Utilizing the "Lesser Formless Body" to replicate Byakuya's technique, to copy out this verbally transmitted peerless technique—that wasn't the only viable method.
For instance, extracting Byakuya's soul, extracting his memories.
But undertaking such an action would undoubtedly be perilous. Leaving Byakuya's soul intact could permit Byakuya to face execution and subsequently be reborn.
Moreover, Byakuya had repeatedly employed the forgetfulness spray. Whether he himself still retained the complete mastery of those techniques was already questionable.
In other words, Byakuya might have simply programmed his physical form to remember certain energy circulation pathways, while he subconsciously maintained this flow.
If that were the scenario, then the specific content of the technique itself became less crucial, because his very body retained the knowledge.
If that held true, replicating Byakuya's technique using the "Lesser Formless Body" was indeed the superior choice.
So, was Sea King correct?
Yes, but not entirely. This was Reinhard's tactical objective, but it did not represent the entirety of his overall strategy.
"In this reality, there always exists an inescapable relationship of supply and demand. Valuable things are desired. Worthless things are simply discarded."
"To possess exploitable value is an honor; each one of us exists in that capacity."
"If we ourselves hold no exploitable value, then we are no different from a common stone found by the roadside."
"No individual acts kindly toward another without an underlying motive. All perceived gifts have long since had their price tags affixed in the netherworld."
Listening to Reinhard's solemn narration, Yang Lin, his green eyes fixed ahead, smiled faintly. "That holds true. No one can bypass this fundamental law."
Reinhard: "What I just spoke of was an objective truth. Now, I must impart to you a subjective truth."
"No one will show benevolence to a person without reason, with the sole exception of their parents."
"So, you are not his parent," Yang Lin stated, gesturing towards himself.
At this juncture, Reinhard removed the mask from his face. "I am not his parent. Our connection is strictly limited to that of master and disciple."
"But someone residing within my body owed him a debt, so I gave him my word that, no matter the circumstance, I would guarantee his continued existence."
Yang Lin settled onto the four-poster bed, crossing his legs comfortably. "But what if this outcome—this path—is his own decision?"
"Then he must communicate that to me himself, not through you," Reinhard countered firmly.
Sea King shifted his gaze, manifesting through Yang Lin's body. "I truly hadn't anticipated that the reason you would confront me would be for a mere human boy with whom you share no familial ties."
"Reinhard, what is the actual significance of this?"
"Could it be that, in your perspective, whether he lives or perishes holds greater weight than your own future, or even your own life?"
Reinhard hurled the shattered white mask to the ground, revealing a face that appeared somewhat gaunt and strained. "I am an inherently selfish individual. Nothing surpasses the value of my own existence."
"But the prerequisite for that claim is that you must currently possess the capacity to threaten my life."
Sea King manipulated Yang Lin's body to take a step closer to Reinhard. "Well said. With your starting 5th Step mental strength, a mere wisp of my consciousness truly cannot terminate you."
"Then why don't we both concede a minor point? I am not a bloodthirsty entity, so how about we formulate a mutual agreement?"
"I guarantee Yang Lin's life. After this entire affair is concluded, I will restore his consciousness and body to him. In return, you will assist me in realizing my ultimate ideals."
"Naturally, beyond those direct benefits, you certainly won't be left empty-handed."
Reinhard: "Your ideals—what else are they besides uniting the entire world under one banner?"
Sea King: "What I genuinely aspire to is absolute peace."
Reinhard: "Beautiful rhetoric, but the tangible objective remains unchanged."
Sea King: "Then, what is your final verdict?"
...
Several hours later, Reinhard donned a brand new mask. This mask was crimson, depicting a visage contorted in fury.
Two figures cloaked in black stood flanking Reinhard.
"Assemble every member of the Serpent's Hand."
"In Kitsune's name, we declare war upon all monstrous entities!"
...
On the other side, following Byakuya's demise, Kitsune was plunged into internal chaos.
The departed soul 069, who had usurped Byakuya's place, immediately proceeded to a Kitsune branch office, which also functioned as a containment facility.
Here, a specific Object served as the core of all their operational safeguards.
η-001: Atrium of Avalon.
It was a box roughly the size of a human skull. One merely needed to place a drop of blood upon it, and a corresponding heart would be generated within the device.
This apparatus could regulate the function of that heart, boosting its efficiency up to six times its normal rate.
But that particular feature was not the most critical aspect. What truly mattered was its accompanying security effect.
