Kael looked at the doubtful Kure Clan girl and smiled slightly. "It's just simple mind-reading, nothing special."
Girl: "???"
He could even use mind-reading? That was outrageous.
"No, not outrageous at all. You know the human brain has several layers. I can only read your surface thoughts. If you've practiced meditation, you could hide your thoughts from me," Kael explained.
Indeed, mind-reading was fascinating, but it could only access shallow thoughts—only what the person was currently thinking. He couldn't read past memories or deep thoughts. Even so, the girl was utterly shocked.
"Oh, your name is Kure Fusui. That's a good name."
Kael smiled. "It feels familiar. After all, Kure is a common surname over there. But unfortunately, you're not from that country. Otherwise, I might have spared you."
Though the Kure Clan bore the surname Kure, they had no real connection to China. Their family had lived in Japan for over 1,300 years. Pure Japanese bloodline.
Kure Fusui felt her scalp tingle. Her instincts told her the Kure Clan had provoked serious trouble.
She quickly said: "This time, our Kure Clan admits defeat. Please spare us. We're willing to compensate for any losses."
Kael was surprised. "Oh? I know your brother is Kure Raian, the genius with a 100% liberation rate. But are you sure you can represent the Kure Clan?
Even your brother can't do that."
Fusui had to admit he was right. Neither she nor her brother could represent the entire Kure Clan.
"So, I think you should come with me to Kure Clan Village."
In a flash, Kael appeared before her, grabbed her neck, and shot into the sky, flying at incredible speed toward the outskirts of Tokyo.
Flight was possible once Kael reached the Second Rank. Whether sword-riding, object-riding, or wind-riding, all allowed flight. Now he used wind-riding. He wrapped himself and Fusui in mana to cancel air friction, then sped forward.
In moments, he had left Tokyo, heading toward Kure Clan Village, their base. It was about 500 kilometers away, but Kael reached it in less than half an hour. His speed rivaled an airplane. More importantly, with mana canceling friction, no sonic booms occurred. His flight was silent, undetectable even by radar.
Arriving above the destination, Kael looked down at the ancient buildings. This was Kure Clan Village, their ancestral home. Since the Asuka period, they had lived here. The architecture still reflected styles from 1,300 years ago, though renovated, the essence remained.
To Kael, it looked less like a village and more like an ancient town. Weathered walls told of its history.
He scanned the area—there were about ten thousand people. Surprisingly few. He had expected far more, given their unbroken lineage. Tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands, seemed possible. But only ten thousand lived here. Why?
He glanced at Fusui, using mind-reading. Her thoughts were full of escape plans and warning the clan.
He chuckled. "No need to bother warning them. I have a better way…"
He raised his right hand and pressed down.
Boom!
Kure Clan Village's largest building collapsed instantly. The deafening sound alarmed the entire clan.
Everyone rushed out of their homes.
Kael descended, hovering above the ruins, and sneered. "Kneel!"
A soul-crushing pressure burst from him, sweeping across the village. Most members had no resistance, collapsing to their knees, dizzy and weak. Only a few resisted, charging at Kael.
The first was Fusui's brother—Kure Raian. Kael, having watched Kengan Ashura, knew him well. An anomaly of the Kure Clan, driven by bloodlust. A genius with a 100% removal rate, unleashing all his strength.
Now, facing Kael, he showed no fear. Instead, he charged violently, leaping through the kneeling crowd like lightning. He soared upward, grinning like a demon, launching his attack.
To the kneeling clan members, Raian looked like a light piercing the darkness.
Kael looked down at the charging demon, acknowledging him. He raised a finger and casually blocked Raian's full-power punch.
Raian's demonic grin froze instantly.
"Good strength," Kael said, praising his attack. "But too weak!"
Bang!