At noon this day, Dean and a group of friends gathered in a circle to enjoy lunch at the wooden dining table among the green grass of Nevada State High School.
"The news channels are going crazy," Baker stuffed a taco filled with meat and vegetables into his mouth. "Five members of the famous real estate businessman Leighton Stone were shot in the head in the secret room of their home."
"The body of his youngest son, Gru Stone, was found in a private residence on Palm Street, dozens of miles away."
"A whole family was wiped out."
He wiped his hands on his chest hair, and Jenny, the black girl next to him, immediately rolled his eyes in disgust.
"I learned more horrific details from Thomas's mouth," Gretchen blinked her light blue eyes and said mysteriously to her friends, "The remains of dozens of deceased people were also found in the secret room where they died. It can be traced back to two years ago... This family is a hidden perverted murderer."
"A certain vigilante discovered their evil deeds and imposed sanctions. Afterwards, they secretly deposited evidence of their crimes at the door of the police station."
"How does this look like a superhero in a comic book? Have you caught this vigilante?"
Everyone's eyes lit up when they heard this,
"Thomas said they are still investigating," Gretchen shook her head, "but the vigilantes were very clean and left basically no clues."
Dean breathed a sigh of relief.
"Everyone, I feel very bad..." Abby squatted on the chair, holding the hot coffee cup with both hands, a trace of fear flashed across her thin face, "There have been so many murders in Las Vegas this year. normal."
"Since the death of Bob Lowe, Lake Mead, I was framed... More than twenty gangsters were burned to death on Jenny's street... Finally, this time the perverted murderer's family was wiped out... Never before It’s been as bad as this year.”
Dean sipped the yogurt with complicated eyes.
"Don't scare yourself, this is your illusion," Gretchen gave half of the apple pie on the plate to Abby. "The number of murders has not increased, it's just that we pay more attention to this aspect as we get older."
"But I think Abby's analysis is reasonable. This year is very evil," Baker analyzed seriously. "Maybe these terrible accidents will happen to us next time?"
"Fakeyu! I'll tear your crow's mouth apart!" Jenny's long pink nails grabbed her boyfriend's cheeks and pulled them into a big cake.
"I remembered!" Britney suddenly stood up, crossed herself on her chest, and said with a tight face, "Evangelist Pat Robertson once predicted that at the end of 1982, God will judge the world. It means the world will end in two years."
"The series of horrific events in Las Vegas this year may be a harbinger of the end."
A group of people opened their mouths slightly, looking at Britney in shock and weirdness as she declared like a saint in the sunshine, as if she were looking at a fool.
"Haven't you seen "The 700 Club"? It's very educational!"
Britney waved her fist and defended weakly,
Rust blocked his girlfriend's mouth with a spoonful of yogurt, "Stop making such alarmist remarks. The end of the world will be Sheite. No one can escape it!"
"Be optimistic, focus on the present, and have some good news. Everyone, Britney and I are going to interview at the University of Arizona soon."
"Passed the SAT score? Why didn't you notify me in advance of such a big event?" Dean put his right hand around Rust's shoulder and strangled his neck, "Do you still think I'm a brother?"
"I think it's good news to tell everyone after passing the interview." Rust couldn't help but smile at the corner of his mouth.
Dean nodded and glanced at the group of friends.
Of the seven people present, only Rusty and Britney planned to go to a serious college. Gretchen aspired to be a police officer. Abby just got a diploma and inherited the family supermarket. It didn't matter if the Baker family had money to go to college or not. Jenny planned to follow. Boyfriend is messing around.
"Are you sure?" Dean asked.
"The philosophy department I applied for shouldn't be a big problem." Britney smiled sweetly.
Last said, "My astronomy department is highly competitive, so the chances of admission are about 50-50."
"Don't be modest, you can definitely do it!" Abby gestured to the two of them, "But college tuition is very expensive this year, right?"
In the early 1980s, inflation in the United States was high and the economy was in recession. The government cut financial aid to higher education, and many universities had to significantly increase tuition fees to fill the funding gap.
Nowadays, the tuition fee for a year in public universities has almost doubled compared with previous years, and it is equivalent to half the annual income of an adult.
