Chapter 31: All Cards on the Table, The Tyrant's Reckoning
Sunlight pierced through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the Persian rug on the top floor of Vought Tower.
Lu Jie pushed open the heavy wooden door of the CEO's office.
He had changed into a deep black, high-end tailored suit, his tie knotted with meticulous precision.
Edgar sat behind the desk, his hands clasped.
"You arrived half an hour later than I expected." Edgarlooked at Lu Jie.
"I was taking care of some trash." Lu Jie walked over to the sofa and sat down, crossing his legs.
"Neuman is your person." Edgar's tone was calm.
"She is a useful tool." Lu Jie looked at him, "Just like those superheroes in your hands."
"Do you think that by sending Homelander to prison, you can sit in this position?" Edgar adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses.
"Vought is not maintained by violence. It relies on capital, on rules."
"Rules are meant to constrain the weak." Lu Jie smiled.
"In this room, I am the rule."
Edgar shook his head.
"Young man, you are too arrogant."
From the shadows, a black figure stepped out silently.
Black Noir.
He wore an all-black tactical suit, holding two specially made titanium alloy daggers in his hands.
"Black Noir is my most loyal employee." Edgar leaned back in his chair.
"He feels no pain, knows no fear, and will never betray me. Do you want to try?"
Lu Jie didn't even stand up.
"Just a dog that doesn't bark."
Black Noir moved.
His speed was extremely fast, the daggers carving two lethal arcs through the air.
Aiming straight for Lu Jie's carotid artery and heart.
The blades struck Lu Jie's neck.
"Clang—"
A harsh metallic clashing sound rang out.
The titanium alloy daggers snapped instantly.
The broken blade fragments flew past Lu Jie's cheek, embedding themselves in the wall behind him.
Black Noir froze in mid-air.
In his entire life, he had never seen a neck that could snap titanium alloy.
Lu Jie raised his hand and grabbed Black Noir by the neck.
"Your blades are too dull."
Black flames surged from Lu Jie's palm.
Hellfire Black Flame.
Black Noir didn't even have time to struggle; his tactical suit and flesh were ignited in an instant.
There were no screams, only the sizzling sound of flesh being incinerated.
In less than three seconds, Black Noir turned into a pile of black ash, falling onto the Persian rug.
Edgar's expression changed.
The trump card he was so proud of hadn't even lasted three seconds in front of this man.
"What kind of monster are you?" Edgar stood up.
"I am the one here to take over Vought." Lu Jie stood up and walked to the desk.
"Now, you can get out."
"You cannot take Vought's core secrets." Edgar gritted his teeth.
"Those things are all in my head."
Lu Jie reached out, grabbed Edgar by the collar, and lifted him up entirely.
"I don't need your secrets. I will create new ones."
Gravity Control activated.
Edgar felt the air around him crushing in on him, his bones emitting an unbearable creaking sound.
"You win." Edgar gasped for air, "Vought is yours."
Lu Jie let go.
Edgar fell to the ground, breathing heavily.
"Take your pathetic dignity and get out of here." Lu Jielooked down at him.
"Don't let me see you again."
Edgar straightened his clothes and walked toward the elevator without a word.
He had lost completely.
Outside the door, Maeve and Stormfront walked in.
They saw the pile of black ash on the floor, then looked at Lu Jie sitting in the CEO's chair.
"Black Noir is dead?" Maeve asked.
"He was in my way." Lu Jie leaned back in the leather swivel chair.
Stormfront walked over, pressing her hands onto the desk.
"You are the boss here now." Stormfront looked at him, her eyes filled with fanaticism.
"What benefits do I get?"
"Being alive is the greatest benefit." Lu Jie looked at her.
"Go dismiss the media outside. Tell them that Vought has entered a new era."
"Are you ordering me?" Stormfront raised an eyebrow.
"You can also choose to disobey." Blue electric arcs danced on Lu Jie's fingertips.
Stormfront glanced at those arcs; it was a power of lightning purer than her own.
She lowered her head and smiled.
"I'll get it done. Boss." Stormfront turned and left.
Maeve stood in place, arms crossed over her chest.
"You sent Homelander in, and you drove Edgar away. What are you going to do next?"
"Shape this place into what I want." Lu Jie patted the empty seat next to him.
"Come here."
Maeve bit her lower lip and walked to his side.
Lu Jie's fingers grazed her collarbone.
"You are now the leader of The Seven."
"Are you happy?"
"I only feel fear." Maeve looked into his eyes.
"You know better than Homelander how to destroy a person."
"I never destroy things that have value." Lu Jie chuckled.
The door was pushed open again.
Annie walked in wearing a white dress.
She saw Maeve sitting on Lu Jie's lap and paused.
"Come here." Lu Jie beckoned to Annie.
Annie walked over and stood in front of the desk.
"This will be our new home from now on." Lu Jie looked at Annie.
"Do you like it?"
"As long as you are here, anywhere is fine." Annie lowered her head.
Maeve looked at Annie's submissive appearance, feeling a wave of sorrow in her heart.
The Starlight who was once full of justice had been completely domesticated.
In front of this man, they were all just trophies.
"Annie, go pour me a cup of coffee." Lu Jie released Maeve.
Annie nodded obediently and walked toward the pantry nearby.
Maeve stood up and adjusted her uniform.
"How will you handle Congress? Homelander's case will implicate many things." Maeve asked.
"Neuman will suppress everything." Lu Jie looked at the documents on the desk.
"All charges will be pinned on Homelander alone."
"He is the perfect scapegoat."
"What about Butcher and his people?" Maeve continued to ask.
"They still have Soldier Boy in their hands."
"That old antique is probably hiding in some sewer right now, drowning his sorrows in alcohol." Lu Jie sneered.
"As for Butcher, he will soon discover that his true enemy is not Homelander."
Annie walked over with the coffee and placed it on the desk.
"Your coffee." Annie said softly.
Lu Jie picked up the coffee and took a sip.
"Not bad."
He reached out, grabbed Annie's wrist, and pulled her into his arms.
Annie leaned into his chest.
"Maeve, go call the people from the PR Department to the conference room." Lu Jie issued the order.
"I want to set new rules for them."
Maeve nodded and turned to walk out of the office.
Only Lu Jie and Annie remained in the room.
"You look really beautiful today." Lu Jie pinched Annie's cheek.
"As long as you like it." Annie looked up at him.
Lu Jie leaned down and kissed her.
"Remember, you are mine. Always."
Annie hugged him tightly, as if this were her only lifeline.
On the other side.
Congressional secret prison, fifth underground level.
The lights were stark white.
Homelander was wearing an orange prison uniform, sitting on the edge of an iron bed.
His right hand was in a cast, and he stared at the floor with hollow eyes.
Footsteps came from outside the door.
Butcher was wearing that worn-out trench coat, walking to the iron bars.
"Look who it is." Butcher exhaled a smoke ring.
"Our arrogant god, now locked in a cage like a dog."
Homelander looked up, his bloodshot eyes staring fixedly at Butcher.
"Why are you here? To see me make a fool of myself?"
"I came to confirm if you've really become a cripple." Butcher sneered.
"The news says you lost your superpowers. I didn't believe it at first."
"Now it seems, you really have been declawed."
Homelander stood up and walked to the bars.
"It was that masked guy! He was the one who took my power!"
Homelander grabbed the bars with both hands.
"He is the real monster! You've all been fooled by him!"
"He did what I always wanted to do." Butcher flicked his cigarette ash.
"You should thank him for not snapping your neck directly."
"You will regret it!" Homelander roared.
"He is ten thousand times more dangerous than me! He will kill you all!"
"That's my business." Butcher turned to leave.
"Wait!" Homelander called out to him.
