Legend of the chosen ones: Beyond Destiny

Silence, stillness, suffocation.

In the hot and foul-smelling underground parking garage, since its construction, there had hardly ever been such a crowded moment—the almost tangible embarrassment built up, forming peaks, and laid between them.

It was like just after settling into an eighteen-hour long-haul flight, only to discover that the neighbor to the left was an ex-girlfriend with whom one had a huge falling out during the breakup, and to the right was her current boyfriend.

A breakout of inescapable suffocation.

Ji Jue struggled to maintain his smile, staring at the rapidly healing face, and stealing glances at Lu Feng who was about to completely lose consciousness.

His expression twitched.

"Is it you? Hah, what a coincidence, so it's like this."

Zhu Hong's expression slowly changed from frozen, a long tongue writhing like a snake between her torn face: "I knew it, there was this familiar scent. It's you…"

It's damn me!

Ji Jue really wanted to stand up and introduce himself with his chest puffed out, but who told him Lu Feng's neck was still being held by this ghostly thing. His dangling hand twitched slightly, making a hand gesture. Lu Feng, struggling midair, paused and didn't grasp the weapon in his back holster.

"What a surprise delight."

Zhu Hong giggled, her sharp limbs stripped Lu Feng of his night vision goggles and facemask, and her right hand's sharp nails slowly embedded into his neck, blood seeping out and disappearing under her licking tongue.

Thus, a mesmerizing flush of red blossomed on the pale face, her eyes shimmering: "What a pity, little Master Ji, I was actually thinking of inviting you to join… But, your scent is getting more and more attractive, have you considered doing something fun with your sis?

Who knows, you might be even more successful than your sis."

She scrutinized the young man's face, relishing the fear and panic he tried to conceal in his eyes, not in a hurry, like a beast watching its dying prey trapped, playing with it at leisure.

"What sort of fun things are so urgent to do together?"

Ji Jue forced a smile and blurted out nonsense: "Team up for a game? Sure, sure, I'm a slick jungler!"

But his eyes couldn't help but drift downwards... scanning over the tremulous white conical objects amidst the giggles, unlingeringly forward, and settling on her right hand, which had twisted a gun barrel into oblivion.

Her wrist.

Slightly entranced.

Under the flickering lights, the luxurious watch studded with broken diamonds refracted a subtle radiant glow, exquisite and majestic.

The Navigator's logo, Crown series, Red Wing.

Those who superstitiously claim that luxury goods hold value always say putting on such a watch is like wearing a real crown. It's enough to make other wealthy ladies' jewelry look dull by comparison.

As a top luxury brand from the South Continent Empire, a commemorative Red Wing model like this one has a staggering retail price of 3.24 million in exclusive stores, yet the actual price they fetch on the secondary market is always above 5 million.

The precondition to even take a look at it from the store clerk is to be a high-level VIP, having accumulated purchases of more than ten basic models.

Just by wearing it, it make Ji Jue, a penniless type, feel the fragrance of money.

Unreachable.

That wasn't something a mortal crawling in the muck like him could ever touch.

"Do you really not understand, little brother?"

Zhu Hong, licking her fingertips, her smile growing brighter: "It might be a bit uncomfortable at first, but in the end, you'll find out what real happiness is."

Her long tongue lapped at the blood on her face, so enticing, like a flower blooming from within the blood.

"How wonderful."

Ji Jue couldn't help but murmur softly.

"Hm?" Zhu Hong was slightly stunned, seeing his sudden spacey demeanor, not knowing what trick he was playing.

"I mean, it must feel great to be rich, right?"

Ji Jue sighed lightly, lifted his head, and looked at her face, focused and serious: "You must be very rich, extremely rich, even richer than I imagined."

That's exactly why, you don't understand, you're bewildered, you...

Just can't f***ing figure it out!

You've already been able to wear something that many people will never be able to touch in their lifetimes so casually on your wrist, turning what Ji Jue dreams of into a mere string of digits...

Isn't that enough?

What are you after?

Do you also have grand ideals and great wishes that must be fulfilled by gnawing on the bones of your own kind?

At the cost of creating Hell, no expense spared, turning yourself into this thing?

Completely incomprehensible.

He also didn't want to understand.

Ji Jue sighed: "Let's just forget it."

"...What did you say?" Zhu Hong was puzzled.

"I said, dream on!"

Ji Jue raised his voice, no longer holding back his anger: "I've fought with people, competed, compared all my life—not to become something like you!"

"—Not even if I die!"

In the sudden silence, Ji Jue abruptly raised his hand, aiming at her face.

He gave up on pretense and delaying time.

No more hesitation, he pulled the trigger!

Her response was a disdainful snicker.

Slow.

Too slow!

Being able to survive the constriction of a giant snake, Ji Jue was already on his last breath, first the python's entanglement, then the shock of a high-voltage electric current, also draining nearly all his spiritual, and now even standing up was nearly impossible.

Not to mention, if his trembling, convulsing arms could even aim properly.

Even with the gun pointed at herself, Zhu Hong didn't care at all. Instead, she mockingly raised her arm, shielding Lu Feng in front of the barrel.

