CHAPTER 355: CHAPTER 355 ABILITY REVEAL

Liam stepped out of Lilith’s room, running a hand through his hair. It was a complete mess, sticking up in every direction. His face looked drained, his lips still swollen from hours of kissing, and his shirt hung loosely on his shoulders. He dragged in a deep breath, his chest rising and falling like he had just gone ten rounds in a cage fight.

Sitting on the chair by the hallway, legs crossed, was Dickson. His arms were folded across his chest, and the look on his face was the very definition of mockery.

"Dude," Dickson said immediately, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "You two need to get a sound nullifier or something. I don’t even know the damn name. Just—anything. A silence machine. Whatever exists that can shut people the hell up."

Liam didn’t even respond. He already knew where this was going. He rubbed his face with one hand, too tired to argue. He had no doubt Dickson heard everything.

Especially Lilith. She hadn’t even tried to restrain herself, and her voice carried through walls like she was deliberately putting on a concert.

Dickson stood up slowly, stretching his back before giving Liam the most shameless smirk. "And to think," he said, shaking his head as if the world had just changed forever, "that my cousin would take it in her ass? That’s discovery, bro. That’s new history being written."

Liam froze mid-step. He turned his head sharply, narrowing his eyes like Dickson had just confessed to murder. The hell did this bastard just say?

He stared at Dickson like he was looking at a lunatic. "You..." His brows furrowed deep. "...were you listening intentionally?"

Dickson threw his hands up like he was the victim here. "Listening intentionally? Are you fucking kidding me?" His voice shot up with exaggerated disbelief. "You assholes weren’t even keeping your voices down! I had to cover my ears, bitch, and even still the noises were drilling through the walls like surround sound speakers." He jabbed a finger at Liam’s chest, his grin never fading. "You two are lucky the kids aren’t around. Or the girls. I would’ve had to bleach my brain forever."

Liam rolled his eyes and shook his head, pushing past him without another word. "Get ready. We’re going."

Dickson’s grin slipped into confusion. "Going where?"

Liam’s tone was flat. "My dad’s office."

For a second, Dickson just stared. Then his eyes widened so fast it was comical. He nearly dropped his phone in shock before scrambling to his feet. His jaw fell open. "Wait—your dad’s lab? You mean—the lab?" His voice cracked as he pointed at Liam. "The one with the machine?!"

Liam didn’t even bother answering, just kept walking.

Dickson bolted forward, stuffing his phone in his pocket as he jogged after him. "Holy shit! You’re serious!" He grabbed Liam’s shoulder, spinning him slightly. "So wait... you’re telling me I’m about to get powers? Me. Dickson. The legend himself. Fuck yes!"

He pulled out his phone again instantly, typing so fast his thumbs were a blur. "Okay, okay, listen, I’ve been thinking about this, right? Like, real deep thought. I want invisibility. That’s the one. Invisibility is perfect for me."

Liam stopped walking and gave him a long, flat stare. The kind of stare that didn’t need words. The kind of stare that screamed, I know exactly the kind of bastard you are.

"...You don’t plan on sneaking into girls showers with that, do you?" Liam asked slowly, his voice sharp.

Dickson instantly froze, eyes wide. His head shook furiously, almost too fast. "What? Hell no! That’s dirty, man. I would never. Never." His voice was high, defensive, and way too quick.

But Liam didn’t need a system to tell him what this bastard was actually thinking. The thought had clearly crossed his filthy mind the second he said "invisibility."

Liam snorted. He didn’t believe a word of it.

Dickson noticed and frowned. "...So is that a yes?"

"No." Liam started walking again. "You don’t get to decide the powers you’ll have. If the machine even works again, it’s random."

Dickson stopped dead, his excitement instantly cracking. "...Random?" His face twisted like he had just bitten into rotten fruit. "Oh, hell no." He cursed under his breath, raking a hand through his hair. "My luck is absolute shit when it comes to random. Watch, I’m gonna end up with the power to, I don’t know, produce water or some crap."

Liam let out a laugh, shaking his head. "Water ability can be a nice thing too."