"I know a secret about Vought! A secret that can kill all superhumans!"
Butcher stopped and looked back at him.
"What secret?"
"Edgar is hiding a virus in an underground laboratory at Lincoln Hospital." Homelander lowered his voice.
"A virus specifically targeting compound v."
"Find it, and you can kill him!"
Butcher narrowed his eyes.
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Because I want him to die!" Homelander gritted his teeth.
"I want him to experience the pain of losing everything!"
Butcher threw away his cigarette butt and crushed it.
"If this is a trap, I will come back and break your other hand too."
Butcher strode out of the prison.
Homelander leaned against the bars, letting out a neurotic laugh.
This game of chess was far from over.
Chapter 32: The Virus Mystery, Ambition for Absolute Immunity
Top floor of Vought Tower.
Lu Jie sat in a spacious swivel chair, browsing through the encrypted computer Edgar had left behind.
He spent some time cracking the password.
A top-secret file popped up on the screen.
Codename: Red Zone.
Lu Jie quickly browsed through the file's contents.
"A specific gene virus targeting compound v," Lu Jie read aloud.
"It destroys the compound v structure within the cell nucleus, causing the collapse of superhuman genes."
"One hundred percent mortality rate."
Lu Jie leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping on the desk.
Edgar had indeed left a contingency plan.
If this virus were to spread on a large scale, not a single superhuman in this world would survive.
Including himself.
Although he had fused with the genes of the Immortal Kryptonian, making his body indestructible.
But this virus, which destroys at the genetic level, remained a huge hidden danger.
"Interesting." The corners of Lu Jie's mouth curled upward.
As long as he extracted the virus's genes and sent them into the Mind Furnace.
He would be able to obtain absolute immunity to this virus.
He could even turn the virus's capabilities to his own use, transforming it into the most terrifying biochemical weapon.
The door was knocked upon.
Stormfront pushed the door open and walked in.
"The reporters outside have been sent away. The press release has been issued," Stormfront said.
"Well done." Lu Jie turned off the computer screen.
"However, judging by your expression, you seem to have something on your mind?"
Stormfront walked to the desk and braced her hands on the surface.
"I don't like it like this," she said, staring straight at Lu Jie.
"We could clearly rule this country, so why are we hiding behind the scenes?"
"What do you want? To go out and give speeches? Tell them you're a Nazi?" Lu Jie mocked.
"They need the guidance of power!" Stormfront retorted.
"They only need fear." Lu Jie stood up and walked around the desk.
He walked up to Stormfront and gripped her chin.
"Your outdated fascist theories don't work here."
"What I want is absolute control. Not the cheers of that bunch of idiots."
Stormfront looked at him, dangerous light flickering in her eyes.
"You are too arrogant. One day, you will pay the price for your arrogance."
"Before that, you had better behave as my dog." Lu Jieincreased the pressure of his grip.
Stormfront grimaced in pain, forced to tilt her head back.
Lu Jie lowered his head and whispered in her ear: "Now, go do something for me."
"Go investigate Lincoln Hospital. Get me the underground structural blueprints from there."
"Lincoln Hospital?" Stormfront frowned. "What's there?"
"Don't ask what you shouldn't." Lu Jie let go.
"If you don't do it well, I'll hand you over to Congress. They would be very happy to put a hundred-year-old monster on trial."
Stormfront gritted her teeth and turned to leave.
Half an hour later.
Safe house.
Annie was tidying up the room.
Lu Jie pushed the door open and entered, taking off his suit jacket.
"Are you going out?" Annie watched him change into a black tactical trench coat.
"To get something very important." Lu Jie adjusted his cuffs.
"Take me with you." Annie walked over and tugged on the hem of his coat.
"I don't want to stay here alone."
Lu Jie looked at her.
"That place is very dangerous. With your current abilities, you'd just be a burden."
"I'm not afraid of danger." Annie's eyes were firm.
"I want to help you."
Lu Jie thought for a moment.
He did indeed need someone to provide backup outside.
"Go change. Wear the black one." Lu Jie ordered.
Annie nodded immediately and ran off to change.
Lincoln Hospital.
The night was deep.
The hospital building appeared extremely quiet in the night.
Butcher, accompanied by Hughie and Frenchie, hid in the alley across from the hospital.
"Are you sure it's here?" Hughie looked at the ordinary building.
"Homelander said so. Edgar hid the virus in an underground laboratory," Butcher checked his firearms.
"Can you trust that guy's word?" Frenchie expressed skepticism.
"He wants that masked man dead even more than we do right now." Butcher loaded the magazine.
"Let's go. Make it quick."
The three of them took advantage of the night to sneak toward the hospital's back door.
Frenchie skillfully cracked the electronic lock.
They followed the stairs, heading all the way down.
The third underground floor.
There were no patients here, only cold metal corridors and glaring incandescent lights.
At the end of the corridor was a heavy blast-proof door.
"This is it." Frenchie took out a decoder and connected it to the keypad.
"It will take three minutes."
Butcher held his gun, guarding the perimeter.
Hughie looked around nervously.
"I always feel like it's a bit too quiet here." Hughieswallowed hard.
As soon as he finished speaking.
The corridor lights went out.
The emergency red lights came on, flickering with an eerie glow.
"What's going on?" Butcher shouted.
"Someone cut the main power!" Frenchie was covered in sweat.
In the darkness, crisp footsteps could be heard.
Leather shoes stepped on the metal floor, and every step sounded like it was striking their hearts.
Lu Jie walked out from the other end of the corridor.
He was wearing a black tactical trench coat and a mask on his face.
Annie followed behind him, faint light gathering in her hands, illuminating the surroundings.
"The Boys. We meet again." Lu Jie's tone was flat.
"It's you!" Butcher raised his gun, aiming at Lu Jie.
"How are you here!"
"To get what belongs to me." Lu Jie looked at the blast-proof door.
"You are too slow."
"This thing cannot fall into your hands!" Butcher pulled the trigger.
Bullets poured out.
Lu Jie didn't even dodge.
The bullets hit him, making clinking sounds, and were all deflected.
Not even his clothes were broken.
The defensive power of the Immortal Kryptonian far exceeded ordinary bulletproof vests.
Butcher stopped shooting, looking at the unscathed Lu Jie, cold sweat seeping from his forehead.
"What the fuck is going on?"
"You think these few peanuts could hurt me?" Lu Jie smiled.
He raised his hand.
Gravity Control activated.
The assault rifle in Butcher's hand was twisted into a pretzel.
Hughie and Frenchie were pushed against the wall by an invisible force, unable to move.
"Let them go!" Butcher drew the military knife from his thigh.
Lu Jie walked over and kicked Butcher in the knee.
The sound of bone breaking rang out.
Butcher fell to one knee, groaning.
"You are too weak, Billy." Lu Jie looked down at him condescendingly.
"You don't even interest me enough to fight."
Lu Jie walked to the blast-proof door.
He didn't use any decoder.
He placed his hand directly on the metal door.
Micro-Annihilation activated.
The half-meter-thick blast-proof door turned into a pile of iron powder within a few seconds, scattering onto the ground.
The scene inside the laboratory was revealed to everyone.
In the central sterile chamber sat a blue glass tube.
That was the ultimate virus capable of destroying all superhumans.
Lu Jie walked in and picked up the glass tube.
He looked at the liquid rolling inside, a trace of fanaticism flashing in his eyes.
"As long as I fuse with it, I can become a true god."
Lu Jie turned around and looked at Butcher outside.
"I'll take this."
Butcher clutched his knee, gritting his teeth.
"You'll kill yourself too. That thing doesn't discriminate!"
"The word 'death' is not in my dictionary." Lu Jie pulled the stopper from the tube.
