Chapter 00242: Love, Death, Machines, and Men.
# Love, Death, Machines, and Men.
Chapter 242
Novel: Above Destiny
Chapter 242: Love, Death, Machines, and Men.
The light from the tattered flags blazed fiercely.
From above the vast sky, it looked like a solitary beam of dazzling starlight rising amidst the pitch-black and smoldering ashes, scattering its brilliance.
Yet within that enormous projection, all eyes were turned upwards, focused on the terrifying shadow that enveloped the entire Spring City.
“It is already too late.”
In the darkness, a soft sigh echoed, “The haze of the four seas converges, a curse upon the world serves as a support, and the entire Spring City is sinking into the shadow of a vortex. Lu Changsheng is betting, betting that he can withstand Tao Cheng's Heavenly Origin assimilation, betting that he can achieve his own ambitions. I’ve told you, that madman wins one game and wants to win another; once he tastes sweetness, he only desires more. Where is the concept of moderation?”
“Then what are you still hesitating for?”
Within the five seats encircling the projection, an impatient middle-aged man questioned, “The legacy of the Heavenly Rails is being misused, and the Federation keeps sending messages for inquiries. It’s as if we deliberately violated the T5 protocol. When the Heavenly Rails collapsed, who knew that another Omniversal Engine was lost in the outsiders?”
“Are they giving us a mess to clean up?”
A figure resembling a doctor in a white coat and mask spoke slowly, “The T5 protocol is like a dog leash hanging around our necks, nearly choking us to death. It’s just been a decorative piece for so many years, with barely any business. Audit after audit, and still unclear. Only when something goes wrong, or when someone is sick, do they remember us. Where have you been?”
“There is an even more troubling piece of news—”
The anxious middle-aged man said slowly, “Two minutes ago, the emergency communication line between the Federation’s Central City Council and the Empire's Senate was established. Both sides are currently assessing the situation. If it continues to deteriorate, they may very well deploy the unparalleled Heavenly Craftsman, number unknown, to conduct a cleansing.”
“Then why are they rushing us to act?”
“Don't forget, the T5 alliance is one entity, and the responsibilities are shared.” The elder who initiated the summon knocked on the table: “If this continues, once the Heavenly Rails collapse, and the Shadow Sun seal goes out of control, what consequences await us?”
All fell into silence.
Only the elder in the shadows extinguished his cigarette, suddenly raised his hand: “Yongji Bank proposes a solution to the current misuse of the Heavenly Rails legacy. Activate [Dust].”
In that instant of dead silence, even the sound of breathing was absent.
Dust sounded insignificant.
Yet, in reality, what remained in the Yongji Bank vault was merely 0.81 grams.
In the era of the chaotic kings, the annihilation-grade weapon left behind by the Dragon of Mountains—an unparalleled Heavenly Craftsman sourced from [Desolate Ruins]—appeared like dust, yet it was the nemesis of all tangible things in the world.
A weight of less than 0.1 grams was sufficient to wipe out everything within Spring City and within a radius of several thousand kilometers from the map altogether.
It would be as if it had never existed in the world.
As a price, the disappearance of tangible things would give birth to an equivalent amount of intangible disasters.
The tangible remains, endure and thrive in this world.
While the intangible disasters arrive and disappear without a trace…
If the entirety of Spring City were utterly erased, what terrifying disaster would emerge from it?
“..... How could it come to this?”
Even the most impatient middle-aged man hesitated.
“The Federation has authorized it. Moreover, this aligns with the emergency clauses of the additional provisions of the T5 protocol.”
The elder sighed, “I’ve already contacted the Federation; if the proposal is approved, [Dust] will be deployed in half an hour. They have enough time to evacuate. I understand the consequences are severe, but at this point, you must choose one of two outcomes."
Thus, no one spoke again.
“Everyone, the mission of T5 is already complete. We will eventually withdraw from history. What we need to do now is maintain our final dignity and ensure our power is not misused. Please begin voting—”
The elder raised his hand first: “Yongji Bank, approved.”
A green light lit up.
Silently cloaked in shadows, from an unseen seat, a figure resembling a clerk put down the phone and raised his hand: “Universal Heavy Industry and Great Creation, approved.”
The second green light lit up.
The middle-aged man remained silent for a long while and sighed silently: “Wujie Communication, abstain.”
The third light extinguished.
“Can we not be troubled by murder and arson in the future?”
