Reborn With the Infinite Gods System

Chapter 148 Chapter148 No ability

The unsettling discovery of their powers being dampened had cast a shadow of dread over the group. They moved more cautiously now, far more cautious than they had ever been before. Every step forward was careful, every breath measured. Without their abilities, they were vulnerable, defenseless. It felt like walking into the jaws of a beast with no way to fight back.

With their powers out of play, the only things they could rely on were their Beast weapons. But what was a weapon without the speed and strength to wield it? The Beast weapons had powers of their own, sure, but they were little more than dead weight without the physical force to back them up. If they couldn't get close enough, or land a hard enough hit, the weapons were practically useless.

Yet, despite these odds, they were getting closer to their destination. Josh checked his watch, eyes narrowing as he observed the red dot on the monitor inching closer. They'd be there by now if not for the beast-themed traps littering the area, forcing them to take detours and slow down.

"This is really bad," Haze muttered under her breath as she tried, yet again, to summon her powers. Her face was set in grim determination, her brow furrowed with frustration. She alone refused to give up, even when everyone else had accepted their abilities were gone.

"Give it up, woman," Thor said through clenched teeth. Her constant attempts were beginning to grate on him. He could hardly understand why she was so stubborn about it. It was painfully obvious their abilities were nullified, so what was the point of trying?

"That's easy for you to say, you big oaf," Haze snapped back. "It's not like you're the one with a weak physique who could get knocked down by a strong breeze. So shut up!"

Thor's face softened. She was right; he could feel some sense of security in his own physical strength, even without his powers. Haze didn't have that. Her small stature left her feeling exposed, vulnerable, and he had failed to consider that.

"I'm... I'm sorry," Thor mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper. It was rare for him to apologize to anyone, and he found the words strange, unfamiliar, on his tongue.

Haze paused, her eyes widening slightly in surprise. She lowered her hand, giving him her full attention. "That's... not like you," she said softly, her tone one of genuine curiosity.

Thor shrugged, averting his gaze. "Yeah, well... I guess I've been thinking about things. Seeing Axel fight for what he believes in, watching him care for his family while facing down some of the worst dangers—I realized I was just hiding. I've been protecting the scared kid inside me, but maybe it's time to grow up."

Haze's expression softened, and she let out a light chuckle. "You've really changed, big guy." Then, her face grew serious as she glanced in the direction of the ship. "So... what do you think about Axel's condition?"

Thor's brow furrowed, and he sighed. "To be honest, I don't know. Axel's out of our hands now. We just have to hope he wakes up... before it's too late."

"Guys!" Josh's voice cut through their conversation, barely louder than a whisper but intense enough to capture their attention. They stopped in their tracks, eyes locked on the ground beneath them.

"Damn it... it's underground," Josh muttered, frustration etched on his face. "Without our abilities, it'll take us ages to dig through to reach it."

"Just when things couldn't get worse," Andre groaned, throwing his head back in exasperation. "We'll be stuck here for eternity at this rate."

"Then we'd better start digging," Thor said, gripping his weapon tightly.

---

Back on the ship, Sarah placed her hands on Axel's chest, desperately attempting to summon her healing ability. She concentrated, her mind willing the power to flow into him, but nothing happened. Not even a spark.

"Come on!" she hissed through clenched teeth, her frustration mounting.

Trisha stood nearby, her face a mask of worry. "What the hell is going on?"

"I can't do a damn thing!" Sarah snapped, her voice tight with anger and helplessness. "My powers just... won't work."

Trisha took a shaky breath, trying to keep her composure. "Let me try mine."

Trisha extended her hand, focusing her mind and body, channeling all her energy into summoning her powers. But, just like Sarah, she felt nothing. Her power was gone, snuffed out like a candle in the wind.

"Nothing... It's like we've been completely cut off," Trisha said, panic seeping into her voice. "Could it be something on this planet that's causing this?"

Sarah let out a defeated sigh, slumping back against the wall. "If that's the case, then the others outside are in serious trouble."

"And that doesn't worry you?" Trisha stared at her, stunned. "How can you be so... indifferent?"

Sarah rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. "Why should I care? It's not like any of them have ever done anything for me. I'm not here to make friends, Trisha. Just because I'm helping Axel doesn't mean I give a damn about the rest of them. I'm not some hero."

Trisha felt a pang of guilt and frustration, her fists clenching. "Maybe they're not your friends, but they're still risking their lives. We have to warn them!"

Sarah snorted. "Do whatever you want, princess. I don't owe them anything." She stood up, brushing imaginary dust off her clothes. "If you'll excuse me, I'm going back to my room. This world's already a lost cause if you ask me."

Trisha watched her leave, feeling a sense of unease settle in her chest. She couldn't understand why Sarah was so heartless, so disconnected from the people around her. But there was no time to figure it out now. She had to warn the others.

Before she could take another step, a familiar voice spoke up from the shadows. "Don't do what you're thinking about. It's already too late."

Trisha turned, startled, to see Loki standing there with his hands in his pockets, his expression unreadable.

"Loki... how long have you been listening?"

"Long enough," he replied, his tone cool. "Look, we have a bigger problem on our hands than you realize. There's a traitor among us."

Trisha's blood ran cold. "A... a traitor?"

Loki nodded, his gaze dark and serious. "I don't have concrete proof yet, but I've pieced together enough clues to be suspicious. This person's actions are too calculated, too precise. It's almost as if they've orchestrated our every move, leading us to this point."

Trisha's mind raced, the implications sinking in. "Do you think that's why we can't use our powers?"

"Most likely," Loki said, his voice low. "Whoever this traitor is, they know exactly what they're doing. They're not just selling us out to a bigger threat; they're using us, manipulating us to get their hands on the monitor and, ultimately, the weapon it leads to."

Trisha's heart pounded in her chest. "But... who could it be? Do you have any suspects?"

Loki's face darkened. "It's not the obvious choice. It would be too easy if it were Williams. No, this person is clever, skilled at hiding in plain sight. I suspect they're the same person who once provoked a Voidwalker to attack Rika Zero."

Trisha felt a chill run down her spine. Whoever this was, they were deeply connected to the Voidwalkers. This wasn't just about betrayal; this was a calculated plan to dismantle them from the inside out.

"If this spy can manipulate the Voidwalkers and strip us of our powers," she murmured, her throat dry, "then they're capable of anything. We're like pawns in their game..."

Loki nodded solemnly. "Exactly. They've been one step ahead of us all along. First, they destroyed our base at Rika Zero. Now, they've taken our powers and led us here, using us to locate the monitor. But once they get what they want, they won't need us anymore."

Trisha swallowed hard, dread settling like a weight in her stomach. "So what's your plan? How do we stop this traitor?"

Loki's eyes narrowed. "I have a way to draw them out, to force their hand. But... it's risky."

"How risky?" she demanded, a note of fear creeping into her voice.

"If it fails... we're all dead," Loki said bluntly.

**Author's Note:**

Hey, dear readers! How's everyone holding up? Hope you're buckled in, because things are about to get intense! When I started writing this, I honestly didn't think the crew would run into this *much* trouble—no powers, underground bases, secret spies? Yeah, they're pretty much living my worst-case-scenario playthrough of "what could go wrong next."

Also, if you ever feel like you're cursed with a suspiciously chaotic friend group, just remember: at least you're not part of a team *actively* being sabotaged on an alien planet. Keep those fingers crossed for our gang, and let's see who's brave enough to dig in—literally!