From the Abyss of Stars

42. Ghost Rider

 

As the car slowed down, the vehicles behind quickly closed in. Two off-road vehicles accelerated simultaneously, flanking from both sides, and the operatives inside drew their firearms, firing a barrage at Li Aozzi and his companions.

 

Clang, clang, clang, clang—

 

"Tch!" The female operative in the car on the left showed obvious displeasure. If Nuo Mi weren't busy driving, she would have made a mocking face at her.

 

"Their car is bulletproof—give me the grenade launcher!" The operative, seeing Nuo Mi ignore her, was furious and reached back, demanding:

 

"Hurry up! Hey—driver, keep the speed steady, grenades can't reach that far."

 

"Agent Luo Fan, the captain wants them alive." Agent Yavanna's reminder came through the channel.

 

"I don't care, how do we capture them alive without stopping the car?" Agent Luo Fan retorted bluntly. "Do you think just because Di is dead, your academic approach can work?"

 

"Not at all, Agent Luo Fan. I just believe using vehicles to directly intercept is our advantage. Our cars weigh 3.4 tons, have wide tires, powerful engines, and thick armor. According to our training manual—" Yavanna's explanation was cut off by Luo Fan's impatience:

 

"Oh, really? If the textbook is so useful, then do as it says!"

 

She grabbed the grenade launcher handed to her, opened the car window, and aimed at Li Aozzi's vehicle, just as the sunroof on their car suddenly opened.

 

"—Hold on!"

 

She paused, her eyes fixed on the figure emerging from the sunroof. Amidst the red-black sky and swirling snow, she could barely make out a tall, slender male figure, raising his hands in a gesture of surrender. Over the roar of the engine and the wind, she faintly heard someone from the right vehicle shouting:

 

"Please don't shoot! I surrender! I can't escape anymore! This Rose Army woman kidnapped me, she wants to negotiate with you."

 

The words, spoken with genuine emotion and sincerity, made her hesitate. As she pondered the validity of the statement, a whistling sound suddenly cut through the air, and the grenade launcher was knocked out of her hand by an iron chain.

 

"When did—?!"

 

Before she could react, the driver exclaimed, as something struck the windshield. Fortunately, their tempered glass was just as sturdy and didn't shatter. She saw a metal canister stuck to the windshield, oozing a colorless liquid that seeped down the hood. Soon, she caught a whiff of a pungent fuel odor.

 

"Fuel!"

 

Li Aozzi dropped the gasoline-soaked chain back inside the car, and Qiu Ran touched it lightly with her finger.

 

Boom!

 

A fierce dragon of flames erupted from Li Aozzi's hand. He swung his arm, hurling it at the car that had been doused with gasoline!

 

His grey eyes lit up with golden rings, applying gravity to the chain to assist its swing. As it descended, Li Aozzi suddenly reversed the direction of gravity, making the chain bear five times its weight.

 

Li Aozzi's movements were incredibly fast, far exceeding the speed at which Agent Luo Fan could aim and shoot at him. Just as she raised her gun, the flaming chain crashed onto the car's front!

 

Bang!

 

The originally less than 5-kilogram chain hit with the force of a cannonball due to the impact generated by its fall. The hood caved in instantly, and the gasoline seeping into the engine ignited immediately, spewing flames at the passengers inside. The driver and operatives were terrified by the flames.

 

"Ahhh—"

 

The people in the back tried to extinguish the fire, but it was too late for Agent Luo Fan. Her protective gloves caught fire, forcing her to remove them quickly, but in that moment, her fate was sealed.

 

Whoosh!

 

The red-hot, flame-draped chain swung, striking her neck. The gasoline, influenced by gravity, spread from her neck down her back, seeping into her clothes and hair.

 

In an instant, her head was engulfed in flames, and she screamed in agony, abandoning all resistance. Her frantic flailing disrupted the driver, who already had limited visibility due to the flames and the snowstorm. The driver lost control, and the car veered off course and disappeared from sight.

 

Limited by the poor visibility of the outer world, the right-side vehicle could only see Li Aozzi waving the chain, unaware of what had happened to the left-side vehicle. Agent Yavanna, shouting in the channel, received no response.

 

The following vehicle accelerated, trying to close the gap.

 

"Don't go over there, he's a gravity field ability user—"

 

Before she finished, Li Aozzi tossed another gasoline canister. The gravity field shifted, and the canister hurtled like a meteor, smashing into the windshield of the trailing vehicle!

 

"What—ahhhhh!!!"

 

The glass shattered, and the immediate friction and impact ignited the canister. Without needing a follow-up attack, the driver, pierced by the gasoline canister, was engulfed in flames. Panicking, he caused the vehicle to roll over, lying overturned on the road.

 

Soon, an explosion lit up the snowstorm behind them.

 

"Agent Yavanna, what now…"

 

The driver was shaken, the fate of the trailing vehicles making him fearful.