Kitsune members would also have their hearts duplicated and stored here. Once the main body perished, the stored heart here would shatter in resonance.
Furthermore, the stored heart could dynamically synchronize with the primary body's heart, allowing those stationed here to monitor the owner's current vital status.
If the heart's vitality showed a decline, it signified that the owner might soon face termination.
Thus, the first entity to receive confirmation of Byakuya's death must have been this location. To secure control over Kitsune, the departed soul Byakuya had to arrive here immediately and suppress any official notification regarding the original Byakuya's passing.
As for Nightmare and Gluttony?
Gluttony had been successfully lured into a vulnerable position and killed by the departed soul Byakuya. Entity 005, contained within Gluttony, was subsequently released.
005 was persuaded by the departed soul Byakuya to engage Nightmare. Additionally, another hostile entity provided assistance. While those two might not manage to kill Nightmare outright, delaying him for a critical period should not be problematic.
The departed soul Byakuya arrived at this containment zone. As soon as he stepped inside, he detected a pungent, metallic scent of blood.
"Someone beat me to the cleanup?"
The departed soul Byakuya rushed inward swiftly, only to find corpses scattered everywhere, terribly mutilated and fragmented.
At this moment, a crisp sound of high heels echoed from the far end of the corridor.
He turned, witnessing a blonde woman emerging from the containment area, carrying a small, delicate girl perched securely on her shoulder.
Queen Bee?
Why was she present at this specific location?
Queen Bee spotted the departed soul Byakuya, then immediately sneered dismissively and rapidly exited the vicinity.
However, the little girl on her shoulder waved a small hand in greeting.
"Mama, he doesn't have a heart."
Queen Bee heard this utterance and abruptly halted. "Correction: Call me big sister."
"Big sister..."
Hearing the little girl's words, Queen Bee reached out and gently stroked her head. "Good girl. It was not in vain that big sister exerted so much effort to rescue you."
"But he has no heart..."
"It's fine, he is deceased."
"Big sister, I wish to..."
"No, you do not."
"Ah..."
Queen Bee and the little girl moved on. The departed soul Byakuya couldn't help but break into a cold sweat.
If he wasn't mistaken, this Queen Bee... seemed to be her main body.
4th Step Mid-Tier, there was no mistake.
And that little girl... could it be 039?
Number 039: Daima.
A monster without a rank, yet quite terrifying.
She could infiltrate any living creature's body, effectively becoming that creature's heart.
Not just a physical heart; she was a heart in every sense, capable of influencing one's thoughts and judgments, functioning more like a parasite.
Moreover, once she parasitized someone, they would become instantly addicted. As soon as Daima left that creature's body, the host would experience overwhelming itchiness, becoming restless and mentally disoriented.
In addition to that, Daima could also render the parasitized person's spirit immune to any external mental influence.
But this came with a severe drawback: she would infinitely amplify the malice and desires residing within a person's heart.
Hence, Kitsune referred to her as the Demon Heart.
Queen Bee had actually taken her away.
The departed soul Byakuya continued his search for survivors.
However, he only located a blind, portly man.
He lay motionless on the ground, not even breathing. The departed soul Byakuya initially assumed he was deceased.
Walking up to the fat man, the departed soul Byakuya patted his face. "Wake up. What transpired here?"
The fat man smartly sat up. He shook his head, then faced the wall and asked, "Who are you?"
"Over here."
Hearing the voice, the fat man turned to look behind him. "Who are you?"
The departed soul Byakuya stood up. "You don't even recognize me?"
This voice?
Byakuya?
Tang Yan heard this and was instantly stunned. Byakuya wasn't dead, was he?
"You, give me your hand."
The departed soul Byakuya extended his right hand. Tang Yan grasped his hand, immediately attempting to glimpse his date of death.
However, Tang Yan couldn't see anything. His ability was ineffective?
No!
Thinking this, Tang Yan suddenly trembled!
His ability only became nullified under two specific circumstances. The first was touching without fully making contact. The second was that the person before him was not truly a person!
If it wasn't a person, what was it?
A reanimated corpse?
Or perhaps, a spirit?
Tang Yan tremblingly let go of his hand, his expression a vivid blend of confusion and dread.
The departed soul Byakuya looked at Tang Yan. He had seen this operative's file before: Kitsune's former A-class operative, "Eye of the Future."
Could it be that he, too, possessed clairvoyance?
Tang Yan secretly swallowed his saliva. "Bya, Byakuya."
"...It's you."
