Chapter 00014: Kill Her
# Kill Her
Chapter 14
Novel: Above Destiny
Chapter 14: Kill Her
Silence, stillness, suffocation.
In the stifling and foul-smelling underground garage, there had rarely been such a crowded moment since it was built—awkwardness hung in the air, almost palpable, growing to a peak that stood between the two sides.
It was like settling into your seat on an eighteen-hour long-haul flight only to realize that your left neighbor is your ex-girlfriend, with whom you had a fierce breakup, and your right neighbor is her current boyfriend.
The result was an inescapable sense of suffocation.
Ji Jue maintained a shaky smile, staring at the rapidly healing face in front of him, stealing glances at Lu Feng, who was struggling to stay conscious.
His expression twitched.
“Is it you? Ha, what a coincidence, so it’s you after all.”
Zhu Hong’s expression slowly changed from frozen shock, her torn face twisting as her long tongue slid between her lips like a snake: “I thought, what could be that familiar scent. So, it’s you…”
It’s me!
Ji Jue desperately wanted to raise his chin and introduce himself that way, but that was hard to do when Brother Feng’s neck was being gripped tightly by this monster.
His drooping palm twitched slightly, making a gesture.
Lu Feng, who was struggling in the air, hesitated for a moment, not grasping the weapon hidden behind him.
“What a surprise.”
Zhu Hong cackled with amusement, her sharp limbs stripping Lu Feng of his night vision goggles and mask.
Her sharp fingernails slowly sank into his neck, blood oozing out and vanishing under the licking of her long tongue.
Thus, on her pale face, a hint of intoxicating blush emerged, her eyes glimmering: “What a pity, Little Ji Master, I wanted to invite you to join me… But your scent has become even more enticing. What do you think about having some fun together? Who knows, you might be even more successful than I am.”
She examined the boy's face, relishing his futile attempts to mask his panic and fear, taking her time, like a beast enjoying the struggles of a dying prey.
“What kind of fun are you so eager to have together?”
Ji Jue laughed stiffly, throwing out nonsense: “How about playing games together? Sure, sure, I excel at being a rogue!”
Yet his gaze couldn’t help but drift downward… skimming over the three delicate white conical objects that quivered, then landing on her right hand that had crushed the gun barrel.
Her wrist.
He felt momentarily distracted.
Under the flickering lights, the glamorous watch embedded with tiny diamonds emitted a faint glimmer, exquisite and solemn.
The logo of the pioneer brand, the Crown series, Red Wings.
Those who believe in the worth of luxury often say that wearing such a watch feels like putting on a true crown.
It could make the jewelry of other rich ladies and noblewomen pale in comparison.
As a top luxury brand from the Southern Land Empire, a commemorative model like Red Wings retails for an astonishing three million two hundred forty thousand in specialty stores, yet its resale value in the second-hand market often exceeds five million.
To even have a chance to hold it in your hand at a specialty store means you must be a member who has spent enough to purchase over ten basic models of high-tier VIP items.
Just wearing it made Ji Jue, a mere muddy creature, acutely aware of the fragrance of money.
Out of reach.
That was something not meant for a mortal like him, crawling in the mud.
“Do you really not understand? Little brother.”
Zhu Hong licked her fingertips, her smile growing even brighter: “At first, it may feel a little uncomfortable, but later, you’ll discover what true happiness is.”
Her long tongue licked the blood on her face, so seductive, like flowers blossoming from blood.
“Wonderful.”
Ji Jue couldn’t help but murmur softly.
“Hmm?” Zhu Hong momentarily froze, watching him space out, unsure of what he was up to.
“I mean, being rich must feel fantastic, right?”
Ji Jue sighed lightly, lifting his head to look at her face, serious and focused: “You must be very wealthy, immensely so, even beyond my imagination.”
And that was why, he was baffled, confused, utterly…
He simply couldn't understand!
How could she wear things that many would never touch in their lifetimes so casually, turning Ji Jue’s coveted wealth into a mere string of numbers…
Wasn't that enough?
What was the goal?
Did she have such lofty ideals and great dreams that required her to achieve them by gnawing on the bones of her own kind?
Was she willing to create hell, to turn into this dreadful being?
He couldn’t make sense of it.
And he didn’t want to.
Ji Jue sighed: “Let’s just forget it then.”
“... What did you say?” Zhu Hong asked, baffled.
“I said, go screw your beautiful dreams!”
Ji Jue raised his voice, unable to suppress his anger: “I’ve fought tooth and nail my whole life against others not to end up as this kind of monster!”
“—I would rather die than become one!”
In the sudden silence, Ji Jue abruptly raised his hand, pointing it at her face.
He abandoned pretense and the game of time.
Without hesitation, he pulled the trigger!
All he received in return was a disdainful chuckle.
Slow.
Too slow!
Having barely survived the giant snake’s strangulation, Ji Jue was already at his limit—first caught in the python’s coil, then hit by high-voltage electricity, and draining almost all his spirit essence.
Now, he could hardly stand.
Let alone aim with his trembling, spasming arms.