He poured the raw virus solution into his mouth without hesitation.
Intense pain instantly swept through his whole body.
This pain was ten times more intense than any previous genetic fusion.
The virus was frantically destroying his cellular structure.
Lu Jie braced himself on the lab bench with one hand, gasping for air.
Black veins appeared on the surface of his skin.
"He's crazy!" Hughie shouted.
Annie rushed in and held Lu Jie's arm.
"Are you okay!" Annie's face was full of anxiety.
"Get out!" Lu Jie pushed Annie away.
Violent energy erupted from within his body.
The instruments in the entire laboratory shattered instantly.
Lu Jie tilted his head back and let out a beast-like low roar.
The Mind Furnace was spinning frantically, forcibly stripping the virus's genes and reorganizing and assimilating them.
The black veins gradually faded away.
Lu Jie slowly stood up straight.
He opened his eyes.
Deep within his pupils, a dark light representing absolute destruction flickered.
Ability mutation acquired: Plague Monarch.
Absolute immunity to all genetic viruses, and the ability to transmit a lethal plague targeting superhumans through blood.
Lu Jie looked at his own hands.
Now, he was the only truth in this world.
"The game, it's time to enter the next phase." Lu Jie looked at Butcher on the ground.
A new slaughter was about to begin.
Chapter 33: Plague Monarch, The Tyrant's Scavenger
Third basement level of Lincoln Hospital.
The light from the incandescent bulbs shone upon the chaos scattered across the floor.
Lu Jie stood before the laboratory bench. The black markings on his body had completely faded away.
Hughie leaned against the wall. His legs were weak, and he lacked the strength to even stand straight.
"You drank that thing?" Butcher asked, clutching his shattered knee and gritting his teeth.
"The taste isn't bad." Lu Jie looked down at him from above.
"Compared to the blood of you trash, it has less of a metallic tang."
Frenchie's hand, holding the gun, was trembling. He didn't dare to fire.
"That is a poison that can kill all superhumans!" Butcherroared.
"For you, it's a poison." Lu Jie took two steps closer. "For me, it's nourishment for evolution."
Annie stood by the door. She looked at Lu Jie, her eyes filled with worry.
Lu Jie had pushed her away just now; that force was terrifyingly strong.
"Are you going to kill us?" Hughie's voice trembled.
"Kill you?" Lu Jie smiled. "That would be too wasteful. You make excellent scavengers."
He extended his right hand and ran his fingertips across his left wrist.
A single drop of black blood hovered in mid-air, emitting a nauseating aura.
"Open your mouth." Lu Jie looked at Butcher.
Butcher kept his mouth clamped shut. He knew that wasn't anything good.
Gravity Control was activated.
Butcher's jaw was instantly dislocated.
The drop of black blood flew into Butcher's mouth and slid down his throat.
"What did you make him eat!" Frenchie shouted.
"Just a little gift." Lu Jie withdrew his hand. "As long as you behave obediently, this thing is a tonic."
Lu Jie walked over to Butcher.
"If you dare to have any other thoughts, your genes will disintegrate from the inside, turning you into a puddle of sludge."
Butcher shoved his hand into his mouth, attempting to claw that drop of blood out.
He gagged a few times, but nothing came out.
"Don't bother. It has already fused with your cells," Lu Jiesaid.
"You think you've won?" Butcher spat out a mouthful of blood-tinged saliva. "You're just Homelander in a different set of clothes."
"Don't compare that defective product to me." Lu Jie looked at him.
"He needs the worship of these mortals to satisfy his vanity. I don't. I only require absolute obedience."
"You're a lunatic," Frenchie shouted from the side.
"Only a lunatic can survive in this fucked-up world." Lu Jiedidn't even look at him.
Hughie slumped onto the floor. He looked at Lu Jie.
"Do we have to follow your orders from now on?" Hughieasked.
"You don't have the right to choose." Lu Jie tapped the metal table next to him.
"Go dig Edgar out. He still has some remaining assets in his hands," Lu Jie ordered.
"Find him, and then notify me."
"We've become your hounds?" Butcher mocked.
"Being a hound is better than being dead." Lu Jie turned and walked toward Annie.
Annie lowered her head, still angry about being pushed away just a moment ago.
"Let's go, home." Lu Jie wrapped his arm around her waist.
Annie didn't resist, letting him lead her away.
Walking out of Lincoln Hospital, the night wind blew against their faces.
Annie shook off his hand.
"You pushed me just now." Annie's eyes turned red.
Lu Jie took off his tactical trench coat and threw it onto the passenger seat.
"With that level of energy backlash, you would have died if you'd gotten too close." Lu Jie opened the car door.
"I'm not afraid of death." Annie looked up at him.
"But I'm afraid of my trophy getting damaged." Lu Jiepressed her against the car door.
"What do you take me for?" Annie asked.
"My exclusive possession." Lu Jie lowered his head and kissed her.
Annie pressed her hands against his chest, but eventually softened.
The two returned to the underground safe house.
The iron door closed. Lu Jie unbuttoned his shirt and walked over to the sink to wash his hands.
Annie walked over and hugged him from behind.
"When you drank that thing earlier, I thought you were going to lose your life," Annie said softly.
"In my dictionary, there is no such word as death." Lu Jiedried his hands.
Annie held him tighter. "You're getting stronger and stronger, so strong that it scares me."
"Scared of what?" Lu Jie turned around.
"Scared that one day you won't need me anymore." Annie lowered her head.
Lu Jie pinched her chin.
"As long as you behave as my canary, I will keep you."
Annie stood on her tiptoes and took the initiative to kiss his lips.
Lu Jie responded to her kiss with an irresistible aggression.
"Go take a shower and wash off the smell of disinfectant." Lu Jie pushed her away.
Annie walked into the bathroom, and the sound of water splashing began.
Lu Jie sat on the edge of the bed and took out Edgar's laptop.
He cracked the final layer of the firewall.
Inside, there was not only data on the virus but also the coordinates of Vought's secret bases around the world.
Annie walked out wrapped in a bath towel, her hair dripping wet.
Water droplets slid down her collarbone.
Lu Jie closed the laptop. "Come here." He patted the edge of the bed.
Annie walked over and obediently sat on his lap.
Lu Jie's fingers slid down her spine.
"Maeve came to see me today," Annie said softly.
"What did she say?" Lu Jie asked.
"She asked me what exactly I'm following you for."
"How did you answer?"
"I said, this is the only way I can survive." Annie leaned into his embrace.
"A very smart answer." Lu Jie pulled off her bath towel.
In the cramped room, the temperature gradually rose.
Power is the best thing, and Lu Jie now possesses absolute power.
The next day, Vought Tower.
Lu Jie sat in the leather swivel chair in the CEO's office.
He was wearing a deep black bespoke suit, his tie tied meticulously.
The door was knocked, and Maeve walked in.
"I heard you're going to hold a public trial for Homelander." Maeve stood in front of the desk.
"What? Are you feeling sorry for him?" Lu Jie looked at her.
"I'm just afraid he'll drag us all down with him." Maeve frowned.
"He won't have that chance. Neuman will seal his mouth shut." Lu Jie said.
"What exactly are you trying to do? Destroy Vought?" Maeve asked.
"I want to reshape it. According to my rules." Lu Jie stood up.
"You are more terrifying than him." Maeve looked at Lu Jie.
"That's a compliment. I'll accept it." Lu Jie walked to her side.
His fingers brushed across her cheek.
"Go prepare. The captain of the new The Seven might be changing."
Maeve was stunned. "Replace with whom?"
"Someone with more seniority than all of you." Lu Jieturned and walked toward the elevator.
