Chapter 31:
Chapter 31 — A God's Art Piece
My New Home
◽At the Park◽
Mei froze. Her hands trembled. As she fell to her knees in fear. 「C-c-cain…」Cain’s voice cut through the air, calm, detached. 「Fret not, mortal; this one yet breathes.」
From his chest, a faint groan. General Liu. Alive—but changed.
「’Tis tragic, is it not? This mortal… he is an anomaly. Aye—he shall never be mortal again. He is no longer human, but a monster, Iris.」⟦Yes, my lord.⟧ Iris’s voice echoed, mechanical, obedient.Cain’s gaze swept the park. 「Call the auctioneer. Inform her that I, a god, have crafted a new piece.」⟦Of course, my lord. Pray, what name shall this piece bear?⟧Cain’s pupils gleamed, silver-blue for a fleeting second. 「Shēngmìng shù… The Living Tree.」⟦An excellent name, my lord. I shall make all arrangements.⟧A trickle of blood ran down Cain’s nose. He swiped it away with irritation. 「Tsk… Blanco. That filth is a plague upon this body.」
His pupils returned to black. The chill of divinity lingered in the air.
Nikolai wiped his nose, observing the anomaly that had once been General Liu. 「The one speaking… did he sound as if he were a god.」Mei shivered. 「Err… y-yes… he did…」Nikolai exhaled slowly. 「How does Cain always manage this…?」Mei still shaken up. 「what do you mean how, why's the more appropriate question.」「No that's dangerous… But Mei. You need to understand—Cain doesn’t think himself a god. He is one.」Mei let out a nervous laugh. 「Th-that can’t be… true… right…?」Nikolai reached out, helping her to her feet. 「Some truths are better left unspoken. Come. Let us go elsewhere.」Mei glanced once more at the monstrous figure. 「But… what about him?」Nikolai’s expression remained calm. 「As Iris said… she will see to it. We leave the rest to her.」
Together, they departed. The park fell silent in their wake.
◽Area 51.1 — Secret U.S. Base◽
Akuma slammed his fist onto the table. Holographic images froze mid-frame. 「You’re telling me… that bastard had this much power?」A voice, calm, amused. 「He does now. Your little friend awakened the power his mother had locked away.」
Blue Asura’s teeth gritted.
Akuma leaned forward, glare sharp. 「So… what do you want from us?」「Train. Until you can face such monsters without dying within the first five seconds.」 The words were sharp, deliberate.Akuma’s hand clenched. 「And… how many experiments?」A smirk. 「As many as your body can endure. Perhaps… you will awaken a ‘Cain’ of your own.」
Akuma’s inner voice whispered. 【If I refuse, revenge dies here… but…】 「Fine. I’ll do it.」The other voice turned to Blue Asura. 「And you? Freedom of choice is yours.」Blue Asura exhaled, long and slow. 【Why does this feel like a pact with the devil? 】「Alright… I’ll join.」A wicked grin. 「Excellent. Let us begin.」【Psyc… let’s see how you handle them next time.】
◽Back at Nikolai’s House◽
Nikolai studied Hana and the others. 「Judging by those faces… this concerns Cain, yes?」Hana nodded. 「Take your time.」He sat. Calm, measured. 「Remember when I said I had memories not my own?」Miyeon tilted her head. 「We do. When you black out.」「Exactly. I now remember who caused all those blackouts.」Jiyeon sighed. 「So… what do we do now? Everyone knows about your powers.」Nikolai’s eyes were steady. 「No need to worry. Give it a day. Cain’s influence will vanish.」Jiyeon’s laugh was soft. 「You’re not asking Iris to delete it all, are you?」Nikolai shook his head. 「No. That is the work of the 13 Families that rule this world.」Jiyeon blinked, stunned. 「Wait… like the conspiracy theories? I didn’t think you'd believe…」Nikolai’s tone remained flat. 「I am the living embodiment of science fiction. Take it as you will. They wish not to be known. The world discovering them… would be unnecessary.」Hana giggled. 「So that’s what you meant. You could cripple the world… but actually running it is a drag.」Nikolai’s expression darkened slightly. 「Being responsible for the planet… would be unpleasant. I’ve had enough.」Hana’s eyes sparkled. 「You really hate humanity, huh?」「As a concept… yes. Humans irritate me.」Hana nodded. 「I get it. Some people probably don’t need to exist.」「Facts.」Hana’s gaze turned to Mei. 「You’ve been quiet.」Mei’s voice was small. 「What happened… earlier. It’s still fresh.」Nikolai’s hand rested on hers briefly. 「Do not dwell on it. Thinking too much only weighs you down. That is why I do not despair as much as most.」Mei let out a hesitant laugh. 「I guess you’re right. I don’t have to worry about them anymore.」Nikolai studied her. 【Those eyes… scheming something】 . 「Just do that. Sometimes revenge is a dish not even the server can stomach.」Mei’s heart skipped a beat. 【He must have seen through my thoughts… 】「Yeah… you’re right.」Mei sobbed quietly. 「Thank you…」
He pulled her into a hug. Jiyeon watched silently.
Nikolai noticed. 「Sometimes… that’s all a person needs after the abuse they went through. It's someone truly tell them they don't need to carry that weight anymore.」Jiyeon swallowed. 「Was it the same for you?」「…Yeah. I fought, yes. But survival was the goal. When it was over, I let the tears come.」Hana smiled softly. 「So… crying when you need to is okay.」「Yeah.」Giggles escaped Hana. 「Good to know my macho man can be a softy.」「Don’t flatter yourself. It won’t happen often.」「Alright. But I will… when the time comes.」Hana said while grinning playfully.
