The Epic Tale of Chaos vs Order

Chapter 1803: Assessing loyalty

Rather than shrinking beneath the immense weight of expectation placed upon him, Cain’s eyes sharpened further, and his resolve solidified like tempered steel. Leading armies into the fray were nothing new to him; after all, he had once guided an entire world through a cataclysmic war.

Although the present conflict far surpassed that previous war against Dark Sky in terms of raw power, the stakes then had been unimaginably high—the very survival of Aether had rested upon his shoulders. Now, Cain knew he was facing a profound challenge: commanding Prima Deities and Legends whose loyalties he had yet to secure.

Discarding distracting memories of past conflicts, Cain focused intensely on the present. His gaze hardened, emitting a fierce determination, as he turned to face the vast assembled army. Deep within him, the powerful currents of the Oniric Truths of Gluttony and Dominion surged forth, flooding every cell in his body.

The Neo-Demon’s presence transformed instantly, radiating an aura so overwhelming it seemed capable of devouring the very heavens and ruling unchallenged over the void left behind. This powerful aura intensified further as the majestic strength of his True Name awakened, manifesting itself vividly as an unstoppable sovereign of destruction. To those who beheld him, Cain appeared capable of setting entire worlds ablaze and building new civilizations from their ashes.

In response to this overwhelming aura, every single Legend on the ground instinctively felt compelled to lower their heads in reverence. Even those formidable cultivators at the Void Eclipse Rank—those who had begun touching upon the mysterious Oniric Truths—found themselves forced to bow, their pride subdued before the Scarlet King’s commanding presence.

The Prima Deities, far stronger and more resilient, managed to withstand Cain’s dominion-infused aura without bowing. However, their expressions shifted subtly; a solemn realization appeared in their eyes as they began to appreciate just how formidable this so-called Scarlet King truly was.

Yet even amidst this recognition, many among the Prima Deities still harbored defiant gazes, their pride resisting submission. It was clear they were not easily commanded, their allegiance yet to be firmly established.

Tiamat had explicitly placed Cain and Meylin at the forefront, entrusting them with leadership over her forces. Yet she had intentionally refrained from personally securing the allegiance of her Prima Deities, believing firmly that a true leader must demonstrate the strength to command respect through action alone. If Cain could not establish authority here, leading them successfully into battle would remain a distant fantasy.

Cain’s eyes began glowing intensely with a golden brilliance so profound it seemed as though twin suns had replaced his pupils. Turning his blazing gaze upon the millions of Legends assembled below, he asked a single question, his voice thunderous enough to reverberate across the entire sky.

”To whom does your loyalty belong?”

His words echoed powerfully, penetrating deeply into the hearts of every cultivator gathered, compelling an immediate and unified response.

”To the Dragon Empress!”

Millions of voices roared simultaneously, their combined aura surging upward and shaking the heavens. Cain nodded softly in acknowledgment, satisfied by their swift and unquestioning response.

Next, Cain turned sharply toward the forty-three Prima Deities floating majestically in the sky above. As his golden eyes swept across them, an unsettling feeling spread throughout their ranks—they felt suddenly transparent, exposed before his penetrating gaze.

”To whom does your loyalty belong?” Cain asked abruptly, not allowing them time for deliberation. His voice carried an unmistakable command.

He directed the question first toward Bahamut, the imposing obsidian dragon. Without even the slightest hesitation, Bahamut responded decisively, his voice resolute:

”To the Dragon Empress!”

Cain nodded approvingly, swiftly shifting his gaze to the next Prima Deity. ”To whom does your loyalty belong?”

Prompted by Bahamut’s instantaneous response, the second Prima Deity hastily replied, ”To the Dragon Empress!”

Cain proceeded methodically, repeating the same piercing question to each and every Prima Deity present, his consciousness fully leveraging the power of The Flow to scrutinize their deepest intentions.

Meylin, standing quietly at his side, observed attentively, her eyes subtly gleaming with comprehension. Knowing Cain intimately, she immediately recognized that he had uncovered something crucial. Yet she remained calmly silent, trusting implicitly in Cain’s strategic thinking and meticulous schemes.

Having completed his interrogation, Cain observed the gathered Prima Deities silently for a moment, calculating myriad plans and contingencies within his mind before finally addressing them once more.

”The Dragon Empress has placed me in charge of this army and tasked me with orchestrating the first phase of this war,” he declared, his voice infused deeply with the formidable Power of Order. His eyes transformed momentarily into bottomless pits, seemingly capable of swallowing souls.

”I don’t require your friendship or your brotherhood,” Cain stated with undeniable authority, ”but I demand your obedience and respect. When I command an attack, you must respond without hesitation. Strike your target with absolute power—kill or die trying.”

His uncompromising words produced an immediate, somber silence among the Prima Deities. Their expressions darkened noticeably. They had sworn loyalty to the Dragon Empress willingly, but few accepted the idea of being treated as mere pawns compelled to obey without question.

”If any of you have an objection to my approach, speak now,” Cain challenged openly, inviting dissent.

After a brief pause, one Prima Deity boldly stepped forward. He was a fierce, powerful figure—a man with blazing wings whose aura was among the strongest present. From the beginning, this cultivator had openly displayed hostility and skepticism toward Cain.

”I don’t know who you think you are, but—”

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!

The fiery-winged man never finished his sentence. Cain had vanished from sight instantly, reappearing before him at lightning speed. His fist struck with cataclysmic force, sending the Prima Deity hurtling backward through the skies like a broken puppet.

Yet Cain didn’t stop there. His recently acquired Wings of Indra exploded with electrifying power, propelling him forward at astonishing speed. He swiftly caught up to his stunned adversary and delivered another ruthless blow, crashing downward into the earth below with unstoppable momentum, burying both deep into the ground like meteors.