QT: Against My Will (Volume 1)

3.36 - The School He wanted to Nuke - Downfall of Humanity

Once they changed Bing Shi's old wan to a new one, Ziek ignited the engine and steered them back toward the base.

"Can you lend me your knife, please?" Bing Shi inquired politely.

"..." Ziek mentally withdrew a tactical knife from his sheath and offered it to her.

"Thank you," Bing Shi grasped the hovering blade, pushing her sleeve up in the process. She attempted to scrape the surface of the blue barrier enveloping her wrist.

"What the fuck are you doing?"

"Experimenting with my body," Bing Shi giggled merrily, "How do you control your power so precisely?"

Ziek reclaimed the knife; watching Bing Shi giggle while slicing her wrist was rather bizarre. "It's like having a third hand. Just instinct, I guess."

"You are so strange," Bing Shi took out her shoe and placed it far away. The barrier from the shoe faded and enveloped her sock, prompting her to remove her sock and put it on her shoe.

Ziek concentrated on the road ahead, doing his best to dismiss her peculiar actions.

Bing Shi's eyes widened in comprehension. She swiftly reached for her phone and initiated contact with Kuro. Once she'd conveyed the message of her safety, she set the phone down at a distance so the barrier wouldn't touch it.

(Kuro): Host, I don't know why the line between us disconnected.

(Bing Shi): Yup, I'm glad you're okay. It might be due to my new ability. Can you see the barrier around me?

She turned on the camera.

(Kuro): I can't.

(Bing Shi): I must find out how to control it. Kuro, I missed you so much.

(Kuro): LOL.

"I'm genuinely curious about how I manage to breathe within this thing surrounding me," Bing Shi remarked as she put on her socks and shoes, "Was there anything like this in your previous world?"

"Nope, it was pretty much like this one pre-apocalypse, just with more eye-candy individuals," Ziek replied.

Bing Shi's mind wandered back to her past mission. "Funny you mention it. I recall something similar. You should have seen it. The hierarchy was determined by one's beauty – the more attractive, the better their standing. I was in this prestigious high school called Crimson Academy and..."

Ziek unexpectedly interjected, "That's the school I wanted to nuke."

"Woah, wait...what?!" Bing Shi stared at him, taken aback, "Coincidence or something more? How did I manage to miss you all this time?"

"Likely due to my time in boot camp or the lab."

"Oohh! No wonder you are so good at combat," Bing Shi responded, her voice drowsy as fatigue overcame her. "I might pass out soon, so when we get there, just leave me at the van."

"Your power?"

"Mhm. I haven't figured out how to turn it off yet."

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Within the confines of the base, Ziek entered his tent. "Why are you following me?" he questioned.

After taking a rest, Bing Shi was full of energy again, "Can't I?"

Ziek fixed his gaze on Bing Shi, "What do you want?"

"Can you teach me how to absorb a nucleus, please?" she asked politely. Wouldn't she end up as a laughing stock if she asked soldiers something she should have already known?