Tang Yan spoke, his backside inching backward defensively. Seeing his demeanor, the departed soul Byakuya couldn't help but narrow his eyes.
This fellow must know something and is deliberately feigning ignorance.
"You already know that I am dead, don't you?"
"I—I don't know..."
"My death—you also played a part in that outcome."
Tang Yan almost instinctively blurted out, "No, it wasn't... It was Zero. He was the one who wished for your end, not me!"
Wait, why did this scene feel so eerily familiar?
Tang Yan was momentarily stunned. A wave of lethal intent erupted from the figure before him, piercing straight into Tang Yan's bones!
The departed soul Byakuya seized Tang Yan's head, forcibly turning it towards himself. "Tang Yan, look at me."
Tang Yan wildly tried to turn his head away. "No, I, I'm not looking..."
Byakuya used sheer force to twist his head back. "Look into my eyes, and then tell me, the me you see now... Is it the future... Or the past?"
"Future?"
"Past?"
"What are you talking about? I don't comprehend..."
"You understand perfectly."
"I don't understand!"
This entity was certainly not the living Byakuya!
I...
No!
Tang Yan suddenly recalled the illusion he had witnessed right before Byakuya's actual death!
'The vision you see right now, whose memory belongs to?'
Whose memory?
Puff, puff!!
The sound of a sharp object penetrating flesh echoed. Tang Yan suddenly felt a wrenching, agonizing pain in his chest!
Some kind of sharp implement had pierced his heart!
"Cough, pfft!"
"...This, again... It's my own... memory..."
Thud.
Tang Yan spat out a mouthful of blood, then slumped face-first onto the ground.
It turned out that what he had seen previously was his own future—his own... date of death.
The departed soul Byakuya stabbed Tang Yan's corpse several times, then violently dismembered his body into eight pieces until the fellow was undeniably, thoroughly dead.
Although Queen Bee had cleared the area, there was no guarantee that not a single stray entity had slipped through the net.
For maximum security, he needed to deliver an additional fatal blow to every corpse.
This way, any information regarding Byakuya's supposed death would be rendered utterly worthless.
Since there were no verifiable witnesses, the departed soul Byakuya could state whatever narrative he preferred.
He could claim he hadn't died, but that Queen Bee had destroyed his stored heart here.
He could also claim his previous 'death' was merely a feigned one; a contingency plan. No one would be able to contradict his statement.
However, at this moment, the departed soul Byakuya received a message from Reinhard.
"Declare war on all monsters?"
"I haven't even secured control of Kitsune yet. This is a volatile period. Launching such a massive operation right now seems..."
"...What about Nightmare's faction then?"
"You'll manage that?"
"Understood."
...
Hong Kong, inside the Mad Hatter's headquarters building.
The Gold King, observing the bustling activity below, allowed a fleeting smile to cross his face. "All the world's hustle and bustle is for profit; all the world's comings and goings are for profit."
As soon as Byakuya perished, numerous monsters flocked to the Mad Hatter, eager to purchase some Objects from the Gold King.
Among them were not only 3rd Step monsters but also 4th Step monsters who had only recently been released.
Vaguely, the location of 040 Gold King here seemed to have transformed into a neutral zone.
Everyone, either disguised or masked, entered. No one revealed their true identity, and no one dared to initiate conflict here.
But they were acutely short on currency.
Those individuals who, like Byakuya, had once embraced the world's amassed wealth were becoming increasingly rare.
It was precisely because of this scarcity that these monsters began to assign greater value to money.
Land, real estate, antiques—all of these could be converted into currency.
Previously, they had dismissed such assets as mere dregs, not caring in the slightest, but now they found themselves forced to pay attention.
Everyone yearned to acquire the divine weapons and sharp implements held by the Gold King, and these could be purchased with coin.
Was there anything simpler than that transaction?
Well, perhaps... dismembering 009?
...
Inside the Mad Hatter building.
A long-eared man with long, light yellow-green hair was absorbed in glancing over a book. He wore a small bear mask.
But frankly, whether he wore a mask or not was utterly irrelevant.
Because no matter the attire, others recognized him instantly.
His monster designation was quite high on the roster. Counting back from 031 Byakuya, 032 was Gargoyle, and 033 was him: Elf.
Crafted from an elf originating from another world as material, and inherently stronger than the elves native to that foreign realm.
Yet, compared to the other high-ranking monsters present, his specific abilities were somewhat insufficient. When confronting Byakuya earlier, he was captured instantly.
His capabilities were tied to natural elements, and his raw combat strength was relatively average.