The doctor waved his hand, “Hope Hospital, approved.”
The fourth green light lit up.
Three votes in favor, one abstained.
“In that case, let's disperse.” The elder stood up: “The preparatory work will be handed over…”
Beep!
In that instant, a harsh sound rang out.
The fifth light shone, a brilliant crimson!
It left everyone frozen, stunned, turning to look at the empty seat.
[——Heavenly Rails transportation, vetoed!]
According to the T5 protocol, the five parties integrated their positions and shared responsibilities, but to prevent mutual interference, the presiding party possesses one veto power regarding proposals on internal matters!
At this moment, a figure appeared in the dusty and vacant seat that had not been occupied for years.
Leaning forward slightly, sitting where the light shone.
It was a shepherd dog.
As if having traversed mountains and rivers, its soft, shiny fur was covered in grease and dust, damp and bearing traces of smoke and fire.
Such a sorry sight.
Only its two black eyes remained clear and bright, reflecting the light.
Silently pleading.
The middle-aged representative of Wujie Communication was taken aback for a moment and immediately exploded in anger: “Hey, dead dog, do you understand the situation?”
“President, this isn’t a joke.”
The doctor reached out and carefully wiped the dust off its face: “You can’t act recklessly, understand?”
“What the hell are those guys thinking? I already said it’s unreliable to let a dog carry the voting rights!” The elder’s expression darkened, glaring: “The situation has become urgent; I demand a forceful change of representatives!”
Amidst many gazes, the president lowered his head despondently.
Drooping its ears, it whimpered twice.
“Wait, wait.”
It hastily leaned forward, its nose jabbing at the speaker button on the table: “Me! Me! I want to speak!”
“Group! Appeal! Must!”
It raised its head to look at everyone, pleading, paw pressed down: “Problem, President, good, employees, together, solve! Employees, good, the president, believe!”
“Everyone, trust the president, please, trust!”
“……”
The elder fell silent for a moment, wanting to speak yet hesitating, but when he looked into those eyes, pure and clear beyond human comparison, he sighed without a sound: “Do you really understand the consequences? This isn’t a responsibility you should bear.”
The president’s eyes lit up, as if smiling, its paw pressing down on the button: “President, love, humans! Love! Love! Love! Love!”
“President, love humans more than anything!”
“More than oneself, love!”
“Please, humans, do not harm humans!”
It hurriedly and anxiously searched for the button, pressing it, pleading:
“——President, definitely, will protect humans!”
In the silence, no one spoke again.
After two hundred years, the Heavenly Rails transportation once again submitted an application to the T5 alliance.
Special operational authority granted!
Time, three minutes!
The scenes of world creation had many differing views, yet the visage of world destruction seemed fundamentally the same.
It was as if many years ago.
The ground was pitch black, the sky burned red, and between heaven and earth rained ashes.
Like the lingering hatred of the departed, the residue named death…
“Truly resembles.”
Ji Jue gazed at the world before him, suddenly finding that the words of Jian Yuan were not without reason.
Perhaps, he had never escaped his past hell.
Perhaps, this was merely a child's fantasy before death, an ephemeral dream, rendering it all so absurd and bizarre.
The calamity from over a decade ago came with destruction and burning too swiftly, tearing apart everything he had known.
Half had been buried in the past, sleeping in eternal silence.
The other half, however, hurried forward, gradually drifting away.
Now, as he bore witness to it all again, he began to wonder if, within this lingering ash in the wind, there was a part of it that originated from his former self?
Clearly, hell was so terrifying; why would so many people eagerly wish to create more hells?
“Why immerse oneself in decay, Jian Yuan?”
Ji Jue turned around and curiously asked, “Clearly you never suffered from sins; clearly you could care less about so-called great sins.”
Just as he activated his engine, revealing his soul in that moment, Ji Jue distinctly saw clearly.
Within Jian Yuan's body, traces of both benevolence and great sins coexisted, yet neither could claim supremacy.
Just like his contempt towards great sins and benevolence in his words.
He treated everything as materials, merely using them without any intention of taking sides.
But why then was he so fixated on destruction?
“Is it really that important? I don’t care.”
With a flick of his finger, Jian Yuan effortlessly controlled the Heavenly Rails he had created, maintaining the stability of Spring City, indifferently questioning: “Why can’t I immerse myself in sin? And why the division of good and sin?”