After Maeve left, Neuman walked in.
She was wearing a professional suit and holding a document in her hand.
"Master. The restructuring plan for The Seven has been drawn up." Neuman handed over the document.
"Currently, only Maeve and Stormfront remain. The Deep is still in the mental hospital. How should the vacant positions be arranged?"
"Better to have nothing than to accept mediocrity." Lu Jiethrew the document onto the table.
"I don't accept trash. Tell the HR Department to stop all superhero auditions."
Neuman nodded and noted it down.
"Congress has been arranged. Homelander's trial is in three days. It will be live-streamed across the web." Neuman reported.
"Release the news." Lu Jie tapped on the table.
"I want the whole world to watch him fall into the mud. Pour all the dirty water onto him."
"What about Edgar?" Lu Jie asked.
"He has disappeared. We discovered a huge transfer of funds in his secret account."
Neuman opened the document.
"He transferred the money overseas. He is no longer in the country."
"The old fox ran pretty fast." Lu Jie snorted coldly.
"However, he won't be able to escape. Butcher will go and drag him out."
Neuman closed the document. "There is one more thing. We've tracked down Soldier Boy's whereabouts."
Lu Jie looked up.
"He is at an abandoned motel in the suburbs of New York," Neuman said.
"Very well." Lu Jie stood up. "I'll go meet this antique."
"Do you need to take anyone with you?" Neuman asked.
"No need. To deal with an washed-up old man, I'm enough on my own."
Lu Jie walked to the floor-to-ceiling window and looked down at the city.
"Call the people from the PR Department over and prepare a new press release."
"Just say that Vought is about to welcome the return of a great hero."
Neuman nodded and left.
The remnants of the old era—it's time to clean them up.
He walked out of the office and took the private elevator directly to the underground parking lot.
The black sports car drove out of Vought Tower, heading straight for the suburbs of New York.
Chapter 34: Remnants' Dead End, False God's Prison Break
New York suburbs. An abandoned motel.
Torrential rain poured down, washing over the rusty sign.
Soldier Boy sat on a flimsy iron bed, holding a bottle of cheap whiskey in his hand.
He watched the news playing on the TV.
It was all reports about Homelander being about to stand trial.
"A fake is just a fake. You can't polish a turd." Soldier Boytook a swig of liquor.
The door was pushed open. The wooden door let out a harsh creaking sound.
Lu Jie walked in. He didn't have an umbrella, but the rain slid off automatically half a meter away from him.
"Who let you in?" Soldier Boy grabbed the metal shield beside him.
"Just here to see the remnants of the old era." Lu Jie pulled over a broken chair and sat down.
"You're that guy who turned Homelander into a piece of trash." Soldier Boy stood up.
"You should thank me." Lu Jie looked at him. "I solved a problem for you."
"I don't need anyone to clean up my mess!" Soldier Boysmashed the liquor bottle against the wall.
Shards of glass fell all over the floor. The liquor flowed down the wall.
"Back when I built Vought's empire, you didn't even know where to play in the mud." Soldier Boy sneered.
"A hero doesn't dwell on past glories. You're just a fugitive hiding in a motel drinking now." Lu Jie pointed at the TV.
"You have two choices now." Lu Jie held up two fingers.
"Either submit to me, or end up like Homelander—a piece of trash."
"I choose the third option: beat the shit out of you." Soldier Boy let out a roar and charged over with his shield raised.
High-energy radiation gathered in his chest. Red light illuminated the dim room.
Lu Jie sat on the chair without moving.
Micro-Annihilation activated.
The metal shield in Soldier Boy's hand instantly turned into iron powder and scattered on the floor.
The radiation energy was just about to erupt.
Lu Jie raised his hand. Gravity Control pressed down.
Soldier Boy's knees slammed heavily onto the wooden floor. The floor cracked open into a large pit.
He felt like a mountain was pressing down on his back. He couldn't even lift his head.
"Times have changed, old man." Lu Jie stood up and walked over to him.
"A brute like you who only knows how to use raw force has long been obsolete."
Black flames ignited at Lu Jie's fingertips. Hellfire Black Flame.
"Your radiation is useless against me. But this fire of mine can burn your genes to nothing."
Soldier Boy knelt on the ground, his bones creaking all over.
He gritted his teeth and glared fiercely at Lu Jie.
"What exactly do you want?" Soldier Boy asked.
"Three days from now, Homelander's public trial." Lu Jieextinguished the flames.
"I want you to testify in court. Tell everyone that you are the true founder of Vought."
"And then?"
"Then, Vought will be reborn in a brand new form. And you will be the captain of the new The Seven."
Soldier Boy sneered.
"You want me to be your dog?"
"Being a dog is better than being a dead man." Lu Jiedispersed the gravity suppression.
Soldier Boy panted heavily and climbed up from the ground.
He looked at the shield that had turned into iron powder, knowing he had no chance of winning.
"Why should I trust you?" Soldier Boy asked.
"You only have to trust me." Lu Jie turned and walked towards the door.
"Remember, your life is in my hands now."
Lu Jie pushed open the door and walked into the rain.
The rain stopped. The dark clouds dispersed.
His phone vibrated. It was a call from Neuman.
"Master, something happened at the prison." Neuman's voice was urgent.
Lu Jie stopped in his tracks.
"Speak."
"Homelander has escaped. Someone broke him out. The surveillance was destroyed, and all the guards are dead."
Lu Jie looked at the gloomy sky.
"Who did it?" Lu Jie asked in a flat tone.
"There were traces of high-explosive bombs at the scene, along with some strange mucus." Neuman reported.
"Butcher?" Lu Jie raised an eyebrow.
"No. The people from The Boys are still looking for Edgar. They didn't have the time to commit the crime."
"Interesting. The game isn't over yet." Lu Jie hung up the phone.
He sat into the sports car and started the engine.
Vought Tower.
Lu Jie returned to his office.
Maeve and Stormfront were already waiting inside.
"Homelander has escaped from prison. Have you heard?" Maeve looked terrible.
"He's a cripple now. So what if he ran away?" Stormfrontdidn't care at all.
"Even though he's crippled, he knows all of Vought's secrets. Once he talks, we're all finished." Maeve countered.
Lu Jie sat on the swivel chair, watching them argue.
"What are you panicking about? He's just a stray dog." Lu Jie poured a glass of wine.
"He won't get far. The entire New York is under my surveillance."
"I don't like this feeling of losing control." Maeve looked at Lu Jie.
"In this room, only I get to say things are out of control." A murderous glint appeared in Lu Jie's eyes.
A powerful gravitational field instantly enveloped the entire office.
Maeve and Stormfront both felt difficulty breathing and their legs went weak.
"Remember your place. Put away your ridiculous worries." Lu Jie took a sip of wine.
The gravitational field dissipated. Both women gasped for air, not daring to say another word.
The door was knocked. Annie walked in.
She looked at the disheveled state of Maeve and Stormfront and didn't dare to look them in the eye.
"I'm here to deliver documents." Annie placed a report on the table.
Lu Jie grabbed Annie's hand and made her stand by his side.
"She is my personal assistant now. She has the right to enter and exit here." Lu Jie looked at Maeve.
Maeve sneered, turned, and walked out of the office. Stormfront followed closely behind.
Only Lu Jie and Annie were left in the office.
"Homelander has escaped. He will come for revenge." Annie's voice trembled.
"He doesn't have the guts." Lu Jie put down his wine glass.
"Even if he comes, he's just throwing his life away." Lu Jiepulled Annie over.
And had her sit on his lap.
"You don't need to worry about these things. Just do your job as my assistant." Lu Jie's fingers traced her cheek.
Annie leaned on his shoulder, listening to his strong heartbeat.
