The table was trembling.
Every cup, teapot, and plate on its surface slid slowly toward one side — as if drawn by an invisible hand.
At the other end of the table, Steve's eyes gleamed with excitement.
This… this was real telekinesis!
He had actual superpowers!
Even he couldn't believe it — that one day, he'd awaken something beyond human.
But soon, that excitement twisted into jealousy.
"I only got a small fragment of that mysterious stone's power," he muttered, clenching his fists. "Most of it… went to Andrew."
At the thought of Andrew, Steve's expression turned complicated.
He'd always treated that quiet, withdrawn boy fairly well — one of the few at school who didn't mock him.
But that kindness had never come from friendship.
It was more like a condescending pity — the kind you give a stray dog.
A gesture from someone who thinks they're above you.
If nothing had changed, Steve might've kept that pity forever.
But now… the one he pitied had surpassed him.
Andrew had gotten stronger — much stronger.
That, he couldn't accept.
How could the kid he used to look down on suddenly stand above him?
His eyes flickered with a new thought.
"Maybe… I should talk to Matt. If we work together, maybe we can take Andrew's power for ourselves."
A plan was forming — when—
Knock, knock, knock…
A few steady knocks echoed from the door.
Steve froze. "Who's there?"
"It's me. Matt."
A familiar voice came from the other side.
He exhaled in relief and stood to open the door.
As soon as the door creaked open—
Bamm!
A hand shot forward, piercing through his chest.
Steve went rigid.
He stared in disbelief at the bloody hand sticking through him — then slowly looked up.
"...Andrew?"
His eyes widened in horror.
Why was Andrew here?
And that voice earlier — wasn't it Matt's?
Why was he—?
"Wh… why?" Steve rasped weakly.
A cruel, twisted smile tugged at Andrew's lips.
"Why?" His tone mocked him. "Curious about my voice?"
Then, he switched — speaking in Matt's voice.
"Or curious why I'd kill you?" he added, this time in his own.
"Simple," Andrew whispered. His eyes glowed darkly.
"Because I hate you."
"I hate people like you — the ones who thought they were above me."
"You're trash. You don't deserve to share my power!"
With a wet crack, he ripped his arm free — Steve's still-beating heart clutched in his fist.
He crushed it. Blood spattered across the walls.
Steve's body collapsed, lifeless.
Andrew looked down coldly. "Now… how do I absorb his remaining power?"
The cold, emotionless voice echoed in his mind again — the one that had guided him since that night.
"Find a quiet place. Refine him. Absorb everything."
Andrew nodded slightly. "Got it."
He reached toward the body — but—
"Freeze! Hands up! Right now!"
A sharp shout rang out from behind him.
Andrew turned, frowning.
A police officer stood in the doorway, gun aimed straight at him.
How… when did he get here?
Andrew sneered. He flicked his hand.
The officer's gun flew from his grasp — then, with a casual twist of Andrew's wrist, a sickening snap echoed.
The man's neck broke instantly.
Without even glancing at the corpse, Andrew grabbed Steve's body and stepped outside.
But the moment he did—
"Stop right there!"
Floodlights blazed to life.
The street outside was filled with flashing red and blue — dozens of police cars surrounded the block, weapons raised.
"Put your hands up now, or we'll open fire!"
Andrew tilted his head.
No fear — only amusement.
This was the arrogance of someone who'd tasted divine power.
Slowly, he raised his hand.
"Fire!" someone screamed.
Gunfire erupted.
Hundreds of bullets tore through the air, a storm of death converging on one target.
Andrew simply pushed his hand forward.
Instantly — every bullet froze in midair.
Then, with a flick of his wrist, they reversed course.
Bamm, Bamm, Bamm—!
Dozens of police officers fell as blood sprayed across the street.
Not one survived.
At a nearby military control post, the situation was being monitored in real time.
A police chief slammed his fist on the table.
"This—this is impossible!"
Ivanka stood beside him, calm and composed.
"There's nothing impossible about it," she said coldly. "I told you — you should've used heavy weapons from the start."
Her tone sharpened.
"Do it now. Bring in heavy firepower. Kill him."
The chief gritted his teeth, punching the wall. "He's a monster!"
The military commander nearby snorted.
"Monster or not, under the firepower of the United States, there's only one outcome."
He gave the order.
Moments later—
Rumble…
The ground trembled.
The sound of roaring engines filled the air — a convoy of tanks rolled into the streets, followed by armored jeeps and soldiers marching in formation.
Murderous intent filled the night.
Andrew felt it too. He paused, looking toward the approaching lights.
For a brief second, something human — fear — flashed in his heart.
This was still the land of the world's most militarized power, after all.
But then, that cold voice inside his mind hissed again:
"Fool! What are you afraid of?"
"Use them — use their deaths as a warning to the world."
"Let them know a new era has begun!"
Andrew's blood boiled with excitement.
At his age, that kind of temptation was irresistible.
He grinned. Instead of running, he stepped forward.
"Open fire!"
The order cut through the night.
Machine guns roared, sniper rifles cracked, and the air burned with the heat of a thousand bullets.
Tracer fire turned the dark sky into a hellish lightshow.
Andrew raised his hand again — and the world seemed to slow.
Every bullet hung suspended in midair, frozen by his psychic might.
Then—
Whoosh!
A missile streaked toward him, leaving a trail of fire in its wake.
And that was only the beginning.
Behind it, the tank turrets rotated — and then, one after another—
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The earth shook violently.
Blinding fireballs consumed the street.
The entire area vanished in a storm of fire and explosions.