She Is Not Human

Chapter 16

Is she dating Max? Little Eric wasn't sure about that one; he'd never heard anything like it before. Not everyone has the guts to kick someone like Lewis out through the door without breaking a sweat while also giving warnings left and right.

“Maya! Over here!"

Little Eric stood up and called out to her but immediately felt silly doing so. Did she really need him pointing out where she should sit?

Maya was about to sit next to Little Eric, but Max got there first.

So now Max was in the middle, with Maya and Little Eric on either side of him.

No matter what Little Eric said, he had to go through Max. Facing a guy who looked all gentle and smiley but could actually be pretty violent made Little Eric feel a bit uneasy. It felt like every time Max's gaze flicked over him, there was this underlying threat that he might just toss him out.

Of course, it could just be his imagination; Little Eric tried to reassure himself.

"I mean, Maya came with me," Little Eric squinted and finally blurted out, "She's my companion."

Max shrugged casually. "She didn't say that." Then he frowned slightly, took away the plate of salad that Maya had left behind, and called over a waiter to refill her water.

"I'm hungry," Maya said as she patted her stomach. She'd been dragged over by Little Eric without eating anything. The energy coming from Max next to her was so intense that she couldn't even think about food right now. Her liquid metal body was already sending out various energy alerts.

"I'll whip something up for you when we get back."

"Oh." Maya held the cup and tried to find some energy in the plain water—nothing like the "Dream Death" drink she had before. That feeling of warmth spreading through her body? Yeah, not happening anymore.

"Ah!" She covered her mouth as she yawned; her eyelids were getting heavy and the blue light in her eyes started fading.

Time to switch to low-energy mode. She really needed some food...

Little Eric had been totally ignored until then. Wanting to break the awkward silence while Maya stayed quiet, he jumped at the chance: "So you live with her? Since when? How long?"

"As long as she's alive."

Little Eric's heart raced a little at that. He studied Max closely: "You're... Max?"

Max met his gaze: "What's your problem?"

Little Eric only then realized that there were a bunch of muscular guys in black around Max, which was totally different from the group of bodyguards back in City 5. It felt like a chess game with black and white pieces constantly being moved around.

Looking at those familiar yet unfamiliar faces, Little Eric figured even his dad didn't roll with such a big crew. So many folks from the Glorious Organization were looking out for him. There was no need to ask who he really was anymore.

Max pulled out a tissue, wiped some food off Maya's mouth, and then turned to Little Eric: "I should thank you, but since you didn't protect her last time, I'm not feeling too grateful right now."

Little Eric was taken aback. The guy in front of him had this strong vibe; even his words carried an unspoken authority.

But when it came to Maya, he was super gentle and careful. The contrast was so striking that it almost felt like everything he did was on purpose.

"Maya," Max's voice suddenly dropped low.

"Huh?" The girl snapped back to reality, still looking a bit dazed.

"You two go ahead first. All these guys in black are our people—they'll keep you safe."

Maya glanced over at the energy mine: "I haven't gotten that yet."

"Do you really need it?"

"Yeah." Maya nodded eagerly. She still wanted to boost her body with it. Plus, there's also that soul bottle she hadn't hooked up to electricity yet—the leftover mechanical space energy on it is pretty good stuff too.

Max watched Maya for a moment before nodding: "I'll grab it for you." After saying this, he noticed her puzzled look and couldn't help but mess up her hair playfully. When she didn't push him away, a satisfied smile spread across his face. "Don't give me that look! Whatever you want, I'll make sure you get it."

Little Eric got a call from his dad and took a quick look at what was happening in the center. After getting rid of the weird guy, Lewis, the place went quiet for a bit. But now it was back to its usual noisy vibe, with everyone's eyes glued to the bets, full of hope.

Everyone thought they were going to be the lucky ones who'd grab this big chance, but sadly, no one really could.

It's kind of sad when you think about humans. Not only are they raised by robots, but they also put all their hopes and dreams into these make-believe things. It's just tragic.

His dad told him to take Maya away first. The people eyeing that little girl had already gotten what they wanted. No need for her to stick around and become a hassle.

"Let's head back," he said while looking over Max's shoulder at Maya. As a man, he had his pride and wasn't used to being bossed around by anyone else. This time though, he decided to just let it slide.

Little Eric almost dragged Maya out with him. He didn't hold her hand; instead, he grabbed her wrist so he wouldn't have to picture her holding Max's hand.

They were siblings after all, but that guy's behavior towards her felt pretty over-the-top.

