ruled by law. Homelander hadn't yet effectively ruled the entire country as he would later in the plot; the FBI and CIA were still around, and the Police system was still functioning. A former Superhuman, high on drugs, breaking into a private residence and being beaten to death by an ordinary teenager with a hammer sounded like self-defense.
He made his decision.
Lu Chen threw the hammer on the floor. The metal hit the concrete with a crisp sound. Then, he raised both hands, walked to the shattered doorway, stood in the middle of the bloody footprints in the hallway, and waited.
The Police arrived quickly. Two officers in uniform, holding handguns, shouted: "Don't move! Hands up, face the wall!"
Lu Chen complied. "Fuck, is this place a slaughterhouse?" A young officer, seeing the inside of 402, bent over and gagged.
"You did this?" The older officer gestured with his chin toward 402.
"It was that guy," Lu Chen said, stepping aside to reveal the unrecognizable remains of Shockwave inside the room. "He came to my room after leaving 402. He smashed open my door. I resisted."
It had to be said, his Asian identity was unexpectedly useful in this situation. He was only handcuffed, without receiving any rough treatment. After hearing Lu Chen's explanation,
"It sounds like self-defense, but what the fuck did you use to resist? A Rocket launcher?"
Lu Chen didn't answer. He was pushed downstairs. Passing 402, he glanced inside. The landlady's body lay in the entryway, her head tilted at an odd angle. Shockwave's body was still in his own room, like a bag of trash.
The interrogation room was standard for the Queens Policestation. White walls, a metal table, and a buzzing fluorescent light. Lu Chen sat on a hard plastic chair, his hands cuffed to a ring on the table leg. His T-shirt had been changed, and bandages were wrapped around his body—the paramedics had briefly treated his shoulder and rib injuries before transporting him.
A Police officer pushed the door open, carrying two cups of coffee. He placed one in front of Lu Chen and leaned against the table, not sitting.
"Lu Chen. Eighteen years old. Convenience store clerk. No criminal record. From a Vought orphanage, not a Superhuman." The man read from the tablet in his hand, eyes fixed on Lu Chen. "Tell me, how did you beat a Superhuman into mush?"
Lu Chen picked up the paper cup and took a sip.
"He was on drugs," Lu Chen said. "He was unsteady on his feet. His clapping was slow. I took the opportunity while he was close to smash his head with a hammer. Then he kept attacking me, and I had no choice but to keep hitting."
The officer raised an eyebrow. "A hammer?"
"An eighteen-year-old Asian kid, using a hammer to beat a Superhuman who could once flip a truck to death in a fifteen-square-meter rental room." The officer's tone carried obvious skepticism. "Do you know what that sounds like?"
"Like self-defense," Lu Chen said.
The officer laughed. He put down the tablet, leaned forward with his hands on the table, and brought his face close to Lu Chen.
"Listen, kid. I don't care what secrets you have. There was no one else at the scene. The fingerprints are all yours and his. The blood spatter pattern is consistent with close-range repeated striking. The old lady next door did die at his hands. Based on the evidence, you are indeed acting in self-defense." The officer paused. "But the problem is, no matter how down-and-out he was, he was still a Superhuman. His bones are harder than an average person's, his muscle density—"
"He was on drugs," Lu Chen interrupted him. "And his powers were flawed to begin with. The one who fainted on TV. His body couldn't handle his own powers. Vought Company abandoned him. You can check all of this."
The officer narrowed his eyes. He straightened up, just about to say something, when the door to the interrogation room was knocked upon.
A young officer in uniform poked his head in, expression strange. "Captain, someone is here to see you. From Vought Company."
The Captain's brow furrowed. "Vought?"
"Lawyers. And people from the PR department. They said this case involves 'the reputation of a former company employee.'"
"Fuck!" He cursed. Then he turned and walked out.
Only Lu Chen and the buzzing fluorescent light remained in the interrogation room.
Ten minutes later, the door opened again. This time, it wasn't a Police officer who entered, but a woman in a dark grey Armani suit, about forty years old, with blonde hair pinned back and wearing rimless glasses. Behind her followed a young man carrying a briefcase, holding a stack of documents.
The woman didn't introduce herself. She walked to the table, placed a document in front of Lu Chen, pulled a Montblanc fountain pen from her chest pocket, and placed it gently next to the document.
"Mr. Lu. I am from the legal department of Vought Company. The document in front of you is a non-disclosure agreement and a settlement statement. After signing, you will be released without charge as soon as possible, and you will receive thirty thousand dollars in compensation. In exchange, you must not disclose any details of tonight's incident to any media, social platform, or individual. Shockwave—that is, the former Vought-signed Superhuman—did nothing tonight."
"Thirty thousand dollars, cash or transfer. You can leave tonight. No bail needed, no court appearance needed. The Police will drop all inquiries regarding you. You will have a clean record."
Lu Chen looked down at the document. The legal jargon on the paper was dense, but he understood the core: take the money, shut up, and disappear.
He picked up the fountain pen. He signed his name at the bottom of the document. It was in triplicate, so he signed three times.
"Straightforward." The woman took the document, showing slight surprise. "Most people would bargain or ask more questions."
"You paid enough," Lu Chen said. He put the pen down and flexed his wrists, which were numb from being cuffed. "And I hate trouble."
The woman nodded and turned to leave. The young man took one last look at Lu Chen, his eyes holding an indescribable meaning, then followed her out.
That night, Lu Chen walked out of the Queens Policestation. His judgment had been correct; Vought Companywas currently pushing hard to get Superhumans into military affairs and wouldn't let a scandal about a former city vigilante Superhuman being a drug-addicted murderer affect the public narrative. The wound on his right shoulder was still throbbing, but his LV1 Super Physique made the healing speed much faster. He felt his pocket. Inside was a confidentiality agreement, a release certificate, and a bank card; the people from Vought had already deposited the thirty thousand dollars.
He walked to the ATM at the street corner, inserted the bank card, and entered his PIN. The balance displayed: 62,847.33.
Chapter 5: Next Stop, Godolkin University
With my previous savings, plus this thirty thousand in hush money, I have over sixty thousand. That could last me two years in Queens, but wouldn't even last six months in Manhattan.
Lu Chen leaned against the wall next to an ATM and pulled out his phone. There were several unread messages on the screen from his convenience store manager, asking why he had skipped work. He swiped them away.
Then, he opened his news app.
