Joyce

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Joyce (乔伊斯)
Alias(es)	Butler Joyce; Uncle Joyce; Lord Joyce
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Kane Family; Assassin Guild (Honorary Elder); cooperating partner of the Fies Kingdom 188 651
Occupation/Role	Chief butler of the Kane Family; Legendary Shadow Dancer/assassin; mentor
Status	Alive
First Appearance	Chapter 5

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Legendary Realm — Shadow Dancer	12	His hidden Legendary-level power is exposed when he overwhelms Gold Warrior Welf with killing intent and pressure. 12
Strengthened Legendary	170–171	Delivers the final blow to the Lord of All Beasts' avatar and retrieves its divine power; afterward, Li Si notices a significant change in him. 170 171
Advanced Legendary capability	375, 392	His post-Godfall gains improve his strength; he states that he can now injure Fran Stephens, though defeating or restraining Fran remains another matter. 375 392
Ascension to Godhood research	795, 920	Accepts Li Si's Hunting Divinity Shard, which suits his path, and devotes himself to studying it in pursuit of a further breakthrough. 795 920

Background

Joyce was orphaned as a child and survived by wandering and begging. His childhood ambition was simply to become a noble butler: to have fine clothes, steady food, and a home. The Kane Family adopted him, and he grew up alongside Brandon Kane, Li Si's father, whom he regarded as an elder brother. 80 394

Joyce and Brandon later pursued the Kane Family's secret legacy, Azera Floating City. Both sought Legendary-level strength because reaching the Floating City's core was impossible otherwise. Joyce succeeded in becoming a Legend, while Brandon's breakthrough failed; Brandon's Magic Source collapsed, leaving even a Legendary priest unable to save him. Before dying, Brandon entrusted Li Si and the Kane Family legacy to Joyce. 80 394

He remained with the family as its chief butler, having served since the second Viscount Kane. After Li Si's parents died, Joyce personally raised him and quietly managed the family's affairs. 5

Appearance

Joyce ordinarily presents himself as an elegant elderly butler, though the aged appearance is deliberately maintained to avoid suspicion over his long service to the Kane Family. Despite this disguise, he is only around fifty years old and considered young among Legends. 80 108 394

• Impeccably groomed black-and-white tailcoat and gold-rimmed glasses. 5
• Precise, restrained etiquette; even his bows are described as exact. 5
• Appears weathered but remains handsome beneath the elderly guise. 794
• Wears a black trench coat and light black equipment when acting as an assassin. 132

Personality

Joyce is meticulous, restrained, and intensely loyal to the Kane Family. He follows the etiquette of a butler carefully, speaks cautiously, and manages household matters without error; however, this gentility conceals an assassin capable of ruthless intimidation when Li Si's authority is challenged. 5 12

He is protective without being overbearing. Joyce recognizes that Li Si has secrets but chooses not to investigate after confirming that Li Si's body and soul show no abnormalities. He supports Li Si's independence, mentors him in assassin arts, and takes pride rather than resentment in Li Si eventually surpassing him. 46 78 133 723

Joyce is also patient with talented juniors. His instruction to Ashley is direct but considerate, and he explains the Shadow Plane's principles in detail rather than relying on his status as a Legendary expert. 132

Abilities & Skills

Legendary Shadow Dancer

Joyce is a Legendary-level assassin whose extraordinary class is Shadow Dancer, specializing in the Shadow Plane and its power. 131 132

• Can command substantial Shadow Power after entering the Shadow Plane's source and leaving an imprint there. 132
• Possesses an exceptionally close connection to the Shadow Plane. 130 183
• Can conceal his presence so thoroughly that even Gold-level Li Si cannot sense a trace of him. 375
• His killing intent was enough to leave the vampire Marion wary of him. 143

Shadow Avatar

Joyce can create a Shadow Avatar through his connection to the Shadow Plane. 183

• The avatar retains roughly seventy to eighty percent of Joyce's strength. 183
• It can use the same Shadow Plane-based abilities as Joyce himself. 183
• Its destruction does not harm Joyce, and he can create another avatar. 183
• Joyce uses it to travel, adventure, and train while his true body remains elsewhere. 183 794

Assassin Training

Joyce is an accomplished instructor in Shadow Dancer and assassin techniques. He accepts Ashley as his first formal disciple and later trains both Ashley and Li Si. 132 133

• Identified Ashley's Child of Shadow talent immediately due to possessing the same talent himself. 130 132
• Uses Shadow Source Power to help qualified students establish perception of the Shadow Plane. 132
• Taught Li Si assassin skills rapidly enough for him to master high-level techniques during their training. 135
• Passed knowledge of his Shadow Avatar skill to Li Si, though Li Si could not meet its requirement for shadow-law comprehension. 183 794