Just as they reached the door, Michael suddenly chimed in: "Lucky girl! It's almost your turn—are you sure you want to leave now?"

"Yeah, she's leaving right now," came Max's deep voice from behind them as he leaned back in his chair with a grin on his face. "Since everything revolves around me anyway, does it even matter if she sticks around or not?"

Michael's eyes narrowed slightly at that remark. Even though Max wasn't shouting or anything loud like that, his arrogant tone definitely turned heads in the room.

"Sir," Michael replied smoothly with an impeccable smile that showed no cracks whatsoever; "I'm not quite following what you mean."

Max then pulled something out of his pocket and spun it between his fingers twice before suddenly turning icy cold: "If you don't want any trouble today… I suggest you get lost right now."

"It's liquid explosives!" someone shouted out sharply from across the room.

The Yun family was totally shocked. They had clearly checked Lewis's body first, but there was nothing there. When did Max get it? Did he grab it when he kicked Lewis away?

Right then, the crowd felt like a boiling pot of water—everything suddenly got chaotic.

Little Eric yanked Maya and dragged her away from the door. The members of the Glorious Organization formed a solid wall around them to keep them safe from being swept up by the rushing crowd.

Through the gaps in that wall, neither the panicked people nor the suddenly empty and creepy hall stood out as much as Max's calm and collected figure. Even though the hall was super bright, it seemed like no light could touch him at all.

Maya seemed to pick up on something and slowed down, turning her head to look back. Everything around them felt like it froze in slow motion.

A blinding flash of lightning shot straight up into the sky from right in the middle of the hall.

All she saw were distorted faces full of panic everywhere. Little Eric pushed her down beside him. In her vision, everything spun around before getting covered by a white light.

Strangely enough, at that moment, all she could see was Max's smile from just now.

He had told her, "Whatever you want, I'll give it to you."

Two minutes earlier.

As the panicked guests fled, Michael's smile vanished, twisting into something vicious. He glared furiously at Max. "Working for the Radiant Organization? Your luck just ran out!"

He ripped his sleeve off. The muscles in his arm bulged unnaturally, the skin cracking like dried earth before exploding outward in a shower of gore. Beneath the c*****e, gleaming silver metal was revealed.

"Artificial alloy body?" Max shifted his center of gravity, narrowly avoiding the laser that shot from Michael's arm. His gaze swept over the limb: flexible, controllable joints, perfect streamlining, a quality metallic sheen, and integrated laser emitters. This wasn't technology any ordinary organization possessed.

"Hmph. Who I am doesn't matter. What matters is that today is your last day!"

The laser was a feint. Michael's true aim was to use that mechanical arm to seize the lid of the Soul Bottle. Instantly, powerful currents snaked around his metal limb like electric serpents. A fierce light flashed in his eyes. With a roar, he somehow halted the current at his elbow.

"Die!" Michael bellowed, raising both arms. A blinding bolt of electricity erupted skyward, radiating outwards from the hall. Everything within a dozen meters was engulfed in the electric storm, the strongest core of the blast surging straight towards Max's heart.

Electricity travels near the speed of light. Max had no chance to dodge.

CRACK!

The bolt struck Max head-on. Simultaneously, the liquid explosive in his hand detonated. The combined force of the current and the explosion hit him like a speeding airship ramming him headlong. He could feel his body being ripped apart.

The flash of the explosion washed over everything. The entire floor shuddered violently. With a thunderous roar, every window shattered, spraying glass like deadly rain.

Michael and the guards from City 5 shielded Thomas and the others. In the blinding white light, Max's figure blurred.

Every human present experienced a moment of deafness, ears ringing, heads swimming dizzily.

Only Maya was different. Lying on the floor, her gaze slid past young Erik's shoulder shielding her, fixing on the swaying light patterns on the ceiling. The liquid metal in her brain whirred at high speed. As the defensive currents on the Soul Bottle vanished, she suddenly sensed a familiar presence.

At the epicenter of the blast, just as Max felt his body about to be consumed by the overwhelming energy, an emptiness surged within him. All the energy was instantly absorbed, just like when he stood beside the spatial barrier gate. The terrifying currents didn't harm him; instead, they flowed into his body like fish returning to water, impossibly smooth.

Thump... Unfortunately, the shockwave's sheer force slammed Max into a pillar, snapping it like a twig. Internal organs jarred by the physical impact, he spat out a mouthful of blood.

As the residual waves dissipated, the dust of pulverized chairs and tables drifted down like grey snow.

Most of the youths from City 5 were paralyzed with terror. They had come to party, not expecting this level of violence.