The headline was a PR piece from Vought Company about the "Historic Memorandum of Cooperation Between Superhumans and the Department of Defense." The accompanying photo showed Homelander and Mei standing in front of the Pentagon.
He scrolled down.
In the local news section, there was a video. It showed a young white man standing at the Vought Companyreception desk, looking pale, holding a stack of documents. The video title read: "Man allegedly accuses Vought's Superhuman 'A-Train' of wrongful death, demands public apology."
Lu Chen's finger paused on the screen.
Hughie.
The plot had begun. A-Train had killed Hughie's girlfriend, Robin, just a few days ago. Hughie was probably negotiating with Vought right now, demanding an apology. Before long, Butcher would find him and drag him into The Boys.
Lu Chen closed the news; he still had time to plot. He needed to plan for the strongest life-saving skill he could currently access—Translucent's special meta-carbon skin, which provided diamond-level physical defense for his external body.
But before that, he needed to improve his own combat ability to ensure he could intervene in the event where Butcher kidnapped Translucent.
He needed a place—a place where he could interact with a large number of Superhumans without drawing attention.
On his phone screen, he opened a search engine and typed a line of text.
Godolkin University.
The only university for Superhumans in the U.S. Fully sponsored by Vought Company. It was filled with young, immature Superhumans. Their abilities were unstable, their personalities flamboyant, and they loved to show off. Most of them would never make it into The Seven in their entire lives; after graduation, they could only become local heroes in second-tier cities or serve as living advertisements for Vought.
But for Lu Chen, it was a gold mine. He planned to find an internet café to check things out first—it was cheap, and it would be easier for him to look up information about Godolkin University.
Lu Chen sat in a corner, the blue light of the screen hitting his face. The air was filled with the scent of stale pizza and foot odor.
He wasn't wearing headphones, his fingers sliding across the greasy keyboard.
Godolkin University. The homepage photo was polished—a group of young people in Vought uniforms standing on a lawn with a steel archway behind them. The slogan read: "Shaping the Heroes of Tomorrow."
He clicked into the admissions page. The first sentence he saw was: "We are proud to announce that Godolkin University tuition has been reduced to a more accessible $77,000/year, cash only. Scholarships are available for a limited number of students for the fall semester..."
"Damn it, no wonder even Obama took 21 years to pay off his student loans; who can afford this?" Lu Chen leaned back. "Sixty-two thousand in savings isn't even enough for tuition, let alone room and board. Looks like I'm about to embark on this path of no return."
He continued to scroll down.
There was another admissions requirement: Superhuman qualifications.
This condition made Lu Chen pause. LV1 Super Physique. A legacy left by Shockwave.
"Is this thing qualified?"
He continued scrolling down. At the bottom of the page was a very conspicuous link: Student Loans and Scholarships. He clicked on it.
Godolkin Special Opportunity Loan. Specifically for young applicants who are financially disadvantaged but possess Superhuman potential. The interest rate is terrifyingly high, but it requires no credit history and no co-signer. All that's needed is a high school transcript, a Superhuman preliminary screening report, and a letter of commitment to prioritize job placement at Vought Company after graduation.
Lu Chen fished his phone out of his backpack. He had saved an electronic copy of his high school transcript while working at the convenience store. GPA 3.92. Graduated with a full scholarship.
He filled out the form. Name, email address, and for the address, he just entered a nearby motel at random. He uploaded his high school grades. In the Superhuman type field, he paused for ten seconds, then typed: Physical Enhancement.
Submit.
The page redirected. "Thank you for your application. You will receive a response within 24 to 48 hours."
Lu Chen closed the browser and stood up. He raised his hand to hail a taxi.
"The nearest motel."
The motel room was on the second floor, and there was a brown stain on the carpet. The air conditioner was a window unit, humming loudly and blowing out air that smelled of mildew. Forty-five dollars a night, twenty deposit.
Lu Chen habitually locked the door and drew the curtains. He walked into the bathroom; the person in the mirror looked like an amateur fighter who had just finished an underground bout. His appearance could only be described as the Daniel Wu of Queens—although he couldn't compare to the readers, he was still strikingly handsome. His right shoulder bandage was seeping a pale yellow fluid; his LV1 Super Physique was accelerating the healing, reorganizing muscles, and repairing tears.
He took off his clothes, showered, and lay directly on the bed, falling into a deep sleep, exhausted from the life-and-death struggle.
The email arrived the next morning at 9:17 AM.
The sender was the Godolkin Admissions Office. The subject line read: Ability Assessment Appointment.
Lu Chen sat on the edge of the motel bed and swiped his thumb across the screen.
"Dear applicant, your academic background is impressive. In light of the Physical Enhancement ability you declared, the Admissions Office requires you to come to the main campus as soon as possible today for an on-site ability assessment. Please bring valid identification. Address: Godolkin University Main Building, Assessment Center, Room B12."
Lu Chen checked the time. Eleven o'clock. It would take an hour and a half by taxi from here to upstate New Yorkwhere Godolkin was located.
He didn't hesitate. He checked out and hailed a cab.
"Godolkin University. Please hurry, I'll add a tip."
The driver was a Black man, and the car radio was playing old-school rap. He eyed Lu Chen through the rearview mirror. "Going to that place? You're a Superhuman?"
"You could say that."
Lu Chen watched the dilapidated buildings of Queensreceding rapidly outside the window, bidding farewell in his heart to the place where he had lived for two years.
Godolkin's main gate looked even larger than it did on the website.
The two pitch-black steel archways were fully thirty feet high, with Vought Company's blue eagle emblem welded onto them. On both sides of the archway were lawns that were trimmed a bit too neatly, with several students active on them. A red-haired girl was hovering ten feet in the air, sitting cross-legged with a book in her hands, as if sitting on an invisible sofa. In the distance, two boys were chasing each other in the sky, trailing blue energy wakes behind them.
Lu Chen paid and got out. The driver took the cash and whistled at him. "Good luck, generous sir."
Lu Chen walked through the archway. The admissions building's lobby was like an atrium converted from a gymnasium. Giant posters of past outstanding graduates hung from the high ceiling. The lobby was packed with people, all eighteen or nineteen-year-olds wearing various kinds of casual clothes.
