Apocalypse Villainess? Nah, I'm Nice

She gave Nadia another smile before returning to Claire Chapman’s side.

Seeing that Paige seemed to have only been asking casually, Nadia couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed.

When the people ahead had gotten some distance away, Evan Pierce sighed at her. "Were you really expecting her to step up and say something?"

Nadia shook her head. "I just..."

Evan Pierce cut her off. "Enough. I know you’re determined to eradicate these mutant plants, but it’s not something that can be done overnight. Besides, I’m very worried about your safety. You absolutely cannot draw attention to yourself in a situation like this, or you’ll expose your identity. Understand?"

Nadia lowered her head in resignation.

Turning back to walk on, Evan Pierce took her hand. "You’re all I have. I’m sure your mother would want you to live a good life, too."

"Ian, I get it. I understand. I won’t do anything dangerous again." After a pause, Nadia pulled her hand away. "Oh, right. I should dig up a piece of this vine root to take with me now, before it gets difficult later."

Evan Pierce stood to the side, watching her as she crouched down. A complicated look flashed in his eyes.

Paige Summers saw her do this, which only made her more interested in the woman.

’Is she digging up the root to take back for research? That hobby is a lot like Levi Young’s.’

Claire Chapman nudged her arm. "What are you thinking about now?"

"Hm? Nothing." Paige Summers looked toward the dense, dark patch of shrubs. "I just have a weird feeling about this place. When we throw the fire starters in a minute, stand farther back and use your superpower. Oh, and tell Rachel Forrest not to get separated from Leo Forrest."

Claire Chapman had learned on their way to Central City that Paige’s intuition was usually spot-on. Hearing her warning, she immediately grew wary. "Alright."

All the Superpower Users, except for the Forrest Siblings who were treated as a single unit, spread out and got into position, ready to throw the fire starters into the shrubs.

The shrubs were relatively dry, and with the special, highly flammable fire starters, they would quickly ignite into a large blaze. The surrounding area was mostly barren land and rocks, so there was little concern of the fire spreading uncontrollably. Of course, according to Yuri Warren, in addition to Leo Forrest, there were other Water Ability Users among the soldiers to serve as backup.

Paige Summers didn’t plan on throwing hers by hand. Instead, she stood several hundred meters away and tied a fire starter directly to an arrow.

Yuri Warren’s voice came over the walkie-talkie, telling everyone to begin. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Paige Summers loosed the arrow.

Fire instantly began to spread...

Growing larger and larger!

Smoke began to billow out.

Seeing the operation was a success, the Superpower Users began to head back one by one. But Paige Summers didn’t move. She was still trying to be certain.

Just then, a piercing shriek echoed from within the shrubs. Four dark figures shot out from the burning thicket in two pairs, soaring into the sky!

They were incredibly fast. After a single loop in the air, they dove, splitting up to attack the Superpower Users and soldiers who had started the fire!

They were Mutant Eagles!

Paige Summers saw one flying toward Nadia and immediately raised her loaded crossbow.

The distance was a little too great; the Mutant Eagle batted the bolt aside with its iron-hard wings!

She broke into a run, quickly firing a second bolt.

A hit!

But as the Mutant Eagle was struck, a man’s bloodcurdling scream rang out from a short distance away.

Evan Pierce had been clawed in the shoulder by another Mutant Eagle!

Nadia didn’t have time to thank Paige Summers. She dashed toward Evan Pierce.

She had been standing too close and hadn’t been able to react in time. Now, seeing her boyfriend hurt, she was frantic with worry. She moved with surprising speed, dashing over and simultaneously unleashing her Wood Element Superpower. The Mutant Eagle that was about to fly off was instantly snared by one leg and dragged down from the sky.

Just then, two crescent-shaped glints of light flashed past. Before the Mutant Eagle could even make a sound, its head was sliced clean off.

From the other side where the soldiers were positioned, pained cries sounded one after another. It seemed the Mutant Eagles had all been dealt with.

Claire Chapman recalled her Flying Knives and glanced at Paige Summers. Together, they walked toward Evan Pierce.

Some of the others had only just started to react, while some hadn’t even had a chance to make a move, only to find the battle was already over. They couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief. The speed of that exchange was astonishingly fast. ’Thank god that Mutant Eagle wasn’t coming for me.’

Until now, they had mostly thought of Paige Summers as just Claire Chapman’s girlfriend and an Original Superpower User. Now, they had a new appreciation for her true strength.

"Is he okay?"

Evan Pierce’s face was contorted in pain as he leaned against Nadia. His entire shoulder had been torn open, revealing the ghastly white of his bones—a horrifying sight.

In the apocalypse, an injury like this, on its own, wouldn’t have scared anyone. But as Paige Summers watched the wound’s color slowly darken, she sniffed the air, then shot her head up to look at Nadia. "This smell..."

Nadia’s face was deathly pale. She interrupted abruptly, "Thank you for before!"

"Don’t mention it." ’Looks like she’s already figured it out,’ Paige thought. ’Those weren’t Mutant Eagles. They were Zombie Hawks!’

Nadia hesitated for a moment, then suddenly looked up and pleaded, "Can you help me get Captain Warren? The military personnel all carry the Antidote."

Paige Summers was about to nod when Claire Chapman spoke up from beside her. "I’ll go."

She shot Paige Summers a meaningful look, signaling for her to stay and keep watch. With a wound that large from a Zombie Hawk, there was no telling when he might lose control. If Nadia couldn’t bring herself to do what was necessary, someone else would have to.

Understanding, Paige Summers tightened her grip on her crossbow.

The others were standing guard around the perimeter, and no one approached. Nadia was relieved, but Paige Summers remained, watching from a short distance away, refusing to leave. Nadia hesitated, but the look of pain on Evan Pierce’s face was deepening, and his wound was gradually turning black.

Left with no choice, she acted quickly.

She took a rectangular box from her bag, pulled out a syringe, and injected its contents into Evan Pierce’s body before putting it away. She let out a sigh of relief, then turned to the expressionless Paige Summers, who had seen everything, and said awkwardly, "Th-this is something I bought myself, but I’m afraid the dosage might not be enough..."

’What a terrible excuse,’ Paige thought. But seeing the color visibly return to Evan’s face, an unbelievable idea popped into her head. ’Could that be... an Antidote she developed herself?!’

’The Antidotes developed by so many of the nation’s top researchers aren’t even guaranteed to work, yet she seems completely confident after using her own... In other words, she’s certain she can cure Evan Pierce!’

’But... is that even possible?’

In that instant, countless thoughts raced through her mind.

Just then, Yuri Warren rushed over with his men.

’Right. Whether it’s true or not all depends on the results!’