The Epic Tale of Chaos vs Order

Chapter 1769: Evolution of Scarlet Reaper

”It is time.”

After several days immersed in intensive cultivation, Cain clearly heard the voice of the Dragon Empress echoing within his mind, immediately prompting him to halt his practice. A complicated expression arose on his face as he inwardly assessed his cultivation progress, sensing the intricate resonance networks forming inside his body.

”I haven’t even completed two percent of the resonance network necessary to begin the infusion of bloodlines and the five-element treasures,” Cain muttered quietly to himself, frustration faintly evident in his tone.

It wasn’t his comprehension of the Primeval Genesis Body that hindered his advancement; rather, it was the flow of Origin Power. While achieving complete mastery over an Oniric Truth greatly enhanced one’s connection with the universe, allowing a cultivator to directly channel Origin Power, the amount accessible through mere meditation and natural absorption remained disappointingly limited. Typically, powerful cultivators resolved this issue by controlling regions where the flow of Origin Power was exceptionally dense, but these coveted areas were all fiercely guarded by powerful factions and ArchDeities. Accessing them wasn’t simply challenging—it was borderline impossible.

Most Prime Deities readily accepted this slower yet safer path. Given their nearly endless lifespan, spanning millions of years, waiting a few decades to cultivate a technique posed no real inconvenience. However, Cain was fundamentally different. For him, waiting decades merely to begin training the Primeval Genesis Body was utterly unacceptable.

”If everything goes as planned,” Cain whispered softly, determination flashing vividly within his eyes, ”I’ll soon possess my own Divine Kingdom, complete with an abundant flow of Origin Power.”

A sharp, insidious, and utterly ruthless light shone in Cain’s eyes as he envisioned the future he would soon grasp. He quickly stood up, exiting his residence without hesitation, immediately meeting Tiamat in the expansive sky above her Eternal Kingdom.

The Dragon Empress nodded lightly toward Cain, silently signaling him to follow. Together, they traversed the kingdom’s skies, swiftly reaching a distant corner where a massive energy formation pulsed ominously. Though nothing visible stood near it, countless dragons instinctively kept their distance, sensing a deeply oppressive and sinister aura emanating from it.

As Cain and Tiamat landed atop the formation, they vanished instantly, reappearing deep underground. Cain’s eyes narrowed sharply as he beheld a vast subterranean tower—so immense it appeared to stretch thousands of kilometers in every direction. The tower walls were densely embedded with countless powerful energy seals and intricate rune formations, restrictions so potent that even Cain felt confident he would struggle immensely if trapped within.

Silently, the Neo-Demon and Dragon Empress began descending, moving swiftly downward. Yet, despite their impressive speed, it still took nearly ten minutes before enormous cages holding Third Realm beings appeared within their sight.

Immediately, hundreds of prisoners stared at the approaching duo, their eyes burning with confusion, suspicion, and rage. For countless millennia—hundreds of thousands of years, for some even millions—they had languished forgotten in their cells. It was unprecedented for the Dragon Empress herself to personally descend to these depths. Typically, even new prisoners were casually tossed inside by guards, never personally attended to by an ArchDeity of her stature.

Ignoring the prisoners’ looks, Tiamat turned calmly to Cain.

”I trust this arrangement satisfies your request.”

Cain’s eyes scanned the prisoners, his smile cold and merciless. He offered a respectful nod to the Dragon Empress. ”Yes, it does.”

Without further ceremony, Tiamat gently waved her hand, unlocking all the cages simultaneously.

”Contact me once you’ve finished,” she instructed, promptly vanishing without another word.

Only after the Dragon Empress disappeared did the bewildered prisoners cautiously step out, nervously exchanging glances as confusion deepened among them. They had languished here for unimaginable lengths of time, imprisoned by an ArchDeity who preferred to slowly let their natural lifespans expire. Now, inexplicably, freedom seemed within reach.

Their attention swiftly turned toward Cain, whose draconic figure hovered imposingly in the air.

”Hey you, can you tell us what’s happening?” asked a frail old man, stepping forward hesitantly. His body was weak, emaciated from countless years of captivity, and his gentle, hopeful expression might have evoked sympathy from most onlookers.

However, Cain merely felt disdain and loathing. Activating the profound perception of The Flow, he penetrated deeply into the prisoners’ souls, clearly discerning their innermost desires and true natures. Without exception, every prisoner radiated malicious intent, their souls stained irreparably with wickedness.