Sewer.
The stench was overwhelming.
Homelander was covered in mud. His plastered wrist had already turned black.
He panted heavily, leaning against the moss-covered wall.
A person wearing a black cloak stood in front of him.
"You saved me." Homelander looked at the person.
The cloaked person took off their hood, revealing a face covered in scars.
"I didn't save you. I just need a bait." The cloaked person's voice was hoarse.
"Who are you?" Homelander asked vigilantly.
"I am the first-generation experiment abandoned by Vought. Codename Zero." The cloaked person took out a tube of red potion.
"This thing can restore your power, and make you even stronger. This is the trump card Edgar left behind."
Homelander's eyes lit up. "Give it to me!"
He reached out to grab it.
The cloaked person pulled their hand back. "There's no such thing as a free lunch."
"What do you want?" Homelander gritted his teeth.
"I want the life of that masked man. I want Vought destroyed." The cloaked person said.
"Deal." Homelander agreed without hesitation.
He just wanted to tear Lu Jie into pieces right now.
The cloaked person handed him the potion.
Homelander gulped it down in one go.
The potion entered his body. The intense pain made him scream out loud.
But he could feel his lost power returning bit by bit.
Even more violent than before.
His eyes lit up with blinding red light once again.
Vought Tower.
Lu Jie stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the city's night view.
He could feel an unstable energy surging underground.
"A deathbed struggle." Lu Jie sneered.
The real hunt is only just beginning.
Chapter 35: The Return of Blood, the Last Struggle of a False God
Vought Tower. Top-floor office.
In front of the floor-to-ceiling window, Lu Jie held a goblet. Red wine swirled in the glass.
Annie walked over wearing a silk nightgown. She hugged Lu Jie's waist from behind, her cheek pressed against his back.
"Still not sleeping this late?" Annie asked softly.
"A rat is gnawing on things, keeping me awake," Lu Jiereplied, turning around.
He brought the wine glass to Annie's lips. She obediently took a sip. The red wine trickled down the corner of her mouth, dripping onto her fair collarbone.
Lu Jie reached out to wipe away the drop of wine, his fingers sliding downward.
"You're hurting me," Annie whimpered softly, but she didn't pull away.
"If you can't even handle this little bit of pain, how can you stay by my side in the future?" Lu Jie pinched her cheek.
Annie bit her lower lip. "As long as it comes from you, I will endure it."
"Go to bed and wait for me like a good girl. Wash up properly," Lu Jie said, pushing her away and grabbing the black tactical jacket nearby.
"Where are you going?" Annie asked.
"To take care of some trash," Lu Jie replied, putting on the jacket and walking into his private elevator without looking back.
Brooklyn. Abandoned shipyard.
Butcher was smoking a cigarette, holding an assault rifle. Hughie and Frenchie followed behind.
"Are you sure Edgar is hiding here?" Hughie asked, looking at the rusty iron containers around them.
"His fund flow stopped at these coordinates," Frenchiesaid, looking at the tracker in his hand.
"That old fox won't show himself easily," Butcher exhaled a ring of smoke.
The three of them moved forward cautiously. Everything around them was quiet, save for the sound of seawater lapping against the shore.
"Click."
A sound of crushing bones came from ahead.
Butcher immediately raised his gun. "Who's there!"
A tall figure emerged from the darkness. His red, white, and blue tactical suit was tattered. His cast-covered right hand had turned black and deformed.
It was Homelander.
But his current state was very wrong. The veins all over his body were bulging, appearing a strange, dark red.
"Billy. We meet again," Homelander grinned, revealing teeth stained with blood.
Hughie stumbled back two steps in fear. "How is he here! Wasn't he locked up!"
"He broke out," Butcher gritted his teeth. "Fire!"
Gunshots shattered the silence of the night. Bullets poured onto Homelander.
Homelander didn't dodge at all. The bullets hit him and bounced off directly, not even leaving a white mark.
"Your toys are still so boring," Homelander said, raising his left hand.
Dark red heat vision shot out from his eyes.
Frenchie hurriedly tackled Hughie to the ground. The heat vision swept across the nearby iron containers, melting the heavy metal directly into molten iron.
"He's regained his abilities! And he's stronger than before!" Frenchie yelled.
Butcher tossed aside the empty assault rifle and drew the combat knife from his thigh.
"Even if I die today, I'm taking you down with me," Butchercharged forward.
Homelander smiled and waved his hand casually.
A powerful gust of wind sent Butcher flying. He slammed heavily into a container and spat out a mouthful of blood.
"You're too weak, Billy," Homelander walked over and stepped on Butcher's chest.
The sound of ribs breaking rang out. Butcher was sweating profusely from the pain, but he didn't make a sound.
"Your bones are quite tough," Homelander increased the pressure. "Where is that masked bastard?"
"You're only good for bullying us," Butcher sneered. "If you've got the guts, go find him."
"I will find him. But before that, I'm going to crush your head first," Homelander bent down.
A calm voice came from mid-air.
"Looking for me?"
Lu Jie descended from the sky. His leather shoes landed on the muddy ground without making a sound.
He was wearing a black tactical trench coat, with both hands in his pockets.
"You're finally here," Homelander released Butcher and turned to look at Lu Jie.
His eyes glowed with red light, filled with hatred.
"You drank some expired potion with unknown ingredients and think you can do it again?" Lu Jie looked at him, his tone mocking.
"This power is ten times stronger than before!" Homelander spread his arms, displaying his bulging veins. "I am now a true god!"
"A god?" Lu Jie laughed. "At best, you're just a mutated, defective product."
"I'm going to tear you to pieces!" Homelander roared.
He turned into a black-red blur and charged straight at Lu Jie.
He was extremely fast, creating a ring of white sonic boom clouds in the air.
Hughie was stunned. "He's too fast!"
Lu Jie stood in place, not even taking his hands out of his pockets.
Homelander's fist, carrying earth-shattering power, smashed toward Lu Jie's face.
Lu Jie tilted his head slightly, and the fist missed, grazing his mask.
The force of the punch blew away the container behind Lu Jie.
"Is that all you've got?" Lu Jie lifted his foot and kicked Homelander directly in the stomach.
Homelander flew backward, smashing through three containers before stopping.
He crawled out of the rubble and touched his stomach. "It doesn't hurt. It doesn't hurt at all!"
The potion not only strengthened his power but also stripped away his sense of pain.
"Interesting," Lu Jie took his hands out of his pockets. "Then let's play."
Homelander charged again, and the two began to fight hand-to-hand in the open space.
There were no fancy skills, only the most primitive collision of power.
Every punch thrown generated a powerful air wave, shattering the surrounding iron containers.
Butcher held his chest and stood up with Frenchie's help.
"These two monsters," Butcher watched the battle before him. "We can't even intervene."
"Take this chance, let's go!" Frenchie pulled Hughie.
"Kill these rats too!" Homelander was still able to split his attention to deal with Butcher and the others during the fight.
He shot black-red lasers from his eyes, heading straight for the three fleeing men.
Lu Jie raised his hand, and the Heavens Judgment Lightning Domain was activated.
A blue electromagnetic barrier blocked the path behind Butcher and the others. The black-red lasers hit the barrier, canceling each other out.
"Your opponent is me," Lu Jie punched Homelander in the chin.
Homelander was knocked into the air.
Lu Jie pushed off with his legs, leaping high into the air and appearing above Homelander.
He clasped his hands together and slammed them heavily onto Homelander's back.
Homelander smashed into the ground, creating a deep crater. Dirt flew everywhere.
Lu Jie landed at the edge of the crater, looking at Homelander inside.
Homelander slowly stood up. He spat out a mouthful of blood mixed with dirt.