“The incapable always draw lines to deceive themselves. There will always be things beyond one's capacity to confront with calm acceptance, like the stubborn and inept individuals within the association. But some people will believe those excuses and lies to be absolute truths, like you. But boundaries are meant to be crossed; the so-called rules never existed from the start! Stagnating and complacent, blindfolding oneself pretending nothing has happened, covering one’s ears as if nothing could be heard—self-deceit, what kind of craftsman is that?”
He turned back, as if fed up with the foolish dreamers and the clumsy jokes of the ignorant: “Benevolence or great sin, both are principles of the world. Since the principle lies there, I will go there to seek it. Now I ask you, why are there things in this world I cannot know?”
Ji Jue remained indifferent, only asking: “Even if it spreads endless poison?”
In that moment, Jian Yuan could no longer hold back, bursting into laughter.
“A flood, what does it have to do with me?”
“No, it has to do with you.”
Ji Jue shook his head, solemnly telling him: “When the snow mountain collapses and the flood breaks its banks, perhaps among countless snowflakes, there will be one or two innocent ones that come before you. In the endless torrent, isn’t there a drop of revenge that will fall upon you?”
For example, right now—
In that moment, a violent roar erupted from beneath Jian Yuan’s feet.
Flames soared into the sky.
By contrast, the silver light appearing in Ji Jue's eyes looked so minuscule.
Only a wisp, yet in its circulation, it seemed to cut through like a hot knife through wax, ruthlessly shattering all the blockades that Jian Yuan had set upon himself.
Ruthlessly!
Having completely exhausted the breath of transformation that once lingered upon himself, Ji Jue returned to freedom.
Without hesitation, he lunged forward!
He had been comforting himself, telling himself the situation had not yet reached a critical point, that perhaps everything wasn't so bad.
Patience was needed; he had to stabilize and wait for an opportunity.
But he could not wait any longer.
“Damn it, I’m blowing up with you!”
Unbeknownst to him, the skeleton left beneath Jian Yuan's feet roared angrily, completing its final translation work.
Then, within the sealed skull, hidden beneath the blessing of [Two Hearts Know], a chain-like spiritual essence structure collapsed like dominoes, triggering an irreversible chain reaction.
All the flames and heat Ji Jue had stolen from the furnace in recent days, refined to the limit of energetic explosives, erupted with a loud bang.
But regrettably, it was of no use.
In the moment the flames exploded and soared, it stagnated in place.
At most, it wasted Jian Yuan's reach, pointing downwards.
Desolate Ruins: Stagnation Zone!
But it was enough to allow Ji Jue to seize a crucial moment, breaking free from his binds.
Meanwhile, the wheelchair underneath suddenly roared, howled, the hand-cranked motor whirled in a frenzy, and the structure operated, hidden beneath the steel pipes, mercury flowed, transforming, the armrests, cushions, and even the wheels, a series of sinfully sharp blades sprang forth from the confinement of the mercury, slashing.
Like a storm of steel, engulfing everything, it cut Jian Yuan into a thousand pieces!
Sadly, still, in vain.
The upper dominion of the remnants’ path was almost absolute, and for a master like Jian Yuan, Ji Jue's tricks fell under his gaze, not to mention he had already been under his watchful eye all along.
Even at this moment, Ji Jue’s sudden outburst was entirely within Jian Yuan's expectations.
The only miscalculation was…
Ji Jue's counterattack was too weak!
He had not found a better opportunity, nor did he have the patience to wait until he exposed a flaw—so recklessly rushing up without any meaningful result.
Furthermore, merely such, trivial tricks!
Boom!
With a flick, countless sharp blades and edges, along with the entire wheelchair, were shattered, collapsing into dust.
Heavenly Origin: Kinetic Impact!
Thus, finally… revealed the dagger at the end of the plot!
From the wreckage of the wheelchair, a wisp of grayish light illuminated his eyes.
It filled this battered and scarred body with a shiver!
That was... the heart-venom arrow forced onto Ji Jue from Master Zhou Zhong's merciless cut!
Upon materializing, it had already decomposed into countless minuscule beams of light, converging into one, fully activated and locked on!
No, wait, clearly, he revealed no spiritual essence as media to be locked on; how was it functioning?
In the blink of an eye, Jian Yuan caught a glimpse of the remains of the skeleton out of the corner of his eye, and involuntarily burst into laughter—so that was it?
Long before he created this work meant for laughter, enticing himself to attempt, had he already prepared for today?