She watched eagerly, anticipating the expression Lu Feng would have when killed by his own dear brother.

Stunned, shocked, perplexed.

But not despair!

On the contrary, in a moment of sudden realization, a smile appeared on that blood-stained face.

Because there was no gunshot.

Only a click, the crisp sound of the firing pin colliding with the air—The Hunter's pistol only had a magazine of twelve rounds, which had run out during Ji Jue's covering fire and the python's entanglement!

Nicely done, little Ji!

At the crucial moment, the hand that dangled helplessly from Lu Feng's arm suddenly flashed with metallic light from the sleeve, plunging into the clenched fingers without hesitation, the dagger thrust toward Zhu Hong!

"Go to hell!" Zhu Hong roared, her fingers gripping Lu Feng's neck suddenly clenched.

But before that, the first sound to burst forth was a deafening roar!

And it was up close!

It was the shotgun that Lu Feng still clutched tightly, even though its barrel had been bent and crushed, the bullets in the chamber roared out, ushering in a satisfying and cathartic... barrel explosion!

Blood sprayed, Lu Feng's handgun-wielding hand exposed bare bone, the ruptured barrel and bullet fragments enveloping them both like a torrential downpour.

Finally, a scream echoed.

From Zhu Hong.

Lu Feng fell to the ground, his neck still clasped by a mutated and viciously sharp hand, but that hand had been severed at the wrist! And right there, Zhu Hong, half-covered in blood, roared in agony from the sudden and intense pain.

Likewise, the sound of a plaintive wail, as if on the brink of death, filled the air.

It came from Ji Jue's subordinate, with the watch on his left hand already pressed upon the serpent's remains.

[Active Mutated Spirit detected outside. Commence absorption?]

Yes! Yes! Yes!

God damn yes!!!

From the Matrix's flowing light, the charred remnants of flesh erupted in a crimson hue, screaming like insects, falling into Ji Jue's hand, drained in an instant by the watch.

The numbers that had plummeted to zero started to skyrocket rapidly. Climbing again, there was no telling how much human blood it had consumed, how many lives it had devoured, just a small part had already pushed the numbers to the limit of 99.

"You think you're the only one who can transform?!"

Ji Jue roared, lifting the watch on his wrist: "I can do it too!!!"

With that, pouring out his last remnants of strength, he lunged forward, snatched the cruciform awl from his pocket, and thrust it toward another nearby object... an electrical outlet!

Almost suicidal!

No, exactly suicidal.

As the electricity surged forth from within unchecked and rushed toward Ji Jue, countless error boxes emerged before his eyes.

[Error] [Error] [Error] [Error]

[Detected temporary employee in life-threatening danger... Calling nearby station, no signal response, calling headquarters support center, no signal response...]

In the end, a lifeline appeared—

—[Emergency survival protocol for temporary employees activated]

Click!

The numbers on the watch suddenly reversed.

This time, Ji Jue finally felt what it was like when the protocol activated. The Matrix, powerful enough to drain the souls of monsters, now burst forth from the watch, spreading through Ji Jue's body, covering everything, even inward, enveloping his soul, penetrating, integrating into his being!

As if... it had always been meant to be...

And within the Matrix's embrace, Ji Jue's originally fleeting and distant powers rapidly surged, manifested, and materialized as if the stars lit within his soul burst forth in brilliance.

The world seemed to come to a sudden halt; everything fell silent.

From within the frozen seal, Ji Jue's consciousness seemed to break free of time, freely overlooking it all—the spurting blood, the falling Lu Feng, the furious Zhu Hong, and even, more.

Much more, the presence that was already here, yet completely overlooked by everyone!

Light fixtures, sockets, cables, ventilation fans, mobile phones, and even the truly colossal behemoth.

—The enormous truck loaded with equipment in its bed!

Ji Jue looked at the truck.

The truck's headlights sparkled, casting beams of light, as if it too was looking at him, gazing humbly, waiting reverently, praying devoutly for orders, begging, pleading, worshiping in silence.

Ji Jue issued the command: [Kill her]

And so, the truck rejoiced.

Engines roared, fuel lines quivered, the transmission shaft screamed, radiator plates sang praises, wheels extolled, and the frame resonated with a hymn from trembling—it cheered, shouted, and ecstatic cries echoed.

As if the silent spirit had finally learned its most important duty in life, its greatest purpose, the undeniable truth of the world, and eternal justice.

It said: [As you wish].

In that instant, a furious howl rose from the trembling whirl of countless mechanical operations.

From the sole truth and command, sparks flew, pistons moved, engines ran wildly, even if it meant self-destruction, the transmission shaft's sparks scattered, a deafening horn sounded from just a few steps away, yet it couldn't overcome the shrill screech from the tires grinding against the ground.

The bright headlights illuminated the crimson color on Zhu Hong's face.

Making those red-hot eyes overflow with intense light.

And then, from a standstill, the South Wind truck accelerated to two hundred and ten kilometers per hour within a mere two meters span, with a full load of twenty-six tons it spread its unseen wings, and an invisible embrace opened.

Embracing Zhu Hong within!

—Boom!!!