On the left, a Latino kid was rolling a fireball between his fingers; the fireball spun back and forth in his palm, while his girlfriend next to him applied lipstick, completely unbothered. On the right, a chubby girl stood in a corner, white frost forming on the tiles around her feet. In the distance, a tall, thin guy was bragging loudly about how he could lift a school bus in high school; the people next to him rolled their eyes. "Then why are you coming to Godolkin? Just go straight to The Seven."
This was his gold mine, his hunting ground.
Chapter 6: Jordan
Lu Chen took a look around. The registration area had a long line, full of people here for the entrance examination, noisy and chaotic.
He looked around, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.
Then it stopped on a boy.
The boy stood at the edge of the lawn, wearing a simple White T-shirt and jeans, with short hair and delicate, yet sharp facial features.
He was looking down at his phone, with no companions by his side.
Lu Chen recognized him.
Jordan.
The Superhumans from Gen V who could switch genders.
His defense was astonishing in his male form, while his speed was extremely fast and he could launch energy attacks in his female form.
His defense was quite good, but Lu Chen didn't know if the system could Copy the abilities of his male and female forms separately.
He walked over.
"Hey bro, seeing an Asian in a place like this is fucking rare."
Jordan looked up.
His eyes were initially guarded, but relaxed after seeing his face.
"Chinese-American, Lu Chen." Lu Chen extended his hand.
Jordan looked at that hand, hesitated for half a second, and shook it.
"It really is rare. My family are Korean immigrants. My parents forced me to come here, talking about padding my resume."
The moment their palms touched, a panel popped up in Lu Chen's field of vision.
Detected copyable target: Jordan.
Available abilities:
[ 1. Super Physique LV2 ]
[ 2. Body Modification LV3 ]
[ 3. Impact LV2 ]
[ 4. Body Enhancement LV3 ]
The four abilities were listed side-by-side.
This meant the system had separated the abilities of the male and female forms.
Lu Chen didn't hesitate and directly selected Impact LV2.
[ Estimated completion time: five minutes. ]
He prolonged the handshake a bit, then temporarily released his hand and shoved it into his pocket.
[ Copy progress: 20% ]
"Did you come alone?" Lu Chen asked.
"My parents came with me, but they left temporarily after arriving at the school."
"How about you?"
"Orphan. Making it on my own."
The two stood by the edge of the lawn, watching the crowd in line.
His parents favored boys over girls and required him to always maintain his male form in public, which caused his previous life to always be very stifled. He was just about to start his freshman year and hadn't fully opened up like in the plot yet. Jordan's expression was a bit stiff, as if he wasn't quite used to this kind of socializing.
Lu Chen checked his phone.
It was already noon. He looked up at Jordan.
"Are you hungry? My treat. Is there anything to eat nearby?"
Jordan was stunned for a moment. "There's no need."
"Don't dilly-dally. I'm alone anyway. Besides, in a place full of white and black people, seeing another person of my own race, it's like meeting an old friend, you know?"
Jordan smiled. "Fine. I know there's a Chinese food truck nearby that sells stir-fried noodles."
The two walked out of the school.
The food truck was parked on the street corner. The owner was a middle-aged man from Guangdong, his spatula flipping with sparks flying.
Lu Chen ordered two servings of chicken stir-fried noodles, extra spicy.
They carried their Styrofoam food containers and sat on a roadside bench to eat.
The bench wasn't big, and the two sat very close. Their arms would touch from time to time, and the system's progress bar notifications were intermittent.
[ Copy progress: 23%... 27%... 32% ]
Jordan ate very slowly, as if thinking about something.
"Where were you before?" Jordan asked.
"Queens. Working at a convenience store."
"I'm also from New York." Jordan poked at the noodles with his chopsticks.
"My dad is a Doctor, and my mom is an accountant. They want me to come here so I can join The Seven in the future, or at least join Vought headquarters. Bringing honor to the family, you know."
Lu Chen chewed on his noodles. "You don't look that excited."
Jordan put down his chopsticks and looked at the school gate across the street.
"My superpower is freely switching genders, but they want me to stay in my male form. They say it's more like a hero and has more deterrence. They think my female form is me intentionally trying to annoy them, that it's rebellion."
Lu Chen didn't respond, just listened.
Jordan continued, "From childhood to now, I've been told to do this and that. What clothes to wear, what hairstyle to keep, what ability to use. Nobody has ever asked me what I want to be."
Lu Chen swallowed the last bite of noodles.
"In a place like this, everyone is a product. Vought packages you, and the audience consumes you. No matter if you are male or female, strong or weak, as long as you can sell tickets, you are a good product. If you want to get back at them, do something big in your female form."
Jordan turned his head and looked at Lu Chen. "Then what about you? What do you want to be?"
Lu Chen crushed the food container and threw it into the trash can nearby.
He looked at the steel arch of Godolkin, the corners of his mouth twitching. "Be a good person?"
Jordan didn't understand. "What?"
"Nothing." Lu Chen stood up.
"If it's convenient, could you show me your transformation? I'm quite curious."
Jordan was silent for a while. "Sure, but we need to find a place where no one is around. It would be a disaster if my parents saw it when they come back."
The two found a small grove on campus. Jordan looked around and activated his ability. He suddenly changed from a masculine and handsome six-foot-tall boy into a 5-foot-4-inch girl. Lu Chen watched her, walked over, and poked her arm with his hand. 'Even the muscle density changed? These superpowers completely defy the laws of physics.'
[ Copy progress: 78% ]
"What's this? You should see Homelander." Jordanawkwardly slapped his hand away. "How do I look?"
"Not bad. Quite cute." Lu Chen stared for a while, touching his chin as he answered.
"Fuck, bro, the look on your face right now makes it seem like you want to bang me." Jordan couldn't stand that gaze and changed back to his male form.
Lu Chen patted Jordan on the shoulder. "Buddy, after seeing your female form, I think your plan to get revenge on your parents has a high chance of success."
[ Copy progress: 83% ]
"Let's slow down. I guess they'll be back soon, and I need to go wait for them."
"Go ahead." Lu Chen said, extending his hand again. "One more handshake before you go? To our meeting."
"Fuck, you don't actually want to fuck me, do you?" Jordansaid, but still extended his hand. "Let's add each other on TikTok. Although you're a bit weird, you count as the first friend I've made since coming to this place."
"OK."
After adding each other, Jordan waved and walked toward the school gate.
Lu Chen checked the panel.
[ Copy progress: 100% ]
"It was worth acting like a pervert here."
