Awakening Quake's Powers

The sunset was blood-red, its orange-red afterglow spilling in silken strands across the shimmering sea. Li Qi could not help feeling in high spirits.

However, he chose not to take his follower and bodyguard to the bustling beach. Instead, he set up an elegant barbecue grill and comfortable tables and chairs on the spacious balcony of his villa.

He took out the rolls of beef he had carefully prepared beforehand and enjoyed grilling skewers with Happy and his follower.

Daisy Johnson stood beside them, diligently attending to her master.

After eating and drinking his fill, Li Qi slowly rose, looking somewhat satisfied. He raised a hand slightly and instructed Happy to find someone to clean up the balcony, then returned leisurely to the bedroom with his follower, Daisy Johnson.

He lounged on the sofa for a short rest. After eating piping-hot barbecue in the sweltering summer weather, he had broken out in fine beads of sweat despite the cool sea breeze.

After resting a while and letting his food digest a little, Li Qi took Daisy Johnson to bathe. Only after his follower had dutifully attended to his bath did the two get onto the large bed in the bedroom.

Before long, the two changed into clean, fresh clothes. Sitting on the edge of the bed, Li Qi fell into thought and began seriously considering how to awaken the powers within Daisy Johnson.

By then, the artificial intelligence JARVIS had taken full control of the villa, like a loyal and conscientious butler. Through JARVIS, Li Qi learned the details of the villa and the progress of its renovations:

Two of the three basement levels had already been connected, and various accelerators, advanced energy sources, rare metals, and rare alloy compounds were largely ready. There was also a room specifically intended for high-energy and laser-property testing.

The room's unique structure and equipment seemed tailor-made for awakening Daisy Johnson's powers.

As for protection against danger, the entire villa was on full alert, with comprehensive security measures in place. Happy and the other bodyguards would stay in a separate two-story building in the courtyard and in the basement area, guarding the villa at all times.

Sometime after nine that evening, Daisy Johnson slowly approached that basement room with somewhat heavy steps. She reached out and gently pushed open the heavy metal door, then slowly walked inside.

It was a cold room filled with a variety of high-end equipment, with a faint metallic scent hanging in the air. Laser equipment, charging equipment, and all kinds of intricate circuitry interlaced along the walls. Under the bright incandescent lights, the entire room had a stark, mysterious technological feel.

As Daisy Johnson looked at this technological space full of mystery and unknowns, a trace of fear involuntarily appeared in her eyes. Her hands unconsciously clenched before slowly relaxing, and her entire body was taut with nervousness.

After completely subduing Daisy Johnson, Li Qi had eased his mental control slightly, allowing her to return to a normal person's state. Only her loyalty remained firmly locked in place, making betrayal utterly impossible.

At that moment, Daisy Johnson was like an ordinary person about to face an unknown challenge, both afraid of and eager to awaken the powers within her, her heart filled with conflict and struggle.

Li Qi walked forward calmly, his eyes fixed on his follower like a hawk's, and said unhurriedly,

"Daisy, the process ahead will be extremely painful. It may even go beyond what you can endure. I hope you can hold on. Once your powers awaken, you will become a capable assistant to me."

His words contained little concern or tenderness. His tone was cold and firm, more like an unquestionable command. Naturally, Daisy Johnson could only nod slightly and obediently accept, a trace of helplessness in her eyes, with no room to object.

Li Qi smiled in satisfaction, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. Since the awakening process would take place inside an energy field, ordinary clothing could not insulate against the energy, so she had to change into clothes made from special fabric produced by Stark Industries.

Several such garments hung on a nearby clothes rack. Li Qi pointed to it, signaling for Daisy Johnson to change first.

Without the slightest hesitation, Daisy Johnson quickly changed into the special clothing. She was of mixed Chinese and Western descent, her complexion blending pale white and tawny brown.

Her figure had the slender grace of an Eastern woman. In the tight-fitting special clothing, she looked even more slim and graceful, rivaling the shapely figure of the super-agent Black Widow in her S.H.I.E.L.D. uniform.

Once she had changed, Li Qi ordered JARVIS to turn on the equipment in the room. As electricity flowed in continuously, the energy field gradually gathered, an unbroken crackle of electrical discharges sounding like an intense symphony of current.

Ever since transmigrating, Li Qi's body had been upgraded and modified, so the raging energy caused him little discomfort.

He said calmly to Daisy Johnson, "Daisy, walk into the center of the energy field now." Daisy Johnson obediently complied. Taking a deep breath, she mustered her courage and stepped into the center of the violent energy field, a hint of resolve in her eyes.

Li Qi ordered JARVIS to adjust the energy intensity as needed according to conditions in the field. After responding in his humanlike voice, JARVIS increased the electrical output another notch.

The energy field spread with increasing ferocity. Deep-blue energy battered Daisy Johnson's body like a surging tide. She immediately let out low cries of pain, her body trembling uncontrollably as she clenched her teeth.

Even her special clothing seemed affected, its color gradually darkening. Seeing this, Li Qi felt the effect was still insufficient. His brow furrowed slightly, and he again ordered JARVIS to increase the power.

Suddenly, a powerful surge of energy erupted from within Daisy Johnson.

Electrical arcs shot wildly around her. Like a roaring behemoth, the blue energy storm spread madly in every direction. The shock wave struck like a heavy hammer, shaking the equipment on both sides of the room until parts flew everywhere. Piercing alarms instantly filled the room.

The artificial intelligence JARVIS immediately cut the room's power supply. Fortunately, no large fire broke out. Only a few scattered electrical sparks ignited small flames, which JARVIS promptly extinguished by activating the fire-suppression system.

At the center of the room, Daisy Johnson's special clothing was now in tatters. Several parts of her body, including her back and legs, bore dark-red electrical burns, and her skin was slightly charred.

Weakened, she immediately collapsed onto the floor. Li Qi hurried over and crouched down, carefully examining his follower's physical condition. He found that she had suffered no serious backlash.

Daisy Johnson struggled to her feet and wiped the blood remaining at the corner of her mouth with her hand. With a trace of exhaustion and devotion in her eyes, she said softly to Li Qi,

"I haven't disappointed you, Dominator. Your subordinate has awakened the powers within her, but I can't use them proficiently yet. I'll need repeated practice."

Li Qi nodded, a flicker of gratification passing through his eyes. He offered his follower a few words of praise and told her to rest first, then resume practicing tomorrow after tonight had passed.

Daisy Johnson nodded, then left the underground room with her Dominator.

Li Qi had JARVIS notify the company's construction crew to make emergency repairs to the room. After all, his follower would need to keep using it tomorrow.