"I have found a part-time job during the summer vacation, and I will try to apply for a student loan," Britney said with a fair face full of fighting spirit.
Rust touched his nose awkwardly, with a hint of happiness and pride that could not be concealed in the corners of his eyes, "Grace told me not to worry about college tuition."
A group of people heard this with envy.
"Last, you are my brother from now on!" Baker hugged his arm and smiled humbly and flatteringly.
"?"
"This way I can also call Grace my dear mother and enjoy her meticulous care and attention."
"roll!"
…
The happy campus time flies by.
1980 came to the end of the year in a blink of an eye, on the evening of Christmas in December.
The glow of the fire cloud shines through the window, illuminating a figure sitting cross-legged on the bed in the bedroom with a peaceful expression.
Dean slowly exhaled a few breaths and woke up from meditation. The light red star lingering in front of his eyes quietly disappeared, and a chill entered his mind along with the last trace of red in the sky.
You complete a round of balance meditation.
Proficiency +1
Balance Meditation lv1→lv2 (0/300).
You gain 1 point of Will attribute.
Will: 12.3→13.3.
…
Dean felt the constant coolness in his mind and focused on his mental attributes.
Gritting his teeth.
One attribute point disappears from the system.
No spirit of growth for several months: 14.3 → 15.3.
…
Plop, my temples jumped.
The coolness in my mind was replaced by heat, and my brain became like an overheated CPU, flashing through various scenes I had experienced in the past and wild ideas about the future.
For example, riding a motorcycle to cities around Las Vegas late at night to find and punish criminals.
There are also dark and dirty thoughts that keep growing, such as using "shadows of the past", "God's perspective", and "mimicry" to kill at will and quickly improve your abilities!
Tear off the shackles of morality, ignore the so-called principles, and indulge in the desire to kill as much as you want.
Dirty thoughts lingered in his mind. Dean's eyes turned red and his breathing gradually became heavier.
…
After a long time, the chaotic thoughts completely fell silent, and Dean let out a sigh of relief with complicated eyes.
"15 attributes is a threshold. Once your spirit crosses this threshold, your mind will become extremely active."
The will of 13.3 can only barely control the chaotic thoughts.
If the spirit continues to improve, thoughts will become more uncontrollable, people will become confused, and there is even a risk of schizophrenia.
This road is full of dangers.
"Spiritual will must be improved simultaneously, and the imbalance cannot be further expanded." Dean made up his mind, and his heart moved...
The black humanoid flew out of his body, hovering in the air like a cloak, then flew out of the window with lightning, flew into the air, and distanced itself from him.
Ten meters, fifteen meters, twenty meters, twenty-seven meters...
"Spirit breaks through 15 points, and the maximum range of Shadow of the Past increases from 18 meters to 27 meters." Dean raised his wrist and looked at the quartz watch, six ten.
"Shadow" flew back to the bedroom, activated his telekinesis, and three books on the bookshelf by the window slowly floated and swirled.
1 minute, 2 minutes...15 minutes.
Dean, whose temples were swollen and splitting, took back the "shadow"
"The shadow's existence time has been increased from nearly 10 minutes to at least 15 minutes, which is half the amount."
An understanding dawned on Dean's mind. The further his spirit was raised, the more dangerous it would be, but the greater the increase in ability would be.
"I just don't know if I can awaken telekinesis on my own if my spirit reaches a certain level? I can pick up objects from the air and kill people with my eyes."
Dean longed for that powerful superpower and checked his current status:
Character level: 3 (140/400)
Age: 18
Physical fitness: 14.6
Strength: 12.4
Sensitivity: 13.2
Perception: 11.8
Spirit: 15.3
Will: 13.3
…
Specialties: Intermediate Iron Man, Beginner Supernatural Hunter
Abilities: 5/5
Fighting lv2(100→120/300)
Shooting lv2(29/200→49/300)
Shadow of the Past lv1(57→87/200)
Balance Meditation lv2 (0/300)
Mimicry lv0(28→60/100)
System ability: God's perspective lv2: range 20 meters.