Lu Chen shoved his hands into his pockets, feeling the extra power inside his body.
The sensation of air compressing in his palms was like a bomb that could be detonated at any moment.
Lu Chen walked toward the registration point and looked at the crowd at the registration desk.
The line was still long.
But he was no longer in a hurry.
Lu Chen stood at the end of the line. By the time the numbering system called his name, an hour had already passed.
Behind the B12 registration room was a gymnasium. The iron door was wide open, and various noises came from inside.
Lu Chen walked in, the air filled with the smell of rubber and sweat.
The field was divided into several areas. Some people were running, some were jumping, and some were breathing Fire at sandbags, baking the surroundings with waves of heat.
A staff member wearing a gray uniform sat behind a folding table with a tablet on it.
After asking for his information, they let him start the test: indoor track, striking power. When the data came out, the staff member frowned.
"Physical fitness is in the lowest tier for a Superhuman. Barely passing."
Lu Chen panted, hands on his knees. "But I have something else."
"Show me. Don't waste time."
Lu Chen walked to the center of the field.
Opposite him stood three rubber dummies, painted blue with a white target drawn on their chests.
He took a deep breath and clapped his hands in front of his chest.
"Bang."
An invisible energy exploded from his palms, and the air visibly twisted for a moment.
The Impact hit the rubber dummies, lifting them half a meter off the ground and sliding them three or four feet backward before they swayed to a stop.
The field was quiet for two seconds.
The staff member poked their head out from behind the folding table and whistled.
"Wow. Impact? A nice ability. The distance and force are both decent."
"Looks like you can enroll in the Lamp Lighter Crime Fighting Academy. Congratulations, you passed the test. Go pay the fees, then wait for the dormitory assignment notification."
Chapter 7: Indentured Servitude
Lu Chen clutched the document confirming he had passed the test and followed the signs toward the administration building to pay the fees.
The administration building at Godolkin was much quieter than the training facility.
The marble floors were polished to a mirror finish, and the walls on both sides of the corridor were hung with photos of past graduates: Queen Maeve in her battle armor, A-Train in a starting stance, and The Deep posing with the boundless ocean behind him.
Beneath the photos were embossed gold letters: GodolkinDistinguished Alumni, The Pride of Vought Company.
The payment office was on the third floor.
Lu Chen pushed the door open to find a white man in a golf polo shirt at the front of the line, his belly bulging over his belt.
His daughter stood beside him, tall and blonde, with tiny specks of golden light occasionally flickering from her fingertips, as if someone were sprinkling glitter into the air.
"My baby is definitely getting into the Crimson Countess College," the fat man boomed. "Performing Arts major. She'll be endorsing beauty products later, making ten times the tuition in a single year. This shitty loan is nothing."
His daughter rolled her eyes and said nothing.
Behind the fat man was a Black mother and son. The mother was on the phone, her voice kept low but her speech rapid: "Yes, seventy-seven thousand, and that's not including room and board. I know, I know, but Kelvin's ability will have no problem getting into the Performing Arts College..."
Lu Chen leaned against the wall, counting the cracks in the floor tiles. After waiting seventeen minutes, it was finally his turn.
A woman sat behind the window, around fifty years old, with short gray-brown hair and red-rimmed glasses.
She looked up at Lu Chen, her gaze resting for a second on the bruise on his forehead and his faded T-shirt before shifting away.
She lowered her head to type, the light from the screen reflecting off her lenses.
"Name?"
"Seriously? This is the U.S., why do they never look at the files and insist on asking every single time?" he thought to himself while answering.
"Lu Chen. Assigned to the Lamplighter Crime Fighting Class. Just passed the test."
"The annual tuition is seventy-seven thousand U.S. dollars. That does not include room, board, or insurance, and it must be paid in cash."
"I'm applying for a student loan."
The woman, who had been calm until now, showed a hint of enthusiasm upon hearing this. She pulled two sheets of paper from her drawer and slapped them onto the counter.
"Two types of loans. The National Federal Student Loan and the Godolkin Private Specialized Superhero Loan. Take your pick."
"What's the difference?"
The woman pulled two contracts from under the desk and pushed them over—one blue, one black. She spoke quickly, with the practiced ease of someone who had recited this countless times, every syllable slurred together.
"The federal version. 5.5% interest rate. The repayment period is your remaining school years plus a maximum of fifteen years. Interest accrues while you're in school, but you don't have to pay it. You start paying off the principal and interest five years after graduation."
Lu Chen opened the blue one. The terms were dense, similar to the normal university loans he had once considered applying for. It was standard, conventional. After quickly introducing the national loan...
The woman tapped the black one. The embossed gold eagle emblem on the cover glinted, with a line of small text printed beside it: Superhero Specialized Development Fund.
"The Godolkin University Private Specialized version. 9.2% interest rate. Fixed fifteen-year repayment period. Interest accrues in full while in school, and repayment begins after graduation."
"The interest rate is almost double."
"That's right," the woman leaned back in her chair, speaking with a seductive tone. "But risk and opportunity always coexist. You can look at the terms below: if your academy hero ranking gets into the Top 10 during your time here, the interest for your time in school is waived. If you reach the Top 3, all interest is written off. If you maintain your ranking and get hired by Vought Companyupon graduation, not only is the interest waived, but the principal is also cut in half. If you make it into The Seven, both interest and principal are completely waived."
She pulled a promotional flyer from the drawer and pushed it over. It featured a young man in uniform with a bright smile, and below it read: The Deep, Kevin Moskowitz, Godolkin Class of 2015, member of The Seven.
"Every year, people think it's a scam," the woman coaxed. "But every year, people really do climb their way up. If you want to become a superhero like them, you have to believe you can do it."
Lu Chen stared at that interest rate. Good grief. It's designed specifically to scam these daydreaming college kids.
Seventy-seven thousand a year, 9.2% interest, fifteen years. This isn't a loan; it's an indenture contract. These eighteen or nineteen-year-old brats, heads full of dreams about being heroes, sign these contracts and will likely end up working for Vought Company for the rest of their lives after graduation. Interest waived? The Seven? It's a stroke of luck to find one person out of ten thousand students over several years. Vought Company uses these empty promises to trade for a room full of indentured servants.
Even if someone really does join The Seven, they'd be even happier—it's a living advertisement. The principal and interest would just be considered advertising expenses.
They win either way. You could say it's like Qin Shi Huang touching an electric pole—they're winning like crazy.
