Back in Windy City, nestled in the eastern province of the Blue Sky Kingdom, the sky was clear, and the streets bustled with life. But within the walls of a small, rented room inside a quiet inn, a storm of power was gathering.
Kai Valerion sat cross-legged on his bed, the air around him thick with spiritual energy. The walls creaked under the weight of his cultivation, the entire room humming with energy.
Boom!
With one final pulse of crimson energy, Kai's eyes snapped open. A wicked smile spread across his face.
"Peak of Rank 3… Core Realm," he whispered. "I'm the strongest in this city."
He stood up, stretched lazily, and slung his sword over his back. Crimson, now in his sleek crow form, rested silently on the windowsill.
"Let's get something to eat."
Kai made his way back to Celeste on Wind, the finest restaurant in the city. This time, he walked in with an unbothered calm, choosing a seat in the sunlit corner by the window.
He sipped his wine slowly, savoring the peace.
But peace, in Windy City, rarely lasted long.
"How come there's no seat for this young master? Do you know who I am!?" a shrill voice rang through the restaurant.
BAM!
A slap echoed as the waiter stumbled back. Heads turned instantly.
"Young Master Charles?!"
Whispers spread like wildfire.
"Isn't he the Lincoln Clan's heir?"
"I heard he reached mid-Rank 1 just last week."
"One of Windy City's top three geniuses…"
A tall youth in embroidered robes strutted forward. His smug henchman scanned the room.
"You—kid," one of them pointed at Kai, "get out of that seat. Can't you see who this is?"
Kai didn't move.
He slowly raised his hand.
"Hold on a minute."
Then, without a care, he chugged the rest of his wine.
The entire jug.
Charles twitched with rage, his face turning red.
"How dare you ignore this young master!!"
Kai slammed the jug down with a loud thud that made the plates on nearby tables rattle. He rose from his seat, eyes filled with a quiet madness.
"You want your death," he said with a smirk. "I can give it to you."
Charles barked, "Get him!"
His two henchmen rushed forward—both early Rank 1.
Kai didn't even unsheathe his sword.
BAM!
BAM!
Two quick punches—two bodies flew across the room and slammed into the far wall, unconscious.
Gasps echoed.
"Wha…?"
Charles stepped forward, eyes wild.
"You dare—trash like you dares touch my people!?"
He lunged at Kai with a punch.
But before the fist landed, Kai's blade had already appeared in his hand—silent, swift, deadly.
"Blade of Dominance – Form One: Dominance Slash."
A thin red arc shimmered in the air.
Ssshhhk!
The last thing Charles Lincoln saw was Kai's smiling face as the world spun around him… and then his head rolled across the restaurant floor.
Silence.
Everyone froze. The entire restaurant stood still.
"H-he killed Young Master Charles…"
"He's insane!"
"D-does he know what he's done?! That's the Lincoln Clan heir!"
The manager ran out, pale as a ghost.
"S-sir, please… You must leave! Now! The Lincoln Clan—his sisters—they're both cultivators! Elite ones! If you stay, they'll come for you!"
Kai wiped the blade clean, sat back down, and poured himself another drink.
"Let them come," he said casually, sipping.
"I'm sitting right here."
His voice dropped cold as steel.
"Because I never run away…"
He looked around the room, gaze sharp enough to cut.
"Trash."