…
Dean got out of bed contentedly, put on a light blue shirt underneath, and then wore a red jacket and coat as the Romans did.
She combed her refreshing black short hair in front of the mirror.
He is 1.8 meters tall, with a straight nose and sharp facial contours, masculine and handsome.
Because he insists on lifting iron recently and draws some strength from the nocturnal species, his body is stronger than before. He perfectly demonstrates what it means to look thin when wearing clothes and when taking off clothes, he can be called a clothes rack.
Moreover, his skin is not rough and hairy like Western men, but is delicate, full of luster, and surprisingly tough. Ordinary knives can only leave a white mark without using any force.
…
Dean went downstairs to call his girlfriend and went out with the small gifts he had prepared in advance.
It’s Christmas, and although there is no snow and chubby snowmen in Las Vegas, the houses in the neighborhood are dreamily decorated with colorful lights, garlands, and Christmas trees.
"Merry Christmas, Dean, come home for dinner."
The bearded man stood in the yard and waved over, and Teddy at his feet barked and joined in the fun.
"Merry Christmas, Jacob... bring a greeting to Tonya for me, but I have a date."
"You are really busier than the president."
…
Dean drove to the door of his girlfriend's house and picked up Abby and Gretchen, who were dressed in red dresses and dressed as Santa Claus ladies.
The three exchanged gifts.
"Two beauties, let me ask you one last time, are you sure you don't want to spend Christmas with your family?"
"We have already made an agreement with our families, no problem. Let's go quickly, Dean, don't keep Beck and Jenny waiting too long." Abby sat in the back seat consciously, opened the gift box, and played with the hairpins with a happy face. .
"Open your mouth." Gretchen got into the passenger seat and offered an almond pudding.
"Sit tight, I'm going to speed up!"
The car quickly drove to the commercial street.
Although the sun has set, Christmas Eve here is as bright as day, and the streets are crowded with people with joyful smiles on their faces.
"This way!"
Beside the guardrail of the pedestrian street, Baker and Jenny, dressed in Christmas couple costumes, waved happily to the three of them.
As for Rust and Britney, who were fully preparing for college interviews, they couldn't come.
"Merry Christmas, that's a nice outfit!"
Dean patted Baker's white "big belly" curiously, and the latter took out the gingerbread man from the red hat and white beard and handed it over.
"Man, you're not bad, you're one percent more handsome than me, but I'm destined to be the most popular person tonight!"
"Okay, you are the boss. Let's go to the pedestrian street to watch the show!"
The five of them walked towards the crowded place, buying discounted goods from the shops along the street from time to time, and playing small games such as shooting balloons, throwing knives, shooting baskets, and catching dolls at street stalls.
Had a great time.
"Try it..." Gretchen handed Dean a rainbow candy cane.
Dean chewed a few mouthfuls, raised his eyebrows, and turned to look at his rosy girlfriend.
"What's wrong? It doesn't taste good?"
"You'll know after you try it." Dean touched her moist red lips briefly, and the girl embraced his neck generously.
Abby who was watching consciously slowed down her steps and moved to the left. As a result, Beck and Jenny were even more outrageous, almost rubbing each other into their bodies.
well.
Abby's face darkened, and she stuffed a Santa Claus marshmallow into her mouth in desolation, forcing herself to admire the street view to divert her attention.
The street shop windows are warm and bright,
The music of "Jungle bells, jungle bells, jungle all the way" flows like a stream, dispelling the chill of the night.
Every tree in sight is hung with colored lights and decorations, coupled with various neon lights, making it radiant and beautiful.
Small floats with balloons on them walked back and forth along the streets. Santa Clauses wearing red hats and white beards and carrying red safety bags handed out marshmallows shaped into various exquisite snowmen to the passers-by.
Every corner exudes a festive atmosphere.
…
In the center of the pedestrian street, performers in unique costumes, acrobats, magicians, funny clowns, and body painting artists compete for beauty.
The center of the stage surrounded by the Christmas tree was the busiest, with hundreds of people gathered, almost all wearing red clothes, like a pulsating red sea.
On the stage, to the sweet melody of Jungle Bells, female dancers in colorful tutu skirts and men in overalls happily clasped their hands behind their backs, twisted their waists, and moved their bodies.
