Chapter 462 LV4
After hearing Steven out, Otha suddenly burst into laughter.
"What's so funny? Did I get something wrong?" Steven asked, puzzled.
Otha shook his head. "Not exactly. There are some differences from what you think. The whole Supernatural ability level thing isn't directly tied to combat power."
"It's more about the potential of the ability."
"There are all kinds of Supernatural abilities, not just combat ones. There are support types and other special categories too."
"If an ability is countered or the environment isn't right, it's not surprising for a high-level Psychic to get beaten by a lower-level one."
Steven nodded, getting the point.
If a Supernatural ability was like a weapon, then how effective it was depended on the user.
He pointed to himself. "So, you think I'm LV4?"
Steven chuckled, "Then I'm on the same level as you. You must think pretty highly of me!"
He took a sip of water, but his mind was racing.
Otha had no reason to hide anything.
So, if Otha was saying they were on the same level, there were only two possibilities.
First, Otha's ability was super powerful but had major flaws. Otherwise, with that kind of potential for destruction, it wouldn't be on par with Steven's current ability. Of course, defense was a whole different story.
Second, Otha saw the potential in Steven's space-type Supernatural ability. The extradimensional space wasn't purely a combat ability, but it was strong overall.
It combined offense and defense and had handy support effects.
So, calling him LV4 made sense.
Otha said, "This is just my take based on what I know about you. The actual level assessment of a Psychic is done by professionals."
"This rating might not be spot-on; it's just based on what a Psychic shows. I just think, from what I've seen, you're LV4."
"So, it's possible for a Psychic to move up in levels."
"But LV4 is a big deal. Without the [Devour] ability, you'd be below LV3."
After Otha's explanation, Steven had a basic idea of the Supernatural ability levels.
At least, according to Otha, his ability had LV4 potential.
It didn't guarantee combat power, but it did mean a lot of potential. Steven was pretty happy with that.
But then, he got really curious about LV5 Psychics.
How strong were they? Were there any around?
Steven couldn't help but ask. "Mr. Soderberg, have you ever seen an LV5 Psychic?"
Otha slowly shook his head. "I haven't."
Steven was about to say, "That's a shame," but Otha continued, "But I know there's an LV5 Psychic in the Everglow City District!"
Steven's eyes lit up. "Really? Someone like that exists?"
As a Psychic, Steven couldn't help but be curious.
Otha smiled, "It's not exactly a secret."
"Each District has to manage big areas after the apocalypse."
"To handle all the mutated creatures and troublemakers, they need absolute power to keep things in check!"
Talking about that LV5, Otha's eyes showed some admiration and envy.
"That Psychic's ability is insanely powerful! It's said that anyone he targets, even if they're several cities away, can be killed with just a thought. That's a real 'god' for you!"
Steven almost dropped his water cup.
His eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at Otha. "You... you can't be serious, right?"
"Can he really kill someone from that far away? Is his ability like a satellite-guided missile or something?"
Otha smirked and glanced out at the snowy scene outside the window.
"Way more convenient than that! All I know is, if he targets you, you're dead. Doesn't matter if you run to the ends of the earth."
Steven rubbed his forehead, feeling a bit overwhelmed. "That's gotta be some kind of 'god's skill,' right?"
Otha said calmly, "God himself likes to roll dice, so who knows what this world will turn into."
"In theory, there's an ultimate level among Psychics, the legendary LV6, Omega-level Psychic."
"This level is just theoretical and has never been seen. It's just an idea that there's a Psychic form with infinite growth potential and no power limit!"
"At that level, they'd truly be a god!"
As Otha was talking, he suddenly braced one hand on the table and covered his mouth with the other, coughing violently.
The movement was so intense that the table in front of him shook.
Steven saw the water in his cup splash and silently scooted his chair back a bit.
"Mr. Soderberg, are you okay? Do you need me to call a doctor?"
Otha coughed for a while before stopping. He let go of his hand, revealing a trace of blood at the corner of his mouth, which he wiped away quietly.
Steven's sharp eyes didn't miss this.
"No need, it's just an old problem," Otha said calmly.
Seeing Steven's concerned look, Otha added indifferently, "I have a terminal illness and am about to die."
He spoke so calmly, like he was talking about someone else.
"If it weren't for this, I wouldn't have volunteered to lead the team for such a troublesome issue."
Steven felt a pang of sympathy. As he suspected, Otha's body had a major problem.
But was it a natural disease, or a side effect of his Supernatural ability?
Or was he, like those modified humans at West Mountain Base, an artificially created Psychic with major physical defects?
Various thoughts raced through Steven's mind.
But he couldn't ask directly, as it was surely a secret of Silvercrest District.
He could only say in a comforting tone, "With today's advanced medicine, even cancer can be cured. What terminal illness can't be treated?"
"My doctor is the attending physician at Starlight City Mayo Hospital. Let her check you out. It might help!"
Otha listened silently with a serious expression.
Then he said, "You don't need to test me. I'm a dying man. I came here only to contribute more to Silvercrest District before I die, in exchange for a better living environment for my wife and kids after I'm gone."
As he spoke, he took off the sunglasses he had been wearing in front of Steven.
His face was unusually pale, but his eyes were even paler.
They were a sickly grayish-white, with no visible pupils, and a dead gray color spread throughout his eyes.
"My ability comes at the cost of my vision and health. That's why it can only be rated as LV4."
"Otherwise, given more time, I might have been able to reach LV5. But now, I'm just a super weapon with limited uses. Do you get it?"
Steven's suspicions were confirmed.
Indeed, Otha's Supernatural ability greatly damaged his body. It even consumed his lifespan!
Steven was silent for a moment and sighed softly. "So that's how it is. But I didn't expect you to be so straightforward about your Supernatural ability."
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
