Chapter 56 Kyle Awakens His Ability
“Nice work! Theresa strode up beside Kyle and pped him hard on the shoulder.
The force behind her p made him stagger just a bit. He nced at her, taking in the fact that she had made it back in one piece, and the corners of his usually stole mouth twitched into a faint smile.
He climbed out of the armored car and joined her in pushing the vehicle back into position. Though to be fair, most of the heavy lifting wasing from Theresi
To his shock, he honestly couldn’t outmuscle her.
That battle had changed something between them. They had fought with their lives on the line, shoulder to shoulder. Trust–real trust–was forged in fire like that.
Theresa had always trusted Kyle, even if this was technically <b>a </b>second go at knowing him. Some things had to be earned again from scratch.
And for Kyle? After this fight, he was clearly morefortable around her–closer, even
“Theresa,” he <b>said</b>, rubbing the back of his neck, “I don’t really know how it happened. I started sensing water about ten days ago. Not much–just enough to help the special forces purify a few canteens. But just now… it was like something snapped loose.”
He gave
her a full breakdown of <b>what </b>had been going on with himtely, leaving out nothing
“That’s an ability. Theresa said simply as she drove the armored car down from the overpass. tanker rattling behind them..
the fuel
“An ability?” Kyle echoed, brow furrowing.
She nodded, eyes on the road. “There are three main types. The mostmon is enhancement–things like boosted speed or strength. Then, you’ve got the elemental types–water, fire, earth, nt, and metal.
with one.” And finally, the rare ones–mutant abilities. That includes lightning, ice, healing, mental maniption, and a few others so umon you only know they exist when someone pops up
She didn’t hold anything back. Why should she? Kyle wasn’t just anyone anymore.
He was one of hers.
And if she was going to lead him <b>into </b>a new <b>world</b>, better he knew what he was <b>walking </b>into. The more he understood, the faster he could level up.
“Abilities start off basic,” she continued. “They grow stronger with training and experience, and they’re ranked by power and control. But here’s the catch–there’s always a pecking order. Mutant abilities usually outss the basic elemental ones, and both of <b>those </b>tend to outmatch enhancement types over time.”
In her previous life, Theresa had never awakened an ability. Just an ordinary human trying to survive in an increasingly superhuman world.
At first, it didn’t matter much Early on, abilities were weak, and she had built a reputation through sheer grit and ruthless tactics. People knew not to mess with her, ability or no <b>ability</b>.
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Chapter 56 Kyle Awakens His Ability
But as time went on, the gaps widened. Ability users grew str?riger, Faster, Deadlier
And Theresa?
She had been stuck as a <b>squad </b>leader in the camp, watching the world change without her.
If she <b>had </b>had even one ability in her past life, Theresa could have wed her way up the ranks–<b>maybe </b><b>even </b>made it to the top of the camp hierarchy.
But she hadn’t. Not even a flicker of power. Because of that, there were huge chunks of ability knowledge she never had ess to
Sure, she knew abilities could be strengthened, but the how of it remained a mystery. No training methods. no instructors, no system to guide her. The only clue she ever had was a vague connection to gleamstones
In her previous life, gleamstones were currency in the camps. Everyone wanted them. Every group collected them. Theresa had tried messing with a few herself once–felt something pulsing inside, like energy–but she was just an ordinary <b>human</b>. No ability, no ess, no way to unlock their secrets.
She never got far.
Zest.
The armored car rumbled to <b>a </b>stop beneath the overpass. Theresa cut the engine and hopped out.
Not far ahead, the Level 2 mutant zombiey crumpled in a scorched heap. She knelt by the body, pried open its ruined skull, and dug around until her fingers closed around something smooth and solid.
A crystal the size of a goose egg. Faintly glowing
“This is a gleamstone,” she said.
“I know,” Kyle replied. “Back when I was in special forces, we were ordered to collect them.”
Theresa’s eyes lit up. “Wait–you were sent out specifically for these?”
Kyle nodded. Their mission hadn’t just been about rescue. They had been deployed to the frontlines to hunt down zombies, head straight for the chaos, <b>and </b>collect gleamstones along the way. Supporting the rescue team <b>was </b><b>a </b>side gig.
Even after the rescue team left, his unit kept fighting. Higher–ups never gave the order to retreat. It was like they wanted something more.
Eventually, the mission went sideways. Kyle barely escaped with his life–and ended up at Theresa’s <b>camp</b>. banging on her door.
Theresa frowned, thoughts turning fast.
So<i>, </i><i>the </i>military knew about gleamstones that early?
In her previous life, the KI Camp had always had a reputation. Food was tight, sure–but everything else about it was elite. Especially their ability users.
They produced the strongest ability users in the entire Eastern Camp.
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Chapter 56 Kyle Awakens His Ability
Now she wondered if that strength came from early research into gleamstones. Maybe they had had a head start on everyone else.
She shelved the thought <b>and </b>nced at Kyle. “Ler’s head back.”
“<b>On </b>it.”
Kyle jumped into one of the big transport trucks they had gotten, and Theresa steered the armored car- tanker still in tow–back toward their camp.
It had been a good haul. Totally worth the trip.
Once they made it back, she waved Kyle off toward the kitchen, telling him to butcher a fresh chicken <b>and </b>a fish for food.
Kyle didn’t say a word. He just gave a sharp nod and marched off to get it done, Fresh chicken and fish? He picked up the pace without even meaning t