Chapter 112: How to Lose

"Catch him!" Warm-Man shouted, lunging toward the limping man fleeing ahead.

Although the physical prowess of an Anomaly Walker is slightly above that of an ordinary person, falling from that height without a specialized ability would still be devastating. Even if the man with the Silver Claws had used some means to avoid total incapacitation, his current speed was nowhere near that of the unscathed Qi Chen and his companion.

However, just as Warm-Man started to move, he felt a heavy blow to his lower back. He let out a cry of pain and spun around.

"Why did you hit me?" Warm-Man asked, staring in shock at Qi Chen, whose fist was still tightly clenched. Qi Chen himself looked equally bewildered at his own right hand. Why would he have hit Warm-Man?

Wait!

Both men simultaneously recalled what had happened in the room. Bawang and Enthusiast had both launched attacks on the Silver Claw wielder, only to be blocked by his Anomaly. In doing so, they had inevitably made contact with the enemy’s power. That meant the enemy had applied his ability—the one that grants limbs a mind of their own—to them at that very moment!

Realizing this, Warm-Man suddenly noticed that one of his legs had refused to take a step forward; instead, it seemed to have developed a will of its own, trying to kick Qi Chen.

"Get out of the way!" Qi Chen dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the kick.

The tide of battle between Anomaly Walkers can turn in an instant. The Silver Claw wielder’s reaction time was impressive; even in such a desperate situation, he hadn't forgotten to apply his ability to them. Suddenly, their advantage had vanished, and they were unable to continue the pursuit.

"Your legs are fine, hurry and chase him!" Warm-Man’s expression shifted, terrified that the Silver Claw wielder would escape. If he truly got away, finding him again in the chaotic sprawl of Yellowstone Town would be nearly impossible. Furthermore, unless the Silver Claw wielder was dealt with, the symptoms of their limbs "gaining consciousness" would never be cured.

But it wasn't that simple for Qi Chen. His right arm, now acting on its own, swung out and struck Warm-Man with full force.

*Thud!*

Warm-Man took the hit to the face, grimacing in pain. However, having developed his own Anomaly ability to a high level, he quickly conceived a temporary solution.

"Enthusiast!"

The orange-red Enthusiast appeared in a flash, striking Qi Chen’s rebellious right arm and then Warm-Man’s own leg with precise blows. Instantly, the targeted limbs went completely limp. Under the influence of Enthusiast’s ability, both the muscles and the internal bones became so soft they could no longer move, effectively neutralizing the interference.

"I’ll have Bawang carry you!" No longer hindered by his arm, Qi Chen reacted quickly, having Bawang hoist Warm-Man onto his back. They sprinted down the street, trailing the Silver Claw wielder.

To the passersby, it looked as if a scruffy-looking man was floating through the air while chasing a young man.

"The world is going to the dogs," a shopkeeper sighed. But out of self-preservation, they all cleared the path upon seeing such a bizarre sight, inadvertently making the pursuit much easier for Qi Chen and Warm-Man.

"Over there! He turned into the alley!" Warm-Man, acting as a scout with his elevated perspective on Bawang’s back, locked onto the limping figure in the distance.

Suddenly, the crowd on the street descended into chaos. Angry shouts erupted. "Why did you hit me?" "You were the one who kicked me first!" "Watch your mouth, or I'll tear it off!"

To shake his pursuers, the Silver Claw wielder had clearly used his ability on the pedestrians. People whose limbs had developed a mind of their own were now creating a massive disturbance against their own will.

Qi Chen ignored them all. He used his remaining controllable left arm to shove through the crowd, staying hot on the heels of the Silver Claw wielder as he ducked into a narrow alley.

The figure was just ahead!

*Slap!*

A sharp, ringing sound echoed from behind. Qi Chen glanced back while running to see Warm-Man slap himself hard across the face.

"Don't worry about me!" Warm-Man’s eyes were blazing. He was forced to have Enthusiast soften his own arms until they were too limp to lift.

The progression of their symptoms was faster than those of the mayor or the special task force members. This meant the Silver Claw wielder had exerted more power on them, or that his ability’s strength was tied to the proximity of his targets. The closer they got to him, the faster the corruption worsened!

Qi Chen’s left arm suddenly lost control, clenching tightly and striking toward his own vital area.

His face turned pale, but Warm-Man, who was constantly watching him, had Enthusiast fly over and soften Qi Chen’s left arm just in time. Now, Qi Chen looked like a gibbon with his arms dangling uselessly at his sides, appearing absurdly comical.

"He was faking the limp!" Qi Chen said bitterly. Even with the initial delay, there was no way he couldn't have caught up by now if his legs were fine. The man’s injury wasn't nearly as severe as he had portrayed; he had acted that way to keep the anxious duo trailing him, knowing that staying in close proximity would accelerate the effects of his ability!

*Thud!*

Qi Chen’s legs suddenly acted in opposition to one another, causing him to lose his balance and crash to the ground.

Hearing the sound, the fleeing Silver Claw wielder actually stopped at the end of the alley, leaning against the wall and gasping for breath. He didn't approach them immediately; instead, he sneered and shouted, "You two idiots, still want to chase me? Tell me the truth—who sent you?"

As he spoke, he slowly pulled a pistol from behind his back. While weapons like rifles were confiscated upon entering Yellowstone Town, small items like handguns could be kept. No Mist-Walker would willingly enter a place without any means of self-defense.

Watching Qi Chen and Warm-Man sprawled on the ground from a distance, the Silver Claw wielder felt increasingly confident. Still, as a precaution, he raised his gun and pulled the trigger. He didn't care if the sound attracted the town guards; compared to the pursuit of ordinary people, he was far more concerned with these two Anomaly Walkers who had attacked him without a word.

*Bang! Bang!*

Two shots rang out. Qi Chen’s body shuddered as he lay on the ground, a sight the Silver Claw wielder caught vaguely in the dim alley.

"Tsk, a couple of reckless fools." Feeling completely secure now, the Silver Claw wielder finally stepped forward. He needed to pry some information out of them before the guards arrived. His nerves were made of steel; after all, he had dared to visit a high-end club managed by the Arena immediately after his match. Such a person, once he felt victory was in his grasp, would only grow bolder.

"How could I possibly lose now?"