It was like hearing the crack of a starting pistol—both men launched into action at the same instant, throwing themselves backward in movements so exaggerated and uncanny they seemed almost grotesque.
The one-eyed dragon snapped his head sideways, collapsing as though struck by sudden vertigo. His torso twisted and fell, but his legs remained rooted, and the "cane" in his hand stood upright without toppling.
On closer inspection, it wasn't a cane at all—it was a tachi! With his big toe hooked around the scabbard, he twisted his waist at an unnatural angle, drawing the blade in a single arc. Cold steel flashed, dazzling and lethal.
A reverse kesa-giri slash tore through the air, surging with killing intent.
Li Pan had been ready. The moment he glimpsed the scabbard, he'd seen black-red qi swirling within it, brimming with ominous energy. Now, as the blade cleared, it erupted like flame and storm—an unleashed beast spilling blood and fire across the hall. He knew at once: this sword was no ordinary weapon.
As the one-eyed warrior's shoulder moved, Li Pan dropped into a backbend, springing sideways like a weasel. His body whipped in a serpentine roll just as the blade carved across. The sword's shockwave ripped a trench through the hospital corridor, shattering the reinforced glass along both walls. The sheer force was beyond belief—steel biting through the air like lightning.
This sword—was a monster.
But the enemy gave him no time to counter. Even as Li Pan landed from his evasion, the follow-up was already at his face.
The first slash had missed, but the one-eyed dragon swayed like a roly-poly doll, waist snapping forward to lunge again. He gripped the tachi in a reverse thrust, surging ahead with tiger-like ferocity. From his nose burst a roar like a beast's, and the blade seemed to blaze with flames and blood. Its speed—its killing edge—crashed down like thunder. In Li Pan's vision, the thrust bloomed into phantom tigers and red lotuses devouring everything.
Too fast. Too vicious.
Before he could react, the strike pierced his chest.
Yes—driven by reckless abandon, it was a point-blank, no-thought, suicidal thrust. Even Li Pan's fluid bodywork couldn't fully avoid it. The blade ripped through him, knocking him off his feet and blasting him into the air.
Damn… I didn't expect this bastard, fresh off the operating table, to be so damn hard!
Still—Li Pan had shifted just enough to spare his vitals. Pain seared, but…
No problem. Thick blood bar. I can eat two hits at least.
"True Dragon Break!"
Even skewered, he seized the chance. One hand clamped down on the blade's spine. The other drove his silver spike straight at the opponent's remaining eye, qi roaring down its length in a killing thrust meant to explode the skull.
But then—BOOM!
The one-eyed dragon exploded.
No—Li Pan hadn't touched him yet. He had detonated himself!
From his back split open a grotesque escape pod—a skeletal exo-frame bursting free. He had abandoned his damaged body and blade entirely, blasting out of the hospital window like a cicada shedding its shell.
"What the—!?" Li Pan froze. He ran? Just ditched the sword and ran??
Turning, he saw Night Konzern's security team storming in with shields and shotguns.
From their point of view? The timing was obvious. Negotiations shelled, hospital ambushed, now an assassination attempt? His HQ flattened, his crew slaughtered, Konzern troops closing in on all sides… of course the man would think he'd been betrayed and bolt without a second thought.
Hmph. Bastard. Stabbed me and ran. You won't escape forever.
But chasing wasn't an option. Surrounded by guns, chest impaled, qi disrupted—he had to play it calm. He withdrew the blade, focused on protecting his meridians from the residual sword aura, and endured as medical bots sealed his wound.
Then another figure arrived—armored in gothic leather, sunglasses, and a greatsword slung across her back.
K.
Man, must be my "popular phase."
Li Pan sighed dramatically. "I came to the hospital to see a doctor. Who knew some lunatic yakuza would draw a sword on me? Damn thing hurt like hell."
Surveillance backed his story—clear evidence of the one-eyed dragon drawing first. Li Pan's poker face never cracked.
K scanned him, then glanced at the tachi the medics had pulled from his chest.
"Mikazuki Munechika… No—Mitsutada Ōdenta. The Yagyū's Tengu Blade. And yet you survived… and took it?"
"Barely. This hole cost me two grand to patch… Yagyū Tengu?" Li Pan blinked.
K pulled the files, tossing him the dossier.
"East Castle's young master—Yagyū Inujirō. One of Takamagahara's top sword prodigies. Among the strongest of his generation. The fact you lived, and even walked away with his heirloom blade… impressive."
She handed the sword back, curt. "Come. Don't hinder my people's work."
Li Pan noticed Konzern's mercs hadn't realized Campbell was gone. He slipped out alongside her without protest.