He reached for the blue one. "I'll take the federal—"
"Wait," the woman said suddenly, her finger pointing to the last page of the black contract. "Look carefully before you choose. If you choose the specialized one, your file automatically goes to Professor Brink's office. Only those people can sign up for the Crime Fighting Class."
Lu Chen's hand stopped in mid-air. He lowered his head, looking at the line of small text the woman was pointing to. It wasn't printed large, but it was clear enough, hidden between the default clauses and the late fee explanations: Crime Fighting Class.
In his past life's memories, this course was Godolkin's only ace. It wasn't one of those useless classes that taught you how to pose in front of a camera or how to cry for the lens. It was a real combat course that taught you how to kill, how to survive, and how to dispose of bodies. Queen Maeve, A-Train, The Deep—those in The Seven who came from Godolkin were all students of this class.
Godolkin University was divided into two colleges. Students with combat-related abilities were assigned to the Lamplighter College, while everyone else went to the Crimson Countess College for other majors: Hero Ethics, Villain Psychology, Superpower Stage Performance, and Media and Public Relations.
It sounded glamorous, but in reality, it was just packaging students as products and shoving them into Vought Company's marketing assembly line. Studying those, the best career path after graduation was to be a local hero in a second-tier city, film commercials for Vought Company, or become a Villain Psychology consultant, sitting in an office writing reports.
But the Crime Fighting Class was different. That was the real elevator that led straight to The Seven.
Lu Chen pulled his hand back and pushed the federal version away. "I choose the specialized one."
The woman raised an eyebrow, as if she weren't at all surprised by this decision. She pulled out a pen and pointed to a few places on the contract.
"Sign here, here, and here. The last page is the risk disclosure form. Read it clearly: 9.2% interest rate. If you default on repayment, Vought Company has the right to pursue your hero license and endorsement income."
Lu Chen took the pen and signed his name with a flourish.
Watching Lu Chen sign, the woman finally smiled and fed the contract into the scanner. She then pulled a temporary campus ID card, a textbook list, and a thin freshman survival guide from the drawer and pushed them across the counter.
"Textbooks aren't cheap. For the Crime Fighting Class, you'll need to buy extra protective gear out of your own pocket."
Lu Chen took the items and stuffed them into his pocket.
"There's a physical fitness re-examination next week, don't be late. Your dorm assignment will be sent to your email as soon as possible, keep an eye out for it."
Lu Chen stood up and shoved his bank card back into his pocket. "Thanks for the reminder."
He pushed the door open and stepped out; the sunlight in the corridor was blinding. Queen Maeve was still watching him from the wall, her expression serious, as if she were scrutinizing a new recruit.
Lu Chen walked past her photo, thinking to himself, "I'm winning like crazy too." Regardless of which loan he chose, he had no intention of paying it back. If anyone asked, the Empress Dowager had already paid for it.
He chose the Godolkin specialized loan specifically to get connected with Professor Brink. After all, with his ability, he would soon enter the Top 10 or even Top 1, and then use this university as a springboard to make contact with, or even enter, The Seven. By then, he would have a hand in the Butcher's side, and he would also be connected with The Seven—all while Vought Company footed the bill.
"Winning twice—I'm winning like crazy."
And his reason for wanting to get stronger was simple: abilities could be awakened and strengthened later on. In this World, there were indeed ways and examples of this; for instance, Golden Boy used his brother Sam's blood to boost his physical fitness and increase the temperature of his flames.
People were coming and going on campus. Someone flew by at a low altitude, kicking up a gust of wind that messed up a girl's hair. Someone else was twirling a fireball in their hand, joking around with their girlfriend as they walked, sparks sputtering onto the lawn and burning a few small black spots. In the distance, the training ground emitted a dull thudding sound, as if someone were slamming their body against a wall—once, and then again.
The plan officially begins.
Chapter 8: I Only Saw A Captain Taking Off
The next morning, Lu Chen stood at the entrance of the dormitory building carrying two large plastic bags.
The email had been sent at 8 AM, and the sender was listed as the Godolkin Logistics Department. The content was brief: Building D, 317, double room. Please proceed to the Logistics Department as soon as possible to pick up the key and check in.
After picking up the key and checking in, he first made a trip to Walmart to buy some new daily necessities.
On the third floor of Building D, 317 was in the middle of the corridor, and some kind of noise was coming from inside.
Lu Chen listened to the sound and pushed the door open with confusion.
"My roommate is already here? What is this sound?"
He inserted the key and opened the door. The curtains in the room were drawn tightly, and only the blue light from a laptop screen provided illumination.
Lu Chen saw it; a captain was taking off.
On the bed by the window, a white man was lying on his back.
He was in his early twenties, with blonde hair combed back and stuck to his scalp. The quilt was piled at the end of the bed, his pants were pulled down to his ankles, and his right hand was moving rapidly, at a high frequency, as if he were greasing some kind of machine.
Hearing the door, Rufus raised his head.
His face was flushed red, his forehead was covered in sweat, and a trace of transparent liquid hung from the corner of his mouth. Seeing Lu Chen standing at the door, carrying two Walmart plastic bags, Rufus's hand stopped.
"Fuck." Rufus cursed, filled with the annoyance of being interrupted. "Can't you fucking knock?"
Lu Chen stood at the door, looking at Rufus's hand that was still busy, then at Rufus's flushed face.
"Don't you lock the door when you take off?" Lu Chen said.
"Fuck!" Rufus wiped his hand on the bedsheet. He sat up, grabbed the quilt to cover his lower body, and rushed into the bathroom.
"I'll settle the score with you when I come out!"
The bathroom door slammed shut, followed by the sound of the toilet lid being lifted, and then even more rapid, suppressed sounds.
Lu Chen stood in the room, placing the plastic bags at his feet. He recognized this person.
He took his phone out of his pocket and searched for Rufus. There were a few anonymous posts on the Godolkininternal forum, with obscure wording but clear implications. A reply from an ID called "Anonymous User 2077" said: Don't be alone, don't drink the Water he hands you, don't let him touch your forehead.
Lu Chen turned off the screen and stuffed the phone back into his pocket.
The noise in the bathroom grew louder and louder, and Rufus's panting could be heard through the bathroom door panel.
But he wasn't thinking about Rufus's disgusting behavior now, but another issue.
