Since Dilos was still wearing his helmet, no one could tell what expression he wore beneath it.
But as Dilos stood before them, tall and straight, with an imposing air, and turned his helmeted face toward them, they began to feel an indescribable pressure weighing on them.
Did they feel intimidated?
Without a doubt.
Most Mutants weren't as inhuman as ordinary people imagined. Many of their powers were pitifully weak when it came to causing damage. Mutants with truly formidable combat abilities were as rare as endangered animals.
So aside from Emma, the others were seeing a powerful Mutant fight up close for the first time.
His speed, almost like teleportation; his explosive strength, powerful enough to tear through the air with every punch, withstand laser beams head-on, and even send them bouncing back...
Everything about him filled these sheltered teenage Mutants with both awe and admiration.
With power, they wouldn't have to worry about being hurt. Given Dilos's incredible strength, and the fact that he had helped them escape captivity, it was only natural that these teenagers, who were so often persecuted, looked up to him. But they weren't close to him, and they had grown up in an environment that left them feeling inferior. So even though they respected and appreciated Dilos for helping them, they still couldn't help feeling afraid of someone as important as him.
Afraid of being rejected, afraid of being abandoned, afraid of being hurt... After living like this for so long, they had grown used to thinking that way.
They weren't the only ones. Even Emma, a Mutant with plenty of experience, felt somewhat afraid of Dilos. That feeling intensified when he fixed his gaze on her for a moment.
Just now, after witnessing Dilos's staggering strength and speed firsthand, Emma's thoughts of