The Epic Tale of Chaos vs Order

Chapter 1825: How much will you pay?

Under the stunned gazes of everyone on the battlefield, the Star ArchDeity was pulled into the Scarlet Throne. His body was immediately dismembered and broken into countless fragments, each piece stripped of individuality and divinity before being assimilated into the infernal structure, becoming an eternal component of the throne’s foundation.

”BOOOOOM!”

Not even a second later, a thunderous explosion raged through the sky as a vast ocean of vitality erupted from Cain’s body. The power of an ArchDeity, now fully absorbed, surged through every cell in his being. A small, content smile tugged at the corners of Cain’s lips as the Scarlet Throne slowly closed.

It couldn’t have happened at a better moment.

Just as the battle ended, massive ruptures began appearing inside Cain’s internal organs. His enhanced blood vessels started to burst one after another, leading to sudden, massive hemorrhaging. His skin paled, and his body trembled under the unbearable pressure.

Cain didn’t hesitate—he immediately deactivated Seventh Gear. The heartbeat that had been like a cosmic storm fell silent, and the rampant destructive energy that had surrounded him dissipated.

”Seventh Gear nearly doubled my overall combat power... but the pressure it places on my body is simply demonic,” Cain muttered, gasping for breath.

He closed his eyes, taking a long, deliberate breath as he forced his wildly beating heart to calm.

”If not for Imperium rearranging my internal matrix—enhancing my bones, blood, and muscle fibers—I wouldn’t have lasted thirty seconds.”

Though to the outside world it seemed like Cain had thoroughly dominated the Star ArchDeity, the truth was far more sobering. He had pushed himself past his limit—far beyond it. Had he not fully consumed the Star ArchDeity’s vital essence through the Scarlet Throne, it would’ve taken him years to recover.

”Ah... I could really use a good sleep right now... but...”

He sighed. Rest was a luxury he could not afford—not yet. The war was far from over.

Cain slowly rose from the crater, the steam still rising off his scorched armor. His eyes, cold and focused, turned toward the battlefield where the Prima Deities still clashed. A wave of horror swept through the ranks under the Lord of Ages’ banner.

Even before awakening his Dream, Cain had been a force none of them could stand against. Now that he had reached the realm of an ArchDeity in terms of might, even the strongest among them felt as fragile as dry leaves in a storm.

If he chose to descend upon them, it would be a massacre.

But Cain had little interest in the remaining Prima Deities. His expression didn’t shift as his glowing eyes scanned the battlefield. Without a word, beams of spiritual force shot out from his pupils, slamming into the minds of the four strongest Late-Stage Prima Deities under the Lord of Ages’ command. They trembled, blood leaking from their noses and ears, nearly driven insane from a single strike.

That done, Cain ignored them. He could kill them all in a matter of minutes, but they were no longer worth the effort as his time was better placed somewhere else.

Without another glance, Cain turned his gaze upward, to the highest sky. His eyes locked onto the Lord of Ages.

He didn’t speak.

He didn’t threaten.

He simply flapped his wings.

Reality itself seemed to warp around him. Space-time bent in response to his will, propelling his body into the heavens like a divine missile. Imperium gave Cain the ability to tap into the universal matrix, allowing him to manipulate the cosmic rules of the Second Realm—including the flow of space-time.

The Lord of Ages clenched his jaw. Panic danced behind his eyes as he saw Cain approaching, even as he prepared to continue his battle with Tiamat.

But Cain did not attack.

He came to a halt, calmly hovering above the highest battlefield in the Second Realm.

Then something happened that stunned every being watching.

Cain turned to face Tiamat, the Dragon Empress, and spoke.

”I have led your army. I ensured victory on the Prima Deity battlefield. And I have defeated an ArchDeity under your banner. My duty is over.”

The impact of those words silenced the entire realm. Every battlefield froze. Every breath caught in every throat.

Tiamat, who had been mid-swing, paused. Her burning eyes locked onto Cain, sharp and cold—but she said nothing. She stared at the young Neo-Demon for a long moment... then slowly nodded.

Their alliance had always been transactional. Cain had gone above and beyond the agreement. He had fulfilled his duties, and no more was required.

Although losing Cain was a heavy blow to her forces, the battle was nearly won, so it would not significantly alter the outcome.

But Cain wasn’t finished.

He turned toward the Lord of Ages, the old ArchDeity whose soul looked one step away from crumbling.

”How much will you pay me to save you?”

Gasps echoed across the skies.

Every single warrior, every deity, every force on both sides stared in utter disbelief. Had they heard correctly?

Even the Lord of Ages himself was dumbfounded.

A moment later, however, a wide smile crept across his wrinkled face. The total reversal in Cain’s loyalty was shocking—but to him, it felt like hope. He was one breath from death. If he continued to fight, defeat was guaranteed.

But now? Maybe there was a chance to survive.

And he would seize it, no matter how strange or sudden the opportunity appeared.

”If you help me survive,” the Lord of Ages declared, his voice ringing with a mix of desperation and greed, ”I will give you enough Origin Power to raise your Divine Kingdom to the ArchDeity Rank!”

The offer hit the realm like a thunderclap.

Even the Prima Deities who had pledged themselves to Tiamat felt their hearts tremble.

In the Crimson World, mastering Oniric Truths determined one’s potential and ceiling. But ascending in power required the growth of one’s Divine Kingdom—nurturing it, expanding it, solidifying it through Origin Power.

Cain had already proven the unmatched potential of his Dream. Now, the only barrier to rising further... was resources.