Mutants

"Looks like that beating really did knock you stupid!"

A dead silence fell over the school entrance. Sean's words rang out loud and clear; not only did the thugs hear them, but so did the high school students watching nearby.

The gang leader yanked an iron chain off his red motorcycle and slowly wrapped it around his hand. Thinking of how this brat had fooled him yesterday—scaring him so badly he had nearly run away—he was determined to teach him a lesson this time.

A high school student actually dared to speak to him like that?

He might have been nothing more than a lowly errand boy in the gang, doing dirty work like selling marijuana and drugs, but even a punk had his dignity. Usually, any high schooler who saw him would turn pale with fright and obediently hand over every dollar they had. But Sean not only refused his offer to become one of his lackeys—he even dared to use that tone with him!

"You won't get away with playing dead today!"

The gang leader snarled and swung his chain-wrapped fist at Sean. The other thugs closed in as well, ready to give this arrogant high schooler a lesson with their fists and feet.

Sean remained calm. In the past, he would have been terrified enough to clutch his head and beg for mercy. But the power surging through his body gave him immense confidence. That bottle of golden potion had not merely transformed his physical body—it had changed his mindset completely.

The fist flying toward his face moved extraordinarily slowly in Sean's eyes. Golden light flickered in his gaze as he seized the gang leader's arm, stepped in close, turned, and executed a clean shoulder throw that slammed the man onto the ground.

With a bang, dust flew everywhere. Everyone was stunned. They had only seen the gang leader swing at Sean before being thrown to the ground. Not a single person had seen what happened in between.

"Get him..."

Before the gang leader could finish, Sean stomped on his face. A metallic taste flooded his mouth, and he spat out thick fluid mixed with several hard teeth.

"This is the gift you gave me yesterday. I'm returning it to you now."

Sean smiled and stomped on the man's face again. The gang leader's face instantly looked like a paint shop had exploded across it, covered in blood.

The other thugs rushed forward screaming. The first to charge was the Black man with a nose ring. Sean did not even look at him as he punched him in the bridge of the nose, then kicked him flying. He showed no mercy to the rest either, charging in with his fists and beating them all black and blue until the entire group wailed and begged for mercy.

"If I see any of you at Midtown High School again, I'll beat you every time."

Sean shoved his hands into his pockets, delivered that line with immense satisfaction, then turned and walked away.

He had to admit, the feeling of walking off after acting cool was incredibly satisfying.

As for what trouble beating up these thugs might bring, Sean did not care in the slightest. Before making his move, he had checked the area—there were no surveillance cameras nearby, and those thugs certainly would not call the police. His only concern was whether the school might expel him for fighting.

But based on Sean's past record at school, that was unlikely. Though he had previously been withdrawn and aloof, his grades were fairly good. In any world, good students always received a little more favoritism from teachers.

The afterglow of the setting sun shone over New York as Sean walked down the street with a shoulder bag slung across his back. He was alone in this world. His parents had died in an accident, leaving behind a rather substantial compensation payment. He had been raised in his uncle's home since childhood, but several years ago, that last remaining relative had also passed away. Those unfortunate experiences had shaped Sean's former cold and solitary personality, making him unwilling to interact much with others.

"What a pitiful guy."

Sean muttered to himself as he walked along the evening street. Towering buildings filled the city skyline, cars streamed back and forth, and the sunset's glow decorated the bustling steel forest. Everything felt so real.

"No matter why I crossed over into this world, a brand-new life is waiting for me."

The memories of his previous life lay buried deep in his mind. Sean let out a long breath, his eyes brightening. Since he had come to this world, he would keep moving forward until he reached the end.

When he returned to the apartment his uncle had left him, Sean lay down on the sofa. He had already lived alone for a long time. He had been born in Queens, the largest of New York's five boroughs and the second most populous, with an incredibly diverse population. Besides white residents, Black people, Asians, and South Americans made up a considerable share. Compared to the wealthy districts where rich people lived, public safety here was not particularly good, and unemployed drifters often wandered around.

"Good thing I live in a community. Otherwise, I'd have to watch out for thieves and robbers every day."

Sean sighed. He planned to spend some time adjusting to high school life first, at least until he became familiar with this world. Charging in right after crossing over, conquering heaven and earth and ruling the world—that was treatment reserved for protagonists. Besides, in a world where technological geniuses and superpowered individuals were everywhere, even some invincible overpowered hero would probably get taught a lesson.

"Keep a low profile in life, but make a bold impact in action. That's the right way."

Taking a bottle of soda from the refrigerator, Sean set himself this eight-character guideline. In the future, he would do fewer things that drew attention. If his luck was bad and some Cosmic-Level God happened to crush him underfoot, that would be a real tragedy.

When he turned on the television, it was broadcasting a congressional debate about mutants. Sean immediately became interested as he drank his soda. That race with all sorts of extraordinary abilities was a powerful force in this world. If not for the differences between its two leaders, human society could never have maintained its current state of peace.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we are witnessing another stage of human evolution. These mutations often occur during adolescence and are triggered by emotional fluctuations..."

A red-haired woman stood on the stage. Wearing glasses, she looked like a beautiful scholar, radiating an elegant and intellectual air.

"Thank you, Miss Grey. Your remarks have been quite educational, but they have strayed from the subject of this hearing, which is... are mutants dangerous?"

The camera focused on a middle-aged man seated below the stage. He appeared to be a member of Congress.

"That is not an appropriate question, Congressman. Some people get into accidents while driving. Others do not."

"That's why people need driver's licenses."

"But survival doesn't require a license!"

The red-haired woman did not yield an inch, firmly retorting, "In fact, if mutants reveal themselves publicly, it will provoke panic, hostility, and even violence. To prevent mutants from suffering such hostility, I urge Congress to abolish mutant registration, which would force them to reveal their identities..."

"Why do mutants have to hide?" the congressman interrupted again.

"They are not hiding."

"I know where they're hiding." The congressman stood up and said smugly, "I have a list of mutants in the United States. There's a girl who can walk through walls, who could easily infiltrate a bank vault, the White House, or even your homes. And I've heard of someone who can sense and control human thoughts, stripping away our free will. What a terrifying ability! We have the right to decide whether our children should have mutants as teachers or classmates—or stay away from them!"

"Ladies and gentlemen, mutants do indeed exist, and they are among us... We need to know who they are, study them thoroughly, and understand their abilities!"

A burst of enthusiastic applause came from the television. Clearly, the congressman had won the approval and support of most people. In recent years, the mutant issue had become increasingly severe. This debate had arisen because Congress had proposed the Mutant Registration Act not long ago, setting off a huge public uproar.

"Heh. Before long, they'll realize mutants are nothing special."

Sean turned off the television and lay on the sofa, staring at the ceiling. He eagerly awaited the arrival of that age of Superheroes.

New writer asking for votes and support (ω)