The Epic Tale of Chaos vs Order

Chapter 1955: Into the Third Ring

The sensation of rising strength was intoxicating, but Cain did not allow it to cloud his mind. He kept his focus razor-sharp, moving on without hesitation. Soon, he left the massive workshop behind and ascended into the air, streaking toward the gate that led to the third level.

The brothers were already there, waiting for him. As soon as they laid eyes on him, awe and shock flashed across their faces. They could feel the change—his physical presence radiated an overwhelming pressure, heavier and more suffocating than before, like the weight of a world pressing down.

”Hahaha! What did I tell you? You have to learn to trust your big brother—the Scarlet King is a beast,” Amon said with a wide grin, his voice carrying a note of pride. He turned toward Bael, the corners of his mouth curling into a cocky smirk.

The Inferno Daemon only sneered at his brother’s smug expression, but even in silence, he could not deny the truth. His chin dipped in a reluctant nod. The more he interacted with the Scarlet King, the more he realized Cain was like a living magnet for strength and evolution—an unceasing engine of growth. Just by standing near him, it felt as if you, too, might be drawn upward.

Cain offered them a brief nod in return, saying nothing. His steps carried him toward the gate that would lead them into the Third Ring.

What stood before him was unlike any gate he had encountered before. It appeared to be forged entirely of water and starlight—an almost impossible fusion of elements that shimmered with an inner depth. It evoked a strange mix of wisdom and ancientness.

He didn’t linger to admire it for long. Sightseeing could wait. Without hesitation, Cain extended a sliver of his consciousness toward the gate.

”Welcome to the Ossuary Gate. Choose the field in which you wish to face the trial. The higher your score, the greater the amount of credits you will receive.”

The same ancient voice as before echoed in his mind. Cain, unsurprised, made his choice without delay.

”Trial of Tribulation Enhancement.”

The gate pulsed with light. But this time, instead of manifesting the usual sphere of condensed energy, it presented something startling—a humanoid figure. It was a body of flesh and blood, complete with a beating heart.

Cain’s brow rose slightly at the sight. Something alive? Here? Yet, as he studied it more closely, he realized there was no soul within it, no spark of consciousness. It was nothing more than an empty vessel.

”Trial accepted. Perform a Thirty-Nine Revolution Refinement with fewer than ten instances of instability. The lower the instability count, the higher the score.”

Cain let out a quiet breath, relief loosening the set of his shoulders. This was well within his capabilities. He had performed a Thirty-Nine Revolution Refinement before—on himself and on his people—to heal injuries and strengthen their bodies. The process was taxing, but familiar.

Still, he was careful. Like before, Cain prepared himself to the absolute limit. His energy was brought to peak condition, his concentration honed to a needle’s edge. Only when he was ready did he summon the Thirty-Nine Revolution Flame he had forged earlier and bring it toward the vessel.

The instant the multicolored flame touched the empty body, the world’s energy responded, flowing toward it in powerful waves. Because the vessel had neither soul nor consciousness, all of the intricate work of Tribulation Enhancement fell entirely upon Cain’s shoulders.

Golden light and crimson flame flared in his eyes as he pushed his mind to its utmost limits. His energy wrapped around the vessel like an unyielding current, ensuring flawless assimilation into its cells and guiding their evolution step by step.

It was grueling work. Without a living host to assist, instabilities should have been inevitable. Yet Cain’s control was masterful. He read the erratic energy patterns through The Flow and fixed them before they could spiral out of control, countering them in advance.

His eyes reddened from strain, but his focus never faltered.

When the final wave of energy settled into the vessel’s flesh, there had not been a single instability.

The strain had been immense, but the reward came immediately.

”Success! Grade: Ouroboros. Credits granted—20,000. Credits to companions—2,000 each.”

Amon and Bael both broke into wide smiles. Their eyes glittered with something close to disbelief and pure elation.

Neither of them said it aloud, but when they had completed the Third Trial themselves, they had only managed to secure a Superior Grade—earning 2,000 credits apiece. Now, without lifting a finger, they had received the same amount just for standing beside Cain.

They could not help but exchange a glance, and for a brief moment, they looked at him almost as if he were a personal talisman of fortune—a lucky star that would continue to draw them toward greatness so long as they stayed near him.

It was only an instinctive feeling for now, but it was already embedding itself deep into their subconscious. Like a silent ember buried in their hearts, it waited, ready to flare into something far greater when the time was right.

Neither brother realized the change taking root within them. The truth was, not even Cain knew of it. The quiet radiation of his presence—its influence over those around him—was still something he had yet to discover.

Since none of them noticed the subtle transformation unfolding in the brothers, the trio simply moved forward into the Third Ring of the Ouroboros Sect.

The moment Cain crossed the threshold, his mind expanded outward, scanning the ring.

What he saw was breathtaking—a vast, circular waterway split neatly in two. One current glowed warm and bright, the waters almost golden with light; the other ran cold and dark, as if carrying the night itself. The twin streams moved endlessly in a slow, spiraling pattern, a living yin-yang whose light refracted into shimmering arcs that danced across the air.

It was a sight of serene majesty, the kind of beauty that lingered in the mind.

But while it was undeniably magnificent, Amon and Bael did not react as they had in previous rings. For them, there was little of tangible value here—nothing that could directly advance their cultivation in a meaningful way.

Cain, however, saw it differently. ”I will see you at the fourth gate in twenty-four hours,” he said calmly.