Nikolai’s mind drifted. 【Perhaps this is why Mother said to find them… or perhaps not.】
Mei froze. Her hands trembled. As she fell to her knees in fear. 「C-c-cain…」Cain’s voice cut through the air, calm, detached. 「Fret not, mortal; this one yet breathes.」
From his chest, a faint groan. General Liu. Alive—but changed.
「’Tis tragic, is it not? This mortal… he is an anomaly. Aye—he shall never be mortal again. He is no longer human, but a monster, Iris.」⟦Yes, my lord.⟧ Iris’s voice echoed, mechanical, obedient.Cain’s gaze swept the park. 「Call the auctioneer. Inform her that I, a god, have crafted a new piece.」⟦Of course, my lord. Pray, what name shall this piece bear?⟧Cain’s pupils gleamed, silver-blue for a fleeting second. 「Shēngmìng shù… The Living Tree.」⟦An excellent name, my lord. I shall make all arrangements.⟧A trickle of blood ran down Cain’s nose. He swiped it away with irritation. 「Tsk… Blanco. That filth is a plague upon this body.」
His pupils returned to black. The chill of divinity lingered in the air.
Nikolai wiped his nose, observing the anomaly that had once been General Liu. 「The one speaking… did he sound as if he were a god.」Mei shivered. 「Err… y-yes… he did…」Nikolai exhaled slowly. 「How does Cain always manage this…?」Mei still shaken up. 「what do you mean how, why's the more appropriate question.」「No that's dangerous… But Mei. You need to understand—Cain doesn’t think himself a god. He is one.」Mei let out a nervous laugh. 「Th-that can’t be… true… right…?」Nikolai reached out, helping her to her feet. 「Some truths are better left unspoken. Come. Let us go elsewhere.」Mei glanced once more at the monstrous figure. 「But… what about him?」Nikolai’s expression remained calm. 「As Iris said… she will see to it. We leave the rest to her.」
Together, they departed. The park fell silent in their wake.
◽Area 51.1 — Secret U.S. Base◽
Akuma slammed his fist onto the table. Holographic images froze mid-frame. 「You’re telling me… that bastard had this much power?」A voice, calm, amused. 「He does now. Your little friend awakened the power his mother had locked away.」
Blue Asura’s teeth gritted.
Akuma leaned forward, glare sharp. 「So… what do you want from us?」「Train. Until you can face such monsters without dying within the first five seconds.」 The words were sharp, deliberate.Akuma’s hand clenched. 「And… how many experiments?」A smirk. 「As many as your body can endure. Perhaps… you will awaken a ‘Cain’ of your own.」
Akuma’s inner voice whispered. 【If I refuse, revenge dies here… but…】 「Fine. I’ll do it.」The other voice turned to Blue Asura. 「And you? Freedom of choice is yours.」Blue Asura exhaled, long and slow. 【Why does this feel like a pact with the devil? 】「Alright… I’ll join.」A wicked grin. 「Excellent. Let us begin.」【Psyc… let’s see how you handle them next time.】
◽Back at Nikolai’s House◽
Nikolai studied Hana and the others. 「Judging by those faces… this concerns Cain, yes?」Hana nodded. 「Take your time.」He sat. Calm, measured. 「Remember when I said I had memories not my own?」Miyeon tilted her head. 「We do. When you black out.」「Exactly. I now remember who caused all those blackouts.」Jiyeon sighed. 「So… what do we do now? Everyone knows about your powers.」Nikolai’s eyes were steady. 「No need to worry. Give it a day. Cain’s influence will vanish.」Jiyeon’s laugh was soft. 「You’re not asking Iris to delete it all, are you?」Nikolai shook his head. 「No. That is the work of the 13 Families that rule this world.」Jiyeon blinked, stunned. 「Wait… like the conspiracy theories? I didn’t think you'd believe…」Nikolai’s tone remained flat. 「I am the living embodiment of science fiction. Take it as you will. They wish not to be known. The world discovering them… would be unnecessary.」Hana giggled. 「So that’s what you meant. You could cripple the world… but actually running it is a drag.」Nikolai’s expression darkened slightly. 「Being responsible for the planet… would be unpleasant. I’ve had enough.」Hana’s eyes sparkled. 「You really hate humanity, huh?」「As a concept… yes. Humans irritate me.」Hana nodded. 「I get it. Some people probably don’t need to exist.」「Facts.」Hana’s gaze turned to Mei. 「You’ve been quiet.」Mei’s voice was small. 「What happened… earlier. It’s still fresh.」Nikolai’s hand rested on hers briefly. 「Do not dwell on it. Thinking too much only weighs you down. That is why I do not despair as much as most.」Mei let out a hesitant laugh. 「I guess you’re right. I don’t have to worry about them anymore.」Nikolai studied her. 【Those eyes… scheming something】 . 「Just do that. Sometimes revenge is a dish not even the server can stomach.」Mei’s heart skipped a beat. 【He must have seen through my thoughts… 】「Yeah… you’re right.」Mei sobbed quietly. 「Thank you…」
He pulled her into a hug. Jiyeon watched silently.
Nikolai noticed. 「Sometimes… that’s all a person needs after the abuse they went through. It's someone truly tell them they don't need to carry that weight anymore.」Jiyeon swallowed. 「Was it the same for you?」「…Yeah. I fought, yes. But survival was the goal. When it was over, I let the tears come.」Hana smiled softly. 「So… crying when you need to is okay.」「Yeah.」Giggles escaped Hana. 「Good to know my macho man can be a softy.」「Don’t flatter yourself. It won’t happen often.」「Alright. But I will… when the time comes.」Hana said while grinning playfully.
Nikolai’s mind drifted. 【Perhaps this is why Mother said to find them… or perhaps not.】
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