Chapter 34 – Bulletproof Confidence
Ethan cracked the knuckles of one hand with the other.
The sound was crisp and clear, releasing a heavy pressure into the air.
He looked at the robber coldly and asked, "Are you going to kneel with your hands on your head, or do you need me to help?"
The man shivered.
But he quickly reacted, and a vicious light appeared in his eyes.
He decided he could not back down.
If he backed down, everything would be over.
His hand shot behind his waist and grabbed the spring knife he had hidden there as a backup.
He pressed the release button and flicked his wrist.
Click.
The blade sprang out, flashing coldly under the store lights.
The man gripped the handle and glared at Ethan, forcing courage back into himself. "You only got me because I wasn't paying attention."
He tried to make himself sound confident. "You really think you're something special?"
As soon as he finished speaking, he raised the knife and stabbed at Ethan.
The blade went straight for Ethan's chest.
"Careful!"
Vivian's pupils contracted. Her heart jumped to her throat.
She instinctively wanted to rush forward, but there was no time. The man was too close to Ethan, and she was too far away.
Ethan, however, remained calm.
There was not even the slightest change in his expression.
Just as the blade was about to touch his clothes, Ethan finally moved.
He raised his right hand lightly, extended his index and middle fingers, and caught the sharp blade between them with perfect precision.
The robber's eyes widened.
He shoved forward.
It would not move.
He tried to pull back.
It still would not move.
He was trapped between advancing and retreating.
Ethan's two fingers were like a steel vise. Once they bit down on the blade, they refused to release it. No matter how hard the robber struggled, he could not shake them even slightly.
Sweat broke out on the man's forehead.
How was this guy so strong?
Compared with his panic, Ethan still had the leisure to turn his head and look at Vivian, whose face had gone pale.
"Relax," he said easily. "Your man isn't weak enough to be hurt by trash like this."
Only after seeing Ethan block that frantic strike so easily did Vivian's tense body slowly loosen.
She had never imagined Ethan could be this powerful.
He was stronger than any top professional bodyguard she had ever seen.
That sense of safety was something none of them could possibly give her.
Ethan turned back to the robber, who was still trying desperately to pull out the knife.
Without another word, he lifted his leg and kicked.
Bang!
The kick landed squarely in the man's chest.
The robber flew backward like he had been hit by a truck.
His body slid across the smooth tile floor, rolling out of the watch store entrance in one long, clean line.
Behind the counter, the saleswomen stared in stunned silence.
One young saleswoman could not help crying out, "He's amazing! So handsome! That's a real man!"
Vivian heard it, and a strange little pride rose in her heart.
After all, Ethan was her boyfriend.
If someone praised him for being powerful, it was normal for her to feel proud of him.
Outside the store, another man was leaning against the wall and keeping watch.
He also wore a baseball cap and mask, revealing only a pair of alert eyes as he observed the surroundings.
Suddenly, a figure slid out from inside the store and crashed directly at his feet.
The masked man lowered his head, and his brows tightened.
He recognized the person as the partner who had just gone inside to rob the store.
He kicked his partner and lowered his voice. "What happened to you?"
The partner clutched his chest, his face full of fear and grievance.
"Boss, we hit a hard one."
He gasped as he spoke. "That guy... he saw my gun was fake. He caught my knife with his bare hand. His strength is insane."
The masked man asked again, "Where's the bag?"
His partner pointed into the store. "Almost full. It's still on the counter."
The masked man looked into the store and clenched his jaw, weighing the pros and cons.
If they finished this job, they could live comfortably for a long time.
If he went back empty-handed, not only would the work be wasted, but people on the street would laugh at him.
He chose to gamble.
The masked man threw his cigarette butt on the floor and crushed it under his shoe.
Then he pulled down his mask, drew a real gun from his waist, and strode into the store.
The masked man entered with the gun in hand, his shifty eyes sweeping the room.
His gaze quickly locked onto the bag on the counter. It was bulging, clearly already packed with many watches.
He went straight for it.
But after only a few steps, he noticed Ethan blocking the way.
The masked man raised the gun and aimed at Ethan.
"Move."
His tone carried obvious threat. "This one isn't a toy."
Ethan stood where he was and looked at him quietly.
That gaze was so calm it made the masked man's scalp prickle.
Seeing that Ethan refused to move, the masked man tightened his brows, raised the gun, and pulled the trigger toward the ceiling.
Bang!
The gunshot shattered the store's brief calm.
"Ah!"
The saleswomen behind the counter screamed and dropped to the floor, covering their heads.
Vivian also trembled.
She realized it was a real gun.
The masked man lowered his arm and aimed at Ethan again. "Move. Stop pretending to be a hero. You don't have the qualifications."
This time, Ethan did not move aside.
Instead, he took one step forward.
His confidence came from one of the many rewards granted by the Check-In System.
An indestructible body.
Forget a small-caliber handgun. Even if an armor-piercing sniper round struck him straight in the chest, it would not break his skin.
"Is that so?"
The corner of Ethan's mouth lifted. "Funny. I think I do."
As he spoke, he took another step forward.
The masked man's eyes narrowed. His finger rested on the trigger, and confusion filled his face.
Was this man crazy?
"Ethan!"
Vivian rushed behind him and grabbed at his clothes.
She reminded him in a low, urgent voice, "Are you insane? That's a real gun!"
Ethan looked back at her, and his smile softened.
"Don't worry."
His voice was not loud, but it carried complete certainty. "Real or not, it's still a toy to me."
The masked man was truly furious now.
Time was passing second by second. If this dragged on, the police would arrive.
He clenched his teeth so hard they ground together, and determination flashed in his eyes.
"Damn it. Since you want to die, I'll help you!"
Whether he fought or ran, it was dangerous either way.
Better to gamble.
His arm and the muzzle lowered, aiming at Ethan's thigh.
He pulled the trigger.
Bang!
Flame burst from the muzzle, and the bullet shot out.
He had not aimed at Ethan's head. Killing someone would make things far worse.
His plan was only to shoot Ethan in the leg, disable him, grab the bag of watches worth millions, and escape to enjoy life.
Unfortunately, Ethan's x-ray vision had been active the entire time.
Besides seeing through objects, those eyes had another function.
They could slow the flow of time.
In Ethan's vision, the bullet flew toward him in visible slow motion.
So slow it was almost still.
And he could adjust that speed at will.
Ethan shifted sideways.
The bullet brushed past his trouser leg, struck the floor, and kicked up a spray of sparks.
The masked man froze.
He was confident in his aim. At such a close distance, he should not have missed.
Before he could process it, Ethan had already crossed the gap in two or three steps.
His right hand reached out and gripped the gun firmly.
The masked man's pupils shrank. Instinctively, he tried to pull the trigger again.
Ethan's fingers tightened slightly.
The masked man watched in horror as the gun in his hand was crushed by Ethan as easily as soft rubber.
Author's Note:
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Thank you for reading.