The streets of Windy City trembled as the Lincoln Clan arrived in full force. Clad in black and crimson, dozens of guards and cultivators marched toward Celeste on Wind, surrounding the luxurious restaurant like a tide of vengeance. At their head stood Lisa Lincoln, face unreadable, aura oppressive.
Inside, Kai remained seated by the window, still sipping wine.
A sharp voice rang out from below.
"Come out, coward! Face the wrath of the Lincoln Clan!"
Kai stood slowly, the heavy wooden floor creaking beneath his step. He walked to the railing, overlooking the crowd. His blade, Blade of Dominance, gleamed faintly at his side.
"You came," he said with a quiet smirk. "Good."
From the ranks below, a peak rank 1 cultivator and two rank 2s leapt forward, blades flashing.
Kai didn't even flinch.
"Blade of Dominance, Form Two — Dominance Chop."
A single swing. One moment of motion.
All three attackers collapsed mid-air — cleanly bisected, lifeless before they touched the ground.
Gasps spread through the crowd. Lisa's face twitched.
"Enough!" she shouted, stepping forward. "I'll finish this myself."
Kai looked down at her, calm.
"Come, then."
She lashed her whip, glowing with violent spiritual force. It snapped forward and struck his chest—
CLANG.
The sound echoed unnaturally. Everyone froze.
Scales. Jet-black, dragonlike scales shimmered across Kai's body where the whip had landed.
He hadn't moved. He hadn't even blinked.
"Let's see how strong I really am," Kai whispered. Then, he vanished.
"Divine Void Step — Step One."
In a flash, he appeared behind Lisa.
"Blade of Dominance, Form Three — Dominance Cut."
Time itself seemed to pause.
Lisa turned just in time to see the blade gleam past her eyes.
Her head rolled across the street, her body falling without grace.
Dead silence.
No one moved. No one breathed.
The mightiest of the Lincoln Clan had fallen in seconds.
Kai turned, brushing dust from his shoulder.
"Which way to the Lincoln Clan estate?"
Someone, trembling, pointed east.
Minutes later, the Lincoln Clan compound stood in his shadow.
Guards shouted. Elders formed formations.
Kai didn't stop walking.
"Blade of Dominance, Form One — Dominance Slash."
"Form Two — Dominance Chop."
"Form Three — Dominance Cut."
Again and again.
He was like a storm — unrelenting, unstoppable. Screams echoed. Steel clashed. Flesh fell.
The ground turned red.
No one was spared.
By the time it was done, the once-mighty Lincoln Clan lay in ruin — every elder, guard, and heir buried beneath their shattered banners.
Kai stepped into the ruined treasury. He didn't need their gold, their pills, or their weapons.
He took them anyway.
As he walked out, fire behind him, he muttered,
"Trash should never speak so loudly."
He vanished, leaving nothing but silence and smoke behind.