Indeed, quite capable!
But still not enough!
He even looked down upon manipulating blessings, even more so disregarding defense; he coldly raised his head, allowing the heart-venom arrow to pierce into his body, endless grievances and anger, even distortions surged into his soul.
But what’s the difference?
In the next moment, it was swallowed entirely by his battle-worn soul!
A mere heart-venom, nothing more!
Smack!
The sound of the blade piercing flesh echoed.
Jian Yuan's mocking smile froze on his face.
He slowly lowered his head, saw the shallow blade tip protruding from his chest, penetrating; then, the carefully taught and forged venom he created spread, poisoning his flesh.
That was… the shards of the skeleton.
During the explosion, the fragments falling from the skeleton's body.
Yet as the main structure collapsed, what emerged was another bounty of blessings!
[Battle-Tested Sharpness]?
Where did it come from? When?
In that moment, what flickered in his mind was that utterly useless scratching tool…
The scratching tool was intentionally crafted into waste, yet it concealed its flawed blessings within the skeleton?
This fist-sized creation was, in fact, a double-blessing creation, relying on concealed explosives, completely deceiving his eyes in terms of structure.
Beneath the hidden chamber, there was another hidden chamber.
Within change, there lay hidden changes!
At the moment of the fragments bursting forth, a third invisible hand of spiritual essence caught the flying shards, gripping tightly.
Then, without hesitation, it pierced through his back, targeting the heart.
The blade, originally a mere inch in length, drained his blood in an instant, multiplied itself, and then dozens, if not hundreds, of crimson blades burst from his body, scattering.
Cut to pieces!
If this act truly meant anything.
Boom!
Ji Jue's body flew backward, his recently healed legs shattering bit by bit, ribs buckling under pressure broke and pierced into his lungs, spreading sharp pain.
But his hands remained remarkably intact.
Mockingly leaving him a glimmer of resistance.
Jian Yuan’s dismembered body reassembled in the air.
A mere rebirth, still full of life force, why underestimate himself like this?
Or did he already foresee the consequences, without a means to fight back, a desperate last stand, just to sprinkle those last bits of flood and snowflakes upon his own head?
“Truly, I underestimated you.”
He waved his hand, easily shattering that spiritual hand, seizing the remaining blades, observing carefully.
When gazing upon Ji Jue's agonized form, he could no longer suppress his ‘admiration’:
“How come today I only find out… that within the remnants’ path, a righteous messenger willing to sacrifice has come? A valiant warrior unafraid of authority?”
Jian Yuan snorted coldly, “How should I address you?”
Ji Jue remained silent.
It was as if he was lost in thought.
But for some reason, he remembered not long ago the immortal patients in the Temporal Ruins.
Their cries, their shouts, the silent wails resonated within the rain and darkness, just like those of the others before him.
So familiar.
Like the self he once was.
The earth burned, ashes poured like rain.
Flames flowed, carrying hell, bringing more pain through the desolate world, flowing into the ocean of tears, never to be seen again.
But what was he?
Among so many suffering souls, did the peculiar being really need another Ji Jue? Among so many innocent dead, did it truly matter to lose just one more?
From the beginning to the end, he was only lucky.
He just happened to be fortunate enough to be loved by the best of the world… by… her.
So, there was no need for a special title or a grand name to encapsulate it.
It was because of this that he felt such regret and shame.
“I’m sorry, Director Qian.”
He sighed self-mockingly: “I really am not a good doctor.”
In that moment, Ji Jue's hand stretched out as a bone blade emerged from his flesh, falling into five fingers, translucent blade-edge no longer merciful, sharpness unveiled.
Pointing at Jian Yuan's face.
But immediately afterward, before he could react, he turned the blade.
Stabbing down!
Piercing through the heart, twisting!
“Call me whatever you like, Jian Yuan.”
In the astonished expression of the profound artisan, Ji Jue smiled calmly: “Call me as you wish.”
Not holding any grand love, nor possessing any mercy.
Feigning benevolence, hesistant and cold, merely a vestige of resentment and fury, minuscule tricks unable to stand on any stage.
Unable to be a righteous messenger or a benevolent healer, certainly not an unwavering warrior…
“I am your enemy, Jian Yuan.”
He derisively raised his eyes, glancing at Jian Yuan, telling him: “Nothing more!”
In that moment, the bone blade was drawn out from his chest.