 

Li Aozzi clearly targeted the drivers. The last driver had been gutted by the gasoline canister and burned alive, dying painfully with his passengers.

 

Death wasn't terrifying, but dying so painfully was unsettling.

 

"We—"

 

Before Yavanna could speak, Li Aozzi gave them no time to plan. The rear operative screamed as the red-hot chain severed her arm holding the gun, setting her clothes on fire. The orange flames consumed her, rendering her helpless.

 

"Help me, I, ah! I—I—ahhhh—"

 

Her skin shriveled and cracked at an alarming rate, the subcutaneous fat igniting, her skin splitting, revealing blood vessels, then turning black and charred.

 

"Agent Charles, grab the extinguisher!"

 

"I'm on it—Chulin! What are you doing? Don't come near me, I'm trying to save you—ah!"

 

She flailed and struck herself, spreading the flames. Agent Charles, bending to grab the extinguisher, was caught in her frantic grasp, igniting as well. She was consumed by flames, her body pressed down by the burning colleague, screaming in agony.

 

"No, ahhhh—"

 

She reached out to Yavanna, pleading desperately:

 

"Kill me…"

 

Yavanna's pupils contracted. She shouted:

 

"Driver, unlock the doors!"

 

"What are you—unlocked!"

 

Yavanna gritted her teeth, opening the door. The wind immediately tore away her breathing mask, but she ignored it.

 

Saving lives was more important!

 

Yavanna hooked onto the door, climbing onto the roof, and opened the rear doors, pulling the two out of the car.

 

Yavanna moved swiftly, the flames not touching her.

 

The two bodies were swallowed by the snowstorm and darkness, disappearing from sight… whether the flames were extinguished or they were too far to see was unclear.

 

"At least it's better than doing nothing—hmm!"

 

Whoosh!

 

Hearing a whistling sound, Yavanna ducked, avoiding Li Aozzi's chain swipe.

 

The chain scraped her hat, sparking against the brim, illuminating her delicate face. Her golden-green eyes met Li Aozzi's grey ones, now glowing with golden rings.

 

Those eyes were filled with a contempt that was extremely off-putting—he seemed to regard everyone as insignificant, looking down on everything, his expression relaxed and carefree, giving her a sense of familiarity.

 

Yavanna remembered the tourists in the capital's arcade, who moved joysticks to kill countless virtual "enemies."

 

Yavanna's face turned displeased, her expression showing annoyance.

 

She hated those who showed no respect for life.

 

Click!

 

Holding a pistol in each hand, Yavanna glared at him, ready to strike.

 

"Huh…?"

 

Li Aozzi was slightly surprised.

 

"At this level, someone can dodge my attack with their back turned."

 

Impressive.

 

The chain swung around, the gasoline burned out, and the flames extinguished. Li Aozzi stood on the car roof, the chain hanging from his hand, still red-hot, creating wisps of steam in the snow.

 

Half-lying on the off-road vehicle, Agent Yavanna aimed her guns, calmly observing Li Aozzi's movements without rushing to attack, unsure if his gravity ability would affect bullets.

 

Li Aozzi wasn't in a hurry either. He quietly assessed the Law IV operative, her calm and steady demeanor contrasting with the usual craziness of Law IV women, intriguing him.

 

Was it her luck? Or had he become rusty—unlikely, as soft weapons, staves, and swords were all primary gear for [Starfall Masters].

 

Li Aozzi had great confidence in his skills.

 

Whether it was luck or she was truly exceptional, her next actions would reveal.

 

"A mere fry or a hidden shark... I hope she'll be worth my time."

 

As an expert, very few at the same level and similar attributes could match his agility.

 

This sudden appearance piqued Li Aozzi's interest.

 

Anyone can win by overwhelming force; true competition is the most fun!

 

Under the red-black sky, the two off-road vehicles roared forward like beasts, racing against each other, grey eyes and golden-green eyes locking in a mutual gaze.

 

They stood off for a long time, one side wary and cautious of the other's mysterious abilities, the other intrigued, looking at the opponent with the anticipation of a new toy.

 

Time seemed to slow like mercury, heavy and thick. Under the intense mental strain, Yavanna's fair forehead broke out in cold sweat, while Li Aozzi maintained his relaxed, carefree demeanor throughout.

 

In just a few seconds of idle stillness, Yavanna felt each second stretch into eternity. Li Aozzi's calm and indifference imposed immense mental pressure on her. As her grip on the guns wavered slightly, a sudden query came from inside the car:

 

"Li Aozzi, are you done yet—"

 

Bang!

 

The chain and the dual pistols rose simultaneously, triggers pulled, the still-warm chain glowing with a menacing red light.

 

In that moment, the clash of hot and cold weapons, the collision of technology and supernatural abilities, marked the beginning of a blood-soaked confrontation.