Rufus's ability — Mind Control. It can achieve memory deletion, false memory implantation, and close-range hypnosis.
This ability is useful to him. And very useful at that.
He will need to contact Vought's upper management in the future, approach Homelander, and Copy abilities right under the noses of The Seven. If he could modify memories, implant false instructions, and erase the perception of witnesses, his plan would be ten times safer.
Rufus is a pervert. But Rufus's ability is a good ability. In the plot, he relied on this ability to try to attack Mary, but was instead blown up by Mary, destroying his "engine".
The commotion in the bathroom reached its peak, followed by a long, deflated sigh, and then the sound of flushing.
Lu Chen straightened his body and walked to the door. He took a deep breath and held his hands together in front of his chest. The energy Impact from Jordan began to compress between his fingers, staring at the bathroom door.
The doorknob turned.
Rufus walked out, pushing the door while wiping his hand with a tissue. His pants were pulled up, but the belt wasn't buckled yet, and the hem of his T-shirt was crumpled. His face wore that loose, foolish expression typical of the post-coital state, his eyes unfocused, and a smile still hung on the corner of his mouth.
He looked up and saw Lu Chen standing at the door, and was stunned for a moment.
"What the fuck are you standing here for—"
Lu Chen pushed his palms out.
The Impact left his hands and hit Rufus square in the chest.
Bang.
Rufus's back slammed hard against the bathroom door frame, making a dull thud. His eyes widened instantly, his pupils rolled up, and the tissue in his hand fluttered to the floor. His body slid down along the door frame, collapsing softly onto the floor tiles at the bathroom entrance.
Lu Chen walked over and squatted down.
Rufus's chest was still rising and falling, but his breathing had become long and heavy, as if he had entered a coma. Lu Chen reached out and placed his palm on his head.
Skin contact. In his field of vision, a panel appeared:
[ Copy target detected: Rufus Miller ]
[ Selectable abilities ]
[ Super Physique LV2 ]
[ Mind Control LV3 ]
"Select Mind Control LV3."
[ Selected: Mind Control LV3 ]
Estimated completion time: 30 minutes
[ Copy progress: 0% ]
Lu Chen's left hand moved away from Rufus's face, hovering in mid-air, maintaining a charged state. The energy Impact circulated in his left hand, emitting a faint blue light. If Rufus moved or opened his eyes within these thirty minutes, this energy projectile would make him fall into an infant-like sleep again.
His right hand was firmly pressed on Rufus's head.
Time began to flow.
The dormitory was very quiet. Occasionally, someone passed by in the hallway, footsteps approaching from afar and then fading away. Someone was playing music in the next room, the subwoofer making the walls hum.
Lu Chen maintained his squatting posture. His eyes were fixed on Rufus's eyes, even though those eyes were tightly closed; the eyeballs under the eyelids twitched occasionally, as if he were dreaming.
The progress bar crawled slowly at the edge of his vision.
3%... 7%... 12%...
Rufus's breathing suddenly became rapid. His fingers twitched, as if he were trying to grab something. Lu Chen's left hand tightened slightly, and the Impact in his palm emitted a brighter blue light. Rufus's fingers dropped again, and his breathing returned to a steady rhythm.
Lu Chen continued to stare at him, expressionless.
18%... 25%... 31%...
Sweat slid down from Lu Chen's temple, dripping down the bridge of his nose onto Rufus's T-shirt. Keeping this posture for half an hour was more tiring than he imagined. Controlling the energy in his left hand required constant focus. But he didn't move, let alone slack off.
He thought of Cate.
The strongest psychic in Gen V, and even one of the top psychics in the entire The Boys World, capable of reading memories and controlling minds.
But Cate had also fallen for Rufus's trick at a party, which shows that in this World, psychic abilities have no passive defense. Even if you are a top-tier psychic, as long as the opponent's ability is activated first, or you are caught off guard, your brain is an open door.
Lu Chen didn't want to wake up and find he had forgotten why he came to Godolkin,
So he had to get this key.
45%... 58%... 67%...
72%... 81%... 89%...
Lu Chen's left hand began to tremble slightly. Continuously using his ability for nearly half an hour was also a drain on his LV2 Impact control. The blue light in his palm flickered. But he gritted his teeth and stabilized the energy again.
94%... 97%... 99%...
100%.
Chapter 9 Mind Control
A cold sensation drilled into Lu Chen's right palm, and a faint, silvery-white halo appeared at the edge of his vision.
Mind Control LV3, Copy complete.
Ability solidified: Close-range memory reading, memory deletion, false memory implantation, basic hypnosis.
Lu Chen closed his eyes, feeling how to use the new ability. It was like learning to ride a bike; his body already knew what to do, it just needed practice.
He reopened his eyes, looking at Rufus's face.
His right hand was still pressed there. He didn't need to Copy anymore, but he needed to test it.
Lu Chen focused his mind, his consciousness piercing into Rufus's brain like an invisible needle. He saw some fragments. Rufus's memories were like a ball of yarn tangled by a cat, filled with all sorts of disgusting images. Parties, drugging, a girl's terrified face, then a blank space. There were also non-disclosure agreements handed over by the Vought legal department, the lawyer's smiling face, phone calls from parents.
Lu Chen frowned. He didn't like these images, but he needed to find the memory from just a moment ago.
He found it. It was right on the surface. The memory from three minutes ago: seeing the Asian kid walk in, swearing a couple of times, going into the bathroom, then coming out... after that, it was a blank. The moment Impact knocked him out, the memory cut off.
Lu Chen began to weave.
He implanted a new memory: Rufus walked out of the bathroom after finishing his business, saw his new roommate standing at the door, and the two exchanged a brief greeting. Then Rufus looked around the dorm and suddenly felt this place was terrible. The mattress was as hard as a coffin lid, and the air was always filled with a foul smell. He decided immediately that he had to change dorms; he couldn't stay a second longer.
At the same time, Lu Chen buried a suggestion deep in Rufus's memory: nothing had happened just now. There was no conflict, everything was boring and not worth remembering.
Implantation complete.
Lu Chen withdrew his right hand and shook his wrist. The Impact in his left palm slowly dissipated, the blue light extinguishing. He stood up, his knees making a clicking sound.
He walked to the window, pulled back the curtains, and let the afternoon sunlight shine in. Then he took a water cup from a plastic bag, went to the bathroom to get a glass of Water, and took a sip.