K drove him across the sea-bridge to a fortified estate in the wealthy district. The crest marked it as Cornelius property. Guards, drones, even vampire knights patrolled—it was a fortress masquerading as a villa.
Inside, it was part cathedral, part pleasure palace. Fledgling vampires lounged in the outer hall, feeding like addicts, while better-dressed Neonates waltzed with masks and goblets of bloodwine in the ballroom.
K strode past them, ignoring the stares, leading Li Pan deeper.
"These? Don't bother. Fledglings—barely turned, still slaves to hunger. Neonates—trained but useless until they're trusted. Dead weight."
They reached her quarters: a chapel with training grounds outside and a spotless, hotel-like suite within.
"Lock communications. No one enters."
Li Pan's heart skipped. Wait—seriously? Is today "service day"? I'm running out of rations here…
Instead, she pulled a military helmet from storage and tossed it to him.
"The Council forbade me from chasing the werewolf case. But you—you're full-body augments and you can fight. You might be useful."
Relieved, Li Pan donned the helmet. A datafeed launched—histories of werewolves, Masquerade law, wars past.
K narrated:
"On my world, Earth-077, a plague turned humans into ghouls. Bat antibodies and corporate science birthed the bloodline cure. Vampires were forged—controlling hunger, regaining reason.
But werewolves were another mutation: rabid, mindless beasts. Vampires enslaved them as mounts, war-dogs, weapons.
Until one—Jonas of Antioch—mutated further. He could transform at will, retain memory, spread his strain. A Wolf King. He resisted domination, led a slave uprising, nearly toppled our kind. Though executed, his virus spread. Successive wolf kings grew stronger. By the era of the third, called Spartacus, even elders and archons fell."
Li Pan's eyes widened. "Wait, Spartacus? You guys have one too?"
K shrugged. "Every Earth is still Earth. Deviant histories get culled. Survivors converge. Perhaps he was that Spartacus. Legend says he was slain, yet only a strip of skin recovered—the rest devoured by his own.
Either way, hunting their remnants is my duty. My family was devoured by them."
Li Pan softened. "Your family?"
Her eyes hardened. "Blood kin are not born. I was taken in by a lord when my village was destroyed. Trained as a knight. Since then, two centuries, I've hunted wolves. Thought them extinct. And yet—here, in 0791…"
She looked back at him. "The Council forbids my hand. But you—your company may act where I cannot. I delegate this to you. One million per wolf. Dead or alive."
Li Pan grinned. "Deal. I already have a lead."
He told her about the white wolf butler. K frowned. "Changing your blood? Were they trying to turn you…?"
Li Pan recoiled. "Hell no. I'm not into howling at moons."
K sniffed him. "Plenty of women's scents, but no wolf's. You're clean."
He sweatdropped. "Those are… gang women smells, I swear! But K, why bring me to your nest for this? Could've just commed me."
She cut him off. "I want your sword."
She pointed at the tachi.
"That blade is Yagyū's heirloom. The East Castle chairman's symbol. Some vaults can only be opened by it. I'll submit it as evidence."
"What? No way. It's an antique—worth a fortune!"
Even now, he could feel its malevolent aura leaking from the scabbard—blood-soaked, cursed, powerful. Practically a monster-blade.
K scowled. "You'd never find a buyer. But I'll trade you something."
She opened her armory, revealing a plain knight's sword.
Silver, sharp, triangular blade. About 75 cm. One-handed grip. Five silver crosses on the hilt, wheel pommel. No frills. A soldier's weapon.
Yet in Li Pan's eyes, it blazed like the sun, golden qi flowing like fire.
"Your sword?" he asked.
K's voice softened. "Perhaps… I don't remember. I was found in a Saint Catherine chapel. This sword was in my hand. Family heirloom? A scavenged relic? Who knows. My lord told me."
She raised it. The crosses burned her palm black. She winced, passing it to him.
"I can't wield it. But it's four centuries old. Sell it if you need money."
"The Sword of Saint Catherine… damn…"
Li Pan gripped it, warmth flooding him. On impulse, he dropped to one knee, holding it aloft.
"Then, my lady… from today, I am your sword."
K flinched, turning her face aside as if dazzled by its glow.
"…Idiot."
.
.
.
⚠️ 30 CHAPTERS AHEAD — I'm Not a Cyberpsycho ⚠️
The system says: Kill.Mercs obey. Corporates obey. Monsters obey.One man didn't.
🧠💀 "I'm not a cyberpsycho. I just think... differently."
💥 High-voltage cyberpunk. Urban warfare. AI paranoia.Read 30 chapters ahead, only on Patreon.
🔗 patreon.com/DrManhattanEN