The Epic Tale of Chaos vs Order

Chapter 2145: I will go first

The Enlightened One walked toward Cain, offering a quiet nod before turning his gaze to the Overseer.

”I assume we have to fight that thing to move forward,” he said calmly, yet the light in his eyes made it clear the level of threat he felt coming from the Overseer.

Cain gave a slow nod, replying through the telepathic channel that linked them.

”How was your experience in the Sixth Ring?”

Unlike the previous trial, the Sixth Ring seemed layered; multiple individuals could exist within it, but each was confined to a parallel dimension. Cain wanted to understand how it worked and whether the others had also received Gifts. He couldn’t ask Braldy or the others from the Freedom Path, so he turned to his ally instead.

The Enlightened One began to recount his encounter with the emotionless entity that ruled the Ring, describing in detail the Gift and Baptism of the Flow he had undergone. Cain listened intently, his eyes narrowing as he noticed one key difference: the Enlightened One had not faced the Trial of Horror as he had.

”Perhaps that trial is reserved only for those with a Flawless Golden Lotus,” Cain thought, dismissing the notion with a faint shake of his head.

What interested him more was the Gift itself. On the back of the Enlightened One’s hands shimmered two glowing runes, one shaped like a sun, the other a moon, both of them connected through faint threads carrying the energy signature of The Flow.

”They’re called the Sun and Moon Diagrams,” the Enlightened One explained. ”They assist me with Redirection, making the process smoother, faster, and much stronger.”

Cain nodded as he understood the Gift. It was very useful, but nowhere near the scale of the Crimson Bloodline. After that exchange, both men acknowledged each other silently and sat down once again, resuming meditation. Though they knew combat was inevitable, they would not make a move until all the members of the Life Path had gathered.

Fortunately, they didn’t have to wait long for someone new to appear.

Barely three hours after the arrival of the Enlightened One, a new pulse of light tore through the air, and Meylin manifested within the Seventh Ring. Her aura was radiant, and the golden lotus on her forehead bore twenty-one petals, matching the Enlightened One’s. However, its brilliance was weaker, suggesting she had barely managed to reach that level.

What truly caught Cain and the Enlightened One’s attention, however, was the new eye that had appeared between her Eye of Gluttony and Eye of Wrath. It glowed with a golden spiral of psychic power, and as they looked upon it, both men felt their emotions stir, their intentions laid bare, as though the True Depravita of Original Sin could gaze directly into their hearts.

Meylin’s gaze turned sharp and cold as she spotted the Neo-Angel among the forces of the Freedom Path, but seeing the absence of battle, she quickly deduced the nature of the Ring. She gave the Neo-Angel and the other two a sharp glance before walking toward Cain and the Enlightened One, a faint smile touching her lips.

Sensing their curiosity, she spoke directly into their minds.

”It’s called the Heartseer. It enhances my mastery over Resonance and allows easier access to the minds and souls of my opponents.”

Cain and the Enlightened One exchanged smiles. The eye was perfect for Meylin, a power that flawlessly complemented her abilities as a True Depravita, strengthening both her control and manipulation in battle.

The trio shared a brief conversation before returning to their meditation, harmonizing their energy and ensuring they would be at full strength when the time came.

But as the hours passed, unease began to creep in.

Tiramisu, the True Depravita of Primal Fury, had not yet appeared.

Though she was the strongest among them, her mastery over the Flow was the weakest. There was a real possibility that she had failed to surpass the Nineteenth Petal, leaving her trapped within the Sixth Ring. If that were true, it would be a serious problem.

Even with equal numbers, Braldy alone might be enough to overpower them all, so if a battle were to arise, they would be in serious trouble.

Just as the thought took hold, a sudden flash of crimson light filled the air.

The True Depravita of Primal Fury descended into the Seventh Ring.

Exhaustion marked her face, and the twentieth petal of her lotus glimmered faintly, proof that her journey had been grueling. Yet despite the fatigue, she wore a fierce, triumphant smile. As she traced the markings newly engraved around her eyes, the air itself vibrated.

Her Gift was the Sight of Seraph, which exponentially enhanced her command over Synchronization, granting her unmatched precision in detecting frequencies and vibrations. She could now read, anticipate, and counter attacks with terrifying ease.

For a warrior whose strength lay in relentless offense and overwhelming brutality, it was a priceless boon.

Tiramisu quickly assessed the scene, noting the opposing groups and the imposing presence of the Overseer floating high above. Understanding the rules, she walked toward Cain and the others, her fiery aura dimming into calm focus.

The trio rose to greet her, smiles breaking across their faces as the team finally stood complete.

Together, they turned toward the Freedom Path.

The air thickened with anticipation. The Overseer’s decree was clear: only individual duels were permitted. One challenger would have to step forward first, facing the greatest danger.

Neither side wanted to be the first.

Those of the Life Path waited for the Freedom Path to move; those of the Freedom Path waited just as stubbornly in return. The silence stretched, sharp as a drawn blade.

Then, before the tension could boil into an argument, a voice cut through the stillness.

”I’ll go first,” it said. ”If you’ll be the last.”

It was the Crimson Exarch.

He stepped forward, his smile radiant and serene, his tone carrying the weight of something deeper. As for the one he was talking to, it was no other than the Scarlet King.