A few minutes later, Rufus groaned on the floor.
His eyelids fluttered, and he slowly opened them. His eyes were confused at first, then turned into a look of genuine disgust. He propped himself up off the floor, rubbing his chest.
"Fuck, what a shitty dorm," Rufus muttered. "I can't fucking live here."
He scrambled up, patted his pants, didn't even glance at Lu Chen, and walked straight toward his bed. He grabbed his backpack, shoved a few clothes in haphazardly, stuffed his laptop into the sleeve, his movements hurried.
When he reached the door, Rufus paused. He looked back at Lu Chen, no suspicion in his eyes, only a look of disdain for how Lu Chen could even stand living there.
"Suit yourself," Rufus said. "This place is only fit for rats."
The door slammed shut. Footsteps quickly faded down the hallway.
Lu Chen stood in the center of the room, still holding that glass of Water. He took a sip, then walked to the bed Rufus had just been lying on, pulled off the quilt, bundled it up, and threw it into the trash can outside the door.
He returned to his own bed, spread out the new quilt he had just bought from Walmart, and sat down.
He was the only one left in the dorm. The disgusting smell Rufus left behind still lingered in the air, but the window was open, and the wind was slowly blowing it away.
After using his ability to drive Rufus away, Lu Chen lay on the bed to rest for a while, recovering from the fatigue of using his ability for so long. Just then, his phone buzzed twice on the nightstand.
He reached out and touched his phone; a message from Jordan was on the screen.
"Hey bro, have you checked in? Which building are you in?"
Lu Chen typed: "D-317."
"What a coincidence, I'm in D-325. Just a few rooms away. Want to go get some food?"
"Sure. Meet downstairs in a bit."
Lu Chen climbed up and took a quick shower. He put on a newly bought black T-shirt and jeans, then headed out.
When he got down to the second floor, he stopped.
The stairwell window faced the administration building. A blonde figure was walking on the stone path. She was wearing an oversized gray hoodie, her hands covered in thick black leather gloves, her fingers curled into the cuffs, clutching a few books tightly with the corners of the books pressed against her chin.
Kate.
During a family camping trip when she was nine, annoyed by her younger brother's noise, she had unconsciously said, "Go away, never come back," triggering her psychic control ability, which caused her brother to go missing and eventually lead to his Death.
After that, she had been locked in her bedroom for nine years. Her parents viewed her as a monster and required her to wear thick gloves to prevent her from accidentally touching others and to keep her from saying anything she shouldn't again.
Until Headmistress Indira learned of her ability and visited, gave her medication to control her powers, brought her to Godolkin, and gave her a chance at a "normal" life.
Kate should have just come out of the headmistress's office with her medication, or just finished being lectured. She wasn't used to crowds yet and wasn't the polished, glamorous person she would become later.
Lu Chen watched her back disappear into the revolving door of the administration building.
"What are you looking at?"
Jordan's voice came from behind him. Lu Chen turned back.
"Nothing. Let's go get some food." Lu Chen looked away and continued down the stairs.
Jordan leaned toward the window, looking in the direction Lu Chen had just been watching.
"Oh, that blonde girl." Jordan whistled. "You like that type? The gloomy kind?"
"Just remembered something."
"She looks like the type to write sad poetry." Jordanfollowed Lu Chen's pace, and the two walked toward the cafeteria. "Or maybe keep three cats in her dorm and never talk to anyone."
"Maybe."
Jordan shrugged and didn't press further.
The cafeteria was very lively. The two carried their trays, queuing in front of the pizza and burger counters. Jordanpiled three slices of pizza onto his tray, while Lu Chen only wanted a grilled chicken salad and a cup of black coffee.
A group at the next table was loudly discussing last night's party.
"Did you guys go to the one on the lawn? Someone set the grill on fire, and the fire sprinkler system didn't even activate."
"What about that asshole playing with Fire?"
"Got woken up by a bucket of Water from the upperclassmen. Classic."
Lu Chen turned to look at Jordan: "There seems to be a freshman party on the lawn outside. Want to go check it out?"
Jordan looked at the crowd discussing the party, his expectant gaze tinged with a bit of hesitation, "Sure, why not, nothing better to do."
The crowd on the lawn was already going wild.
The speakers were set up in the back of a pickup truck, the subwoofer making the ground tremble. Hundreds of young people were crowded on the lawn; some were holding beer cans, some were floating three meters in the air following the rhythm, a bald kid was spraying Fire into the sky, and the air was mixed with the smell of barbecue smoke, perfume, sweat, and something even more pungent—it was unclear if it was tobacco or something else.
He was in his element here.
Chapter 10: Super Physique
Lu Chen pulled two cans of beer from an ice bucket labeled "Unlimited Supply" and handed one to Jordan.
Jordan pulled the tab, and foam sprayed all over his hand. "This lousy beer."
Lu Chen's gaze swept across the lawn. Everyone here was a walking progress bar.
He took a few steps forward. A black-haired girl stood next to the grill; she wasn't tall. She was using tongs to flip the burgers on the grill. The meat was already burnt, with black crusts curling at the edges, emitting a pungent smoke.
"Is that beef or charcoal?" Lu Chen walked over and stood beside her.
The girl turned her head to look at him and smiled. "That depends on your level of optimism."
"I'm usually very optimistic," Lu Chen said, taking the burger she handed him, "until I take a bite."
The girl laughed, reached into a box nearby, pulled out a bottle of Water, and tossed it to him. "Use this to rinse your mouth."
Lu Chen caught it, his fingers brushing against her knuckles.
"Lu Chen. Freshman."
"Chloe. Performing Arts major." The girl tapped the grill with her tongs. "Might film commercials later, sell shampoo or something."
"Your hair is indeed nice."
"Thanks, it's natural." She shoveled the burnt burger onto a paper plate. "My mom said girls shouldn't be at the front lines, so she stuffed me into the performing arts academy. Later, I'll stand in front of a green screen, smile at the camera, and pretend to fight monsters."
Someone nearby called Chloe's name, asking her to help move a speaker. Chloe responded,
"I'll help you." Lu Chen stuffed the Water bottle into his pocket.
The two crouched down, each lifting one side. Their palms pressed against the rough plastic shell of the speaker, and Chloe's hand occasionally brushed against Lu Chen's wrist. Lu Chen deliberately slowed down his movements, maintaining contact, letting every shift last a few seconds longer.