At this moment, a man strode over and casually snatched the small book from his hand.
Elf noticed the intrusion and turned his head. "What are you doing?"
The man's chest and abdomen were exposed; his upper body was bare, and a large saber was sheathed at his waist.
"Can't even afford to buy it, so what's the point of examining it?"
"How can you be so rude!"
"Oh, how can you be so rude~" the man teased flirtatiously. "I'm telling you, you're a monster; can't you speak with a bit more dignity?"
The man said this while casually tossing the book back.
He was 034, Decapitator.
Ranked immediately after Elf. Earlier, he and Elf had jointly assaulted the Kitsune Headquarters.
His unique potion shared the same origin as Balance's, also relating to spatial manipulation.
Decapitator's ability manifested within Pandemonium-Void. Inside this Pandemonium-Void, there existed Death itself.
As long as Decapitator offered human heads to Death, he could compel Death to act.
Decapitator had previously summoned Death to confront Byakuya, but it was only a single, isolated attack, not a complete descent of the entity.
This was because Death made no distinction between friend or foe. If Death were to fully manifest, Decapitator himself would inevitably suffer Death's attacks.
Besides that, he possessed the ability to drag others into Pandemonium-Void, similar to Balance's Bagua space.
However, his space was a forced deathmatch arena. If he pulled others in, he was compelled to enter as well.
And one party must die for either of them to exit.
Elf glanced at him, then picked up the book, intending to depart. However, Decapitator blocked his path. "Don't be in such a hurry to leave."
"Aren't you short on cash? Coincidentally, I'm also broke, so..."
"So you plan to resort to robbing?"
"Robbing money?"
"Isn't that rather low-class?"
"Listen to me. If anyone purchases anything from in here, remember this: the moment they step out that door, you and I are taking them down!"
...
Outside the Mad Hatter building.
Elf and Decapitator, one wearing a small bear mask, the other a rabbit mask. Although this disguise might be meaningless, the historical practice of "burying one's head in the sand while stealing a bell" had always been maintained.
"So, robbing money is cumbersome; why not just snatch the items directly?"
"I eavesdropped a bit just now. Three individuals made purchases in total, but I don't know the specific items."
Hearing Elf's words, Decapitator couldn't help but tug sharply on his ear. "So these ears aren't just for decoration?"
Having his ear pulled, Elf's face instantly flushed crimson, because Elf's ears were notoriously sensitive.
"What are you doing?"
"Just touching your ear. Is there really such a significant reaction?"
"Yes, there absolutely is!"
Elf's abilities were intrinsically linked to wind, rain, forests, and wild beasts.
Wind and rain granted him auditory perception. He could discern information through air currents that ordinary individuals could not, and could also predict changes in celestial phenomena for several consecutive days by analyzing rainwater.
Forests, conversely, provided visual acuity. By physically touching plant life, Elf could sense the location of every existing plant across the world; it served as an extension of his vision.
As for the wild beasts aspect, this ability manifested in two distinct modes: one for taming wild beasts, and the other for self-transformation into a wild beast form.
However, that transformation was strictly limited to wild beasts.
In another world, there existed not only wild beasts but also monstrous entities.
For example, griffins, manticores, giant dragons—these did not fall under the wild beast category but were classified as monstrous beast types or even Ancient God types.
Beyond the abilities listed above, Elf himself possessed several inherent racial traits.
These included longevity, innate harmony with natural elements, inherent magical aptitude, and extraordinarily rapid reaction speeds.
As inherent traits of his race, these characteristics made Elf exceedingly formidable.
But as a monster, these abilities were somewhat unremarkable.
Therefore, the Elf potion wasn't entirely derived from ordinary elves from another world; the potion also contained another branch of elves.
Namely, Dark Elves, or subterranean elves.
Subterranean elves were cruel and bloodthirsty, capable of sacrificing their own flesh and blood for greater power. Furthermore, they derived pleasure from pain; the more agony they felt, the more exhilarated and potent they became!
Dark Elves were the complete antithesis of ordinary elves, running contrary to their very nature.
But from the current perspective, Elf did not exhibit Dark Elf abilities. The specific reason for this remained unclear.
"Come out."
Decapitator spoke. A middle-aged man, appearing over 40 years old, walked out of the Mad Hatter building.
The middle-aged man was heavily bearded and disheveled, looking every bit the vagrant. His clothes were tattered. He didn't immediately look like any formidable character!
"Go!"
"Wait!"
"What's wrong?"
"Have you ever seen this individual?"