Cain understood immediately what had happened.

”She must have removed all prisoners without truly wicked natures beforehand,” Cain thought, appreciating Tiamat’s cunning and forethought. By presenting only hardened, malevolent criminals, she carefully ensured Cain wouldn’t be swayed by false innocence or superficial sympathy.

Cain silently acknowledged Tiamat’s skillful manipulation with respect and wariness.

”She’ll make an excellent ally... and a dangerous enemy.”

The old man’s voice echoed impatiently again, pulling Cain from his contemplations.

”Young dragon, could you answer my question? Are we truly free?”

Without hesitation, mercy, or further delay, Cain shattered space itself, instantly appearing before the stunned elder. His massive claw shot forth, effortlessly gripping the old man’s fragile body. Although the elder might have once been a peak Prime Deity, countless years imprisoned had completely drained him, leaving him utterly powerless before Cain’s overwhelming physical might.

The other prisoners watched in shock and horror, recoiling instinctively. And yet, Cain’s actions were only beginning.

The Neo-Demon’s eyes burned with fierce crimson flames, causing the oppressive atmosphere in the dungeon to surge violently. Flames rapidly coalesced on the ceiling, compressing into a vast, terrifying sea of fire. As the flames condensed, their intensity multiplied exponentially, forming gigantic crimson gates pulsing with monstrous, dark energy.

A confident, cruel smile crossed Cain’s face as he declared his ability aloud:

”Scarlet Throne!”

The words reverberated throughout the underground prison, sending chills through every witness present. Scarlet Throne was none other than the evolved form of Scarlet Reaper, a supreme ability Cain had achieved after ascending to the Third Realm.

It was an ability he gained access to through the evolution of his Alter-Ego and that Cain could only summon in the Nine Empyrean Suns Universe. But now, it was present in the Crimson World as well.

However, there were some crucial differences. Unlike the Scarlet Throne in the Nine Empyrean Suns Universe, which resided within the chest of the Lord of Conquest, Leviathan, the Scarlet Throne of the Crimson World manifested within Cain’s own heart, positioned directly behind his Neo-Demon Core. This wasn’t a minor distinction—it was the foundation for a profound evolution in Cain’s power.

And that was only the beginning.

Under the horrified gaze of the prisoners, the massive crimson gates of the Scarlet Throne swung open, revealing a vast and terrifying realm within. Yet, unlike its predecessor—an apparition or a psychic contract—this Scarlet Throne was no illusion. It was a true, physical dimension, forged from Cain’s very existence, empowered by the evolved form of his Scarlet Reaper ability. The air itself trembled under the oppressive force radiating from the gates, and the prisoners felt their souls shudder as they realized they were staring into something far beyond mortal comprehension.

Cain didn’t hesitate for even a heartbeat. Without mercy, he hurled the old man—the frail, broken figure who had dared to question him—directly into the open maw of the Scarlet Throne. The once-peak Prime Deity tumbled through the air like a ragdoll, utterly powerless to resist. He didn’t even have the strength to scream. The moment the old man’s body crossed the threshold of the gates, his fate was sealed.

Molten crimson chains erupted from the depths of the Scarlet Throne, snapping out with ferocious speed and precision. They coiled around the old man’s form, binding him completely, not just his flesh but his very essence.

His body was dissected, torn apart piece by piece—muscle fibers unraveling, bones splintering, organs and elemental cores pulled out and suspended like grim trophies. Yet the true horror lay in the fact that, even as his body was disassembled at a fundamental level, the old man remained conscious. His soul lingered, trapped within the Scarlet Throne, forced to witness the terrifying fate that awaited him.

Every single prisoner watching felt the icy grip of dread seize their hearts. They had all committed acts of unspeakable brutality—murders, massacres, betrayals, and worse—yet none of their crimes could have prepared them for this. They saw it with their own eyes: the Scarlet Throne was feeding on the old man, integrating his very essence into its growing structure. His power, his memories, his bloodline—all were being absorbed, devoured by the throne as fuel for Cain’s cultivation.

Fortunately, the gates slammed shut the next second, sparing the prisoners from witnessing the final, unrelenting agony that awaited their former cellmate.

Unfortunately for them, their brief reprieve was nothing more than a fleeting mercy. Cain’s burning red gaze turned toward them immediately afterward, and the cold, predatory smile on his face left no room for doubt.

Their fates would be the same. Just like the old man, they would end up becoming part of that horrible red realm.