Dickson kicked his shin lightly, groaning. "This isn’t Avatar, bro. It’s real life. I don’t need to water someone’s plants, I need to be unstoppable!"

——

The hum of the car’s engine filled the silence as Dickson drove, his hand lazily draped over the wheel. Liam sat in the passenger seat, leaning back with his arms crossed, his eyes focused on the road but not really looking at it. His thoughts were elsewhere.

For a while neither of them spoke. The only sound was the tires rolling over cracked asphalt and the faint rattle of the old dashboard. Then, out of nowhere, Dickson broke the quiet.

"So," he started, his tone casual but laced with curiosity, "how do you even know Seo Yeon?"

Liam turned his head slowly, giving him a side glance. "...Why?"

"Just wondering, man." Dickson shrugged, his eyes still on the road. "I mean, she’s been hanging around a lot lately. Looks comfortable with you, too. Doesn’t look like a random meeting. So I’m asking."

Liam sighed through his nose, leaning back into his seat. "I just helped her mom when she needed help. That’s all."

Dickson raised his eyebrows, clearly wanting to pry more. But after a second he just lifted one hand off the wheel and waved dismissively. "Never mind. Don’t even wanna know."

Liam shook his head, turning back toward the window. He let the silence return, watching as the city passed by.

The further they drove, the more the scenery shifted. Buildings that once held life now stood empty, windows boarded or shattered, streets littered with scraps of old belongings people left behind in a hurry. The closer they got to Liam’s area, the worse it became.

Most houses looked abandoned, hollow shells left behind by people who had packed up and fled. It had been like this for weeks now. Ever since the disasters started piling up, families had been leaving the city in droves. No one trusted that things would stay standing for long.

Liam’s gaze lingered out the window as the familiar neighborhood came into view. His chest tightened when his eyes landed on the first house at the corner. Lana’s house.

The windows were still intact, the porch untouched, but the place felt dead without her in it. His lips pressed together as a faint ache stirred in him. To be honest, he missed her. No matter how complicated things had gotten, Lana had been a part of him. He would probably bring her back soon, he knew that much.

Then his eyes shifted further down the street. His own house.

The car slowed until it stopped right in front.

Liam stared at it for a long moment. Coming back here after so long was strange. The house stood just as it had the day he left, like time had been frozen. The curtains were still drawn, the front yard overgrown with weeds, the front door chipped at the corners. Untouched.

Memories hit him all at once. The early days. The quiet ones. When he had first gotten the system and it had just been him and Ann, figuring things out together. No gangs. No powers. No endless chaos. Back then, things had been simple. Almost peaceful.

To be honest, all the real problems started the day he joined the Black Lotus. That had been the turning point.

Dickson pulled the key from the ignition, leaning back in his seat with a groan. "Well," he said, cracking his knuckles, "home sweet home, huh?"

They both stepped out of the car, the air cooler than before. Liam shoved his hands into his pockets as he walked up to the gate, stopping just short of the front steps. Dickson joined him, the two of them standing there, neither in a rush to go inside.

They waited.

Minutes passed.

Dickson shifted from one foot to the other, growing impatient. He kept checking the street, tapping his foot against the cracked pavement. Finally he turned, his face set in exaggerated annoyance.

"We’ve been waiting for like half an hour already, bro. Where the hell are they?"

Liam’s brows twitched, and he pulled out his phone to check the time. "It’s been three minutes."

Dickson blinked, then looked away, muttering something under his breath. "Felt like thirty."

Liam just sighed, leaning against the railing of the steps.

It didn’t take much longer. A car pulled up in front of the house, and four figures stepped out. Ann was the first, followed by Seo Yeon, then Kelly. They all looked ready, alert.

But what surprised Liam wasn’t them.

It was the last figure stepping out behind them.

Vanessa.

She stretched her arms casually, her blonde ponytail swaying behind her as she glanced up at the house. She hadn’t been invited, and she definitely hadn’t been expected. Yet here she was, tagging along like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Dickson muttered under his breath, "Well, shit. Party’s full now."