"You're stronger than you look." Chloe placed the speaker in the designated spot.
"Maybe it's a Chinese buff. You know, hiding your strength and all that." Lu Chen straightened up and shook his hand.
Chloe smiled and patted his shoulder. "Thanks, Lu Chen. I'll treat you to some real beer later, not this horse piss."
She turned and squeezed into the crowd.
Lu Chen stood in place, the system panel at the edge of his vision pulsing silently:
[ Chloe ]
[ Super Physique LV1 — Copy Complete ]
A faint warm current crawled from his palm into his arm; his muscle fibers trembled slightly, then returned to calm. LV1 Super Physique, but every little bit adds up.
"You're quite busy, aren't you?" Jordan wandered over at some point, chewing on a grilled sausage,
"I'm just helpful."
"Fuck, guess whether I believe that."
A round of jeering came from the center of the lawn. The crowd had formed a circle, and people were wrestling inside.
Lu Chen and Jordan walked over. Inside the circle, a Latina girl and a White boy were pressing palms, pushing against each other. The girl wasn't tall, but her limbs, exposed by her tank top and shorts, had tight muscles with lines like they were carved. There was a White circle drawn at her feet; the rule was that whoever was pushed out of the circle or had their feet leave the ground lost.
The White boy's face turned red, and the veins on his forehead bulged. The girl, however, smiled, exerted force with one hand, and twisted her wrist. The boy stumbled and was pushed out of the White circle, landing on his butt on the grass.
The people around roared with laughter, and some whistled.
"Who's next?" The girl scanned the surroundings. There was sweat on her forehead, but her breathing was steady. "Don't make me warm up for nothing."
Jordan nudged Lu Chen with his elbow. "You go."
Lu Chen: "Me?"
"Weren't you pretty strong when you moved the speaker earlier?"
Lu Chen shoved the beer can to Jordan and walked into the circle.
The girl looked at him and raised an eyebrow. "Want to give it a try?"
"Lu Chen, freshman." He extended his hand.
"Sofia. Sophomore." She extended her right hand to shake his. "The rules are simple. Push me out of this circle, or make my feet leave the ground. And vice versa. Palms cannot separate."
[ Super Physique LV2 ]
[ Strength Enhancement LV2 ]
"Select Super Physique." After making the selection in his mind, Lu Chen crouched down and pressed his palm against hers. There were calluses at the base of her fingers, like those left from years of hitting sandbags.
Sofia suddenly exerted force.
That power far exceeded LV1, like a hydraulic press that had suddenly started. Lu Chen's LV2 Impact energy was released secretly; he dug his heels into the turf, his body unmoving, but his palm was pressed tightly against hers as he was pushed back half a foot.
"Oh?" Sofia's eyes lit up. "Interesting."
She increased her force. Lu Chen continued to retreat but kept their palms in contact. The two stalemated for a few minutes, each step plowing shallow grooves into the turf. Their palms remained pressed together, elbows tense, like two bulls butting heads.
"You're cheating. What's that light on your hand?" Sofia grinned,
"Maybe it's because I see you're nervous." Lu Chensqueezed the words out through gritted teeth.
Sofia suddenly relaxed her force. The moment Lu Chenlunged forward, she took advantage of the momentum to grab his wrist and performed a shoulder throw—but she pulled back halfway. Lu Chen was gently laid down on the lawn, grass clippings digging into the back of his neck.
Sofia crouched down and reached out to pull him up. Their palms made contact again.
"Good reaction, smooth talker."
Lu Chen used her strength to stand up and brushed the grass off his pants. "Thanks, senior."
Sofia turned to accept challenges from others. Lu Chenretreated to the edge of the crowd and looked down at his right hand.
In his vision, the panel refreshed:
[ Sofia ]
[ Super Physique LV2 — Copy Complete ]
A heat current ten times stronger than before exploded from his palm, surging through his blood vessels toward his shoulders, chest, and thighs. His muscle fibers felt like they were being pierced by countless thin needles simultaneously, then rewoven...
Jordan walked over and shoved the beer back into his hand. "You've had quite the haul tonight. Moving speakers, wrestling on the lawn, and both with girls."
"Just making friends."
"Two friends." Jordan rolled his eyes. "The third one is me, alright?"
"Don't gross me out."
The two walked toward the dorms. Behind them, the party was still going on, the music still vibrating their chests even from two hundred meters away.
They opened the dorm door. Rufus, as expected, hadn't returned. Lu Chen closed the door and locked it.
He took off his T-shirt and stood in front of the bathroom mirror. The person in the mirror had broader shoulders; the outlines of his pectoral and abdominal muscles were visible beneath his skin, tight and streamlined. He raised his arm, his bicep bulging into a clear arc when he flexed his elbow.
At the edge of his vision, the system panel floated quietly:
Super Physique LV1 (Shockwave) — Stabilized
Super Physique LV1 (Chloe) — Stabilized
Super Physique LV2 (Sofia) — Stabilized
Same-type abilities merged, current level LV2
Lu Chen looked at the system notification. Although they had merged, the level hadn't changed. It was still LV2.
"It seems that within the same level, there are also distinctions in strength."
Shockwave's LV1 was the bottom-tier kind, just one notch above an ordinary person. Chloe's LV1 was slightly better. Sofia's LV2 was in a stable period, having undergone systematic training. Now that the three had merged, his LV2 should stand in the upper-middle position of the same level.
But this was only the first night.
He put on his T-shirt and lay on the bed. His phone vibrated. Jordan sent a photo: on the lawn, the moment Lu Chen was thrown by Sofia, his expression twisted.
Lu Chen looked at the photo, his thumb hovering over the screen.
Godolkin. Hundreds of young Superhumans, full of thoughts about showing off, socializing, and proving themselves. They actively reached out, clinked glasses, shook hands, and wrestled. Every contact was an opportunity. Every party was a hunting ground.
He didn't need to risk his life like he did dealing with Shockwave. He didn't need to hide in his room like he did dealing with Rufus. He only needed to smile, chat, touch a finger, and shake a hand.
The progress bar would complete itself.
He turned off the light.
In the darkness, the system panel glowed faintly at the edge of his vision. He glanced at his current status:
[ Impact LV2 ]
[ Mind Control LV3 ]
[ Super Physique LV2 (Fusion Enhanced Version) ]
Not enough. Far from enough.
Godolkin is just the starting point.
He closed his eyes.