"I am Marquis Vincent de Gramont!"
The man in the suit held a wax-sealed scroll imprinted with the crests of the twelve families. He raised it steadily before Caine and spoke in a deep voice.
"According to ancient laws and precepts, the twelve council families of the High Table have decided to engage in a duel with you—to resolve our dispute in the traditional manner of gentlemen, while avoiding excessive and unnecessary casualties on both sides."
"Sorry," Caine replied calmly. "I am not of noble birth. I am a professional assassin."
"I was merely a lonely child picked up from the streets by the High Table, tempered through countless trials until I became this incomparably sharp sword."
"Therefore…"
At this point, Caine shook his head slightly.
The cane sword in his hand slowly slid from its sheath, revealing its chilling silver-white blade.
Caine held no resentment toward the High Table.
After all, slaughter had given his life meaning.
It had been his unwavering belief.
He had given everything for the High Table, because the High Table had been the family that raised him—his so-called parents.
Unfortunately, those "parents" had never treated him as a child.
Only as a tool for making money.
So, Caine chose to find a new family.
He found his lover.
And he had a lovely daughter.
He had wanted to quit. He had returned his eyes and everything the High Table had given him.
Their debts to each other had been settled.
But now the High Table dared to touch his family.
That meant the High Table had to perish.
There was no room left for negotiation.
Just as before, he would give everything—
But this time, it would be for his family.
"Wait, wait, Caine. You don't have to do this."
Vincent quickly raised his hand.
"We were never enemies."
"The High Table is your former home. Your familiar partners and friends are still here."
"You are very powerful. You can kill all your enemies. You could even kill all of us and end everything."
"But what about your friends and brothers?"
"John Wick killed the Elder and is currently being hunted by the High Table."
"And Koji Shimazu from the Osaka branch—they are still just mortals."
"They don't have your power."
"You have already killed more than half of the council members."
"Now there are many open seats on the High Table."
"You can join us and become one of the rule-makers."
Vincent smiled slightly and extended his hand in invitation.
"You should understand that you are only one man…"
"And we are thousands."
Pfft—
A flash of silver light swept across the air.
Vincent's wrist separated cleanly from his arm.
A moment later—
His head followed.
The severed head rolled across the ground, its expression frozen in stunned excitement as white light began to dissolve it into spiritual particles.
"You just reminded me again…"
"That I must kill every single one of you."
Caine spoke coldly as he watched the head disintegrate.
"Finally, I've accumulated enough spiritual energy to condense my Dantian."
"Next…"
"Foundation Establishment."
He absorbed the spiritual energy returned by the Cyber Dimension.
A surging force filled every meridian and acupoint within his body.
The once gaseous spiritual energy now pulsed like tangible substance through his meridians, granting Caine terrifying strength.
This was the precursor to Foundation Establishment.
The moment before a true Dantian was formed.
…
…
With the complete Soul Dantian Method, Caine's breakthrough proceeded with remarkable smoothness.
In just one night, he successfully opened his Soul Core.
Accompanied by a deep roar that seemed to echo from the depths of his soul—
A Dantian was born within Caine's body.
The space was small.
Only three inches in diameter.
But as long as he continued cultivating according to the method, the Dantian could expand endlessly.
More importantly—
After completing Foundation Establishment, the spiritual energy in Caine's body liquefied instantly.
His entire being underwent a qualitative transformation.
His physical strength increased by more than ten times.
Now Caine could completely ignore attacks from conventional firearms.
Even a direct missile strike would cause him no harm.
Unless he were struck by a nuclear weapon, Caine was essentially invincible in this world.
At the same time, his divine sense expanded outward.
Everything within a radius of one hundred miles entered his perception.
Even more astonishing—
Because of his exceptional perception talent, Caine discovered he could glimpse the future a few seconds in advance.
After forming the Dantian, Caine also gained a new ability.
The Dantian functioned as a portable storage space.
Items could be stored inside it at will.
More importantly—
He could now refine his Natal Magic Weapon.
A Natal Magic Weapon is cultivated together with its master's life.
Normally it rests inside the Dantian, continuously nourished by spiritual energy.
Over time it develops a spirit—what some would call a machine soul—and becomes completely synchronized with its master.
When needed, it can be summoned instantly.
It can attack enemies.
Or even defend its master automatically.
But the most surprising discovery was this—
Caine could fly.
And it was a natural ability.
No spell was required.
He could float in the air effortlessly.
Although the speed was slow and the altitude limited, the energy consumption was extremely low—almost like walking.
He could remain floating for twenty-four hours a day.
If he increased his energy output, he could fly higher and faster.
Caine stared at his reflection in the mirror as he floated gently in midair.
An excited smile curled across his lips.
Now he finally looked like a true immortal.
"This…"
"This is the life I want."
He sighed softly.
Then he suddenly raised his hand.
The Spirit Absorption Secret Art activated at full power.
Massive currents surged through nearby power lines, rushing into Caine's body.
His internal energy rapidly replenished.
Foundation Establishment cultivators who had not yet formed a Golden Core could not generate energy from nothing.
Nor could they convert spiritual energy into usable forms independently.
Every expenditure of power had to be replenished from external sources.
Unless one could survive on wind and dew or absorb the essence of the sun and moon—
Even restoring energy after battle would be difficult.
Thus, the Spirit Absorption Secret Art became an essential technique for every Cyber Cultivator.
It had even been standardized as a basic spell within the Cyber Dimension.
Once learned, it allowed cultivators to absorb energy from the world around them.
In a modern city filled with electrical wiring, energy was practically limitless.
Cyber Cultivators would never run out of power.
Even in areas without electricity, cultivators could absorb energy from sunlight, wind, rain, lightning, and geothermal heat.
Although the efficiency was far lower than in a city, it was still enough to sustain them.
After replenishing his energy reserves, Caine opened the window.
He stepped forward—
And floated high into the sky.
Caine curled his body in midair as if gathering strength.
Electric sparks flickered rapidly around him.
"Ahhhh—!"
His eyes snapped open.
Blinding currents burst from them, turning his pupils into glowing lightning.
BOOM—
The air beneath his feet exploded with a sonic boom.
In the next instant, Caine transformed into a streak of blue lightning and vanished into the sky.
The desire for slaughter surged within him.
⭐ Enjoying the story?
You can read ahead and support the translations by joining my Patreon! Your support helps me update faster and take on more projects. Thank you for reading!
Read up to 50 chapters ahead!
patreon.com/AminaSim
I'm starting a new JJK Fan-fic tomorrow. I'll notify everyone once it drops.