"I said, I don't feel pain!" Homelander laughed wildly. "You can't kill me!"
"Not feeling pain doesn't mean you won't die," Lu Jie said, black flames igniting at his fingertips.
Hellfire Black Flame.
He prepared to burn this mutated, defective product to ashes.
"You think only you have trump cards!" Homelanderjumped out of the pit.
He opened his mouth and let out a high-frequency shriek.
This wasn't ordinary ultrasound, but a sonic attack mixed with energy.
All the surrounding glass shattered. Butcher and the others covered their ears, collapsing to the ground in pain.
Lu Jie frowned slightly, and Gravity Control was activated.
He used gravity to form a vacuum zone around himself, isolating the transmission of the sound waves.
"Child's play," Lu Jie raised his hand.
A massive gravitational force pressed Homelander directly onto the ground.
"Let me go!" Homelander struggled desperately, digging deep trenches into the ground.
Lu Jie walked over and stepped on his back.
"You pathetic bug, you are only fit to crawl on the ground forever," Lu Jie said coldly.
"I'll kill you! I'll definitely kill you!" Homelander continued to clamor.
"You're too noisy," Lu Jie flicked his finger.
A drop of black blood landed on Homelander's wound.
This was the toxic blood of the Plague Monarch, specifically targeting super-human genes.
The moment the toxic blood touched the wound, Homelander stopped shouting.
He finally felt pain, a pain that came from the depths of his bone marrow.
"What did you do to me!" Homelander shouted in horror.
His mutated veins, which he was so proud of, began to wither. The black-red glow gradually dimmed.
"A little special medicine," Lu Jie looked at him. "It can cure your mania."
Homelander's power drained away rapidly. He once again became that powerless mortal.
Chapter 36: Wrath of the Tyrant, Devouring the Ultimate Gene
Black poisonous blood spread along Homelander's veins.
The black and red glow on his body extinguished completely, and his protruding veins shriveled up.
"No... don't..." Homelander tried to crawl up, but his limbs simply wouldn't obey him.
Lu Jie crouched down, looking into his desperate eyes.
"The game is over, John."
"Please, give my power back to me." Homelander lay in the muddy water, his voice trembling.
He could accept death, but he couldn't accept becoming a waste of space again.
"You no longer have any value to me." Lu Jie extended his right hand.
A nano blood-sampling needle appeared at his fingertip, stabbing directly into Homelander's carotid artery.
Blue-black blood was drawn out; this was the ultimate gene fused with the mutation serum.
Homelander's eyes widened, his body convulsed violently a few times, and then he stopped moving completely.
The once arrogant god died in a deserted shipyard in Brooklyn.
Lu Jie pulled out the blood-sampling needle and looked at the churning liquid in the glass tube.
He drank it without hesitation.
Mind Furnace activated. Powerful flames burned within his body, stripping and reconstructing.
Lu Jie closed his eyes, enduring the shock of genetic remodeling.
The commotion this time was greater than any before, and the surrounding air was distorted by the high heat.
Butcher leaned against a container, watching Lu Jie in the distance.
"He's gotten stronger again." Butcher gritted his teeth. "What kind of monster have we actually unleashed?"
A few minutes later, the high heat dissipated.
Lu Jie opened his eyes, a flash of dark golden light passing deep within his pupils.
Ability mutation acquired: Gene Master.
Not only could he strip others of their abilities, but he could also tamper with the gene sequences of low-level superhumans at will.
He was now, in the true sense, a creator.
Lu Jie glanced at the corpse on the ground and flicked a black flame from his fingertip.
Homelander's body turned to ashes in the black flames, and when the wind blew, nothing was left.
He turned and walked toward Butcher and his group.
Frenchie nervously raised his gun, even though he knew it was useless.
"Put the gun down, Frenchie." Butcher pressed down on his hand.
Lu Jie stopped in front of them. "Edgar isn't here. You've come to the wrong place."
"How do you know?" Butcher asked.
"The capital flow here is a ruse, used for fishing." Lu Jielooked into the darkness in the distance.
In the darkness, a figure wearing a black cloak flashed by.
Lu Jie didn't chase; he knew that was just an errand boy.
"Who was that person in the cloak?" Hughie looked in the direction of Lu Jie's gaze but saw nothing.
"A supporting character who isn't willing to exit the stage." Lu Jie withdrew his gaze. "Go investigate that Codename Zero. He has Edgar's trump card in his hands."
"You want us to keep working for you?" Butcher snorted coldly.
"The poisonous blood in your bodies can only be suppressed by me," Lu Jie reminded him.
Butcher touched his chest and said nothing more.
Lu Jie turned and walked into the night; after a few steps, he merged into the darkness and disappeared.
Underground safe house.
Annie was lying on the bed; hearing the door open, she sat up immediately.
Lu Jie walked in, took off his coat, and threw it on the chair.
"You're back." Annie ran over and helped him unbutton his shirt.
"Are you cleaned up?" Lu Jie looked at her.
"I'm cleaned up." Annie lowered her head, her ears turning red.
Lu Jie picked her up and threw her onto the bed.
"Tonight, no begging for mercy." Lu Jie pressed down on top of her.
Annie closed her eyes, her hands holding tightly onto his back.
The temperature in the room rose.
Meanwhile, in an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of New York.
Codename Zero took off his cloak, revealing a face covered in scars.
He took out an encrypted mobile phone and dialed a number.
The call connected, and Edgar's calm voice came from the other end.
"Is Homelander dead?" Edgar asked.
"He's dead. Not even ashes are left." Codename Zeroreplied.
"How was the effect of the serum?"
"Very strong. But he still couldn't beat that man. That man's abilities are constantly evolving."
"I see." Edgar paused on the other end. "Proceed with the original plan."
"Are you sure you want to use that trump card? It will destroy half the country." Codename Zero frowned.
"As long as we can get rid of him, destroying the whole country is worth it." Edgar hung up the phone.
Codename Zero looked at the darkened screen and sighed.
He walked to the corner of the warehouse and lifted a huge tarpaulin.
Underneath was a stasis pod filled with green liquid.
Inside the pod, a deformed monster with six arms was soaking.
The monster had its eyes closed, but the energy fluctuations on its body were a hundred times more terrifying than the mutated Homelander.
This was Vought International's true ultimate weapon.
Dawn broke.
Lu Jie sat in the CEO's office of Vought Tower.
Maeve walked in and handed over a document.
"Congress is pressing. For tomorrow's trial, Homelandermust appear in court," Maeve said.
"He won't be able to appear in court." Lu Jie leaned back in his swivel chair.
Maeve was stunned. "What do you mean?"
"He's dead. Reduced to ashes." Lu Jie looked at her.
Maeve gasped. She knew Lu Jie was strong, but she didn't expect him to actually kill Homelander.
"Then how do we explain this to Congress?" Maeve forced herself to remain calm.
"Just say he fled to avoid punishment and was killed on the spot by us." Lu Jie tapped the table. "Have Neuman handle it."
"Understood." Maeve nodded.
"Also." Lu Jie stood up and walked over to Maeve.
He pinched Maeve's chin with his fingers. "Go and prepare a list for the new The Seven. I want to select them personally."
Maeve looked into his dark golden pupils, a kind of unprecedented fear rising in her heart.
"Yes, Master." Maeve lowered her head, surrendering completely.
Lu Jie let go and looked out the window.
He could feel it: a more powerful energy was awakening in some corner of this city.
The game is getting more and more interesting.
Chapter 37: Genetic Tampering, The Ultimate Weapon Unleashed
Vought Tower, top-floor office.
Maeve stood in front of the spacious desk, holding a gold-embossed document in her hand.
Today, she was wearing a tight black uniform with an extremely low neckline.