The audience imitated their movements humorously and danced to the music.
Beck screamed and twisted like a snake back to back with Jenny. Gretchen held hands with Dean who kept "chicken" and spun around Abby who was blushing with excitement. .
Dean was immersed in it, and the confusion and irritability caused by the nocturnal species in the past month gradually disappeared.
Positive emotions resist negative emotions.
People's heartfelt joy at Christmas seemed to form a positive energy field, which healed the dark negative emotions accumulated in his heart and made his mood lively and joyful.
…
On such a wonderful and joyful occasion, someone ruined the scene.
A strange young white man noticed Gretchen's angelic face and devilish figure under the red dress, and wanted to get close to her to take advantage.
But still about ten meters away from the target, he was pushed away by a strange force and pushed into the crowded crowd, as if there was an invisible and solid wall of air in front of him.
"Fake, did you encounter a ghost?"
He tried many times unwillingly, but his back and soles of his feet were inexplicably stepped on and kicked, causing him to be knocked down several times and he ran away in terror.
…
Watching the embarrassed figure, the flower protector Dean curled his lips and released his telekinesis.
"why are you laughing?"
Gretchen brushed her hair away from her ears, and her sweaty cheeks were stained with a delicate blush.
"That man looks like a dog."
…
The group danced to their heart's content and went to the cinema to watch a newly released movie, "9 to 5" starring Jane Fonda.
It mainly tells the story of three working women who were oppressed at work. They accidentally mistook rat poison for candy and poisoned their macho male boss, and then began to vigorously reform the company, causing a series of ridiculous comedies.
The three girls, Gretchen, Abby, and Jenny, stared at the big screen with great interest and longing.
Dean and Beck broke into a cold sweat.
"Be careful, Baker. If you dare to apologize to me in the future, I will poison you with rat poison!" Jenny imitated the action of stirring coffee on the big screen,
"Can you add two more pieces of sugar to the rat poison?" Baker hugged her waist shamelessly and put his big, greasy mouth to her, "Even if I die, I want to die sweetly."
"Ahem..." An cautiously glanced at Gretchen, whose eyes were shining next to her.
If he remembered correctly, the other party was also half a feminist.
"Dean, will you become a macho Mediterranean like a disgusting male boss?" Abruptly, Abby's voice came from beside Gretchen, and then two pairs of eyes looked at him like soul torture.
"Impossible..." Dean confidently touched his crisp short hair, bulged his well-developed biceps, and said decisively, "Before I am half bald, I will shave my hair and become Bald, that way I will become stronger."
…
It was almost ten o'clock in the evening when the movie ended, and the streets were still filled with a sea of joy. Baker and Jenny said "Goodbye" and slipped into the crowded hotel to find seats.
And Dean drove Abby to the door of his house and took Gretchen for a slow walk in the dim moonlight and the Christmas lights in the neighborhood.
We talked about the future.
After graduating, Gretchen relied on her father Thomas's connections in the police department to pass the LVPD primary. Then she had to go to a police academy out of town to study for half a year, work hard to pass the exam, and then return to the LVPD.
Dean joked that he planned to be an unemployed vagrant, part-time detective, psychic, and killer... "Future Detective Gretchen, if I fall into your hands, please be merciful."
"Then you have to behave well." Gretchen raised her pointed chin, her blue eyes flashing with warning, "If you dare to violate my laws, I will chase your car sticker ticket every day from now on, do you understand?"
"Yes, Madam! Come to my house now and guide me on my 'legal issues'?"
"Unfortunately, Thomas requires me to be home before eleven tonight."
"Then let's go to your house?" A hint of excitement flashed in Dean's eyes,
"When did you become so brave and not afraid of being caught and shot?" Gretchen put her hands around her trembling chest and smiled.
"I climbed in through your window... By the way, you can lock Coco in the basement later and don't let her smell my scent, otherwise the tryst will be 100% ruined."
"...Beck led you astray."
"Then do you like it?" Dean hugged her waist.
Under the moonlight, two snuggling figures were stretched very long.
(End of chapter)
