Chapter 147: Chapter 147: Dr. Hayes, That Wasn’t Your Attitude Just a Moment Ago
Faced with a research maniac like Dr. Hayes, Nathan Thorne felt a subconscious fear.
Especially after hearing Dr. Hayes’ somewhat fierce tone, Nathan Thorne didn’t dare say another word.
"Fine, let’s start... What’s with the attitude!"
The moment he muttered this under his breath, Dr. Hayes shot him a fierce glare.
Nathan Thorne shuddered and immediately clamped his mouth shut.
He took a moment to compose himself. The smile on his face gradually faded, replaced by a serious and focused expression.
Seeing Nathan Thorne like this, Sierra Sullivan instinctively raised an eyebrow.
’I have to admit, he actually looks the part.’
Although that’s what she was thinking, Sierra Sullivan didn’t voice any of her teasing remarks.
It was the apocalypse, and Superpowers were a reality.
But there was something completely different about a Healing Ability.
Sierra Sullivan genuinely wanted to see for herself if a Healing Ability was as incredible as in the novels.
Nathan Thorne felt immense pressure under the gazes of several people.
Fine beads of sweat began to form on his forehead.
But things had already come to this. No matter how nervous he was, there was no backing out now.
Nathan Thorne took a deep breath and finally, slowly, raised his hand.
Sierra Sullivan stared at Nathan Thorne’s hand without blinking, clearly seeing a ball of soft, white light materialize in his palm.
Just looking at the ball of light was enough to calm her heart.
Sierra Sullivan couldn’t quite describe the feeling, but it was incredibly reassuring and pleasant.
Just as Sierra Sullivan was thinking this, she saw Nathan Thorne move the white light closer to Dr. Hayes’ wound.
The wound, which had been steadily oozing blood just moments before, stopped bleeding almost instantly as the white light enveloped it.
Then, as they all watched, the rather deep wound began to heal, bit by bit.
Sierra Sullivan had been injured before, so she knew how a wound was supposed to heal.
But normally, wounds healed very slowly.
You could look at it every day and not even perceive any change at all.
It was only after a long time had passed that you could look back and notice a dramatic change.
But what was happening now was like watching the entire healing process on film, fast-forwarded fifty times.
The wound scabbed over, the scab quickly fell off, and a light pink scar was left in its place.
A moment later, even the scar disappeared.
If it weren’t for the bloodstains nearby, Sierra Sullivan would have almost thought Dr. Hayes being injured was just a hallucination.
Even after witnessing it with her own eyes, the scene was still utterly incredible.
It was clearly over, yet no one said a word.
Everyone was still processing what they had just seen, completely stunned.
It wasn’t until an exhausted Nathan Thorne staggered and collapsed onto the bed with a thud that Sierra Sullivan and the others finally snapped back to their senses.
Dr. Hayes’ expression had been grave just moments ago, but now he was overcome with excitement, his eyes gleaming with a frightening intensity.
"Excellent! Truly excellent!"
He repeated the praise, his face ecstatic.
Sierra Sullivan watched Dr. Hayes curiously, not understanding his reaction.
’What’s he so excited about?’
Before Sierra Sullivan could ask, Dr. Hayes turned to Nathan Thorne, his gaze intense. "Don’t leave just yet. Stay here for a while longer."
Lying on the bed, Nathan Thorne’s face was pale; it was clear he had overexerted himself.
A wave of dread washed over Nathan Thorne when he heard Dr. Hayes’ words.
"What... What do you mean? What are you planning to do?"
’This research maniac... He’s not planning on keeping me here to slice me up for research, is he?’
Dr. Hayes could guess what he was thinking just by the look in his eyes.
"Don’t look at me like that. I have no interest in you personally. I just want to see how powerful your Superpower can become after it’s enhanced. This is very important for all survivors.
I also want to know why you were able to awaken a Healing Ability. If we can figure out the reason, we can replicate it in the future. If we could have more Superpower Users like this, the lack of doctors and medicine would no longer be a crisis. Even if people get injured fighting Aberrant Beasts, they won’t be left without treatment."
Dr. Hayes was completely frank, laying all his thoughts out on the table.
Nathan Thorne felt a pang of shame as he listened to Dr. Hayes.
’I was wrong!’
’Dr. Hayes is so selfless. He just helped me awaken my Superpower free of charge—and a Healing Ability this rare and powerful, no less. How could I have possibly doubted his intentions?’
"Okay!" Nathan Thorne agreed, much more decisively this time. "But... could I not live here? I’ll come over whenever you need me, how about that?"
Even though Sierra Sullivan knew what Nathan Thorne meant, his words still sounded a little strange to her.
’She couldn’t be blamed. The way Nathan Thorne phrased it really made it hard not to let your mind wander!’
Dr. Hayes had clearly misunderstood as well, and his expression turned awkward.
"Fine. You can go now."
Without another word, Dr. Hayes turned and walked out without the slightest hesitation.
Nathan Thorne found it odd, watching Dr. Hayes’s back as he left without a moment’s delay.
"What’s with him? That wasn’t his attitude when he was asking me to stay! How can someone’s attitude change so drastically in such a short time? They say a woman’s mind is impossible to fathom, but I think a researcher’s mind is just as unfathomable. It must be because they’re too smart that they overthink everything!"
Nathan Thorne muttered to himself, but neither Sierra Sullivan nor the other two paid him any attention.
It wasn’t like they had nothing better to do; they weren’t about to engage in his pointless chatter.
Jayce took out a small bag of Crystal Cores and tossed it to Nathan Thorne. "Absorb these to recover, then let’s go!"
Holding the small bag of Crystal Cores, Nathan Thorne looked at Jayce in confusion. "Go where?"
"To eat!"
Jayce snapped before turning and heading out.
Sierra Sullivan and General Aldridge followed right behind him, and the three of them were soon outside.
They had wanted to speak with Dr. Hayes, but he was already sitting at his desk, head bowed as he diligently recorded something.
He looked so focused and serious that they didn’t dare approach and disturb him.
’It’ll have to wait until next time!’
General Aldridge glanced back. He saw Nathan Thorne absorbing Crystal Cores through the glass and let out a long sigh.
"How did he get so lucky! No, this won’t do. I have to go back right now and get some people to try awakening a Second Superpower. How can we at Red Sun Base not have our own Healing Ability!"
After all, Nathan Thorne was from Dawnlight Base.
They were all survivors and should help one another. And while General Aldridge was genuinely happy for Nathan Thorne, he still wished Red Sun Base could have its own Healing Ability.
’Nothing beats having your own!’
’Better to rely on yourself than on others!’
Having said his piece, General Aldridge departed in a flurry of motion.
Sierra Sullivan and Jayce exchanged a look and smiled.
They were thinking the exact same thing as the general.
