Makinos's entire existence was built on conspiracy. In his youth, he had been a witness to—and participant in—too many factional struggles. From that time forward, he developed an instinct to seize everything through deception.
For the subsequent centuries, he perfected this art. Like a spider hiding in the shadows, he wove a complicated web, slowly tearing apart anyone who opposed him. Not just enemies, but those closest to him—his wife, his descendants.
Conspiracy granted him supreme power. To keep it, he used conspiracy to eliminate any perceived threat. It was the absolute epitome of his life, and because of this, he trusted no one. Those who live by treachery view everyone with suspicion.
Makinos was the ultimate paranoid; he only trusted himself. Everyone else, friend or foe, Superhero or loyal attendant, was deemed unreliable.
Thus, the moment Zhou Yi offered his word, Makinos instinctively refused. He never believed in the promises of others.
Makinos stubbornness was entirely expected, so Zhou Yi switched tactics. He held his arm above Nysha's head and directed his voice to the Grand Duke.
"Your daughter is here, and she doesn't have a backup device. Aren't you afraid I'll kill her?"
"Go ahead." Makinos looked at his daughter with a detached, almost playful gaze. "My daughter has changed ever since she returned. Besides, for our race, how could the mere sentiment of kinship compare to the pure pleasure of absolute power?"
Makinos cold dismissal filled Zhou Yi with profound disgust. He released Nysha, whose eyes were dull and lifeless, and addressed the Grand Duke one last time.
"Believe me, you won't survive to see the dawn. If possible, I want to see you completely evaporate in the sun."
"That day will never come," Makinos replied, his faint smile brimming with confidence in his own longevity.
Zhou Yi wasted no more time on the corrupt old Vampire. He shot straight into the sky, his ascension stirring immense Qi waves from the ground and churning the clouds above into raging currents. He had engaged his maximum velocity.
The drama unfolding in the castle was irrelevant for the moment. Makinos's conspiracy had forced Zhou Yi onto a different stage, and now his mission was clear: intercept that London-bound flight and locate the Vampire butler.
"Medusa, search all flight paths from New York to London, including any planes already airborne."
Locating a specific plane in the vast sky is a needle-in-a-haystack task, particularly when the target is already mid-ocean and contains a single, massive Vampire named Giant. Fortunately, Zhou Yi had the Superhero artificial intelligence Medusa. Against her capabilities, major U.S. airline network defenses were nonexistent.
The information quickly materialized. One piece of good news and one of bad. The good news: a major storm had limited transatlantic traffic, meaning only one flight was heading to London. The bad news: the flight had taken off eight hours earlier. Who knew how a Vampire had managed to navigate airport security in the middle of the afternoon? Regardless, Giant was onboard.
Zhou Yi immediately raced along the flight path. He had to neutralize the butler before any disaster could be triggered. Makinos's threat was real; Zhou Yi had to sever all his tentacles and ensure the Grand Duke perished before sunrise.
What does a speed of Mach 25 mean? It means Zhou Yi is traveling at an unbelievable velocity, exceeding 30,000 kilometers per hour, or over 8,000 meters per second. If this speed were visible to humans, it would defy comprehension.
In the upper atmosphere, he tore through clouds, the shockwaves of his passage capable of disrupting major storm systems. On the ground, this speed would be a disaster, the swirling currents creating devastating hurricanes. In ancient times, such power would designate him a deity, a god capable of overturning seas and controlling the weather.
His supersonic speed bordered on the First Cosmic Velocity—the speed required for orbital flight around the Earth. He was traveling at a universe-class standard.
At this velocity, how long would it take to cross the vast ocean and intercept a flight nearing London? Medusa had the precise calculation: less than ten minutes.
Clouds shattered. Thunder boomed. Soaring like a god, driving the thunder before him, Zhou Yi understood why humans revered deities. They performed the impossible, just as he was doing—parting the clouds, accompanied by the crash of thunder.
As an existence equivalent to a deity, he would fulfill his divine duty: save the ignorant humans. The target was now in sight.
The Airbus A380, a marvel of human aviation, 73 meters long, with a capacity of 555 passengers. It was the epitome of human engineering, now repurposed as a tool for extortion.
Flying directly above the giant passenger jet, Zhou Yi used his super vision to scan the interior. He located Giant, but found no obvious, self-contained biological weapon. He didn't believe Machinos had lied—otherwise, why deploy his most loyal subordinate? Giant's presence was the strongest proof of the threat.
The key lay with Giant. Only by confronting him would Zhou Yi understand the nature of Makinos's deadly plan.
Zhou Yi flew to the cabin door. He dared not simply crash through. The risk of depressurization or structural damage was too high. A catastrophic failure could break the fuselage, killing hundreds.
He chose the safest approach.
Using telekinetic power, he manipulated the handle through the thick metal door. The moment the door seal broke, Zhou Yi slipped inside and immediately resealed it. The massive plane shuddered only slightly; passengers felt nothing more than a momentary gust of cold air.
No one noticed his entry, except for one flight attendant pushing a trolley, who stared, mouth agape, utterly unable to process the appearance of a man in black armor.
"Don't worry, I'll buy a ticket," Zhou Yi said, resorting to his usual light-hearted approach to break the awkward silence.
The flight attendant, quickly regaining her composure, ignored the joke. Her face lit up with excitement. "The Dawn Knight? I'm your biggest fan! Can I get an autograph?" She began frantically trying to undo her jacket, clearly aiming for a bold signature.
Zhou Yi mentally groaned. Of all the people to encounter, he found a fanatic. He gently but firmly stopped her frantic movements.
"There is a very dangerous man on this plane," he whispered. "I need you to contact the cabin chief and help me clear the area."
Hearing the words "dangerous" and "mission to save humanity," the flight attendant's eyes grew even brighter. What could be more thrilling for a superhero fan than assisting her idol?
Giant sat hunched in the more crowded economy class, looking pale and weary, wrapped in a thick overcoat. He usually flew first class, but today's location was necessary to maximize the threat, as per Makinos's plan.
He was highly anxious, constantly checking his watch. For nearly two centuries, he had never been separated from Makinos under such dangerous circumstances. The steadily beating amplitude on his watch confirmed Makinos was still alive.
He was so engrossed in monitoring the life signal that he missed the subtle preparations around him. It wasn't until a flight attendant stopped beside him and spoke to the young couple next to him that he snapped out of it.
"Hello, sorry to bother you. The plane hit some unexpected turbulence, which may have damaged your checked luggage. If you wouldn't mind, could you accompany our crew to verify its integrity?"
Giant immediately felt a profound unease. Something was wrong. Since when do planes check luggage mid-flight, and why would an ordinary couple's bags be a priority?
He looked up, startled, realizing the passengers around him were gone. Quietly and efficiently, the crew had cleared a large perimeter. Only one person remained close: a black figure seated directly behind him, back turned.
"Dawn Knight!" Giant felt a chill. He instinctively checked his watch. The steady signal meant his Master was still safe. He exhaled a long breath, standing up to face Zhou Yi, who was now walking toward him.
"I've been expecting you, Dawn Knight."