Cain’s hand remained wrapped around the distorted figure’s throat.

The underground world trembled violently around them as blood mana surged endlessly through the sealed space. Crimson currents flowed like rivers through the darkness, illuminating the terrified existence trapped beneath Cain’s overwhelming pressure.

The figure kept shaking.

Begging.

Pleading.

"Please..."

Its unstable body flickered continuously, struggling to maintain form under Cain’s grasp.

"Please don’t kill me..."

But Cain’s expression did not soften.

Not even slightly.

Instead—

His eyes became colder.

Much colder.

Because now that he had finally caught the thing hiding behind the blood pact, the anger inside him had only grown stronger.

This creature—

Whatever it was—

Had dared to interfere with him.

An Overgod.

And worse—

It did so secretly.

Manipulating emotions.

Strengthening attachment.

Twisting memories.

Trying to influence his thoughts slowly from the shadows.

Cain’s grip tightened suddenly.

The distorted figure screamed immediately.

Its body cracked apart partially under the pressure before reforming again desperately.

Then—

Cain attacked.

Without warning.

Without hesitation.

His fist exploded forward directly into the creature’s chest.

Boom.

The underground space shook violently.

The distorted figure flew backward instantly like shattered blood mist before crashing against the crimson walls sealing the area.

It screamed again.

Louder this time.

Its unstable body struggled desperately to recover as cracks spread throughout its form.

Cain did not stop.

He appeared before it instantly.

Another strike.

Boom.

The creature’s head snapped sideways violently.

Blood exploded through the underground darkness.

Another attack.

Boom.

Its body folded inward unnaturally.

Another.

Another.

Another.

Cain attacked relentlessly.

His fists carried terrifying force despite being restrained heavily by his current body. Every strike distorted the underground space itself as Overgod-level authority crushed downward continuously upon the trapped creature.

The distorted figure tried escaping repeatedly.

Tried dispersing into blood mist.

Tried hiding.

Tried slipping through cracks.

Nothing worked.

Cain sealed every path instantly.

And then continued attacking.

Boom.

The creature screamed again.

Its voice had become weak now.

Panicked.

Broken.

Yet Cain did not care.

His attacks only became harsher.

"You touched my mind."

Boom.

"You altered the blood pact."

Boom.

"You manipulated my thoughts."

Boom.

The creature’s body became increasingly unstable under the endless attacks. Parts of it disintegrated continuously before reforming desperately again, held together only through fear and survival instinct.

Still—

Cain continued.

Because the anger inside him had not faded at all.

If anything—

It deepened further the more he remembered those dreams.

Faith’s overwhelming devotion.

Cornelia’s emotional dependence.

Ivira’s absolute attachment.

And the realization that all of it had been strengthened endlessly by this hidden existence.

Boom.

Another strike shattered part of the underground wall completely.

The creature coughed violently afterward, blood mist spilling endlessly from its unstable body.

"P...please..."

Its voice trembled weakly.

"I... I wasn’t trying..."

Cain kicked it directly before it could finish.

The distorted figure smashed into the ground hard enough to collapse part of the underground space instantly.

The creature screamed again.

And still—

Cain attacked.

His blood mana surged violently now, overwhelming the entire underground region with crushing pressure.

Every strike carried fury.

Not blind rage.

But controlled fury.

Because Cain understood exactly what this meant.

If this creature could influence him without detection—

Then it meant it possessed something extremely dangerous.

Something that should not exist easily.

And that made Cain even more unwilling to leave it alive casually.

The distorted figure finally managed to raise its arms weakly.

"W...wait..."

Boom.

Cain’s fist crashed through its defense instantly.

The creature’s arms shattered apart into blood mist before reforming again desperately.

"Please..."

Boom.

"I can explain..."

Boom.

"I didn’t mean harm..."

Boom.

Its voice became weaker after every attack.

Yet Cain remained expressionless.

The underground blood currents roared around him endlessly now, reacting to his emotions instinctively as crimson lightning flickered throughout the sealed space.

The creature trembled harder.

Because it could feel it clearly.

Cain was genuinely considering killing it.

Not threatening.

Not pretending.

Actually considering it.

And that terrified it beyond reason.

"P...please..."

Its distorted face struggled to form properly now.

"I only wanted..."

Cain suddenly grabbed its throat again violently and lifted it upward.

The creature froze instantly.

Its body trembled uncontrollably beneath Cain’s grasp.

The Overgod authority flooding the underground space had become unbearable now.

Not because of raw power alone.

But because of intent.

Killing intent.

Cold.

Heavy.

Absolute.

Cain stared directly into the creature’s unstable face.

And slowly—

Very slowly—

His voice emerged.

Quiet.

Dangerously quiet.

"Do you think..."

His grip tightened harder.

The creature choked immediately.

"...that I’m blind?"

Its body shook harder.

"...No..."

Cain’s eyes narrowed sharply.

"Do you think..."

Blood mana exploded violently around them again.

"...that I’m weak enough not to notice eventually?"

The creature struggled desperately.

"...I..."

Cain interrupted immediately.

"You interfered with the pact."

His voice remained calm.

Too calm.

"You strengthened their attachment."

"You altered emotional interpretation."

"You reinforced memory anchors."

"You manipulated synchronization."

Every word made the creature tremble harder.

Because Cain understood too much.

Far too much.

And that alone proved how terrifying he truly was.

The creature tried speaking again weakly.

"I... only..."

Cain slammed it directly against the underground wall again.

Boom.

Cracks spread everywhere instantly.

The entire underground space trembled violently under the impact.

Then Cain stepped closer again slowly.

The creature stared at him with pure terror now.

No resistance remained.

No escape attempts.

Only fear.

Because it finally understood something clearly.

Cain had not merely found it.

He understood it.

And that was worse.

Much worse. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"...You tried to influence me slowly."

Cain’s voice became colder.

"Not directly."

"Not forcefully."

"But gradually."

His eyes sharpened dangerously.

"You nurtured emotions."

"You amplified affection."

"You strengthened dependence."

"And then..."

His grip tightened further.

"You thought I wouldn’t notice."

The creature shook violently.

"...No..."

"...No..."

Cain leaned slightly closer.

The pressure surrounding him became suffocating now.

The underground blood currents froze completely as if the entire world itself had become afraid.

Then—

Cain smiled slightly.

A cold smile.

A dangerous smile.

And the creature immediately felt despair.

Because that smile—

Did not belong to someone merciful.

It belonged to someone who had already seen through everything.

Cain’s voice finally descended again.

Quiet.

Menacing.

Absolute.

"Do you really think..."

The creature’s body shook uncontrollably now.

"...I am a fool?"