Cain stood motionless within the underground darkness.
The drifting remains of the creature still floated faintly around him like scattered crimson smoke, slowly dissolving into the blood currents flowing beneath the earth. The torture had ended.
The screams had vanished.
The hidden presence was gone.
Yet Cain's expression remained colder than ever before.
Because the final memory fragments continued replaying inside his mind repeatedly.
That voice.
That laugh.
That ancient strand of authority.
And the realization behind it—
Made even him serious.
Truly serious.
For the first time since returning to the past, the lazy amusement that usually lingered beneath Cain's actions had disappeared completely.
No mockery.
No casual arrogance.
No playful manipulation.
Only focus remained.
Pure focus.
"…That damned old monster…"
Cain slowly raised one hand.
The underground blood currents instantly froze.
Then—
The first magic circle appeared.
