"Even a hamster knows to run around when its cage catches fire instead of finding a supposedly lucky corner and waiting to die…"
The mouth of this damn book is even more vicious than the angry classmates he has met.
Chris took a deep breath… no, he didn't actually inhale. He simply made a decision silently in his heart.
"Random draw."
[F-level Talent: Photographic Memory]
[Talent Description: For ten minutes, your brain will function like a high-definition camera, perfectly remembering everything you see and hear. After ten minutes, if you do not deliberately reinforce the memory, the information will fade over time as normal.]
Immediately afterward, a panel appeared in Chris's mind.
[Name: Chris Veynor]
[Age: 18]
[Talent: Photographic Memory (F-rank)]
[Others: Locked]
Chris's eyes lit up. There was actually a panel—pretty nice. Only… photographic memory… F-rank.
It sounded… somewhat useful, but not by much.
For a web novel author about to go to college, this was practically a custom-made tool for slacking off.
But the problem was, what he was facing now wasn't a final exam; it was the Grim Reaper calling names!
Could this talent help him block bullets or run faster?
When the Grim Reaper comes chasing after him, is he supposed to recite the entire dictionary to it and move it with the power of knowledge?
Ridiculous!
But thinking about it again, having something is better than having nothing.
F-rank is F-rank. At least it isn't some negative talent like, when you trip on flat ground, your face always hits first.
While he was studying the new talent, that broadcast voice that made his soul tremble sounded in his ears again: "Dear passengers, boarding has now begun for Flight ZB100 to Gusu…"
It's here!
The life-demanding broadcast!
Chris jolted and instantly snapped out of his thoughts.
He subconsciously clenched the boarding pass in his hand, GB180, seat 11B.
That scared him. He thought it was the plane he was taking that was boarding.
He stood up and swept his gaze around.
Not far away, the girl named Kimberly was sitting quietly in a chair, looking down at her phone.
A bit farther away, Academician Ken was making a phone call, the happy couple, the soldier wiping a family photo… all of them were still immersed in their own worlds, completely unaware of the destruction that was about to arrive.
Chris's gaze lingered on Kimberly for a moment.
Save them?
That thought flashed through his mind but was immediately extinguished.
What could he use to save them? Run over and shout, the plane is going to explode?
Then, like the guy the flight attendant mentioned, who was possessed, be treated as a madman and dragged away by airport security?
He couldn't even guarantee his own survival. What qualification did he have to play the savior?
"Sorry, everyone, I'm slipping away first."
He silently muttered in his heart, stuffed the boarding pass that felt like a death warrant into his pocket, and walked toward the exit of the waiting hall without looking back.
Stepping out of the terminal, the midday sunlight shone on him, bringing a trace of warmth.
On the airport road outside, taxis lined up in a long queue, drivers lazily leaning against their cars, smoking and chatting.
Chris felt an unprecedented sense of relaxation.
He was free!
Like a student who successfully skipped class, behind him lay the dull classroom and the strict teacher, while ahead lay the vast world and the free air.
He casually flagged down a taxi, opened the door, and got in.
"Driver, to the city. To any internet café."
He said in a relaxed tone.
"Alright!"
The driver was a straightforward middle-aged man. With a press of the accelerator, the taxi merged into traffic.
The scenery outside the window sped backward. Chris was in a good mood and suddenly remembered his talent.
Photographic Memory, activate!
His gaze swept outside the window.
The license plate of the red car, XDG-5934; the phone number on the gym billboard by the road, 400-820-8200; the contact information for someone offering a huge reward for a surrogate child on the utility pole…
He closed his eyes.
All the images replayed in his mind with perfect clarity, even the reflection on the model's teeth on the billboard was visible in the smallest detail.
Even the stock code that flashed briefly on the radio just now, and the argument between two old men by the roadside, echoed in his ears like recordings.
This talent is stronger than the description!
This isn't a high-definition camera; this is practically military-grade reconnaissance equipment!
Chris's mood improved even more. Even though it was only F-rank, at least it wasn't useless.
He was completely relaxed and chatted casually with the driver.
"Young man, you're so young. Have you gone to college yet?"
"Yeah, I just got accepted. Evershade University."
"Oh, a top student!"
The driver glanced at him through the rearview mirror and said cheerfully, "My daughter also got into college last year. My whole life, I've just hoped she'd make something of herself. Now it's great, I'm covering all her tuition and living expenses. I've been driving this taxi for twenty years without a single accident. Once I finish today's last trip, I'll sell the car and retire! I'll go home and enjoy life!"
The smile on Chris's face froze.
Retire… last trip…
He felt the back of his neck begin to grow cold.
He subconsciously looked out the window. The airport terminal had already turned into a small white dot in the distance.
It should… be fine, right?
I'm already far enough away.
Just as he tried to comfort himself, the driver happily added another sentence: "My wife even specially got me a safety talisman today, said it'll keep me safe and make sure I return home smoothly!"
Chris: "…"
"Stop the car! Stop the car!"
Chris almost shouted.
"Huh?"
The driver was startled. "Kid, there's nothing around here. Why get off?"
"Stop talking and stop the car right now!"
Seeing his expression was wrong, the driver cursed while slamming the brakes, stopping the car at the roadside.
Chris threw down two banknotes, pushed open the door, and rolled out. He scrambled and crawled into the roadside greenery, far away from the taxi.
"Crazy!"
The driver spat and stepped on the gas, the car speeding away.
Chris leaned on his knees. He let out a sigh of relief. Seeing that nothing strange had happened, he thought it had just been a false alarm.
"Maybe I'm just too sensitive. Huh, the sun was still there just now. Why did it get shady so quickly?"
He raised his head and instinctively looked at the sky.
But there was no sun in the sky anymore.
A massive aircraft nose, growing larger and larger, covered him.
Accompanied by the shriek of tearing air, the GB180 flight he was supposed to take, its wings engulfed in raging flames, descended like a precisely guided meteor at an unbelievable angle, straight toward the place where he stood.
"I…"
Chris only had time to utter a single word.
Death!!!
Just for a little fish like me, you send a whole airplane down?!