Even when the muzzle pointed directly at her, Zhu Hong didn’t care at all.
Instead, she mockingly raised her arm to shield Lu Feng from the gun’s line of fire.
Eagerly watching the expression on Lu Feng’s face as his own brother ended his life.
Stunned, bewildered, vacant.
Only, there was no despair!
On the contrary, in that moment of realization, a smile broke out on the blood-soaked face.
Because, there was no gunshot.
Only a click, the crisp sound of the firing pin striking air—Ji Jue’s hunter pistol only held twelve rounds, and it had long been emptied during the struggle with the giant snake!
Well played, Little Ji!
In that crucial moment, Lu Feng’s drooping arm suddenly revealed something metallic sliding out of his sleeve, falling into his gathered fingers, without hesitation, he thrust the dagger at Zhu Hong!
“Seeking death!!!” Zhu Hong roared, tightening her grip around Lu Feng’s neck.
But before that, the first sound was the deafening boom!
And it was nearby!
From Lu Feng’s other hand, still gripping a shotgun so tightly, even though its barrel was already crushed and bent, the bullets within still roared out, delivering a thrilling… explosion!
Crimson sprayed forth, in Lu Feng's grip, white bone was exposed, as the exploded casing and shards of bullets rained down like a torrential storm, enveloping both of them.
Finally, a scream rang out.
From Zhu Hong.
Lu Feng fell to the ground, his neck still caught by a grotesquely transformed claw, but that claw was already severed at the wrist! There, Zhu Hong stood half-covered in blood, howling in sudden, excruciating pain.
Alongside it was the wail of despair.
Coming from Ji Jue’s subordinate, whose left hand, sporting a watch, was pressed against the remains of the giant snake.
[Detecting external active distortions in spiritual essence, would you like to absorb?]
Yes! Yes! Yes!
Damn it!!!
From the flow of light in the matrix, from the charred remains of flesh and blood, scarlet poured forth, shrieking like insects, falling into Ji Jue's hand, instantly drained by the watch.
And the numbers that had previously fallen to zero began to surge rapidly, climbing again.
Ji Jue had no idea how much blood he had consumed or how many lives he had taken.
Just a small fraction made the numbers soar to their limit at 99.
“Is it only you that could transform?!” Ji Jue roared, lifting his wristwatch: “I can too!!!”
With his last reserves of strength spent, he lunged forward, grabbing the cross bit from his pocket, aiming it at a nearby… outlet!
Almost suicidal!
No, it was suicide.
As the current surged into Ji Jue’s body once more without hindrance, countless error boxes popped up before his eyes.
[Error][Error][Error][Error]
[Detecting that temporary worker is in life-threatening danger… Calling nearby stations, no signal response, calling headquarters support center, no signal response…]
In the end, it was the final straw for survival—
—[Temporary worker emergency survival agreement initiated]
Click!
The numbers on the watch spiraled backward.
This time, Ji Jue finally felt the form the protocol took, that matrix once capable of draining a monster's soul now erupted from the watch, enveloping Ji Jue’s body, covering everything, even within, surrounding his soul, penetrating, implanting, merging with him!
As if, he had been born this way…
And under the covering of the matrix, Ji Jue’s previously vague and distant powers swiftly ascended, manifested, solidifying, much like stars igniting within the soul, shining bright.
The world seemed to freeze, everything fell into silence.
From the freeze, Ji Jue’s consciousness seemed to detach from time, freely overlooking all, the flying blood, the fallen Lu Feng, the raging Zhu Hong, and even more.
More, which had been here all along, but was completely ignored by everyone!
Light tubes, sockets, cables, exhaust fans, phones, even the true, gargantuan behemoth.
—That huge truck, filled more than halfway with equipment!
Ji Jue cast his gaze towards the truck.
The truck’s headlights shone brightly, bursting forth with light, as if it too were watching him, humbly gazing, respectfully waiting, earnestly praying, waiting, pleading, sincerely.
Silent reverence.
Ji Jue gave the command: [Kill her.]
And so, the truck rejoiced.
The engine roared, the fuel line trembled, the drive shaft howled, the radiator sang, the wheels praised it, the frame quaked, erupting into hymns of joy, cheering, shouting, ecstatic howling.
As if the silent soul had finally learned its most important duty in this life, its greatest significance, an unshakeable truth in the world and eternal justice.
It said: [At your command.]
In that moment, a violent roar erupted from the countless mechanical vibrations.
From the sole truth and command in the world, sparks flew, pistons moved, the engine roared with ferocity as though it were self-destructing, sparks flew from the drive shaft, and the deafening honk blared from just nearby, but it couldn’t drown out the wails from the tires and ground.
The dazzling headlights illuminated the crimson on Zhu Hong's face.
So that her burning red eyes were filled with blinding light.
Then, in an instant, it accelerated from a standstill, reaching two hundred ten kilometers per hour within a mere two meters.
The heavy Southern Wind truck, bearing a load of twenty-six tons, unfurled its invisible wings, opening its intangible embrace.
Embracing Zhu Hong into its arms!
—Boom!!!!
(End of this chapter)