Then, as if infinite crimson gushed forth, expanding, winding, sweeping, scattering towards all directions, bursting forth, from a million threads, a drop fell upon Jian Yuan's face.
Like snowflakes falling during an avalanche, like muddy waters springing forth in a rampaging flood.
A drop spilled in blood debt.
So minuscule, so insignificant.
Yet sufficient to determine the situation!
In that instant, as blood flowed forth, the blade of mercy lamented, Ji Jue's breath dissipated entirely, life drained away, irretrievable, death approached as promised.
Along with it came the changes Jian Yuan could never have imagined.
Suddenly!
When he sensed the strange moment, Jian Yuan instinctively extended his hand, mobilizing all his strength, without any love or appreciation, to crush Ji Jue into powder.
But right after, the earth shook violently.
Steel roared.
A tidal wave of spiritual essence surged, transforming into a flood, sweeping forth, crashing against Jian Yuan's body, making him retreat inch by inch.
The engine changed!
He incredulously raised his head to look at Ji Jue.
Or rather, behind Ji Jue, a wisp of crimson gradually fell from the surface of the engine, evaporating from the heat.
That engine, shackled by countless chains, suddenly trembled, billowing smoke and flames, roaring in fury.
As if awakening from a slumber, hearing a summoning it had long since forgotten…
Thus, the spirit of the departed once again opened its eyes.
Countless chains disintegrated in an instant from the backlash of the engine.
The key created by Jian Yuan was instantly ejected, twisted into a mass.
At this moment, the core that combined all the powers of the artificial Heavenly Rails audaciously counterattacked its master.
As if… endowed with life and soul!
—[Mechanical Ascendance]!
“All along, relying on this, relying on that, relying on others, I completely forgot that I still had a trick that comes crashing down from the heavens…”
Leaning against the engine, Ji Jue self-deprecatingly smiled.
In that moment, alongside the ebbing of life, a familiar pop-up reappeared before his eyes.
[Life-threatening danger detected, standard emergency survival protocol initiated—during the validity period of the protocol, the Chosen One's abilities will undergo a qualitative change to a higher tier—double qualitative change complete!]
No longer invoking, under the elevation of the protocol, the [Mechanical Ascendance] in the transformation phase came into effect here.
Like the scenes unfolding in Jici Hospital previously, yet this time the objects of ability were no longer electric cars built for a few hundred or a thousand.
Rather, it was a colossal being within arm's reach…
Truly, endowing the engine with life!
The wildly operating engine offered no resistance to his abilities; on the contrary, it seemed to have been waiting for an eternity, proactively activating all internal spiritual sequences and validations.
Eagerly awaiting.
All he needed was to produce the key…
That’s all!
Endless spiritual structures overlapped in an instant, and the locks were validated; when all this was completed, a grand and majestic high-pitched whistle erupted, soaring into the sky.
A resonant and high-pitched echo, like a train about to start, announced to the world.
The transformation of the Mechanical Ascendance following the qualitative change, the ecstatic spirit of the engine swallowed everything with spiritual essence within the artificial Heavenly Rails, operating in overdrive.
Originally infused into every component under the control of the contaminated Heavenly Rails was drawn away; the screech of steel was incessant.
In the burning ruins, sheets of iron and debris flew in from all directions, landing atop the engine, mending the flaws.
It was like time reversing!
And accompanied by the call of the whistle, within the void, suddenly, doors began to open without warning.
Unhesitatingly, exhausting all reserves within the warehouse.
In the president's excited cries, steel frames, drive shafts, pipelines, instruments… countless pieces rained down like a flood, rushing forth.
Once departed, the great beast roared back to life, visibly regenerating its internal organs and limbs, growing flesh anew!
The gigantic object rose from the ruins.
And before the billowing clouds of dust, Ji Jue sat calmly on the steps.
He lowered his head, curiously inspecting the wound on his chest, reaching out, fiddling with the shattered heart, scrutinizing, and thus, grew even more puzzled.
Where was the great sin? Where was the benevolence?
He could not help but burst into laughter.
It was merely a mass of blood, what arrogance could there be?
Thus, from beneath his heart he pulled out that blood-stained watch and, in front of Jian Yuan, put it on his wrist: “No need to bother the master with worries; whatever's in this blood, I’ll choose for myself!”
No need for tomorrow, Jian Yuan.
Even less need to wait for what kind of great calamity to emerge…
At this moment, the enemy you yearn for is right before your eyes!
(The chapter ends)