Lu Jie leaned back in his chair, his dark golden eyes fixed on her.
"Is this the list of the new The Seven you've selected?" Lu Jie opened the file and glanced at it.
"Yes, Master." Maeve lowered her head, her breathing slightly rapid.
The list consisted entirely of obedient, third-tier superheroes.
"Too weak." Lu Jie threw the file onto the desk.
"Although they aren't very strong, they are easy to control," Maeve quickly explained.
Lu Jie stood up, walked around the desk, and stopped in front of Maeve.
He raised his hand, his fingertips grazing Maeve's cheek.
"I don't need trash." Lu Jie's fingers moved downward, stopping at her collarbone.
Maeve didn't dare to move and could only hold her breath.
"Do you think your current strength is worthy of the position of captain?" Lu Jie asked.
"I..." Maeve bit her red lip. "I will work hard."
"Hard work?" Lu Jie scoffed.
He placed his palm against Maeve's chest.
He activated his Gene Master ability.
Maeve felt a scorching flow of heat drill into her body.
It was a power acting directly upon her genetic sequence.
Her bones made faint, cracking sounds.
"Ah!" Maeve couldn't help but cry out, her legs going weak as she collapsed to the floor.
Lu Jie looked down at her from above.
"I am rewriting your genes," Lu Jie said in a flat tone.
"You will gain three times the strength you had before."
Maeve lay on the Persian rug, sweat soaking through her uniform.
That power rampaged through her body, bringing immense pain, yet accompanied by an indescribable feeling of fulfillment.
"Thank you... Master..." She gasped for air.
"Don't be in such a rush to thank me." Lu Jie squatted down and pinched her chin.
"I've added a lock to your genes."
"With just a single thought from me, your cells will self-destruct."
"Submission isn't just a slogan; it's an instinct carved into your bone and blood," Lu Jie said, looking into her eyes.
Maeve's eyes were filled with fear.
She knew that she would never be able to escape this man's grasp for the rest of her life.
"I will be a good dog." Maeve leaned in and kissed Lu Jie's fingertips.
Lu Jie stood up, just about to speak.
The office door was pushed open.
Neuman walked in with hurried steps.
"Master, something has happened." Neuman didn't even glance at Maeve on the floor.
"Speak." Lu Jie walked back behind the desk.
"There is a high-energy signature in Queens, New York." Neuman pulled up a holographic projection.
On the projection, a massive six-armed monster was rampaging through the streets.
Cars were easily overturned, and buildings were smashed with huge holes.
The monster was covered in oozing green liquid.
"What the hell is that thing?" Maeve, who had just climbed to her feet, turned pale.
"Edgar's trump card," Lu Jie said, watching the projection.
He could feel the energy fluctuations coming from the screen.
It was even stronger than Homelander after drinking the mutation potion.
"Go and take care of that thing," Lu Jie said to Maeve.
"Me?" Maeve stepped back half a pace.
"This is your first battle as captain." Lu Jie pointed at the screen.
"If you win, the position is yours."
"If you lose, you die there."
Maeve gritted her teeth. "Yes."
She turned and walked out of the office, her steps much lighter than before.
The effects of the genetic rewrite were already showing.
Neuman watched Maeve's retreating figure and turned to look at Lu Jie.
"Master, can she handle it alone?"
"Of course not." Lu Jie picked up his black trench coat from the back of his chair.
"That thing's genes are very unstable."
"It's a good test subject."
Lu Jie put on the trench coat and walked toward the floor-to-ceiling window.
He glanced at the gloomy sky.
"Have the PR Department prepare the cameras."
"I want the whole world to see how Vought's new god descends."
Lu Jie pushed open the window and leaped down.
Queens, near an abandoned subway station.
The street was devastated.
The six-armed mutant grabbed a bus and smashed it into the building opposite like it was a toy.
Flames soared into the sky.
Codename Zero stood on a distant rooftop, holding a controller in his hand.
"Kill, kill to your heart's content," Codename Zero laughed hoarsely.
"Draw that masked guy out."
At the street corner, Butcher and the members of The Boyswere hiding behind the ruins.
"Damn it, what the hell is that thing!" Frenchie held his gun, his palms sweating.
"A monster created by Edgar." Butcher spat out his cigarette butt.
"We're retreating," Butcher ordered.
With their current strength, they weren't even enough to be a snack for this monster.
Hughie was just about to turn around when he stepped on a piece of broken glass.
The crisp sound wasn't loud in the chaotic street.
But the mutant's hearing was extremely keen.
It turned its head, and its six red eyes locked onto the people behind the ruins.
"Run!" Butcher roared.
The mutant leaped, crossing half the street, and landed in front of them.
The immense impact force smashed a deep crater into the ground.
All six arms swung down simultaneously.
Frenchie raised his grenade launcher and fired three shots in a row.
The grenades hit the monster, but didn't even scratch its green skin.
The monster slapped the grenade launcher away.
Butcher drew his combat knife and charged forward.
One of the monster's arms grabbed Butcher's neck and lifted him into the air.
"Billy!" Hughie shouted, raising his rifle to fire.
The bullets hit the monster, making clinking sounds.
The monster swung another arm, knocking Hughie away.
Hughie hit the wall and spat out a mouthful of blood.
Just as the monster was about to crush Butcher's neck.
A red figure descended from the sky.
Maeve, wearing her combat suit, smashed a heavy punch into the monster's chin.
The monster's head was knocked to one side.
Butcher fell to the ground, gasping for air.
"Get lost," Maeve said without even glancing at Butcher.
She could feel the power within her flowing endlessly.
The genetic enhancement made her current strength far exceed what it was before.
The monster roared, and all six arms grabbed toward Maeve.
Maeve nimbly dodged the attack and kicked the monster's knee.
The collision of bones made a dull thud.
The monster only swayed slightly and wasn't injured at all.
"Such thick skin," Maeve gritted her teeth.
One of the monster's arms grabbed Maeve's ankle.
It swung her around directly and smashed her heavily into a nearby car.
The car was totaled.
Maeve spat out a mouthful of blood, feeling as if her internal organs had shifted.
"The strength is still not enough."
A calm voice came from mid-air.
Maeve looked up.
Lu Jie was hovering in mid-air, his black trench coat flapping in the wind.
He looked down at the monster below, his dark golden eyes devoid of any ripples.
Codename Zero saw Lu Jie appear on the rooftop.
"Finally here," Codename Zero pressed the red button in his hand.
The monster's size expanded once again.
Green liquid seeped out from its skin, emitting a pungent, acidic smell.
"This thing's genes are a bit interesting," Lu Jie said, landing on the ground.
He walked to Maeve's side.
"Stand up," Lu Jie said.
Maeve wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and forced herself to stand straight.
Seeing Lu Jie, the monster let out a deafening roar.
All six arms smashed down simultaneously.
Lu Jie didn't dodge.
He raised his right hand, spreading his five fingers.
Gravity Control.
The surrounding air was instantly sucked out.
The monster's massive body was pinned in place by an invisible force, unable to move.
"Is that all you've got?" Lu Jie said mockingly.
Codename Zero's expression changed on the rooftop.
"Impossible! That's power capable of withstanding a nuclear bomb!" Codename Zero frantically pressed the controller.
The green liquid on the monster's body began to boil.
It was forcibly breaking free from the shackles of gravity.
Its bones made a harsh, grinding sound.
"Still evolving?" Lu Jie raised an eyebrow.
He withdrew the Gravity Control.
The monster regained its freedom and lunged directly at Lu Jie.
Its speed was so fast it left afterimages.
Black flames ignited at Lu Jie's fingertips.
Hellfire Black Flame.