"No, how could I have met every single one of so many monsters?"
"Then even if you haven't seen him, you must have heard something about him, right?"
"That much is true."
"But look closely at that person. Is there anything particularly distinct about his appearance?"
"It seems... no."
"So he's just an ordinary person?"
"Ordinary, my foot. Haven't you ever heard the adage, 'the more inconspicuous, the less ordinary'?"
"How am I supposed to know that?"
The two discussed animatedly, only to see the middle-aged man rummage through his chest for a moment before pulling out a piece of chewing gum.
He tore open the wrapper, popped the gum into his mouth, then casually flicked the wrapper away.
Whoosh!
A sharp sound of something cutting through the air followed. Decapitator suddenly turned his head, only to see the gum wrapper whiz past him, directly striking the wall behind him!
Boom!!
The wall shattered with a crash, debris flying everywhere. Decapitator and Elf both broke into a cold sweat.
Kneading a gum wrapper into a small ball, and flicking it with a finger, could possess this level of destructive power?
"He's... 4th Step?"
"What did I tell you? The more unassuming, the more dangerous!"
"So, he's issuing a warning to us?"
"Otherwise, should we still proceed?"
"Proceed where? I refuse to believe all three of these figures are 4th Step!"
...
003 Han glanced towards the pair. He had overheard their whispered plotting from a distance.
Truth be told, he disliked meaningless conflict, and he disliked making unnecessary enemies. The infighting and confrontations among these monsters held no relevance to him.
He only intended to mind his own business.
The truly unfailing path was not to provoke antagonism from anyone.
That was true invincibility under heaven.
His earlier action was merely a timely reminder to those two young troublemakers: in this world, there are always beings stronger than you, and always concepts beyond your comprehension.
As for what Han purchased from the Gold King, it wasn't anything particularly valuable.
It was just a string of Buddhist prayer beads capable of warding off misfortune and evil.
Originally, the Gold King had offered it to him directly, free of charge.
"Consider it an act of goodwill."
However, Han refused.
Free is invariably the most expensive transaction. Accepting aid from another limits one's autonomy; accepting favors dictates future obligations. Benefiting from others would eventually require repayment, sooner or later.
The Gold King was a businessman; he wouldn't engage in a losing venture.
So Han declined his courtesy. Although he wasn't excessively wealthy, he still possessed some established savings.
While those other individuals were busy fighting for dominance, he had managed to open several small businesses across Asia, achieving notable success after years of development.
Han operated by his own principles, but not everyone did.
For example, the entity standing behind him had genuinely accepted the Gold King's benefits and forged an alliance with him.
That entity was The Vermin.
He had utilized insects to condense a human form to visit the Mad Hatter, and from within, he purchased a golden chain.
Named L'Enchaînement Céleste.
It was a high-tier commodity, a treasure beyond common price. Although the Gold King didn't give it directly, he granted a fifty percent discount.
In return, The Vermin pledged one thing to the Gold King: he would unconditionally assist the Gold King one time.
Note, this promise was not made lightly.
The Gold King possessed a divine artifact called Sacrosanct-Protocol.
Once both parties confirmed a pact and received Sacrosanct-Protocol's validation, if one intended to violate the agreement, Sacrosanct-Protocol would directly brainwash them, forcibly compelling their body to fulfill the commitment.
Thus, the second figure to emerge was The Vermin.
Upon spotting him, Decapitator's hand immediately went to the saber hilt at his waist.
But before he could move, a white figure suddenly descended from the sky!
Boom!
The ground roared. A man with white dragon scales covering his face and body, clad in silver armor, materialized before The Vermin!
His long hair billowed, and a terrifying aura assaulted them directly!
4th Step peak!
Looking at the man before him, The Vermin couldn't help but smile. "Our mighty dragon, the shackles and barriers that bound you and me have crumbled. Yet you still cling to me like a piece of plaster, refusing to let go. Isn't that a bit... unseemly?"
Ye Long's pupils shifted, glancing at the two figures positioned behind him, then focused back on The Vermin.
The bindings were broken, and the Manifest World had not met its demise. This was his merit.
Out of fear of Ye Long's overwhelming power, none of the 4th Step beings wished to strike first. None of them desired to become Ye Long's immediate target.
However, The Vermin was different; he showed no fear of Ye Long.
Even from the Reason World, he dared to challenge Ye Long.
And his reason for visiting the Gold King today was likely to secure a weapon capable of dealing with Ye Long.
Therefore, a warning was necessary.