As Richard contemplated his glorious future as a Mutant God, the system's voice resonated in his mind.
"Electrokinesis can be converted into the skill 'Thundaga.' Do you wish to convert it?"
"Cryokinesis can be converted into the skill 'Blizzaga.' Do you wish to convert it?"
Upon hearing the system's prompts, Richard selected "Yes" without hesitation.
Instantly, new notifications appeared:
[Skill Thundaga Awakened!]
[Skill Blizzaga Awakened!]
[Skills and X-Gene Superpower Information Updated!]
[Skills: Octaslash (Level 1, 11/100), Gravesong (Level 1, 1/100), Skyshatter (Level 1, 0/100), Zanshin (Level 1, 1/100), Shift Slash (Level 1, 1/100), Thundaga (Level 1, 0/100), Blizzaga (Level 1, 0/100)]
[X-Gene mutant powers: Plunder, Super Strength, Enhanced Physiology, Mental Shielding, Accelerated Healing, Blinkstep]
Thundaga and Blizzaga were both Sephiroth's abilities in the Final Fantasy 7 Remake.
Thundaga unleashed lightning attacks, while Blizzaga summoned devastating ice.
In terms of immediate effects, Thundaga and Blizzaga weren't drastically different from the Electrokinesis and Cryokinesis abilities they replaced.
But regarding growth potential, Thundaga and Blizzaga far exceeded their mutant power equivalents.
Both the Electrokinesis he'd taken from Marek and the Cryokinesis from Beverly were merely Beta-level powers.
While Beta-level abilities weren't weak, they paled in comparison to Alpha and Omega-level powers.
But Thundaga and Blizzaga were different.
Judging solely by their performance in the game remake, they might not seem particularly impressive.
However, this wasn't a game.
According to the system, all skills could be upgraded to their template's upper limit.
Though unclear on Sephiroth's template limit, Richard's intuition suggested Thundaga and Blizzaga could potentially reach Alpha-level equivalence.
If the template limit proved high enough, upgrading them to Omega-level wasn't implausible.
After dismissing the information panel, Richard retrieved a cigar lighter he'd taken from the living room and ignited the gasoline-soaked walls.
As flames rapidly spread, he calmly exited the main building and proceeded to the open area before the front gate.
By then, thirty or forty people had gathered outside.
These were ordinary members of the Crimson Manor organization.
They watched the main building succumb to flames with conflicted expressions, unable to comprehend Richard's extreme actions.
Even if he resented Marek and the others for voting to expel him, couldn't he have satisfied his vengeance by killing them alone?
Was it necessary to burn down the entire building?
Without the main building, where would they live?
Just as they prepared to voice these concerns, Richard addressed them:
"The organization is disbanded. You are all free to leave."
What?
Hearing his declaration, everyone stared in shock.
They had assumed Richard would relocate them to another safe house—perhaps another secretly purchased estate in a different city.
After all, Richard's father was a billionaire who likely owned multiple properties.
Instead, Richard had dissolved the entire organization.
"How could you do this?"
"This is completely irresponsible!"
"Your father promised us protection!"
"You've burned our shelter—now we have nowhere to go!"
"You owe us an explanation!"
"Either give us enough money to start over or arrange new accommodations, or we're not leaving!"
Soon, more than a dozen mutants confronted Richard, voicing their demands with increasing hostility.
After briefly surveying the angry crowd, Richard made his decision.
Thundaga!
BOOM!
In the next instant, five or six silver-white lightning bolts descended from the sky, striking the protestors.
Though he hadn't unleashed Thundaga at full power, the lightning still inflicted significant damage, scattering the crowd.
"An explanation?" Richard's voice cut through the aftermath.
"Why should I explain anything to you?"
"What entitles you to demand explanations from me?"
"Is it because you've eaten my food and lived under my roof? Or because of your unrelenting greed and ingratitude?"
"My father was arrested, and instead of planning his rescue, you continued your comfortable lives as if nothing happened."
"All of you complain—this isn't good enough, that isn't good enough—while enjoying fine food and expensive luxuries. What have any of you contributed since arriving here?"
"Nothing! Not a penny earned for the organization, not a single meaningful contribution. You're parasites who only know how to consume and demand more!"
"You want an explanation? Fine. My explanation is this: I can personally escort each of you to hell, where you can reunite with Marek and the others."
"That's my explanation. Care to accept it?"
Though he only inhabited the original Richard's body and wasn't truly him, Richard felt genuine anger toward these entitled ingrates.
The original Richard had been too timid to confront them.
But he wasn't the original Richard.
If not for the fact that these people had been personally recruited by the original father, he might have slaughtered these ungrateful parasites with the Masamune.
After his tirade, those who had demanded explanations fell silent, despite the pain from the lightning strike.
Not only had they abandoned their demands, but they now remained deathly quiet, fearing Richard might attack again.
"You have one minute. All of you—get out."
"Anyone still here after sixty seconds, I'll personally send to the afterlife."
With that ultimatum delivered, Richard ignored them and returned to his Ford pickup, retrieving the remaining gasoline barrels.
Seeing Richard carrying gasoline toward the garage, the gathered mutants dispersed rapidly.
It was clear Richard wouldn't allow them to take any vehicles.
In fact, he wouldn't permit them to take anything valuable.
Garages, outbuildings, warehouses, gardens...
Having already set the main building ablaze, Richard clearly intended to destroy everything.
It took over ten minutes to ignite all the secondary structures. After admiring his handiwork from before the burning main building, Richard returned to his truck and drove away from the inferno that had once been Crimson Manor.
Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles branch of the Department of Mutant Affairs.
Conference Room.
A tall, muscular Black man who resembled a professional bodybuilder addressed the mutant agents gathered around the table:
"Roy Wesley, arrested two days ago, has 'confessed.'"
"On the surface, he's the chairman of Wesley Group—a wealthy philanthropist with an impeccable reputation who frequently participates in charity events."
"But these are merely his cover."
"He's the founder of the underground organization 'Crimson Manor,' which has recruited numerous mutants opposing the Restriction Act."
"Currently, Crimson Manor houses over fifty unregistered mutants, including his son, Richard Wesley."
"According to his testimony, Crimson Manor contains only five Level Three mutants, with the remainder being Level Twos and Ones."
"This is a minor organization with limited capabilities, so there's no need for a full deployment. Slater, Bourne, and Inessa —the three of you will lead a tactical team and apprehend everyone."
"If you encounter resistance—kill on sight!"
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