Chapter 38: The Tyrant Arrives, Tearing Apart the Aberration by Hand
Black flames danced in Lu Jie's palm.
The monster's six thick arms slammed down with destructive momentum.
Lu Jie did not dodge or evade.
He threw a punch head-on, striking the monster's foremost arm dead center.
"Crack!"
A crisp sound of breaking bones rang out.
The monster's arm, comparable to steel, was snapped directly by Lu Jie's punch.
A scream echoed through the street.
The monster swung its remaining five arms, smashing crazily toward Lu Jie.
A layer of dark golden radiance appeared on the surface of Lu Jie's body.
The Immortal Kryptonian defense was fully activated.
The monster's fists struck Lu Jie's body, emitting dull thuds.
Lu Jie didn't even retreat half a step.
"Decent strength, but it's a pity your brain doesn't work very well." Lu Jie sneered.
He grabbed one of the monster's arms.
Black karmic fire spread along his arm.
As soon as the flames touched the monster's skin.
The green liquid was ignited.
The monster let out a miserable scream, desperately trying to pull its hand back.
Lu Jie's hand remained motionless like an iron clamp.
"Want to run?"
Lu Jie exerted force with one hand and ripped that arm clean off.
Green blood gushed out.
Spilling onto the street, it corroded large pits into the asphalt.
In the distance, Butcher felt his scalp tingle.
"Is this guy even human?" Butcher clutched his chest.
Frenchie wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. "He's more of a monster than this monster."
Codename Zero on the rooftop was completely panicked.
His ultimate weapon, which he was so proud of, was like a toy in front of Lu Jie.
"Initiate self-destruct sequence!" Codename Zero pressed the final button on the controller.
The monster's body began to emit a blinding red light.
The energy within its body was gathering frantically.
It was going to self-destruct.
"Trying to take me down with you?" Lu Jie saw through its intention.
He took a step forward and arrived directly in front of the monster.
His right hand formed a blade with his fingers and pierced straight into the monster's chest.
Scalding green blood splattered onto Lu Jie's black trench coat, emitting white smoke.
Gene Dominator ability activated.
Lu Jie's consciousness invaded the monster's genetic sequence directly.
This was a type of extremely chaotic spliced gene.
Filled with commands of destruction and madness.
"Stop."
Lu Jie forcibly issued a command at the genetic level.
The originally violent energy calmed down on the spot.
The red light on the monster's body dimmed.
Its massive body knelt before Lu Jie.
Its six eyes were filled with fear.
"Be a good source of nourishment for me."
Lu Jie curled his five fingers.
A powerful suction force erupted from his palm.
The monster's massive body began to shrivel.
All of its life essence and genetic energy were completely absorbed into Lu Jie's body.
The Mind Furnace ran frantically.
The energy this time was extremely vast.
Lu Jie felt every cell in his body cheering.
A few minutes later.
The monster turned into a pile of grey-white powder, which scattered across the ground with a gust of wind.
Lu Jie withdrew his hand and exhaled a breath of turbid air.
The dark golden light in his eyes became even more intense.
[Obtained Ability Mutation: Infinite Proliferation.]
As long as the cells are not completely destroyed, they can regenerate infinitely.
Moreover, with each regeneration, physical strength doubles.
Lu Jie clenched his fist, feeling the surging power within his body.
He turned his head to look at the rooftop in the distance.
Codename Zero was so scared he turned and ran.
"Since you're already here, what's the rush?"
Lu Jie raised his hand, and Gravity Control activated.
Codename Zero felt his body lighten and was pulled directly off the rooftop.
He crashed heavily at Lu Jie's feet.
Several bones were broken.
Codename Zero lay on the ground, vomiting blood.
"Don't kill me... I was just following orders..." Codename Zero begged for mercy.
Lu Jie stepped on his back.
"Where is Edgar?"
"I don't know... He only contacts me through a single line..."
"Useless."
Lu Jie exerted force with his foot.
Codename Zero's spine was snapped directly, and he died on the spot.
Lu Jie glanced at Butcher and the others hiding behind the ruins.
Butcher's body tensed, and he gripped the military knife in his hand tightly.
Lu Jie ignored them.
He walked up to Maeve.
"Can you still walk?" Lu Jie asked.
Maeve endured the excruciating pain and stood up straight.
"Yes."
"Back to the company." Lu Jie turned and walked toward the end of the street.
Maeve quickly followed.
Not daring to show the slightest hesitation.
Washington, an underground bunker.
Edgar sat in front of the monitoring screen.
The screen was playing the footage of the battle just now.
He watched his last trump card being easily drained dry by Lu Jie.
In his eyes behind the gold-rimmed glasses, despair finally appeared.
"He is not a mutant." Edgar muttered to himself.
"He is a true demon."
The room door was pushed open.
Several people in black suits walked in.
"Mr. Edgar, your plan has failed." The leader's tone was chilling.
"The Consortium is very disappointed in you."
Edgar stood up and straightened his tie.
"This is an accident. That Lu Jie's abilities exceeded calculations."
"The Consortium does not need explanations." The leader took out a pistol equipped with a silencer.
"Wait!" Edgar raised his hand.
"I still have one last plan."
"Speak."
"I possess the genetic weaknesses of all superheroes in the United States." Edgar looked at him.
"As long as you give me time, I can create a weapon targeting Lu Jie."
The leader was silent for a moment.
He put away the pistol.
"You only have one last chance."
The man in the suit turned and left.
Edgar breathed a sigh of relief.
He walked to the console and entered a long string of passwords.
A red warning box popped up on the screen.
[World-Ending Directive Activated.]
Madness shone in Edgar's eyes.
"Since I can't have it, then everyone will die together."
Vought Tower, top-floor office.
Lu Jie sat in the swivel chair.
Annie was holding a towel, carefully wiping the dust off his clothes.
"Is that monster dead?" Annie asked softly.
"It became my fertilizer." Lu Jie leaned back in the chair.
Neuman pushed the door open and walked in.
"Master, the PR Department has already sent out the video." Neuman reported.
"The entire internet is discussing your power now."
"They are calling you the Savior."
Lu Jie curled his lips.
"Savior? What a bunch of sheep easily fooled."
Lu Jie tapped on the table.
"Go check Edgar's overseas accounts. He must still be hiding in some corner."
"Yes." Neuman nodded and retreated.
Only Lu Jie and Annie were left in the office.
After wiping off the dust, Annie knelt by Lu Jie's legs.
Her hands rested on his knees.
"You look really good today." Annie looked up at him.
Lu Jie pinched her chin.
"Are you trying to please me?"
"I just want to make you happy." Annie's voice was very soft.
Lu Jie leaned down and kissed her.
With absolute possessiveness.
Annie closed her eyes, responding to his kiss.
In the face of absolute power, resistance is meaningless.
Only submission can buy space for survival.
Lu Jie's fingers slid down her spine.
Just as he was preparing to take further action.
The encrypted phone on the table suddenly rang.
Lu Jie frowned.
He let go of Annie and picked up the phone.
A voice processed by a voice changer came from the other end of the phone.
"Lu Jie, the game has only just begun."
"Who are you?" Lu Jie asked in a flat tone.
"I am the one who will end your rule."
"Three hours from now, there will be a grand fireworks show in the center of New York."
"I hope you like it."
The phone hung up.
Lu Jie looked at the black screen.
Killing intent emerged in his eyes.
"It seems there are still people rushing to die."
Lu Jie stood up and straightened his clothes.
"Go get dressed." Lu Jie said to Annie.
"Is there trouble again?" Annie stood up.
"A small interlude." Lu Jie walked toward the door.
"A true tyrant does not allow anyone to provoke him."
A greater storm is about to sweep across all of New York.