The Epic Tale of Chaos vs Order

Chapter 958 Surpassing the Ego Destruction Tribulation (III)

Cain continued facing The Burning Echoes, learning from every failure in his life and improving his wisdom. With each incarnation born of the fourth layer fading inside his mind, the power of his Ego Wave rose to the next level.

The red light emerging from Cainʼs eyes was like a radiant burst, with a core ember of fire visible.

The masters of the Sacred Races noticed that dot of fire, and their eyes widened in awe and shock. The transformation of the Ego Wave from a force field into flames was a massive step forward in the evolution of willpower. It meant that your willpower no longer manifested as an energy field but gained a true physical form, allowing you to manipulate matter with your mind.

Most of the warriors of the Sacred Races who had surpassed the 9x9 Ego Destruction Tribulation developed the initial transformation of willpower from energy to physical, but that was after completing the full tribulation, not in the middle of it.

While the challenge of the Ego Tribulation that Cain faced was much greater than theirs, the rewards were also of a much higher level.

There was pure awe and shock in Cainʼs eyes as that first ember of fire emerged, as he felt his mind and willpower grow immensely, his vision changing for a moment as he saw not the earth and sky, but countless atoms all connected by bonds that he could break if he so wished.

”This strength, I feel the power to crush a Late Divine Ascension Master with nothing more than a thought.” A sense of awe and thrill emerged on Cainʼs face, but he did not lose himself as he focused on the next layer of fire that covered the sky.

Fifth Layer: The Searing Illusions.

The layer of fire that expanded for nearly sixty thousand kilometers transformed into blinding flashes of light that descended on Cainʼs body, marching into his mind where they formed vivid, searing illusions.

The world around Cain vanished, replaced by manifestations of the greatest challenges he would face. That was far from all, as those illusions soon twisted into the worst possible scenes, where everything he had worked for so far shattered into nothing, trying to break his will and force him into despair.

Cainʼs eyes did not waver, his willpower growing larger as he took in all the power of the tribulation. His mind and ego worked harder and harder to discern reality from illusion and overcame these fearsome projections. This allowed his Ego Wave to grow stronger while simultaneously improving the evolution from energy to flame.

There was no doubt in his mind that the challenges awaiting him would be epic, even worse than the Depravita Raceʼs Dark Sky, but he was not afraid. Cain was ready to move one step forward at a time, and as long as he kept moving forward, he would triumph over all the challenges the universe threw at him.

Finally, after nearly fifteen hours, the last wisp of the fifth layer vanished, all now becoming part of Cainʼs power.

Cain did not allow his focus to waver. A few minutes after the fifth layer vanished inside his mind and soul, the power of the next tribulation emerged, making its intent clear as it transformed into a tempest of multicolored flames, swirling around his body in a chaotic storm.

Sixth Layer: The Raging Tempest.

There was pure focus in Cainʼs eyes as he saw the swirling vortex of flames around him, each color representing different emotional and mental trials, creating a chaotic and turbulent environment. Immediately, the power of the tribulation flooded his mind, trying to break him, and filling him with pure chaos.

Cainʼs eyes were serene as he maintained inner calm and control amidst the chaotic storm. He had faced all sorts of chaotic tribulations in the past, so no matter how strong and horrific the power of the Raging Tempest was, it could not break him.

It took several hours, but finally, the last wisps of the vortex of flames faded, improving his willpower once more. Cainʼs eyes burned with even greater might as he gazed at the sky, his face full of determination as he looked at the layer of metallic gray fire that covered half a million kilometers.

Seventh Layer: The Crushing Weight.

”RUMBLE!”

As soon as this layer of fire that expanded for several Sectors began to descend, the entire Atlas Continent trembled!

A solemn expression appeared on Cainʼs face as he saw that layer of fire falling on him like a cascade. The previous layers had tested every aspect of his mind, trying to carve out his emotional flaws, but he was nearly impervious to that.

He had rallied the entire world behind his banner, vanquishing an enemy race from a higher dimensional realm. There was no way those achievements would not have fortified his own belief in himself and self-esteem, which were key in defeating the first six tribulations.

However, the seventh, eighth, and ninth were different. They were not going to seek to break him through his emotional flaws but simply subject his willpower and mind to such terrific pressure that they would simply not be able to endure and shatter.

It was at this point that the true danger of the tribulation would begin for Cain.

While the seventh layerʼs fire was a metaphysical manifestation meant to challenge the mind, its power was so immense that it could alter the physical world, and all that force was focused on a single person.

Cain clenched his teeth and fists as the layer of metallic gray fire crashed down on him like a waterfall. It carried a monstrously crushing pressure that targeted his mind and spirit.

Although the target was psychological, the pressure Cain felt was no different than if the weight of the world was upon him. His physical and mental state began to deteriorate extremely fast as he felt a burning strain that sought to drain his vitality and suck dry his soul.

Cainʼs eyes burned as he channeled all the power of his willpower to face that horrible pressure that sought to break him from the inside out. There was nothing he could hit or use to defend against this power, and the only thing he could rely on was his mental fortitude.