Divine Power and Godhood Knowledge

Joyce possesses extensive knowledge of divine power, divine avatars, and the dangers involved in Ascension to Godhood. 143 169

• Warns that remnants of fallen gods can corrupt, mutate, or destroy those who absorb them improperly. 143
• Explains that divine power can be studied to comprehend a related divinity without being directly absorbed. 158
• Recognizes that gods are extraordinarily difficult to kill, even when their avatars are severely injured. 169
• Pursues Ascension to Godhood through the benefits gained from killing the Lord of All Beasts' avatar and the Hunting Divinity Shard gifted by Li Si. 170 795 920

Combat Feats

• Overwhelmed Welf, a Gold Warrior, with pressure and killing intent before throwing him through a window. 12
• Contained a divine-power ripple from Arcadia's Lucky Brooch within the Kane estate. 46
• Delivered the final blow to the Lord of All Beasts' avatar and retrieved its divine power. 170
• Secretly killed Duke House, a Church of All Beasts pawn, and defeated his incarnation of the Lord of All Beasts. 391
• Assisted Li Si against the Legendary mana constructs of Azera Floating City. 632

Equipment / Items

• Shadow Amulet — A precious amulet containing Legendary-level Shadow Dancer power, given to Li Si. 85 111
• Shadow Dragonhide Gloves — Gold-level gloves recovered from the Sacred Festival assassin and given to Li Si; enhance Agility, Mysticism, finger dexterity, and Shadow Plane-related skills. 189
• Storage Ring — Filled with Joyce's accumulated Extraordinary Materials for Azera Floating City's repair. 651
• Assassin Guild Guest Badge — Grants Li Si access to assistance and intelligence from the Assassin Guild, including information from other continents and planes. 651
• Hunting Divinity Shard — A Divinity Shard gifted by Li Si to support Joyce's godhood path. 795

Relationships

• Brandon Kane — Adoptive family and elder-brother figure; Joyce grew up with Brandon and was entrusted with Li Si and the Kane Family legacy after Brandon's death. 80 394
• Li Si Kane — Ward, family successor, and later fellow mentor-student figure; Joyce raised him, protects him, arranged for Fran Stephens to accept him as a disciple, and treats him like a son. 5 105 394
• Ashley — First formal disciple; Joyce recognizes her Child of Shadow talent and trains her to become a Shadow Dancer. 130 132
• Lisa Kane — Member of the Kane household and a mage adopted by Brandon; Joyce intended to find her a teacher and later encourages her relationship with Li Si. 111 118 187
• Fran Stephens — Legendary Mage who owed Joyce a favor; Joyce called upon it to secure Fran as Li Si's teacher, while Fran also helped conceal Joyce's presence in the royal capital. 105 108
• Fies Kingdom — Joyce agrees to provide assistance when requested and compensated, while promising not to attack the Fiss Royal Family without cause. 188

Story Role / Major Arcs

Kane Family Butler

Joyce begins as Li Si's apparently ordinary but exceptionally capable butler, overseeing the Kane Family's businesses, properties, guards, meals, correspondence, and household arrangements. 5 6 80 84

His Legendary identity is initially concealed. He enforces Li Si's authority by brutally disciplining Welf, quietly protects Li Si from dangerous magical phenomena, and arranges opportunities that guide Li Si toward the Kane Family's hidden legacy. 12 46 81

Li Si's Patron and Assassin Mentor

Joyce uses a favor owed by Fran Stephens to have Li Si accepted as Fran's disciple. Once Li Si confirms Joyce's identity, their relationship becomes more open, with Joyce continuing to serve as butler while also acting as Li Si's elder and mentor. 105 131 137

After taking Ashley as his disciple, Joyce gives both Ashley and Li Si structured assassin training. Li Si's absorption of Shadow Source Power grants him the Shadow Crown specialty, convincing Joyce to train him alongside Ashley. 132 133

Godfall and the Path to Godhood

During the Lord of All Beasts' descent on Can Guang City, Joyce waits for the decisive moment and kills the god's avatar as it attempts self-destruction. He takes its divine power but is heavily weakened by the effort. 169 170

The experience strengthens Joyce and drives his own pursuit of Ascension to Godhood. Li Si later gives him a Hunting Divinity Shard specifically suited to this path. 171 795 920

Azera Floating City

Joyce reveals the Kane Family's secret connection to Azera Floating City, including his and Brandon's failed early attempt to reach its core. He accompanies Li Si to the Floating City and helps him overcome its defenses. 394 632

After Li Si assumes control of Azera, Joyce continues supporting the Kane Family with his resources, intelligence connections, and protection. 651

Notable Quotes

“Young Master Li Si's words are commands, even if he orders you to your deaths!” 12

“I am the Kane Family's butler. Naturally, I must follow the family.” 394

“If you need anything, tell me. You're not alone.” 651