I Spread my Genes to Level Up in the Apocalypse

"Hmm, can I take this weather to the extreme?" Ray mused aloud, a thoughtful expression crossing his face as he focused his mind again.

In truth, tightening his fist hadn't actually done anything significant—it was more for show than anything else. But it certainly set the right tone, and that was enough for him.

As Ray's mutation energy rapidly drained, the weather took a rapid turn. The once gathered black clouds thickened even further, swelling ominously across the sky.

A deafening roar reverberated through the city, followed by the flash and crack of terrifying bolts of lightning that seemed to split the heavens.

"This..."

Ray stood frozen, his eyes wide with astonishment. The sheer power coursing through his veins left him momentarily breathless.

"I can control thunder with this," Ray murmured, feeling the deep connection he now had with the sky. It was as though every aspect of the weather could be controlled with a mere thought.

Ray could feel a profound affinity with lightning, as if he were one with it.

"Is this because of my Lightning Arts?" Ray squinted his eyes in contemplation.

It seemed likely. He could feel his deep connection to the sky, and even the possibility of using his Lightning Arts to strike from above.

"I wonder how much my Lightning Arts would be strengthened if I attacked from the sky," Ray muttered, his mind now calm and peaceful. With a fierce glint in his eyes, he focused all his attention on the sky once more.

"Lightning Arts: Lightning Spear."

Ray struck out in a specific direction. A flash of lightning erupted, engulfing the surroundings and blinding nearly the entire area as the city was bathed in the intense glow of the lightning.

*Boom!*

A deafening sound echoed across the sky after the flash, the thunder following the lightning as expected. Light travels faster than sound—a well-known fact. In our perception, nothing is faster than light.

"Hm?" Ray glanced in the direction he had struck, a glint in his eyes. He loosened his fist, and the violent black clouds dispersed, retreating to reveal the warm yellow rays of the sun.

The day resumed as if nothing had happened, with the sun shining brightly in the high afternoon heat.

"Hey, Freya," Ray called out, a smile playing on his lips.

"What is it?" Freya asked, her gaze filled with a mix of awe and admiration.

"Are you scared of me?" Ray muttered, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

"No, I'm not," Freya replied, pouting as she stepped closer to him. She rubbed her cheek against his, her expression softening. "And your skin has become so soft and smooth, I like it."

Ray's lips twitched, his expression slightly exasperated, but he couldn't help feeling a warmth in his heart at her affection.

"Alright then," he said, moving forward. "By the way, where are those troublemakers being held?"

Freya's eyes flashed with a murderous glint. "Those two bastards dared to try and assassinate you. I've given them the most terrifying treatment possible, but since you didn't order their execution, I haven't killed them yet."

"I see." Ray nodded, giving her a strange look as he muttered to himself, "When did this girl become so fierce?"

But thinking about it, Freya had become like the manager for all the non-Awakened girls in his harem. After some time commanding and leading, it was inevitable for her to develop a leader's characteristics and a commanding aura.

After all, one isn't born a leader. Through trial, error, and success, the art of practice makes one a leader.

Ray soon walked with Freya, Vanessa, and Yuna to a deep, dark room that resembled a prison.

The cells were empty, and the sound of their footsteps echoed across the place.

"By the way, why did this woman follow us?" Vanessa asked with a twinge of jealousy as she looked at Ray, who was cuddling with Yuna.

"Because she wanted to," Ray replied with a smile. "Why, are you jealous? Come, I'll cuddle with you too."

Vanessa paused for a moment before continuing to walk. "Who wants to be cuddled by you?" she muttered, her voice laced with false indignation.

"Hey, when did you become such a tsundere?" Ray chuckled, catching her by the waist and pulling her into an embrace.

"Woah," Vanessa gasped, feigning anger, but she didn't resist. Instead, her face turned red as she snuggled closer to him.

"Hey, I want hugs too!" Freya immediately joined in, her eyes filled with mischief and affection.

Their eyes sparkled with passion, and for a brief moment, Ray could tell they were all teetering on the edge of turning this moment into something more intimate.

Unfortunately, he knew he couldn't indulge with Freya or Vanessa, only with Yuna, but Ray still restrained himself.

"I still need to finish this task, so let's get it over with," Ray said, coughing lightly to regain his focus as he walked forward.

Soon, they entered a dark and damp cell where two men were held captive. Though unrestrained, their condition was extremely miserable, marked by the signs of suffering and beatings.

"Did you do this?" Ray asked Freya, a note of curiosity in his voice.

"Eww, I would never touch them," Freya replied with a chuckle, her tone oddly innocent despite the context. "I had the servants beat them until their faces were as red as tomatoes, and I even invited a few guys from the city to… keep them company."

Ray shuddered slightly, giving Freya a strange look. Despite her innocent demeanour, she had a twisted side that never failed to surprise him. Shaking it off, he walked into the cell with a smile, slowly unlocking the door.

Inside, the two men—a middle-aged man with glasses and a large, burly man with a protruding belly—immediately turned towards Ray with expressions of pure terror.

"Please don't hurt us! We've already told you everything!" the middle-aged man shouted, his face etched with fear.

"What did you tell?" Ray asked the middle-aged man with a chuckle.

"All we know is that an anonymous person contacted us and manipulated us into attacking you. If I had known it was you, I would never have agreed. If you free me, I can offer you valuable tips on how to control the masses."

"My political skills are top-notch," the middle-aged man added desperately.

Ray tapped the ground with an amused smile. "So it's anonymous, huh? In that case, I have no need for you."